"I''m getting a bit hungry, prepare the same snacks asst time," Adeline said without taking her eyes away from the ledgers on theputer screen. She went through each number meticulously, even the smallest of charges.


    Adeline always knew Elias reigned with an iron fist, and almost everything in the country and castle went by him first. It was the reason why the empire never stopped flourishing, like thergest, oldest tree in a forest. However, it took one rot for the entire roots to be corrupted. Thus, Adelinebed through everything with a fresh eye.


    "As you wish, Your Grace," Ste said, typing it quickly into her tablet for the other people to grab it for the Queen. Usually, she was always apanying Adeline, never leaving the Queen''s side even when a task had to be fulfilled.


    Being the secretary of the Queen, Ste had many underlings. The pyramid of power wasrge and there were many tiers.


    "Absolutely nothing," Adeline murmured to herself. "No corruption, no mismanagement. Is there anything for me to do in this castle?"


    Adeline let out a small sigh and nced away from theptop, her gaze sweeping over her private office.


    Adeline pressed her lips together. She hated to admit how wless Elias was. He didn''t leave a single stone unturned, not even the tiniest of pebbles.


    "What was that, Your Grace?" Ste asked. She had heard quiet whispers, but couldn''t understand it properly.


    "Nothing." Adeline nced at Ste.


    Adeline wanted to know if her staff were human or vampire, but it was such a rude question to ask. The most telling sign of a vampire wasn''t the stereotypical red eyes.


    Only a selected few possess the rare quality, and it usually urred in Pure-Bloods. The redder the eyes, the stronger the lineage and power. But when their eyes shed the color of rubies, it was a telling sign of the person in power.


    Adeline had never seen someone with eyes redder than Elias''s. His gaze was enough to wipe away an arrogant smirk and freeze someone on the spot.


    Adeline gritted her teeth. The more she tried to not think of him, the more she did.


    "All set, Your Grace," Ste suddenly said. "The chefs are beginning to prepare the usual snack. Two sandwiches, refreshing iced drink, sliced fruits, cream cakes, and fruit tarts."


    Adeline curtly nodded. She remembered these were Asher''s favorite foods. Everyday, she visited him at night, hoping the small snack would bring back memories. s, it was to no avail. He''d eat the food hesitatingly as if starved for a long time. The entire time he ate, he could not look away from her.


    Thousands of needles prickled Adeline''s chest. His gaze was filled with thirst, like a man starved before a table of feast that he couldn''t touch. She knew what he wanted, but she could never give it to him.


    "Are you sure the snacks aren''t spoiling your appetite, Your Grace?" Ste worriedly asked, her brows tugging together. "You''ve been sending away barely touched meals after your snacks."


    "I''m fine," Adeline muttered. She twisted the ruby finger on her finger and continued ncing out the window. Just then, she thought of something.


    "Did the phone I ordered arrive?" Adeline asked.


    Ste perked up. "Yes, it came just this morning. You were very engrossed in your work, so I didn''t wish to disturb you."


    Ste quickly typed a message into her tablet. A minuteter, a maid walked in. Adeline was surprised to see it was Jane, her maid. Jane wore her stoic expression as always, bowing at the sight of the Queen.


    "Your Grace," Jane said. She entered with an unopened, sleek white box.


    "Thank you," Adeline said with a smile. Jane simply bowed her head and exited the room.


    Adeline unboxed the package and took out the phone. She held out a hand and Ste quickly gave her the sim card. Adeline slipped the sim card in and waited for the phone to boot.


    The Mardens never allowed Adeline to have a phone of her own, and she had seen no use for it. It wasn''t like she had friends to call in the first ce, except Lydia and Asher. But now that the Mardens were gone, Adeline no longer had someone restricting her.


    "The weather is perfect for a walk today," Adeline suddenly said.


    Before Ste could say something, Adeline walked out of the door with her phone in hand. She wanted to find a private spot to sit down and call Lydia.


    The gardens seemed to be the only spot she could have her privacy. Adeline stepped down the staircase and quietly sneezed.


    "Hm, is someone talking about me?" Adeline said with a sniffle, rubbing her nose a bit.


    Adeline descended the staircase, past the servants, past therge windows, and beyond the enormous doors. The second the warm sunlight hit her skin, she smiled. There was a soft breeze in the air and the weather was just right. She closed her eyes for a moment to savor everything.


    "Your Grace, please wait for us!" Ste called from the far ends of the hallway.


    Adeline let out a small sigh and decided to change direction. She headed back inside and through another staircase that was far from the main one. She wanted to lose her group, so that no one would be disturbing her peace.


    Soon, Adeline was near the hallway where Elias and her bedrooms were. She nced at the doors leading to Elias''s room. She had been upying it for a few days, and refused to let Elias sleep in there. She didn''t want to give him thefort of sleeping in his own bed, or having ess to his clothes.


    The rift between them had worsened so significantly, that even a few servants raised their brows. But Elias didn''t give her a satisfying reaction. Instead of being irritated by her actions, he found solutions to the problems. He ordered for a new bed andpletely new closet in a bedroom far, far down the hallways.


    "What an annoying man," Adeline muttered to herself.


    Despite her words, Adeline headed straight into Elias''s bedroom. She liked his windows the most, and the balcony that stretched outwards. The view was always spectacr from his luxurious bedroom.


    "If only Asher could experience this sunlight again."


    Adeline stepped onto the balcony, closing her eyes to savor the warmth. Then, her eyes flew open, a n in mind. She could find a way to sneak Asher out of the castle, without Elias''s knowledge.


    But then Adeline sighed. He would always find out. There wasn''t a single thing happening in the castle that he wasn''t aware of. Adeline hoped he found out about her sneaking into the dungeons every night. She hoped it wounded his ego, as much as it had wounded her heart.


    "What''s that…" Adeline squinted into the distance.


    Adeline noticed a ck car pull up, surrounded by many. She walked to the edge of the balcony, and tried to look beyond it. But her eye-sight wasn''t the best. Thus, Adeline pulled out her new phone and through the camera lens, she zoomed in.


    The phone nearly slipped out of her fingers. Her heart stopped. Her spine stiffened. Impossible. Is that who she thought it was?!