Hiding Behind Her Superficiality by Kyla Olson

Elspeth was dragged into the house and forced to complete the wedding ceremony with Edmund, then she was pushed into a room. The stronger servants told her to stay in the bed and never take her veil off unless stated. Then they tiptoed away. “Damn it. I knew I couldn’t rely on Harper and Gilbert.” She rolled her eyes and took off the veil. Then she tossed it onto the ground like it was a piece of tattered cloth.

Despite her foul mood, Elspeth still kept her eyes on the entrance. If Edmund steps through that door, I will stab him with this dagger. That’ll teach him not to mess with me. Just when she was wondering what she should do with Edmund, she heard the door creak. Elspeth hid the dagger behind her and held the hilt tightly while staring at the door. A familiar figure stepped in, but it was Arthur. “Why are you here?” Elspeth heaved a sigh of relief and stood up, but her dagger fell. The clang rang across the silent air.

“If my idiot brother hadn’t proposed to you, I wouldn’t have to come here.” Arthur’s gaze shifted from her to the dagger on the ground. “Someone really hates marrying Edmund.” Even though Arthur was trespassing, he waltzed into the room like he owned the place, then he sat before the table.

“What do you want?” Elspeth didn’t know what Arthur had in mind, but it was probably worse than what Edmund was planning. She took a few steps backward and put some distance between them.

“Calm down. I’m not here to hurt you. I want to help.”

Elspeth almost burst out in laughter. Oh, you’re not here to help. You just want to lead me out of this place and take me for yourself. Elspeth moved backward and put her hand behind her. “I don’t need your help.”

“Oh? Then why are you holding your dagger?” Arthur smiled, pouring himself a cup of tea.

Elspeth held her dagger tightly. She had an extra prepared just in case, but Arthur didn’t try to take it from her. He was still drinking his tea.

Arthur took a whiff of the tea. Hm. Aphrodisiac. “He spiked the tea.”

and drunk that tea because I

you. I’m here to save you. Nothing

time, so cut the crap. Don’t give me that

just a few days

leaf? No, I don’t think what I did was

He’s still the same old guy, but somehow, he feels wrong today.

time, I’m repaying my

any malice at the moment, but she was still worried. “How can you even bust

all the secret passages

froze. “What?” He’s… odd. Full of mysteries. “Who

had that small smile on his lips, but it

still the same man she knew, but he felt different. He used to be a hypocrite. A snake, she would say, but now he felt mysterious.

If Edmund comes back, none of us can

her crown, her hair tumbling down her shoulders. Next, she took off her heavy cape and dress, leaving only the last layer, which was a white shirt, on. That