20

ARTEMISIA

"This is where we use as the ballroom."

I nodded as the maid, personally assigned to me and also my tour guide, pointed to the room where I had met Queen Ada, Sin's Mom and his siblings yesterday.

Even though I hadn't seen much since we arrived due to how dark it was yesterday. With the little I had seen, the palace was a bit extravagant from the outside.

I wasn't surprised since the first house Sin had taken me to was the same way too. Extremely extravagant and it screams wealthy.

An average man wouldn't be able to afford it and I wasn't ready to ask the amount of money he had spent on the house either.

More so, this palace, just like the first house he had taken me to, was a bit isolated.

It seemed better at least. People were roaming around as I looked out of the small window present in the room.

I believed one of the reasons we were here was due to the throne which he would be ascending soon.

I didn't know he was going to be King until today after asking him over and over again for the reason we were here instead of his house.

Sin didn't look enthusiastic whilst he was saying it. Maybe because I would be his queen or queen consort, whatever he had called it.

It wasn't like I was happy as well. Because I know after the coronation, my life would become a living hell.

Even if he hadn't said he would make it that way, I knew that was what I would experience while here.

The maids were quite modest whereas his siblings and the rest of his family that I had encountered acted as if he had brought in something foreign. Someone that shouldn't be in their midst.

I couldn't forget the contempt that had been in some of their eyes last night.

Also, they had treated me like I was shattered glass. The ladies in them that had gotten the chance to embrace me today since they weren't at the party when I arrived, had done so and retracted immediately.

It wasn't like I was interested in a prolonged hug or wanted their friendship as they might be thinking.

The way they acted was somewhat irritating and strange.

"So, this is the gallery. Where the pictures of Master Sin's past predecessors were."

My head snapped to the maid as she pointed at several pictures which were hung on the wall.

I had forgotten she was still with me and I didn't even know when we entered the room she called the gallery.

I shivered slightly as I glanced around me.

It wasn't due to the chilliness of the room or the air that was drifting into the opened high windows.

Rather, it was because of the painting and some of the statues that were present.

It almost seemed like each figure was alive.

I didn't know how I knew. But, when I touched each, I felt it vibrating.

The one that caught my attention the most was a weird sculpture of a man that seemed like he was in pain. It had an opened gash in the centre of his chest and his face was contorted in a grimace. He opened his mouth and it was as if I could almost hear him shouting for help.

"Please, take me out of here," I mumbled whilst averting my eyes from the chilling sculpture.

"I didn't know you were afraid of ordinary painting and sculptures."

I halted in my tracks as I heard a sultry voice.

Swirling, my eyes collided with the dark-haired beauty that had clung to Sin at the reception.

She sauntered towards me whilst wearing a smile that creeped me out more than the sculptures.

As she neared, I noticed how pale her skin was compared to how I had seen her earlier.

She was even more beautiful up close too.

"Hey, Rhoda."

"Lady Adrina." The maid bowed slightly and I heard her mutter 'bitch' under her breath as she did.

So, she was a lady, I mulled. Also, I wasn't the only one that hated her.

Ever since I had seen her clinging to Sin at the reception, despite not liking him, she had made me think of a homewrecker.

They were always perfect at their games. She was an example of that.

She didn't even mind if I was there or not to execute whatever plans she had of seducing him. She had done it right in front of my eyes and it was as if she had dared me into saying anything.

"Run along dearie," Adrina said in a sweet voice and turned to me. "I need a talk with the soon to be Queen Consort if you don't mind."

I interpreted the words my way as she glared at him.

It was as if she meant, she wanted to turn me into a statue so I wouldn't get the chance to be with Sin anymore.

More so, the more I stared at her, the more I felt she had something to do with the statues.

"My Lady, Master Sin wants her back as soon as possible. I promised him that."

Adrina glared at Rhoda. It was as if disobeying her would result in severe punishment.

Yet, the maid didn't bulge. Although she was polite in whatever she said to the other woman, I could feel the hatred that was radiating off her.

"That's alright." Adrina snapped. "I believe we will get the chance to meet again, dearest." She grinned, showing off two fangs from her white teeth.

They seemed real, but I believed they were artificial. Although some people's dentitions were that way, I knew hers wasn't because I saw her talking at the reception and her teeth were arranged in an orderly manner.

I shivered as her hand brushed my skin and I watched as she walked out of the narrow passageway still swinging her hips.

"I thought she wouldn't leave." Rhoda sighed. "Did I sound rude?"

"Of course, not. She was the rude one and thank you for what you said about Sin wanting me back immediately."

"I just had to bring that up. I feel sorry for lying." Rhoda glanced down momentarily. "But, I felt you didn't want to speak with her."

"You don't need to feel sorry," I said, touching the maid's shoulder.

She flinched and her eyes went wide as I retracted my hand. "I'm s-sorry!"

Even her too. She had flinched like how the others had.

Was I a plague?

It was only Adrina that hadn't done anything. Still, I feel she felt like killing me and didn't mind coming close to me to do that.

"I-I just did that reflexively. I didn't mean to!" Rhoda said, creasing her brows.

"It's fine," I muttered, shrugging.

It wasn't like I could do anything about it. Again, she looked genuinely sorry and I believed the reason for her recoiling was that her mind was far away.

"Let's get out of here." I glanced around the hall for a while before walking out of it with her.