Page 1 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

L ong, pointy ears.

That is the first thing my eyes fall on as I look out the window of my home.

The next thing I see is how tall the Fae men and women are as they work on constructing the new building for the prince.

I will never get tired of watching them work, talk to each other, and just live their lives.

To see how strong they are and how efficiently they work together, like they are one unit.

Fae are fascinating beings. Having lived here way before humans needed refuge. Watching them live differently from us but still thrive under the king’s rule.

Any human who walks by is at least two or three feet shorter than the Fae creatures. Standing at a minimum of eight feet, they tower over us.

A little part of me is afraid every time I pass them, but I know they don’t have their magic to harm us. Although just because the witch took away their magic doesn’t mean she took away their strength. That doesn’t mean they couldn’t grab one of us and snap our necks.

Sighing, I watch as several grab heavy bags, hauling them over their shoulder and start walking toward the construction site. I haven’t heard what they are building, but whatever it is, it’s going to be big with the foundation they have laid.

Hundreds of years ago, Fae and humans used to live as one in the world, with the Fae king ruling both kinds.

I’ve heard several stories of it being peaceful, but I’ve heard even more stories of them having humans as slaves.

That the Fae king was getting too powerful and wanted to enslave humans even more than they already were.

No one but the king, his family, and the witch knows the true story.

“Adeline?” my mother calls.

Turning around, I look at my mom. She’s pregnant, and it was quite the surprise when my mom started showing. Apparently, it was a shock for my parents as well. My sister is thirty-five and I am twenty-five.

I could be the baby’s mother.

I shiver at the thought. Being a mother right now is not something I want. Thankfully, it’s my mother and not me, but part of me thinks I’ll be helping out a lot with the baby and being a second mother to them.

I was weirded out when my mother told me she was pregnant, not knowing what to do with the information. She hadn’t planned to get pregnant, but she is and she is going to have the baby.

“Yes?” I reply, taking a step away from the window.

“Have you finished all the chores?”

I nod. “Yes, I have. Can I go on a walk now?”

Even though I am an adult, I’m not married, which means I have to live with my parents. It is one of the laws of our land, a dumb one at that. But I also ask because I am taking on more responsibility around the house, trying to prepare for the birth of my little sister or brother.

I know with hard work we will be able to get everything done, but sometimes I wonder if we will ever be ready. I still need to go to the next town over to grab supplies for my mother, which is a full day’s trip.

It isn’t going to be easy when my mother has the baby. She won’t be able to work much for the first couple of weeks, so everything is going land onto me. It is going to be rough, but we’re going to make it work. We have to.

As if my mom knows I need to get some fresh air, she sighs. “Don’t be long. There are other things to do around the house.”

I step closer to my mom, kissing her cheek before turning to the front door. “Thank you! I’ll be back soon!”

If I had it my way, I would be outside all the time, walking in the forest and breathing in the fresh air. But sadly, I can’t do that. I want to soak up as much time as I can outside before the baby arrives.

When I step outside, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, savoring the heat of the sun and cool breeze against my skin. Winter is coming faster than I want it to. Another thing we needed to prepare for. With a huff, I open my eyes and start walking down the cobblestone road and into town.

As I walk slowly, the sun warms up my body. Chatter fills the road as people go in and out of shops, getting what they need. Even though life is rough, a lot of people have smiles on their faces as they see friends walking by.

The town is small with a cobblestone road running through the middle that leads to the castle but also the other towns on this realm.

The well is placed in the center of the town, near the construction of the prince’s building so it can be monitored by the guards who are also looking after the Fae.

Houses are lined up in rows on one side, leaving the construction on the other side of the cobblestone road where the forest is and where the Fae live.

I look to my left where all the Fae men and women are slowly working. With each passing year, this side of the road changes. I don’t know how to describe it, but things on this land are changing. Almost declining, as if the Fae magic is what has kept it thriving and vibrant all these years.

Shaking my head, I look away. I don’t need to feel sorry for them.

If the stories are true, they were vicious and mean creatures, wanting to make life hell for humans.

