SWNOVELS Chapter 23 - Curiosity
Liana was sitting at the Royal infirmary. She had been going around questioning Marcus about the myriad of ingredients and potions that the dragons used. She was very interested in learning about it all which made Marcus occasionally smile. But nevertheless he looked like he enjoyed showing her around.
"My lady, it's quite late at night. It's also getting cold. Would you not like to go back to your chambers and take some rest. Perhaps come back tomorrow morning if you want?" Marcus appeared to be a very gentle heart. He was a very close disciple of the Master.
"No. No. It's better here. I have nothing to do back there. I am fine here."
Liana cheerfully excuses herself and gets back to exploring.
"In that case, here is a blanket if you do get cold at night. I will be going now. I will ask one of the maids to stand on waiting for you. Let her know if you want anything." Liana smiled and nodded.
" Thank you. I didn't know dragon's used blankets as well. "
Marcus broke into a laugh.
"No we don't. I had brought this one back from your human realm because it felt soft and delicate. You see I fancy human products like you are swooning over dragon items." Liana smiled and nodded. He smiled back and closed the door behind him.
"Rest early. "
Liana heaved a sigh after he was gone. It was a little awkward being all alone in the strange land.
She suddenly started longing for home. Though she had lived alone most of her life, away from her mother after her father's death, suddenly she felt sad for her mother's absence.
"I wonder if she even knows that I am missing. How long have I gone missing?"
she started counting on her fingers when suddenly a noise startled her.
She immediately stood up and peeked to examine it. There it was again.
Liana opened the door. The maid who was supposed to wait on her had not arrived yet.
The corridor was dark.
Then she heard the noise again. She pulled the door shut behind her and followed the noise.
It was less of a noise, more like some note being struck on a xylophone.
Liana was too curious. For her it didn't matter if curiosity killed the cat.
She tiptoed her way forward. Not that anybody was around.
She thought she caught the sound coming from the corridor that had lanterns hung inside.
She was not wrong.
It indeed came from that place.
The place looked mesmerizing. She stopped for a split second before stepping inside without hesitation.
A thick black smoke suddenly rushed at her.
She was about to back off but it took the shape of the hooded lady, whom she had seen stand guard there earlier.
"Human,
"
she sniffed her and confirmed.
"Yeah! I am human and you are?"
Liana asked her as if asking about her nationality.
The hooded lady did not answer. She floated around Liana, taking a closer look at her.
"Had that lantern not gone off, I would have actually believed you were her. "
she pointed towards a lantern, gorgeous but unlit.
Liana walked slowly towards it. Touched it. It felt warm to the touch.
"
Why is it not lit?"
she asked the hooded lady with the curiosity of a child.
"It belonged to the Queen, Kiara. It stopped burning when she sacrificed her life. "
Liana turned towards the lady as her jaws dropped open.
"Are these... Are these the famous Life Lanterns they talked about in fables?"
For the first time she knew about something in Dragon land without anybody else explaining it.
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The hooded lady nodded.
"Whoa! Wow!"
Liana walked around touching each lantern as she passed, checking the name engraved over it.
She stopped when she reached the one that read Draco's name. The moment she touched it, she thought she saw it flicker.
She turned towards the hooded lady to confirm.
"Careful, "
that was the word she uttered.
"Why? Did I do anything wrong?"
Liana immediately moved away, afraid she might have done something offensive.
"These are Life Lanterns. It is connected to its owner's soul. It reacts ...
" LIANA! "
The voice made both Liana jump and the hooded lady stop mid-sentence.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT?
Why are you even here?
Who brought you here? Your chamber is too far from here for you to come here alone."
Was it? Liana had no idea.
"I, umm, I was not at my chamber. I was studying the medicines at the infirmary when I heard a sound. I was just curious and came to check. Nothing else." Draco turned his gaze towards the hooded figure.
She fell on her knees.
"My Lord, it was my fault. I should not have let her enter."
Liana could tell she was trembling.
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She quickly came in between her and Draco.
"It was my fault. You can't blame anybody else for it."
Draco arched her brow and looked at her.
"Your fault," you say."
He grabbed Liana by the arms. Liana felt that zooming sensation.
She blinked and when she opened her eyes, she was back at the Harem. Inside her chamber.
Draco threw her over her bed.
Liana looked up. Anger traced her stare.
"Didn't you say you were the one who was to be blamed?"
Draco asked with a ring of amusement.
"So what if I did?"
Liana sat up on the bed and asked.
"What do you get when you do something that you are not supposed to do?"
It was Liana's turn to arch her brows.
"Are we talking about punishment?"
Draco turned around and did he laugh? Liana could not tell.
" Really Draco? Really? Is that now our dynamics? Have I really become a slave to you? I mean I know you have rules. But I just went inside to check the sound that was coming. I didn't even do.... "Ssssshhhhhh!"
Draco pinned Liana back on the bed.
His weight over her. His finger on her lips.
Her eyes flickered like the lantern that she had touched back there.