“What a jerk.” Ailith muttered to herself out in the hallway. “He’s a walking, talking,  pain in the ass.”

“Who is?” 

Ailith jumped back in surprise and nearly punched the prince out of reflex.

He grinned and chuckled, clearly amused. 

It annoyed her. ‘How the hell did I not hear him? Are my instincts failing me after being here for so long?’ Ailith gave him a polite smile. “No-one your majesty. I’m afraid you have misheard me.”

“Oh really?” he arched an eyebrow.

“Yes.”

“I see…” He tapped his chin. “Would you like to take a walk with me?”

‘Didn’t he have more princely things to do?’

“I’m afraid I have to decline your kind invitation, your majesty. I am a bit...busy at the moment.”

“Does it have something to do with that bag?” he said as he stared straight at it.

‘Shit’

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

Ailith shoved the bag behind her back trying to look as inconspicuous as possible. “No.” She wasn't able to come up with some witty reply like Alex so she just cleared her throat, pretended to glance at her treker and said, “I really am sorry your majesty but I do have to get going. I have some...matters to settle. Perhaps we could walk next time?”

“Yes perhaps. It was a pleasure to talk with you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine.” she said and briskly stalked in the opposite direction he was headed. She sometimes wondered if he had anything better to do.

Ridding of the thoughts, Ailith rushed out to the garden she had visited before, during her stroll, careful to draw as least attention to herself as possible. It was easier with the whole ‘annual ball’ thing coming up as the servants were too busy to notice her. Those who did merely bowed, gave their respects and continued on with their business. 

As she delved deeper and deeper into the woods, she noticed how quiet it felt as compared to the always busy palace and training room. It was a peaceful kind of quiet, one that she enjoyed very much. After searching several places, Ailith came across a suitable hiding place. It was about a 5 minute walk from the start of the forest and was bookmarked by a huge rock next to it. Crouching down on one knee, Ailith dug a pit large enough to place her bag. It would have to be deep enough underground that no-one could accidentally stumble upon it but close enough to the surface that in any case of emergency, she could haul it right out of the ground. 

She placed the bag into an adequately sized hole and after making sure it was sealed properly, shoved a handful of dirt over it. She hesitated before piling the next handful of dirt over it and as a last minute decision, quickly reached her hand into the bag and snatched out a small pocket knife. A gun would be too loud in any case if she were to ever come across a situation where she would have to use it and a knife could be used as more than a weapon, a tool. She finished up with the job and, satisfied, clapped her hands together to get rid of the remaining dirt. “There, that ought to please Alex.” She smirked at the thought and strolled out. What she hadn’t noticed however, was that someone had been watching her the entire time.