Lumi woke up suddenly.

She looked to the side, watching as the light filtered out the window.

She felt weak, but at the same time...okay...

Lumi shook her head, trying to clear the daze that was over her. She felt like she had resurfaced from the world.

Turning to the other side, she smiled when she saw Jodi.

"Jodi...."

The woman opened her eyes, sitting up straighter in her chair and smiling down at Lumi.

"You're awake," she whispered.

"What happened?" Lumi asked.

"You had a bad fever," Jodi said, shaking her head. "I worried about you. You're not used to our climate, so the chill that came over you wasn't normal. I didn't know what to do, but they told me I had to be the one to help."

Jodi sighed and leaned back in her chair, "I told them they needed a doctor. But no one listens to me."

Lumi's smile widened as the woman continued talking.

"I guess you got sick at the right time. There's a lot of bustle in the kitchen over the people that are coming back to the castle these next few weeks. One of the guards told me they didn't know what they were going to do with you, so I suggested that once you were better, you could help me."

"Guests?" Lumi asked.

"Haven't you noticed the castle has been empty?"

Lumi shrugged, "I thought it was always like that?"

Jodi laughed, "well...yes and no...I mean, the majority of the King's council have been out on inspection of the lands and to other kingdoms. I think they go to the Kingdoms instead of the other way around." Jodi gave Lumi a knowing look before continuing, "But that's about to be done, and they will be coming back. This isn't really the usual in the palace. Most of the time Wilmot is here though."

"Who is Wilmot?" Lumi felt like she was completely in the dark.

Jodi stared at her in surprise. "I'm sure you've seen Wilmot. He never leaves the King's side. He's the head council."

Ah. Lumi felt a satisfied thump in her chest for her correct guess at the man's position.

So his name was Wilmot.

"How long have I been sick?"

"Three days....don't you remember any of it?"

"Uh..." Lumi thought...most of it was just a blur of dreams. "I guess not," she concluded.

"I'll let you rest for another day. Do you think you'll be up to working in the kitchen tomorrow? You're not running a fever anymore."

Lumi nodded eagerly, "the King will allow it?"

Jodi sighed and nodded. The King had readily agreed to it to everyone's surprise. It seemed he wanted the girl out of sight and out of mind in Jodi's opinion.

* * *

Lumi thrived in the kitchen.

It was apparent to the kitchen workers that if she had applied for the position, they might all have been at risk of being replaced in their jobs.

That only made them work harder.

Jodi looked at it all with an appreciative gaze.

The kitchen though...was not outside...

Lumi asked if she could do any delivery runs. The servants were very skeptical of letting her out of their sights. She was after all, still a prisoner of the King.

Lumi sighed and continued in the kitchen.

This lasted for several days before Lumi realized that there was a monster in her.

She had never been aware of it.

Probably because she had always had freedom to roam and run in the summer lands. To go where she wanted, even if she was a royal. Most likely because she had only spent her time inside if she had to sleep- and the majority of nights in the summer lands were so nice, you could sleep outside anyway.

Lumi's grandfather had tried to persuade her mother many times to allow Lumi to train in his lands and take over his name sake when he eventually passed on from his tribe. Lumi had agreed with her mother when she said no- but only because grandfather's lands were so hot. Lumi loved their way of life though, and could understand why he thought she would fit in.

They were constantly traveling in their small region, constantly moving, and working and staying outside. They had beautiful traditions that Lumi loved and memorized- ancient languages that they spoke openly to one another.

Now, Lumi realized that maybe her grandfather had seen this side of her, when even she hadn't.

Lumi stared at the open doorway of her room.

With her fever, and now working in the kitchen, it had been over a week since she went outside.

A week.

She wanted to taste the open air.

She wanted to touch the snow again.

Lumi stared at the open doorway.

They still had not assigned a guard to her.

There was no one watching her.

Lumi took her cloak.

She was in a trance. She could feel her arms and legs moving against her will as her mind said one thing, but her body did another.

She walked barefoot.

Toes touching the ground softly, before she pressed the rest of her foot down. Her walk reminded her of a cat, and how it crept through the dark.

Where was she going?

The only place she knew.

The throne room.

That was the only open space she was aware of that she could easily find.

No one would be there at this time of night.

She would just go out to the courtyard. That was all. Just stand in the snow.

She made her way carefully, listening and watching for anything that would stop her.

But nothing came. Lumi sighed in relief when she found herself facing the throne room doors.

Maybe someone would be inside guarding?

But in the times she had been in there, there had been nothing grand in it except for the chair itself.

Slowly, Lumi opened the door, peering inside.

Nothing. There was no one.

She made her way further in, her eyes glued to the doors that lined the side of the room.

She knew they had access to the open space of the court yard.

Without another thought she walked to them, opening the nearest one.

A freezing wind blasted into her face, so forceful that it even pulled her hair back and stung her eyes.

Lumi found herself laughing without thinking about it as she giddily crossed the threshold and into the open.

The sky was above her! She reached her hands out, staring in amazement at it. The night sky took her breath away. She had never seen so many stars gathered in one place. Lights of green and purples streaked in the distance.

What were the lights? How did they get there?

Lumi felt a drunk happiness come over her as she spread her cloak and twirled around.

She raised her head, closing her eyes and spreading herself wide. She felt the wind catch and billow out the material of her cloak.

In this moment she felt eternal.

She looked around her, her breath catching as she suddenly froze.

Above her on a balcony just over her head, stood the King.

He stared down at her, his eyes focused in her direction.

Without thinking she bowed. Lumi had only bowed a handful of times to him before, but something compelled her to do so now.

He had caught her red handed.

Slowly he raised a drink to his lips.

Lumi watched it, realizing with some surprise that the King had been on his balcony drinking whatever alcoholic drink it was, and taking in the sky like she was. Before she had interrupted his night with her crazy dance and laughing spree.

"You're feeling better?

His sudden question startled her.

She had not given him a single thought because she thought he would not have given her a single thought. It rattled Lumi that he knew she had been ill, and was asking about her health now.

"I...yes....I am..."

"You're completely recovered?"

She hesitated, before nodding.

His glare seemed to flash down at her as he softly put his drink down and whispered from above, "And you think going out in the middle of the night bare-foot in the snow will help this continued recovery?"

Lumi froze.

Ah.

That was a tricky question.

He continued to stare at her as she guilty look away.

"I needed to go outside," she mumbled.

"Speak louder," he demanded.

Lumi faced him and straightened her back. She felt like shouting her answer to him, but knew better than to do that. "I needed to go outside."

"Now?"

"Well...yes?"

It seemed obvious to her. Even he was outside, so why was he standing there judging. Until Lumi realized that his judgment might have been because she had broken his rules. Twice.

"I didn't mean to break your command."

"You obviously did if you made the conscious decision to leave your room."

She smiled up at him, amusement flashing in her face. Was that sarcasm she heard?

He glared down at her, no amusement showing on his features.

"Get back inside."

She gave an elaborate bow to him, deepening his scowl.

"Goodnight, King Theros."

He looked down at her. She was not expecting a reply but to her complete shock she heard him whisper in the dark, "Goodnight....Lumi...."

Today has been rough, so I apologize for the rough chapter. Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you all are staying safe and doing well ♥