CHAPTER 347: ENVY IN FLESH-I

Ariel was buried deep in her books, her swollen fingers aching from writing day and night without a single hour of rest. Yet, knowing how precious the knowledge hidden within this castle was, she never once paused in her relentless pursuit of magic.

That night, as always, Ariel was buried in her studies when a sudden sting made her flinch. She looked down to see a thin line of red blooming across her finger, a paper cut.

With a quiet sigh, she took it as a sign to pause. Pressing the wound to her lips, she tasted the metallic tang as she tried to stop the bleeding.

This night marked the fifth week since she had come to the castle. She still hadn’t uncovered the secrets Morpheus was so desperate to hide, but she had learned much from him, all without letting him see her suspicion.

Morpheus spent his days, and often his nights, hunched over some spell far too complex for her to yet understand. But one thing had become clear: he was working with a witch named Alice, a woman who wanted both Arabella’s blood and her own.

How could she make him slip? How could she coax the truth from his lips, even if it was only by accident, even if it was just a fragment?

Morpheus pretended to trust her but Ariel was preceptive and she could tell that though Morpheus showed his loyalty to her sincerely, he still held no trust on her, not enough to tell her his deepest secret or his truest goal.

Should she pretend?

Acting wasn’t her best suit but what if she could show to Morpheus how deeply she wishes to help him?

Perhaps that way, Morpheus would spill a little.

As Ariel debated her next move against Morpheus, a sudden commotion pulled her from her thoughts.

She rose and crossed to the wooden window. Below, cloaked sorcerers hurried toward the throne room, the place Morpheus claimed as his own.

Her curiosity sparked, she slipped from her chamber, the echo of her footsteps swallowed by the rising murmur of voices in the corridor. The hall was brighter than usual, lit by torches hastily set in their brackets.

"What’s happened?" she asked, stepping closer.

Two shapes lay on the floor, shrouded in linen from head to toe. The fabric could not mask the shriveled edges or the acrid scent of rotten flesh that clung to the air.

Her body flinched as she recognize almost instantly what those two shapes were, understanding that there was a victim in the castle.

"Who attacked them?" She immediately turned to one of the sorcerers dressed in white cloak, the ones who always moved silent around the castle under Morpheus’s orders.

They seemed nervous as they looked to her but they didn’t answer.

Seeing the scene, Ariel’s frown deepened. The wails of the guards’ families, raw, grief stricken stabbed through her ears, making her heart wary for them.

She clicked her tongue and turned on her heel. Only eight purposeful steps carried her to the grand golden doors, their intricate frames gleaming under the torchlight. This was the throne room, the place where Morpheus always hid himself in.

The guards straightened instantly at her approach.

"Your Highness," one stammered, blocking her path.

"Your Highness, please wait. His Majesty is in a meeting with—"

Ariel’s gaze cut like glass. "Is there someone more important than the sudden death of two sorcerers?"

The question left their tongues heavy and useless. The two exchanged a helpless glance, but no answer came.

"However, he had warned us not to allow anyone to disturb him now."

"A King has to answer to his subject, especially when they face danger. Now move," Ariel demanded the guards and seeing they hesitate, she firmed her words, "I’ll take care of the blame, so move you two!"

Seeing them walking backward just half a step, Ariel took the chance and pushed open the door, bursting inside the throne room with her foot bare.

Her green eyes immediately darted around the room, noting how it was much dimmer than usual. But what caught her attention the most wasn’t only how dark the room was, rather it was the sight of the woman who was standing beside Morpheus, her clothing was torn apart to the point she had to cover her bosom with her arms.

This was the first time Ariel met this woman eye to eye but she knew her.

She was the witch that Morpheus had secretly met, the one named Alice, and the one who wanted her blood and Arabella’s.

Clenching her fists, Ariel ignored Alice entirely and fixed her eyes on Morpheus. "Can I have an explanation?"

Morpheus’s brow furrowed. He pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose, as if her presence were an inconvenience, "Haven’t I warned the guards not to allow anyone in here?"

"I’m here because I’m concerned," Ariel shot back. Then her gaze slid to Alice, lingering a heartbeat too long. "Or is she more important than the two bodies lying outside this room, Morpheus?"

It was the first time Ariel had spoken to him with such force. The sharpness in her tone startled even Morpheus, who clearly hadn’t expected such steel beneath her usual composure.

He exhaled slowly. "To deal with the matter outside, I have to speak with her."

Alice’s lips curved into a smile meant to sting. The green of her dress matched the gleam in her eyes, envy made flesh.

"Why? Are you jealous, Princess," she purred, "that Morpheus would rather see me than you?"

Ariel turned to Morpheus who had instead stared back at her.

Did, he too, thought that she has feelings for him?

Hardly.

Ariel was always meek but she wasn’t a fool.

She knew best not to fall for a man who held too many secrets than what meets the eyes.

But being clever, Ariel didn’t answer to Alice’s words, neither confirming nor denying it.

"I know those two guards, I have familiarized myself with everyone in the castle to the point that I could feel them as my own family," she explained, "That is why I have to know what had occurred to them and who was responsible for it. Because I am not about to let those responsible for their deaths to escape justice."

And Ariel’s green eyes stared at Alice, staring at her meaningfully.

Alice who saw that grinned,