But I can’t help but wonder if that is all true.

I have never seen any of them be vicious toward humans, yet again, they don’t have their powers any longer.

We are safer with them like this, and it brings me some sort of comfort knowing that. Even though they could still easily kill us if they wanted to.

“Get back to work!” a guard yells at a group of Fae men.

He has a whip in his hand, and I look away, cringing. The guards are allowed to strike any of the Fae if they deem them to be not working fast enough. Cruel is what I think it is, but this is how we live. And what can I do about it? I’m nothing but a normal twenty-five-year-old woman.

They are building a mansion for the king’s son, Archie. Apparently, it is to be his house until his father dies, and he inherits the crown. Why they have to build another house, I do not understand.

It’s a waste of space, time, and resources if anyone asks me. The prince doesn’t need a grand home to live in. The palace is plenty big enough for both of them.

I groan as I spot Prince Archie in front of the building site. Over the past several weeks, he has taken an interest in me, and I don’t know why. I don’t know how he’s figured out who I am.

But he has.

He has now tried talking to me several times, and I’ve evaded him quite a bit, but I can’t do it all the time. No doubt, he knows where I live, and I don’t want him to put stress on my mom by visiting. Not when I don’t know what it is he wants.

I don’t want anything to do with the prince.

“Adeline!” he yells.

I flinch, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath before plastering a smile on my face and turning to face him.

Prince Archie walks toward me, his long blonde hair flowing in the wind, a smirk plastered on his face, flanked by two guards with swords on their hips and whips in their hands.

How does he not feel trapped with them following him everywhere?

He can’t go anywhere alone, most likely afraid that the Fae will do something to him.

Everything in me wants to turn and run away. I never wanted to catch his eye. All I’ve ever wanted was to live in the background, taking walks in the forest, and helping my parents.

Getting married has always been a dream of mine, but to a commoner like myself, not the king’s son. But I don’t even know if the prince wants to marry me or why he has taken an interest in me. I want a simple life, one of ease and love, but with the prince, I won’t get that.

“Adeline!” he yells again.

All eyes are on me as he closes the distance, watching curiously as to why the king’s son wants anything to do with me. I would be curious, too, if I were them. But right now, I wish they would look away from me and move on with their day.

“Yes, Prince Archie?” I give a slight bow, showing the respect I don’t have for him.

His eyes regard me as I stand straight, waiting for him to say what he wants. But he just continues to stare at me, taking in everything.I’m wearing my faded green dress with several patches of different colored fabric sewn onto it where there used to be holes .

I clench my jaw and wait for him to be done. Taking a deep breath, I bite my tongue as his eyes continue to go up and down my body.

He does this every time, and it makes me sick to my stomach the way his eyes roam across my body. Bile threatens to come up as his gaze stays on my breasts for several seconds before making its way to my eyes.

“Prince Archie?” I ask, pulling him out of his trance. “Did you need something?”

His eyes land on my breasts once again, and I roll my eyes. I am by no means super well-endowed up top, but Prince Archie thinks otherwise. But I’m not small either, just the right size for my slim frame.

He nods. “I want to have lunch with you today,” he states.

“I don’t think I can do lunch. I am a busy person,” I gently say, trying to get out of it.

It isn’t a complete lie, though. There are so many things to do to prepare for the baby coming and the impending winter. Can I really afford to have lunch with him?

I could, since I go walking every day, but being outside is a way for me to reset my social battery and stay sane. Without it, I would go absolutely mad.

His face hardens, all emotions leaving as he stares at me. “It isn’t a request.”

I flinch. “Sorry, Prince Archie,” I whisper, bowing. “In that case, I will join you.”

I don’t dare straighten until he tells me I can. I thought it would have been okay saying that I couldn’t but I was wrong, so wrong.

It’s a fine balance when it comes to Prince Archie, and I’m still learning it. Will I ever figure it out? Probably not.

“Rise,” and I do just that.

He smiles like nothing had happened. “Meet me outside the new building at one,” he says and starts walking away before I have the opportunity to reply.