Chapter 7

Jasmine/Olivia

Two days had passed since my arrival in Nightfall, and the routine seemed anything but unordinary. The servants attended to my every need, delivering hearty and delicious meals directly to my room. I still had the plants I took from Ashford with me, I replanted the herbs and plants on the balcony of my room. I had to ensure I never ran out of them as mother instructed.

"You must be very bored. You should stroll the palace grounds." Anna suggested as she brushed my hair.

After some consideration, I agreed, "Okay. I think I'll take a stroll after breakfast."

Descending the grand staircase with an air of grace, it was the first time I had ventured outside since my arrival. I decided to explore the premises, and the tantalizing aroma of food led me straight to the kitchen. I'd just eaten but the smells being emitted was enticing.

As I approached, the low hum of servants' voices caught my attention. Initially dismissing it as casual gossip, I was about to make my presence known when a particular snippet of conversation froze me in place.

"A new bride for the second prince arrived two nights ago," one maid mentioned as she kneaded a bowl of dough. "True. I saw her last night," chimed in another.

The topic of discussion was none other than me—the latest addition to the palace. Doubting the servants would divulge any useful information, I was about to continue my exploration when they shifted their focus to the prince.

"It's been years since he last returned home."

"He was thirteen when the king presumably banished him from the palace," added another.

Thirteen? The prince had been a mere child. The idea that a father would send his own offspring away spoke volumes about the King of Nightfall's lack of conscience and love.

"I wonder how long she would last, the new bride. Would she be like the others?" pondered one.

"The others? What exactly did they mean?" I wondered anxiously.

"I heard the last one was..." another maid began, only to be abruptly interrupted.

"It seems you've got enough time on your hands. Haven't you been given enough chores?" scolded a senior maid, dispersing the gossiping group back to their duties.

Stuck in the blind spot, I stood there for a while, contemplating the revelations. The questions multiplied. What happened to the other brides? Lost in thought, I continued wandering through the grounds, eventually reaching an isolated area near the kitchen.

The tour continued, leading me to a sprawling garden with a pond in the middle a shaded area created by trees, and a structure reminiscent of a greenhouse. Settling on one of the stone benches, I marveled at the natural beauty around me. Nightfall revealed itself as a picturesque realm, with its unique atmosphere, majestic mountains, and towering trees—a setting straight out of a fantastical story.

Yet, the captivating scenery couldn't distract me from the nagging questions. The people of Nightfall were guarding secrets, and it seemed imperative for me to unveil them. Frustrated by the lack of information, I sighed, realizing that eavesdropping on the servants might need to become a daily routine if I were to unravel the enigma surrounding this place—a puzzle that appeared to be of paramount importance to its inhabitants.

Tired of sitting there, I headed back to my room. Bored, I rearranged some of the things Bella had packed for me, among them novels. The sight of them brought relief – I loved books, even though they looked ancient. I settled into reading that afternoon when I heard a knock on the door. A maid walked in, holding the door open.

"Crown Princess Sophia!" She announced.

"Oh, no need to announce me to my soon-to-be sister-in-law," Sophia said with a chuckle, making her way inside. I stood stunned as I stared at her. She was beautiful, with dark green eyes and ravishingly beautiful hair, elegantly styled. My untamed mane of hair would never compare.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I curtsied immediately. "Nice to meet you, Your Highness," I greeted politely. One of her perfect eyebrows shot up as she studied me, then gave a small smile that showed off her dimples.

"Please, call me Sophia."

"The name's Jasmine. No, Olivia, Olivia Jasmine," I corrected. She had made me completely lose guard, and I had slipped and told her my real name. She gave me a questioning look.

"That's not what we were told." She looked at one of her maids. My heart beat against my rib cage as she peered questioningly at me.

"Uh, Olivia is my real name, but I've always been referred to as Jasmine. It's the name my friends call me," I answered slowly, hoping she didn't suspect anything.

"Olivia Jasmine of Ashford," she called smoothly, walking and relaxing into a seat. I breathed a sigh of relief. I hadn't blown my cover, yet.

"Leave us," she instructed her maids who had accompanied her. "Come, sit." She urged. With a small nod, I walked over, sitting directly opposite her.

"I was so glad when I heard you arrived. You must have been awfully bored cooped up in here all day." I nodded, still staring at her. She paused for a moment; we only stared at each other.

"I really hope we can be friends. It would be nice having another female in the royal family. There hasn't been one ever since Her Majesty's..." She trailed off.

"Anyway, I have you now."

"Her Majesty's?" I asked curiously.

"Her Majesty's death." Sophia said sadly.

"I'm so sorry," I gasped. She nodded.

"Anyway, I was sent to be married to the first prince, a marriage alliance just like yours." She explained. She was also sent to be married here, just like me. Except I was a fake, not that anyone knew anyway. I felt myself relax immediately; she was relatable.

"What's that?" Her attention was turned to a book in the corner.

"Oh, this. My maid packed those for me from my kingdom."

"Can I see?" She asked, her eyes glimmering with interest.

"Those silly things?" I asked with a giggle. "They're ridiculous, really. Man who's part wolf and all those utter nonsense," I said with a small laugh. I still couldn't understand why these kinds of books were written. It was all far-reaching from reality. Werewolves had been extinct for thousands of years, if they even ever existed.

Sophia paused, a complex expression on her face. "Is something wrong?" I had to ask.

"No, nothing. Nothing's wrong," she said with a smile. "What were you told about Nightfall?" She asked suddenly. I gave a small shrug.

"Our kingdoms have been at war for years now. This marriage would hopefully bring peace."

"Is that all?" She asked, staring right at me. Her eyes were penetrating, like they could see right through me. I nodded.

"Although, there were rumors going around the village about the people of Nightfall, that they had some superhuman strength, some said they were monsters. Not that I believed any of that anyway," I added quickly due to the way her eyebrow shot upward questioningly. Sophia's eyes quivered, her lips rising slightly in amusement while she chuckled lightly.

"So how are you adjusting to life here?" She asked.

"Well, I've been inside always. So, I don't really have an experience. But the maids are alright," I replied with a shrug. "You're married to the crown prince, right?" I asked. They were only two sons. I was to be wed to the second one.

"Yes," she replied, nodding.

"What's the second prince like?" I asked, drawing closer.

"Princely," she replied. "He's off at the forefront of battle," she added.

"Dangerous?" I asked. She shrugged.

"He's in charge of the battles, keeping Nightfall safe at all times, a responsibility he takes very seriously," she finished.

"But is he..." I wanted to ask more about him. Apparently, there were other brides before me. What happened to them? I wondered anxiously.

"There'll be a ball tomorrow night. You'll get to be introduced formally to the royal family," Sophia interrupted instead, smiling stiffly. She had closed off the topic of the prince. I couldn't help but feel she was avoiding the topic like everyone else in the palace.

"Would the prince be attending?" I asked.

"No, he's out at battle. He doesn't attend events..." She paused.

"... events like that," she explained. The maid I asked yesterday had dropped a vase in fright at me mentioning his name; was he that dreadful that they avoided talking about him? And that was the man I would be getting married to?

Soon we left the topic, discussing other things. "I should go; my husband sends for me," she said after some time.

"It was really nice meeting and talking to you, Olivia."

I paused for a moment. How did she know I needed her at that moment? The people of Nightfall were indeed strange.

"Your Highness, there will be a ball tomorrow night. The king has demanded your presence," a maid informed me right after dinner.