Alicia's steps echoed softly as she followed him down the dimly lit hallway, her thoughts a whirlwind of curiosity and caution. She had never been one to trust strangers, yet here she was, trailing behind a man she had just met. His confident strides and assured demeanour, however, gave her a faint sense of reassurance, tugging at the thin thread of her curiosity.
He led her through corridors that seemed untouched by the rest of the event's attendees, as if he knew the building intimately. Alicia's gaze flickered around, noting the disarray of paintings and ornaments that hinted at a forgotten past. Her curiosity burned brighter, urging her to discover what he was leading her toward.
They arrived at a door that looked like any other, but the digital interface on it betrayed its significance. He pressed his fingertip against the sensor, causing the door to slide open with a soft hum. Alicia's skepticism was momentarily replaced by surprise. She eyed him warily before a half-joking question escaped her lips, "You're not secretly a serial killer, are you?"
His lips curled into a playful smile as he met her gaze. "I believe you're stronger than you look. In fact, I'd wager you could take on an army if you so desire," he quipped, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
Alicia shot him a glare. "Don't tempt me. If you try anything funny, you'll regret it."
He smirked and stepped inside, waiting for her to join him. With a shared understanding of their boundaries, she stepped into the room after him, her fingers absentmindedly grazing the back of her neck, where the nagging discomfort persisted.
When the door slid closed, she quickly turned to look at it before turning to look ahead. Descending a dimly lit staircase, he engaged her in conversation, guiding her thoughts to Queen Tam and her ascent to power.
"How much do you know about the history?" He asked her without looking at her.
As Alicia recounted the limited information she knew, he listened intently, his expression a mix of curiosity and something else she couldn't quite place. She spoke of the contradictory accounts surrounding it, but the only constant was Queen Tam's conquests and her influence on the formation of their present-day country. The warrior queen's fiery temper and her deep affection for her father and nanny, Lady Paulina, were the constants in the varying narratives.
"She took down kingdoms and raised kingdoms effortlessly, expanding Drakoria until it turned into our present-day country. That's dope." She concluded.
He nodded thoughtfully, as if her words triggered memories of his own. "Did you know Drakoria was once called the Moon Kingdom?"
She didn't know that.
"As well as Lady Paulina's journey from a timid maid to one of the notable women in the history of this country?"
Alicia shook her head. "I wasn't exactly aware of that. There are so many things about history that we cannot tell since we didn't live in those times."
He continued, his voice taking on a warm undertone as he recounted the period after Princess Amber's soul disappeared. Paulina had dedicated months to tending to the princess's body and painting her portrait to ease her grief. These paintings captured the essence of the happy moments of Princess Amber, Lady Susan, and Lady Luciana. Over time, these portraits came to hold a special place in the hearts of the people, especially that of Princess Amber, as she was seen as their guardian against misfortune. People wanted her portraits in their chambers as a form of talisman to protect themselves and their families. But then someone thought it would be best to monetize it and was willing to turn it into a business.
"Lord Lance," Alicia murmured under her breath, a knowing look in her eyes.
His chuckle held a hint of admiration. "Impressive that you guessed. Indeed, Lord Lance saw the potential for profit and proposed selling these cherished works. Even going to the houses of those who had already received the portraits for free to demand they pay for them."
Alicia laughed, a feeling of satisfaction washing over her. She had a hunch that Lance's entrepreneurial spirit, from all she had read, wouldn't go to waste, even if he was officially the palace treasury minister.
Hunter acknowledged Lance's role in transforming Lady Paulina's talent into a thriving business, expanding from Princess Amber's portraits to others who wanted their own portraits, those of their family, lover, children, and so on. People were also willing to learn from her, and she had so many apprentices, most of whom were little girls.
Before his passing, King Eli himself recognized Lady Paulina's accomplishments, honouring her talent and officially having her name written in their book as the first businesswoman in their kingdom's history. A woman who wasn't even their kind.
Hunter's tone shifted, his eyes glinting with a mixture of emotions as he reminded her of the first woman in Drakoria's history book. Princess Amber's valour had opened doors for others; her legacy was a testament to her sacrifices.
