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Still observing Kel in confusion, Soren finally produced the object he'd been searching for from his pocket. It was a small bundle of cream-colored linen, wrapped tightly.

He covered his mouth and nose as he unfurled the bundle.

"I really didn't want to do this," he said softly. "You'll understand me later. I'll make sure you do."

Kel froze. A faint whiff of some familiar scent caught her attention. What was in that cloth in Soren's hand? And why was he covering his-

Without warning, Soren blew softly against the cloth from behind his fingers. A white cloud instantly flew toward Kel.

Immediately, the world around her began going black.

The pungent smell from earlier now filled Kel's nose. She'd already experienced it more than once--aconitum powder.

"Y-you.." she lifted a trembling finger toward Soren's grinning face, still mostly covered by his hand.

"I told you, darling, this hurts me more than it hurts you," he chirped, carefully rewrapping the aconitum-filled cloth and returning it to its place.

Kel tried to say more, to scream at Soren for being unfair and crazy, but she wasn't strong enough to cling to consciousness any longer. Her mind went blank as her eyelids closed.

With a thud, her limp body fell against Soren's exposed chest. He smiled, placing one arm under her back and another under her knees to carry her.

"It would have been easier, if only you'd behaved," he clicked his tongue.

***

Chirp! Chirp!

"Mmmm," Kel groaned, putting a hand up to her aching forehead.

How long had she been asleep? Her body felt like it had just been roused from a ten year slumber.

She peeked one eye open for a split second, expecting to be met with glaring light. To her surprise, there was nothing but a gentle orange glow.

"Has Lucy not opened the curtains yet?" she muttered, rubbing her eyes.

"I'm afraid there are no windows here," a voice answered. "Not much to see outside, anyway."

Eh?

Kel sat up, squinting as she scanned her surroundings.

This wasn't her room. It was large, unlike the one she was currently assigned next to the emperor's study, and the furniture was all different. Not to mention the plethora of candles and lamps littered around.

As she sat in bewilderment, fragmented memories began trickling in.

"Mr. Magici-I mean, Soren!!" she suddenly jolted.

"Hush. There's no need to be so loud," the voice replied again. "You're safe now."

Attempting to blink away the last of the dots sprinkled over her vision, Kel turned to the woman speaking.

"Lila?" she asked as her eyes landed on the middle-aged librarian, sitting in a straight back chair and holding a book in her hands.

"I told you I'd see you again soon," the woman smiled.

Kel tumbled out of the bed, still tangled in the sheets as she ran toward Lila.

"How.. Where…" she panted, landing at the woman's feet.

"My goodness, is this a princess or a child?" Lila chuckled, bending down to stroke Kel's hair.

For a moment, Kel let her body relax as she enjoyed Lila's gentle pats and quiet humming.

"Where are we?" she finally murmured.

The woman stopped humming. "Somewhere far away."

"But, Lila!" Kel sat up. "I thought you were arrested? And I ran into that awful man I told you about, and he-"

"Calm down," Lila soothed. "I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and I'll answer them one at a time."

"Alright," Kel sighed.

She was very much not calm.

"Good, now let's get you back in bed," the librarian smiled.

Soon, Lila had Kel snuggled tightly in the bed again. She dragged her chair over and sat down, clasping one of Kel's hands.

"That's better, isn't it?" she beamed.

"Uh, yeah," Kel answered. "Now can you tell me where we are? Actually, no, tell me what happened to you."

Lila chuckled, rubbing her chin. "Hmm, let's see. After those brutes pulled me away from the library, they took me t-"

BANG!

The door flew open, stopping Lila mid-sentence. "Where's my princess?!"

"N-no," Kel stuttered, staring at the golden-eyed man in the doorframe. "Why is he here?"

The librarian sighed and shook her head at the man before turning back to Kel. "I know you're upset, dear, but if you'd just listen to m-"

"I asked why he's here!!" Kel yelled, yanking her hand away from the woman.

Panic surged through her body. She already knew Lila was suspicious, but was she really involved with Soren?

"Have you forgotten? I'm the one who brought you here," Soren replied cheerily, skipping toward the bed. He sat on the end and extended an apple to Kel. "Hungry?"

Kel snorted at him and crossed her arms.

"This is why," Lila's voice was full of irritation, "I told you to give me some time alone with the girl."

"What's so wrong with me being here?" the man replied, taking a large bite of the apple. He blinked at Lila with innocent eyes as he chewed, juice glistening on the edges of his mouth.

"Are you with him?" Kel asked quietly amidst the crunching of Soren's teeth against the apple's flesh.

All three fell silent at her words.

"Of course she is," the man finally responded, wiping his mouth.

Ignoring him, Kel turned her attention to the librarian.

"Lila.." she hesitated.

The woman turned away, nodding slowly. "I-"

"Don't you know where you are?" the man interrupted, grinning mischievously.

Kel kept her eyes on Lila, a knot forming in her throat. The woman's head was still turned away, but her hands were clasped tightly in front of her. Her throat moved up and down each time she swallowed as if there was something blocking the way.

"I don't," Kel finally responded.

The man bounced off the bed and hurried to Lila's side. Slinging an arm around her, he exclaimed, "Welcome to The Yellow Marguerite, Princess!"