CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Days had passed since when she received information about the princes and she still hadn’t caught sight of the younger one. At this point she was lost on what to do.
She was currently folding her clothes that she and washed the previous day absentmindedly.
Her mind had been driven into overdrive while trying to think up another way to complete her mission.
Due to her thoughts, she didn’t notice when the door opened and Tiffany walked in.
“Alyssa!” Tiffany called as she tapped her shoulder
Alyssa snapped out of her reverie and glanced at Tiffany to see her fave filled with worry.
“Oh! When did you get here? Why didn’t you say anything?” Alyssa questioned.
“Huh? I’ve been in the room for a while now. I kept calling you to tell you that I as done with my chores bit you never replied. I had to tap you before you answered. What’s wrong?” Tiffany replied before asking what was bothering her in worry.
Alyssa was surprised that she had been so absorbed in her thoughts to notice Tiffany’s entry.
She couldn’t possibly bring herself to tell Tiffany that she was trying to conjure up easy to approach the younger prince that Tiffany seemed to hate. She also couldn’t tell her that she was trying to come up with ways to get her hands on the map that showed where Venice’s treasure was situated.
Only the heavens knew how Tiffany would react and she didn’t want her to look at her with disgust.
Unknowingly, she had become attached to Tiffany so much that she wasn’t ready to see her hate her. She also didn’t want to lose the friendship she had now.
So, in order to cover up her intentions, she quickly conjured up a lie.
“I’m afraid that my family would try and search for me. If they do search for me, I’m not sure if I can resist them when they want to take me back with them. I might not feel any attachment to them emotionally but they have abused my body so much that it quivers and trembles at their sight.”
There was a semblance of truth in her words.
She knew that she was stronger than Ella or her stepmother if they attacked her separately but she just couldn’t fight back no matter how much she tried to will her body to. She just trembled pathetically once a hand was raised towards her direction.
Tiffany looked horrified by her revelation then she gigged Alyssa tightly to her.
“Its alright Leah. Rest assured I will never allow them take you even if I have to fight then till my last breath. Besides, they can never walk in here to take any member if the palace without their consent. Even if the person was a mere servant! So you can allow your mind to be calm and worry free. You are in safe hands.” Tiffany assured firmly.
They had just stuck to calking each other by nicknames ever since they met. It felt natural to then as if they had known each other for years.
As Alyssa listened to Tiffany’s words, even more guilt settled in her because she was leading her by tge nose yes Tiffany was genuinely worried about her.
Tears welled up in her eyes at this thought.
Even when she was away from them, those vile people were still controlling her life so much that the first genuine friend and sister she had was rewarded with lies upon lies by her.
Tiffany thought she was touched by her declaration so she hugged Alyssa even tighter.
“There there! You are safe.”
“I know! I’m thankful that I have you in my life. I live and appreciate the support you have given me since we met up till this point.” Alyssa declared while the tears began to fall silently from her face.
“Its okay! Ilk always be here for you so you can come to be should out have any worries, alright? To me you’re a elder sister I never had so I’ll make sure to properly protect you come rain or shine” Tiffany vowed.
Alyssa felt even more guilty at that.
“You’re also a sister to me. I do contemplate if I’m really the older one as you are almost always looming out for me. I’m more like the younger sister in this relationship. Thank you for staying by me since the day I met you. I’m glad I stopped to save you as you have been nothing but a blessing in my life.” Alyssa declared genuinely meaning every single word.
She might have lied to Tiffany but she knew all Tiffany had done for her up till now.
“Awwn, Alyssa! That’s just so sweet. I never knew you had it in you to say sweet things. You are always so serious. So you are actually a softie?” Tiffany teased as she separated from Alyssa.
Alyssa blushed s tinge of pink in embarrassment as she swatted at Tiffany’s shoulder.
“Stop it! Don’t expect such words again.” Alyssa harrumphed before turning to mask tge guilt that had shown on her face.
Tiffany just chuckled at shy Alyssa.
How she wished they met under different circumstances, she would have never said a word of deceit to her.
I’m sorry, Tiffany.
After that, they chatted a bit till Alyssa felt good enough to continue her work.
She busied herself all day so she wouldn’t think about what she had done to Tiffany
After they were done for the day, they had retired and Alyssa lay on her bed, unable to sleep.
When she was sure, Tiffany was totally asleep, she snuck out of the room before heading out and wandering aimlessly.
She wasn’t sure where she was going to, she just wanted to clear her head.
What she didn’t know was that immediately she exited the room, Tiffany opened her grey eyes to stare at her empty bed.
She sighed as she started at where Tiffany slept earlier.
She wasn’t a fool.
She knew that Alyssa was keeping something from her.
She knew that Alyssa had something disturbing her but since she didn’t want to share, she couldn’t force her to tell her. She just hoped that there was a day Alyssa would trust her enough to tell her all her worries.
She closed her eyes and drifted off with thoughts of worry for Alyssa occupying her mind.
Alyssa had wandered off and she soon found herself at a garden that was different from the one they cleaned daily.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
She heard the flowing and sloshing if water up ahead which made her come to the conclusion that there was a pond or a lake somewhere close by.
It wouldn’t be bad to be near a pond as she hadn’t seen one in a while.
She walked towards the directions the sound was coming from.
There she saw a beautiful lake that seemed to shimmer with the moonlight.
That wasn’t what caught her attention though. What did was the silhouette that was standing atop the bridge that had been built to aid crossing the lake.
Her heart dropped and she ran as fast as her kegs could carry her.
She reached out and pulled as the person’s clothes while shouting “Don’t!”
Due to her hurry, she misstepped and found herself falling backwards but she seemed to pull the person along with her.
She closed her eyes and awaited the impact of her head with the ground but something seemed to cushion her fall.
She opened her eyes and noticed that she it was the person she had pulled earlier. They had used their hand to protect her head.
She also felt their weight atop herself.
She looked up and found emerald green eyes that seemed to shine staring back at her.
For a moment, her heartbeat paused.