Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
"That bitch!"
Logan screamed in anger as he threw away the glass. It shattered into pieces the moment it hit the floor. "Logan…" Lady Maureen gently called upon her lover's name as if trying to calm him down. Logan was too blinded with rage and frustrations now that his plan is slowly rearing towards a different direction. He couldn't understand why Asiana suddenly want to have the wedding a month earlier than expected but he couldn't risk the fact that she might cancel the engagement right then and there just to be with the Marqis de Marso- Helix and Asiana were not really in a relationship but their closeness is something Asiana had always use to her advantage to drive away the young duke. It was just as what Asiana said, the Asval dukedom have always been the greedy bunch as their family motto says 'Stop at nothing for success' the moment the Queen gave birth to a princess, his father-the previous duke wrote a letter of engagement proposal to the then four year old Logan and one month old Asiana. It was a shameless act of trying to gate keep the princess. Asiana has never really given her heart to Logan and he knew it. There were times where they would share a mutual understanding and laugh but all Logan has managed to achieve was to gain her trust. It would've been easier for him if Asiana fell for him for he can manipulate her. The Asvals had their eye for the throne since his father's time but was not able to gain support from other people. When the engagement to the Princess was known, many were convince that the union between the two will strengthen the Asval's claim to throne. He knew all of that and yet he can't help but be irritated. Logan was a strict man that follows his schedules very well, he's the type who always sticks to the plan no matter what and the blunder that Asiana has made was an anomaly that ruined his so called perfectly crafted plan.
"Think about it in this way, the public sentiment would go to your favour 'the duke loved the princess so much they rushed the wedding' that would make them less suspicious of you should something happened." Lady Maureen tried to soothe his anger, he was still gritting his teeth in anger but he finally faced her. She let out a smile which calmed him down. He was never interested with Lady of the house Astrid at first it was her who kept chasing him until she eventually gained his favour and affection. Maureen Astrid, a third daughter of Count Astrid was an ambitious woman, she was stupid and yet she was cunning enough to shamelessly work her way in high society. At first she wanted to be the crown princess but after several failed attempts on hitting on Sancho, she decided to go for the Marquis de Marso but she can never catch a glimpse of him unless he was with the Princess, and so she befriended the princess but a Duke is higher than a marquis so she changed her mind and decided to seduce the princess' fiancé and it was a bonus for her when she found out that Duke Asval was trying to get the throne for himself. Alas, she can be Queen. The two pair was a remarkable combo, both filled with greed and hunger for power and success.
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A month has pass by quickly and so my death is near. I looked outside the window of the carriage I am in. The procession it was still dark and I still feel sleepy but I can't afford to make a mistake. In Avalon, there was a custom for the bride's carriage to leave the house in the early hours of the day and make a trip across the mountain roads to ask the blessings of the gods. And by the time dawn came, the red hue will cover the church and blessings will fall upon the couple. I laughed half hearted, the plan was for my procession to be caught up in an accident and I'll fall into the cliff directly to the sea and a week later a corpse wearing my clothes will be found ashore.
"Your highness, are you ready?" the coachman asked me signalling the start of the plan. I knocked twice indicating I am ready and so the plan began.
"What? What do you mean accident?" Logan's voice was frantic when he heard the news about how Asiana's carriage fell on to cliff and while the carriage fell on a land, it was said that Asiana fell into the ocean. Everyone in the hall panicked when the news broke out especially the King and Queen who loved their daughter very much. The Crown Prince and Marquis de Marso hurriedly jumped into their horses to rush to the site while everyone criticised the Logan who kicked the decorations in anger instead of worry.
"Duke Asval…" as if he had woken from his dazed, he swiftly assumed the role of a worried lover and asked for a horse to go on site. It was a cold early winter air that greeted Logan's face the freezing atmosphere was not enough to cool his head. 'Nothing ever goes according to plan the moment Asiana moved the wedding date!' he thought, irritated he arrived at the mountain site where her carriage was blown. Prince Sancho and Marquis Helix were busy rummaging the scene but there was no sight of her, and Logan can no longer control his frustrations, he left the scene and hurried home.