She was the reason Lady Paulina could advance from a little slave to a maid in exile to a palace maid, growing to not only be a great businesswoman but also married a Sir; she practically raised the greatest queen in history, and her son, who was a few years younger than Queen Tam, was the only one who could tolerate Queen Tam, and both had found love with each other.
Tears of pride welled up in Alicia's eyes as she absorbed the significance of Lady Paulina's journey. She admired the strength and resilience that were evident in the stories of those who defied societal norms, but she was not sure why the story of this particular lady was always touching for her, even having a supportive husband who was beside her, running his little infirmary while she did her business.
Hunter handed her a handkerchief for her tears while watching her intensely, but she shook her head and said she was fine as she looked up to blink back tears.
"How... do you know all of this?" Her gaze scrutinized him, suspicion tinging her inquiry. She had spent days researching this and knew barely enough, yet he sounded like he had witnessed everything firsthand.
He looked at her as he reached to open another door with his fingerprint, putting an end to the long trip.
Their steps led them to a room bathed in the soft glow of dim lighting, a space teeming with historical artefacts. Photographs adorned the walls, capturing moments frozen in time. Books and paintings stood as testaments to stories that had shaped their world. Objects of significance rested on display, each holding a fragment of their shared history. It was a treasure trove of memories waiting to be explored, and Alicia's heart quickened with anticipation.
Hunter's gaze swept over the room, a mixture of reverence and nostalgia evident in his eyes. He gestured for Alicia to follow him, and together they moved amidst the collection of historical artefacts. There was a quiet energy in the room, as if the stories of the past were whispering to them.
"None of these are meant to be seen by the public eye. They hold secrets and tales that go beyond what history records." He whispered, his words echoing in the room.
Alicia's brow furrowed as she turned to him, her voice tinged with curiosity and suspicion. "Then... why bring me here?"
A small smile touched Hunter's lips; his gaze steady on hers. "Because I believe you're meant to see something, something that connects you to the past in ways you might not yet comprehend." His voice was hushed as he spoke.
He led her to a particular painting, tucked away in a corner, bathed in the soft glow of a spotlight.
He turned her attention back to the painting, and as Alicia's eyes focused on the portrait before her, her breath caught in her throat. It was as if time had frozen, with the image holding her captive. The person depicted in the painting bore a striking resemblance to her—facial features that were hauntingly familiar yet belonged to a different era. Alicia's gaze darted from the portrait to Hunter, a mixture of confusion and shock playing across her features. The truth slowly dawned on her, a realization that seemed both impossible and undeniable.
"Who... who is that?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper.
Hunter's expression held a depth of emotion, a mixture of understanding and empathy. "That, Alicia, is a glimpse into the past. A past that holds a connection to you, a connection that stretches across time."
As the weight of his words settled over her, Alicia's mind raced to comprehend the implications. She stared at the portrait, the eyes of the person in the painting seeming to meet hers with an uncanny familiarity. The pieces of a puzzle she hadn't known existed began to fall into place, and the sensation of déjà vu that had haunted her for so long suddenly made sense. Her shaking hands found her neck, rubbing intensely, and her heart raced as she looked back at Hunter, her voice trembling with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. "You're saying... I'm connected to this person?"
Hunter nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "Your connection to this person, to this history, is more profound than you could have imagined. The past and the present are intertwined, and you're standing at the crossroads of it all."
It didn't make any sense. None of it did.
Alicia's mind raced, her thoughts a whirlwind of questions and revelations. She stared at the portrait, her reflection mingling with that of the person who seemed to bear her very essence. The room around her seemed to fade away, leaving only the portrait and the enigmatic man beside her.
She turned to look at the man beside her, taking a step backwards away from him as her nervous voice whispered, "Who... are you?" The air around them crackled with unspoken questions and a growing sense of urgency.
****
A/N:
In case you have any questions for the characters to answer—dead or alive—drop them. That would be the last chapter with their answers.
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