Novel-novel oleh Author Calypso

ALTHEA The next morning, I wake to a soft knock at my door. I barely have time to register it before the door creaks open, and two young women step inside. They move efficiently, as if they’ve done this routine a hundred times before. One of them carries fresh towels and a tray of food, while the other sets out neatly folded clothes on a chair near the window. Their uniforms are pristine, their movements graceful, but I don’t miss the way their eyes flick toward me, filled with quiet curiosity. I sit stiffly on the edge of my bed, feeling strangely out of place in the silk nightdress I was given. The palace’s luxury still unsettles me, and somehow it still feels like this is a world I’ll never fit in. The events at the woods yesterday has only made me even more certain of that. My ankle is wrapped tightly beneath the sheets, a dull ache pulsing with each movement. My body is sore, but it’s the memories that weigh the heaviest. The bed beneath me is too soft. I feel like I’m si

ALTHEA I shift slightly on the branch, trying to get a better look at where the bear went. The forest below is dark, shadows stretching between the trees, making it impossible to see anything clearly. But I can still hear the screams in the distance. Someone else is in trouble. I lean forward just a little— The branch beneath me cracks. My stomach drops. Before I can react, the bark snaps, and suddenly I’m falling. The world tilts. Air rushes past me. My arms flail, trying to grab something, anything, but my fingers only scrape against rough bark. Then I hit the ground. A sharp pain explodes up my leg. I gasp, curling forward as agony flares through my ankle. My vision blurs for a second. It feels like my bones are on fire. “Althea!” Asher’s voice is sharp, alarmed. I hear him moving, branches rustling above me. A few seconds later, he drops down beside me, landing with a rough thud. His face is pale, his injured arm hanging stiffly at his side. “You good?” he asks

ALTHEA The bear’s growl rumbles through my chest, deep and angry. My body locks up in fear, but my mind screams at me to not stop running. “Asher,” I whisper, though my voice barely comes out. He doesn’t need my warning. He’s already raising his gun, his arm steady as he aims it at the bear. The bear snarls, ears pinned back, eyes locked on us. It’s bigger than I expected. Much bigger. Its fur is a deep, thick brown, and its black claws look sharp enough to tear through flesh like paper. I’m still not over the fact that the king lied to us. This bear isn’t dead. It was never dead. Then it charges. “Asher, run!” I scream, spinning around so fast I nearly trip over my own feet. My heart slams against my ribs. The ground is uneven, roots twist up from the dirt, and every step feels like I’m about to fall. A loud gunshot cracks through the air. Then another. I glance back just in time to see the bullets barely slow the bear down. It flinches but doesn’t stop. It doesn’t

ALTHEADays have passed since the strawberry incident, and I am alive. Barely. The burning in my throat is gone, the rashes have faded, and my strength has returned. But one thing hasn’t changed. The hatred for Prince Asher. If anything, it has only grown. I can still see the cold indifference in his eyes as he watched me struggle, my throat closing, my body betraying me. He didn’t lift a finger. Didn’t care if I lived or died.I push away thoughts of him from my mind, because right now, I have bigger problems.I clench my fists as I stand in the grand hall with the other contestants, waiting for whatever ridiculous challenge they’ve planned for us next. The air is heavy with tension, and my pulse thrums in my ears. The king, dressed in his dark robes, sits casual and disinterested on his throne, sipping from a jeweled goblet. His gaze sweeps over us like we are pawns on a chessboard, disposable and unimportant.“As you all know,” the king begins, his deep voice echoing through the ha

ALTHEAThe moment I see his face, every muscle inside of me seizes, my heart skipping a beat so sharply it almost hurts.My breath falters. My mind races, trying to make sense of what I’m seeing.How could this… be?His green eyes widen slightly, just a flicker, as he stares at me. That flicker is all I need to know. He recognizes me too.The same shock I’m feeling is mirrored on his face. For a moment, the noise, the chatter, the grand hall itself, all of it fades away. The weight of our shared secret presses down on us like a suffocating blanket.I don’t know how long we stay like this, locked in a silent, frozen exchange. My hands tremble slightly, and I clench them into fists at my sides, willing myself to look calm.Eventually, he recovers His expression smooths, his face shifting into something unreadable. His gaze sweeps over the room, and then he moves forward, his steps measured and steady, like nothing has happened.He’s here. He’s the prince.Our eyes snap to the large door

ALTHEA When I open my eyes, it takes me a second to remember where I am. The bed feels too soft, the room too quiet. Slowly, the events of last night come back to me. I turn my head, expecting to see him, but the other side of the bed is empty. A strange mix of relief and irritation washes over me. Good. At least I don’t have to deal with the awkwardness of morning-after small talk. But then my gaze lands on the bedside table. There’s a bag sitting there, tied neatly with a thin cord. I pick it up and open it, and my heart sinks. Gold coins gleam inside, a sharp reminder of how much of a horrible mistake last night was. What was this supposed to be? Some sort of cheap pay? Anger bubbles up, hot and fierce. I shove the bag back onto the table, my fingers trembling. I won’t let a single night of foolishness define me. And the only upside to this is that I’ll never have to see him again. I dress quickly, my movements stiff with frustration. By the time I pull on my boots, I’ve