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"Woah!" I let out a scream when the winter breeze hit my skin. After leaving the castle, we stop by on a roadside cave for me to change out of my gown. It made it easier for me to swim out of the ocean when I fell down from the cliff. The current were strong but my perseverance was just as strong when I finally reach my safe spot that Helix secured. A bag that I packed the day before were left there. I changed into a comfortable dress and wear a cloak. I checked the bag thoroughly and there was a bag of money, some jewels, spare clothing and some bread. I once again looked at my locket from now on, Princess Asiana Soleil de Avalon died on her way to the church for her wedding. I pressed my lips against my family picture before hiding it beneath my clothes. I tight the dagger Helix gave me on my thigh and the bow and arrow Sancho packed. Honestly I might attract attention in this way but who would've thought of a princess assumed to be dead – will dress as a commoner carrying a bow.
"Where to?" I asked myself the dawn is almost near so I hurriedly fled the scene and moved towards the pier. I should be able to catch the first ferry for the day.
"This way to the ship to Latre Kingdom!" the loud noise of dispatchers guiding the passengers to their respective ships filled my eardrum. The sound of waves and the smell of sea, something I'll be missing for a while I pulled down my hood to cover my face more while trying to get on board to the ship to Latre Kingdom a country five days away from Avalon. I heard that country was known for their exquisite cuisine and rich culture that place must be a nice hiding spot. They would have never thought that I'll dare go that far away.
There were a lot of people who are trying to board the ship bound to Latre most of them were merchants and the influx of people crowded the area where I'm lining up. The numbers of people were probably double the number compared to ships bound to other countries because Latre kingdom is the farthest one and it would take some time for it to return to Avalon. "Ouch!" I screamed when a grouped of people suddenly rushed towards the ship the commotion pushed me away from the crowd and after a series of turn and toss I was finally back on line.
"Huh?" magically, the line grew smaller than when I was standing a while ago.
"One normal cabin please."
"That will be 1 gold, including meal." The man asked. Huh? Did the fare price to Latre got cheaper? I was sure I heard them said it was worth 3 golds. Well, whatever I'm up for an adventure! I finally got on board and reached my room. It was a cabin where I got to share with someone and my roommate was an elderly woman. I smiled at her "Good Morning." She was busy fixing her luggage so she greeted me behind her back. Oh yeah, while I'm at it, I walked towards the bathroom and open the dye I bought at the port marketplace. My hair is as black as ebony and my eyes with the colour of the sea, it was said that black hair and blue eyes was the symbol of the Royal Family of Avalon, blue eyes were pretty common in other countries but it's rare in Avalon but it was said that black hair were a rare hair colour even in another country, I had to dye my hair if I want to conceal my identity. After an hour I was done with my hair, I looked myself at the mirror and smiled proudly I was lucky that my lady in waiting back at the palace used to dye her hair a lot and I naturally picked up the way on how to use it.
"Aha!" I screamed in delight while I clasped my hands, my ebony coloured hair is now tinted in red. I had always liked Helix's hair colour it reminds me of the sunset and sunrise plus my hair is too black for other colour to stick. I can try the brown but that reminds me of Logan. I was busy admiring my new look when I heard a knock on the bathroom door.
"Are you done miss?" the old lady whom I'm sharing a room with asked me. "Just a minute." I replied while cleaning up.
"Have you eaten breakfast? Come join me in my meal." The old lady was kind enough to offer me a meal and I just can't seem to decline so I smiled and sat down with her. As soon as we sat onto our seats the sound of the horn echoes through the port. It's like we are leaving. "What's your name child? Where are you from?" her gentle voice were like lullaby that encourages you to sleep in peace. She seemed to be an aristocrat from another country judging by her accent and her manners.
"I'm…" what should I say? I can't possibly name myself as Asiana nor can I carelessly say Sol because most people on the upper echeleon in the kingdom knows that my brother and Helix calls me that. "I'm… Ana…" I answered timidly and she laughed. "My, how shy. You're a native from Avalon and yet I can't really find an accent at all." My eyes widened at her remarks, what is this? Is she perhaps a spy send after me? Upon seeing my distressed face, she hurriedly clarified "I used to teach language and culture and now I'm travelling the around the continent. I assumed based on your actions have I guessed wrong?" I shook my head. She was pleased to learn that she guessed right and I don't think I should be happy to know that someone actually guessed where I'm from correctly.
"So, How long are you staying at Eclates?" I furrowed my brows in confusion. "Eclates?" "Yes, this ship is headed to Eclates." What the hell. My eyes shivered that's just great I ended up boarding the wrong ship just when I swept away by the crowd. "We'll arrive there in two days" the old lady keeps on excitedly making a comment about Eclates while I am sitting there dumbfounded unable to process the situation. Great! just great! I ended up boarding the ship headed towards the country I want to avoid more.