Page 32 of Magic of Sins

“You must be awfully tired after all that’s happened. Let’s try to get some sleep. Then tomorrow, we’ll find you your own room. It’s not like we don’t have enough of them here.”

Her hospitality is overwhelming. I wonder what Ava would say if she knew I’m sharing a bed with the princess tonight. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth at the thought, chasing away the tears for a moment.

“See, you can already laugh again,” Ophelia says, pleased. “And I promise you, the world won’t seem as bleak tomorrow.”

Indeed it doesn’t. But not because I’ve forgotten the horrors of the previous night, but because I wake up to an unfamiliar scent that smells simply heavenly.

Ophelia is sitting with her legs drawn up to her chest on one of the armchairs in the sitting area, still looking a little sleepy andglancing guiltily over at me. In her hand she holds something that looks like a pastry.

“Chocolate croissants,” she says, licking her index finger. “They’re my only vice. Just don’t tell my father about them.”

I’m instantly wide awake. I sit up in bed and look at her with wide eyes.

“That… that’s forbidden,” I say lamely.

Ophelia shrugs as she tears off a piece of the croissant and shoves it into her mouth.

“Well, everything fun always is. But what he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. Do you want one? I asked Erin to sneak a second one into the palace especially for you.”

I shake my head firmly, even though it’s as if I can already taste the sweetness of the croissant on my tongue. The flaky crust, the smooth, chocolatey filling inside. I lick my lips.

What is wrong with me? I’ve always been able to control myself. But since last night, I feel as if something inside me has been awakened. Something that had been asleep and hidden away deep inside me.

“Are you sure you don’t want some?” Ophelia asks, already reaching for the second croissant. “God, these are heavenly!”

I watch as she greedily stuffs the second croissant into her mouth. I want to snatch it out of her hand. I breathe in and out shakily.

Pull yourself together, Kaya.

After Ophelia polishes off the second croissant, she slaps her hand over her mouth in embarrassment.

“Sorry, that was completely self-indulgent. I just suddenly had such a craving for them.”

A delicate blush tinges her cheeks.

“Where does Erin get the croissants?” I ask to distract myself from how uncomfortable the whole situation is making me.

Ophelia’s gaze darts to the door. Presumably to where Erin isstanding guard.

“There’s this little shop on Downhill Street on the edge of the East End,” she says.

“And she doesn’t mind going there for you?”

Ophelia’s face turns a darker shade. She looks embarrassed.

“We went there together once. Since then, every now and then, she’s brought me a croissant for breakfast. I’ve never asked her to do it.”

“This is…”Insanity? Against the law? Dangerous?“… nice of her.”

I smile without much conviction.

“It is nice. Very nice. Erin is…”

Ophelia interrupts her nervous stammering and bites her lips.

“… Nice?” I finish her sentence and raise my eyebrows.

“Yes.” She draws out the word. Her gaze goes to the door again, with something almost like longing in it.

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