Chapter Text
Castorice gently threaded the needle into the lilac fabric, tugging it in and out.
It was unidentifiable at the moment, just a few scraps of fabric. Soon, she was determined to weave this into yet another stuffed animal to hug at night. It seemed childish, and perhaps it was. But it would hopefully keep away her intense longing for human touch.
The breeze flowed through the window, keeping the room just a little cold. A tiny candle illuminated her work space. She made careful work not to poke her fingers with the needle. The thin white thread stitched through the arms, holding them together. Her plum colored eyes slowly began to droop. She had worked long into the night, the moon hanging high in the sky and shining down upon her. Setting down the fluffy material, she yawned, stretching in the chair.
Suddenly, there was a rather fast gust of wind, sending a purple plush limb, along with her spare stuffing flying off the desk.
Castorice moved to grab it, but realized halfway through bending down how utterly exhausted she was.
It was a long day. Over 60 warriors had returned from a scouting mission in the far east.
48 of them were critically injured.
14 of them had to be put to rest.
Castorice didn’t want to grow used to putting people to eternal rest. It felt inhumane. Like having to shoot a rabid cat you once fed, now watching it twitch and seize in pain.
To say she had gotten accustomed to murder felt like she had burned the kingdom of Aidonia to the ground and watched it from a snowy mountain.
Wrong. Cruel. Evil.
Should she be proclaimed “evil” for carrying out her tasks?
Or is her family evil for keeping her as a trophy, a golden trophy coated in poison?
Perhaps it’s Thanatos. Perhaps she just has to curse the reaper and all he’s worth, then move along with the world.
A hissy fit doesn’t change anything though.
Castorice yawns once more. She was quickly moving towards sleep. She held up the plushie, missing a head still.
I’ll finish it tomorrow evening.
Setting it back down, she reached up to shut the window, looking down into the kingdom. There were just a few lights still flickering in the village. She liked these kinds of nights. The chilly ones where it was silent, and everyone was peacefully asleep in their homes.
All but a few people, it seemed.
Castorice craned her neck out the window further, searching for the commotion. She found it when her eyes landed on a small gang of men, likely guards, as they squawked to eachother in the courtyard. They frantically ran around holding lanterns, as if searching for something.
She giggled at them, running like chickens with their heads cut off. Resting her elbows on the window sill, she watched one of the guards toss his lantern into the bushes, shouting in exasperation.
“Come back here! Thief!” The man yelled.
Castorice’s lips flattened into a line, her giggle coming to a stop.
A thief? In the castle? It wasn’t impossible, but very rare. Castorice second guessed her decision to watch the guards down below. If there truly was a thief, they could see her in the window.
A knock on the door behind her echoed through the room.
“Your royal highness? May I enter?”
“Who is it?” Castorice asked.
“It’s Thalia, Ma’am.”
“You may enter.”
The doors creaked open to reveal the pale face of Thalia, Castorice’s handmaid. She was timid,
Rightfully so,
She thought for a second. The girl kept her distance, staying by the door as if Castorice would transform into a beast and attack her at any second.
“There’s been reports of a thief near us, so I’ve been sent to ensure you are alright.”
“Yes, I have been made quite aware of that.” Castorice sighed, gesturing out the window.
“Have you seen anything suspicious?”
“Not at all. Shall I keep a watch out for a while?”
“No, no. It’s best if you get some rest, and we’ll try to catch them.” Thalia insisted.
“I wish you luck, good night to you, Thalia.”
“Good night, sleep well, Ma’am.” She said, hurriedly closing the door.
Castorice stood from her velvety chair, approaching the door.
She gently placed her freezing hand on the golden handle, feeling the lingering warmth from where Thalia had gripped it for dear life. Even with gloves on, she could still feel the tiniest bit of body heat from where it was held.
Sighing, she retracted her hand, placing it onto her chemise, directly where her heart was.
“I hate these icy hands.”
“Is that so?”
Castorice jumped around in surprise, her arm slamming against the door.
“Hello, princess.”
A girl sat perched on the windowsill like a bird. She had a sly grin on her face, her radiant blue eyes partially concealed by thick gray bangs. A brown hood was draped over her head, the cloak cascading down her back.
Castorice’s throat tightened, her entire body freezing up.
“Who are you? State your business.” She demanded, trying to force out a brave voice.
“Don’t be so hostile, that’s no way to treat a guest.” The girl teased, swinging her legs from beneath her, fully sitting on the windowsill.
“You are no guest, you are an intruder. I’ve half a mind to call my handmaid back here, and have the guards arrest you.”
“Those guys down there? The ones throwing their lanterns and bawling like babies after losing a sword or two?”
Castorice’s left hand gripped the door knob once more in anxiety, her foot stepping backwards.
“You’re the thief they’re after?” She asked.
“The one and only.”
“Then I assume you’re only here to grab my valuables.”
The thief bit her lip, thinking.
“Nope, I come for something far more precious.” She said, her gaze flicking downward to Castorice.
“You.”
Castorice’s breath hitched, her hand gripping the doorknob starting to shake.
“You cannot have me.”
“Why’s that?”
“One touch, and you’ll be dead on the ground.”
This seemed to amuse the girl, causing her to lean forward, standing on the desk, gently nudging aside the stuffed animal with her boot and stepping down from the chair to the floor.
“How interesting. Is that why you mope in this tower all day, like a hostage?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Of course it’s not. But I saw a beautiful girl in her castle, looking out the window into the world like it was a treasure she couldn’t have, and I decided to bite.”
The girl slowly approached Castorice, much to her growing worry.
“And, by every titan there is, it looks like it was worth it.”
Castorice swallowed. The girl was getting closer, closer still. This couldn’t end well, could it?
“Any further and I’ll be explaining a dead body to my handmaiden.”
“So harsh.”
“I try to be when I’m being threatened.”
“Threatened?” The girl laughed, a warm, vibrant laugh escaped her, unfitting of a criminal.
“I’m simply saying hello to a gorgeous girl.”
Castorice flushed at the praise, but bit down the instinctual “thank you” that rose.
“You’re not here to steal, nor to kill me.” She clarified.
“No, I’m not.”
“Then why?”
“For fun, I suppose. You look awfully lonely up here.”
Castorice stammered for a response. A thief simply breaking into her room, just to have a conversation with her? It seemed absolutely ridiculous.
“Leave then, I don’t want your company.” She finally uttered, looking away.
“Aww.. Fine. I’ll see you around soon, princess.”
“No you will not.”
“That’s what you think.”
The girl grinned, blowing a kiss to Castorice, climbing back up the desk and onto the windowsill.
“Cipher.”
Castorice’s gaze flicked back to her.
“What did you say?”
“The name’s Cipher. Don’t forget it. See you~”
Cipher hopped down from the windowsill, a rustling sound could be heard in the distance.
Castorice raced up to the window to check for Cipher, but when she looked down, she was nowhere in sight. Only bushes and the clear night sky.
Thoughts swirled in Castorice’s head as she finally closed the window. She swiftly blew out the candle, taking in the scent of the smoke.
Would she tell her handmaid that the thief had broken into her room, flirted with her, and then escaped with a promise to be back soon?
Likely, no.
But a little selfishness could be allowed sometimes.
Especially if that selfishness brings a potential friend, even in the form of a criminal.