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CHAPTER TWENTY
Edward POV
I walked out the throne room strangely excited about the fact that my father released her. And I was more excited to see the look on her face and how she would react if she knew I was the one who got her out of the dungeons and not her beloved Stuart.
I rushed into the kitchen with the aim of seeing her but she was not there, I wondered where she could have gone to, I started my search for where she might have gone and without knowing I already searched the whole west wing and still no sight of her. I tried my luck and went to her room near my quarters but she also was not there, I tried not to make it known that I was searching for someone because nothing spreads faster than gossip in these parts and I would hate for them to add that nuisance’s name with mine.
I stopped and decided to ask them since these people knows almost everything in the castle.
“Hey where is the maid Alice.” I asked a passing maid, I saw her face flush with pink from nervousness.
“Hmmm she is in the Queen’s chambers your grace.” She stuttered out.
“Why?” I questioned.
“She was asked for by the Queen.” She replied.
“How many hours ago?” I asked her.
“About an hour now your grace.” She replied.
I waved my hands and she left. I really was wondering what Mother would want with her to invite her to her chambers, I turned and I saw the maids have already started murmuring. Maybe it was a bad idea to ask from that maid after all because I know that a rumour would come up later and it would be eaten up fast. I turned and made my way to the Queen’s chambers which was actually in the far end of the castle.
I walked hurriedly that it caught the sight of some maids and guards, I felt their curious gaze on me but none stopped me and it was not like they could. I saw the Queens’s chamber in sight, I pushed the door to get in and I stopped in my tracks as I saw Alice laughing brightly with my mother, for some weird reason I was strangely pleased to see her laughing. I wonder why, yet I was not in a place where I could get lost in my own thoughts.
“Why is my mother keeping my maid from coming to do her duties?” I asked my mother in a teasing tone.
“Oh, you stingy little child. I just wanted to have fun with a new face for the first time in a while and here you are complaining to my ears.” She teased me in return. We kept on going in circles with us teasing one another.
“By your leave My Queen.” She asked mother seeking permission to leave. I looked at her and saw that she looked annoyed, I started wondering as to why or what could have caused her change in mood. Or could it have been me? I waved off the thoughts as soon as it appeared, what is my headache if she finds me annoying. It goes both ways and there definitely is no love lost between us, I just could not grasp why on earth am I ticked off by her. I was pleased to be here with my mother and I love the fact that she was happy as we talked.
“You are excused; I will see you later Alice.” She said granting her the leave, I saw how she quickly curtsied before she walked as fast as she could out of there. My body turned to follow her out but I was stopped and saw a hand holding mine, I turned to see my mother already looking at me with a smile that she always gives when she thinks that she knows something about us that we do not.
“What is it mother?” I asked.
“Answer me just one question.” She said. I nodded my head waiting for her, but she did not say anything then I remembered that she loves it when we give her oral confirmation.
“Yes, ask Mother.” I answered her.
“Do you like Alice.” She asked me with her gaze hot.
Alice’s POV
I ran all the way into the dungeons where I was once kept but my heart and mind had no thought of that at the moment because my mind was on the person that I was told was in those four walls. I got to the entrance and I was not granted access, I am guessing that it had to do with the situation that happened with Edward the last time. I begged them and pleaded but they refuse to let me in.
I felt so sad because he was there for me and yet I was not given the chance to return the favour, after begging for a long time I finally decide to leave, I was beat down and I walked so slowly. I met a fellow maid on the way who gave me my duties to run, I guess no time was needed before I was thrusted back fully into works, I took it and made my way meekly to my works vowing within myself to sneak into the dungeons later at night,
I was given the duty of delivering a bag of leftover fruits to the stable keepers so they would be sued to feed the horses, I got to the place and I met a very adorable girl of 14 summers. She has bright green eyes and hair the colour of corn. Her face is washed in freckles and she wears her cute, long hair in pig tails which over all make her so adorable.
“Hi what is your name.” I asked her giving her a smile.
“Angela miss.” She replied me returning my smile with one of hers. I smiled again and passed to her the bag, but I must have overestimated her strength or underestimated the load of the bag because she almost fell over.
“Oh, I am so sorry let me help you.” I said before lifting the bag from her hands and carried it with just a hand. I saw her looking at me in awe so I looked at her using my eye to ask the question.
“You are so strong miss. You are carrying the bag with just one hand.” She said stating the obvious, I guess it was not that normal. I gave her a wary smile.
