Page 10 of Gifted to the Alien Prince

I turned to Thadron, unable to stop myself. “He’s... something.”

Thadron’s jaw tightened, and he didn’t meet my gaze. “Cryostrum served the court for a long time. Let’s just say he’s very good at making himself indispensable.”

I didn’t press him further, but the tension in his voice told me everything I needed to know about the royal advisor.

Chapter Four

ISA

Ifollowed Thadron through the keep with a sense of wonder. His royal duties had him moving with purpose, the silver threads on his tunic catching the light as he navigated the halls of Gelverin Keep with ease. When we reached a wide set of doors, he paused, entering a code on the panel beside them.

"Since you enjoy books, I thought you might like to see this. Here’s where we keep our history." Thadron gestured toward the digitized archives that spanned the room.

Screens were mounted on the walls, displaying scrolling texts and holographic images that told the tales of Glaciara’s past. I stepped closer to one. The files were filled with alien script, intricate and flowing. "I’m a little embarrassed. How do I decipher this?"

Thadron’s fingers glided over the screen with precision. Suddenly, the text shifted, transforming into familiar letters that spelled out my own language. It was as if the room itself acknowledged my presence, inviting me to delve into its secrets.

"Amazing," I breathed out. Now that I made it safely to his planet and got through the introductions, I was starting to feel more comfortable again. I turned to the prince with a playful smile. "All I need now is a hot toddy and a cozy blanket to settle in with all these stories."

"Perhaps you should have brought them with you from your shop."

His bland remark caught me off guard, and I found myself fumbling for a response, wondering if I'd overstepped some invisible boundary. Before I could recover, a shadow flickered at the edge of my vision. Cryostrum strode by the open doorway. He didn’t stop or acknowledge us as he passed.

I glanced toward Thadron, whose eyes had narrowed ever so slightly at Cryostrum's fleeting appearance. "Let's continue."

I nodded. His annoyance had to be with Cryostrum, not me. Maybe it was about that discussion the advisor wanted to have with him. Either way, it wasn’t my business.

I pushed my doubts aside as we walked on, my mind already racing with the legends and lore that waited within those digital pages.

The hallway leading to my quarters was lined with sculptures, each one casting a prism of light across the walls. The white mineral they were made from had a gleaming semi-opaque quality, reminding me of melting snow caught in the sun. Even the air in the corridor felt ethereal—cool, crisp, and scented faintly with something like mint and pine. Thadron guided me in silence. Despite his armor and boots, he made quiet footsteps.

When we reached the door to my room, he paused, handed me a key, and offered me a curt nod. "Rest, if you need to. Dinner will be served in two hours."

"Thank you again." I found myself wishing for a moment longer of his company. I didn’t think to ask him what he liked to read in the archives. But he was already turning away, vanishing down the maze of halls and alcoves.

I opened the door and stepped inside, and for a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in. The room was vast, with soaring ceilings and walls, carved in intricate geometric patterns that reminded me of snowflakes frozen midair. The bed, larger than any I’d ever seen, was draped in soft blankets that glimmeredfaintly with the gold and silver embroidery I’d seen in most of the Glaciarians’ clothing. Pillows of various sizes were piled at the head, and a soft glow came from small crystals embedded in the headboard, casting a soothing light over the space.

A fireplace dominated one corner of the room, its flames a curious shade of blue and white, crackling softly against some kind of light grey and blue stones. Next to it stood a heating unit, sleek and modern, shaped like an obelisk with glowing runes along its surface. It radiated warmth that cut through the chill of the air, leaving the room perfectly cozy despite the icy aesthetic.

On the far side, tall, arched windows stretched from floor to ceiling, framing a breathtaking view of the snow-dusted hills beyond the keep. The glass was so clear that it almost felt like I could reach out and touch the frozen wilderness outside.

I ran my hand along the edge of a nearby table, its surface cool and smooth, carved from the same crystalline material as the walls. Every piece of furniture, from the chair near the fireplace to the small shelves stocked with unfamiliar yet beautiful objects, seemed to balance functionality and artistry.

Alone in my room, I finally sprawled on the plush bed, feeling the soft warm covers beneath me like the embrace of a cloud. I sighed, closing my eyes, and letting myself relax for the first time since stepping foot on Glaciara. My thoughts drifted to Thadron, to the unreadable depths behind those eyes. I understood duty—my bookstore and taking up this ambassador role was a testament to that—but there was something more in his solitude.

Even here, in this place of unimaginable beauty, I couldn’t shake the feeling that his soul was still trapped somewhere, cold and lonely.

A knock at the door jolted my eyes open. I answered it to see Cryostrum. He regarded me with a shrewd gaze.

"Prince Thadron can be difficult," he began, his tone smooth as glass. "I hope he hasn't been too unwelcoming."

"Actually, he's been quite hospitable," I countered, feeling a protective instinct rise within me. "He's shown me nothing but kindness since my arrival."

“As a prince should.” Cryostrum's smile faltered, and he studied me with newfound interest. "If you’ll pardon me, I’m off to meet with him. Will we see you at dinner?”

The idea of having to eat at the table with him made feel tired. “I’ll be there.”

“Good. Until then, Ambassador Hartman.” He bowed to me before taking his leave, leaving me to ponder the intricate web of palace dynamics.

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