IlvMLBCNTNSBFWFIYMHDisNickGirl: Thank you for your kind review, I'm so sorry for the delay but I hope you'll enjoy this chapter!
TayCole : Aww, I'm touched you read my chapter the moment you saw the update! Thank you. I hope you'll enjoy this chapter too!
''I hate this place!'' Sebastian said unknowingly repeating Shelby's exclamation from earlier.
Closing the lid on the hole of the latrine, the prisoner exited the nook where the installation was to get away from the smell. Having spent a few days in the 21st century, the brief memory of modern toilets still lingered on his mind. The knight had always been keen on hygiene which was uncommon in his days.
Grabbing the soap bar in the opposite corner of his cell and pouring water from the chamber pot, he washed his hands having no other choice but to let them air dry. The soap and water had been a request from him since the first day he was emprisoned. The guards hadn't been prone to consent to it but after being surrounded by dirty and smelly prisoners, it seemed like an advantage for them too.
Thankfully, the guard who brought him the hygiene essentials wasn't Andrew. Unfortunately, when Sebastian told him he wasn't receiving food anymore, the later threatened to take away his cleaning privileges for lying to obtain more food. Understanding that it was his word againts Andrew's, Sebastian never tried again to bring attention to the injustice he was the victim of.
If he had to die of hunger down there, he would at least die clean...
That last thought made his stomach turn. He was condamned. Three more days and Shelby would go back to her time, leaving him. What would he miss more, the food or her? Realizing he'd miss the girl more, Sebastian felt a weird sensation in his heart. He had never felt anything like that towards anyone before.
The handsome knight then made up his mind. If he had only three days left, he'd make sure it would be the best three days of his life. He would be the best version of himself in those three days making sure Shelby would at least remember him as a guy who tried... tried to be more than just the monster his father raised him to be.
...
Shelby was learning a lot about the 16th century during this trip. For instance, she had never known that tennis was such an old sport. Standing in the narrow indoor court, waving around her wooden frame racquet, she tried bouncing the heavy cork-cored ball onto a wall. Bouncing the ball on items was not only accepted in the rules of the sport back then but also highly encouraged for strategic purposes. She had previously wondered what the racquets were strung with and once Daisy had explained that it was actually sheep gut, she was sorry she ever asked.
Once she got her previous frustration off her chest, thanks to the unwinding activity, Shelby was even able to let out a laugh as she witnessed Naldo trying to pry Cyd off of Barry who was screaming that it was not a full-contact sport. She then saw Daisy approaching her out of the corner of her right eye.
''Shelby, may we discuss?'' asked the royal brunette.
''Go ahead.'' replied Shelby calmer than earlier. Now, she was ready to hear what her friend had to say.
''I thought about what you said earlier and I understand your point of view.'' started Daisy. ''But I hope you can also understand mine...I can not promise you anything but I will take into consideration that there might be options for those people. I will think about what I can do.''
''Thank you Daisy, it really means a lot for me!'' said Shelby cheerfully before giving a big hug to her friend who let out a laugh. Realizing what she just said Shelby felt her heart skip a beat. Letting go of Daisy who went to see if her lover needed more assistance, the light-headed girl repeated her words inwardly : ''It really means a lot for me''.
Confused at her own statement, she quickly shook her head before getting lost in thoughts once again over the beautiful prisoner.
After dinner...
There she was again, standing in front of the secret entrance door. Her hand hovering over the well-hidden doorknob started shaking as she tried to calm down by taking deep breaths. To say that she was scared considering their last encounter was an understatement, but Shelby refused to show him that.
Closing her eyes before opening them again, she twisted the doorknob with a new found determination. Descending the stairs, she reminded herself of all the signs pointing towards the hidden goodness of his heart. How he wanted to push her away to protect her from his own self. How his eyes watered after he let slip what happened to his mother. And how devastated he seemed after trying to choke her.
The moment she saw him look up to acknowledge her, she already knew. She knew something was different from the way he stood with his hands behind his back like a true gentleman. She knew he wanted to change from the softness of his eyes.
And she knew she would eventually fall for him from the way he said her name as if it was a lifeline.
''Shelby.''
What do you think? I can't promise anything but I really want to update more often...hopefully, I'll have the chance to do so.