“I lived a really rough life before entering the palace.” I said giving her another smile. We started feeding the horses and we talked about a list of random things. I got to know that she was indeed 14 summers as I had guessed and her grandfather was the actual stable keeper, her parents ran away from the kingdom to find greener pastures and left her behind, calling her a burden to their future. I felt hatred to the people I had never met because they caused such an adorable young girl pain, I also felt pity for her.
I also told her that I do not know my parent but I guess having one who is dead and one who you have no idea who it is are almost the same thing, but she was quickly able to tell me she was not too sad about it because she loves her grandfather too much and he also dotes on her. I was having a great time talking to her, we got done with feeding the horses and we sat at the door to the stables discussing random things. I looked up and saw a maid upon us, I knew that that means my time is done.
“You are here in the stables when the Prince is searching for you?” She said
“What!?” I exclaimed.
“You heard me, he is searching for you.” She replied, I stood up and looked at Angela, I was reluctant to go back but I knew I had no choice but to. After all the Prince was the one searching for me.
On getting into the palace I heard some maids whispering something about Prince Edward and a maid and something going on between the two. I do not need to fully understand the point or the reason but one thing is for sure that the maid would be kicked out soon as soon as he was done just like he did to Fiona. I walked my way to the Prince’s quarters, I stood outside and knocked waiting patiently for a response before I entered. I heard nothing and so I tried again still no reply, I was about knocking again when I saw Madam Teresa.
“Alice what are you doing here.” She asked, her hair still packed neatly to her back. I tuned and greeted her.
“Good day Madam, and in response to your question. I am waiting for Prince Edward, I heard he was searching for me earlier.” I answered, she looked at me again then at the closed doors.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“Well since he is not in at the moment, you will be useful in running some errands till the Prince comes back.” She commanded, I nodded already in expectance of something like that to begin with,
I ran some errands and sent some things to the servant at the back, throwing everything to the back of my mind as I made my way tp the kitchen again to work. Yet I knew my focus was not on the job on going but on how I am to meet Stuart later, I finished as soon as possible and retired to my room by the evening hours. I opened the door and saw that the whole room was thrashed by the guards who had ransacked it probably when they were looking for other things that they thought she might have stolen. My mind jolted as I remembered that I could have lost my head if not for whatever it was that had happened in the throne room.
My hands went to my neck as I gripped it in fear of what could have happened then I bent down to start arraign my room. I touched the blanket that had always been with me and smiled before I started cleaning my room. I got done with the whole cleaning and I looked to the window to see that the sun has gone finally and it is already the early hours of the night. I felt my strength leave me, today had got to be one of the most troublesome days ever since I got into the palace.
I changed into my nightgown and got ready for bed when I heard a knock on my door.
“Yes who is it?” I asked.
“Prince Edward asked for you.” She said then I heard her footstep receding. I groaned as I sat on the bed, I eyed the soft surface mournfully before I stood up to go see his royal annoyingness
I rushed out of my room and into the hall half annoyed as to why he might be calling on me late into the night when majority of the whole kingdom would have retired or about to retire to their rooms. I looked at the maid in front of me who had already told me that she was to lead me to where he is. I just do not completely understand why he would pull off something like this the night that I got out of the dungeons, yet I swallowed my words full of complaint and followed her reluctantly.
The castle had always been huge no doubt about that, very soon we left the quarters and we were heading toward the Queen’s rose garden and as the name implies it is a rose garden with different colour and fragrance. It was a gift from the King to his wife because she had told him once that she loves the smell of roses and she would love to have them in different colours. We got there and my escort told me to stay there, she turned and left me alone.
I was all alone and I could not help but start getting worried and anxious, my mind suspecting that this could just be another one of his many tricks that the ever so childish prince had pulled for his own entertainment, I know that leaving would put me in deeper trouble but my mind was thinking of it. Maybe I should leave and come back tomorrow morning, maybe I can use the excuse of being called by a Head maid, definitely not Madam Teresa but I know Meredith would actually play along with me without asking her.
But still I know I had no choice but to stay as to not implicate innocents who have no issue with the vengeful prince. I started seething and getting annoyed in my heart.
“Oh seriously, can I not disobey this stupid childish prince, but I know I can’t because it will be me getting into more trouble and….”
“Hey red head.” I heard the voice then I heard footstep, I turned and saw Edward standing behind me, I tried to balance myself but I tripped over my dress and fell to the ground. I heard a laughter and no surprise there to find the Prince laughing at my predicament. I gripped the grass in anger barley holding myself from tackling him to the ground and running his stupid dainty shirt.
I looked around but I heard a throat clearing in front of me, I turned and was met with him offering his hand. I looked at him but he averted his eye still holding out his arm, I guess it won’t hurt so I took it and he pulls me up and wrap his hands around my waist staring directly into my eyes.