Chapter 15

We decided to return to our resting place after an hour. We were simply strolling around the streets to admire the lovely streetlights.

"Princess!"

"Princess!"

We kept walking until someone from behind grabbed my hand, causing me to grab Noah's arm because he was the closest to me.

"Ah!" I exclaimed.

Noah drew me back to him and tucked me behind his back before the unknown man totally grabbed me.

"Who are you?" Kye stated as he held the sword he received from the Duke.

"Are you all right?" Mia inquired.

"Yes."

"Wait, I'm not a bad guy!"

That voice...

"Yes you are! Take off your hat." I heard Ara yelled.

When I turned around, there was a man in his 60s standing there.

"Butler?" I whispered.

"You know him?" Mia asked.

I approached the man to get a better look at his face.

"Butler?!" I exclaimed!

"Princess!" He shows sadness in his eyes.

So he was the one who kept shouting "princess" earlier.

We walk down an alley to talk. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves. Some people may recognize the butler and spread a false rumor.

"Are you certain you recognize him?" Caz inquired, and I nodded.

"He works as the butler at my father's mansion. He's one of the people that was kind to me after my mum died." I said.

"We'll stand guard here, talk to him for a few minutes. Shout when you need help, get it?" Mia said.

"I know. Wait for me here."

"How did you know I was here?" I began to inquire.

"I... I saw you earlier at your mother's grave. I was keeping an eye on you from afar." He stated.

"So it was you from that room? Isn't that my father's office?"

"After the new duchess arrived at the mansion, the duke relocated to a different chamber. That room is no longer occupied."

"I see..." I muttered, "Just so the butler knows, I'm not going to see my father. Please disregard the fact that you saw me here. Today."

"I understand... I know you don't like seeing your father, but the duke had hoped to see you after all these years."

I had shivers down my spine when the butler said that. Why would he?

I faintly smile, "You don't have to say such things to me anymore, butler. I'm now happy with my life. You may stop referring to my father as if he is missing me since I don't think of him anymore."

"But, princess, he truly does. He even requested the king to look for you."

He did? Really?

I want to believe in Butler, but a part of me doubts it.

"I see..."

That was all I could say.

"Please believe me, princess. The duke misses you terribly. He was in rage when he found out you were gone. He almost... went insane."

I looked at the butler's eyes, it's watery.

But, no matter what the butler says, I'm not coming back.

I walked up to him and hugged him tightly, "Thank you... Thank you for remembering me."

"How can I not?"

I patted his back before releasing my arms. "Butler, I know that you want me back, but I don't think I can. I'm happy now. If I return to the mansion, I fear that everything that occurred to me there will come back to haunt me."

I turned my back and began to leave him, "I'm sorry. Please forget about meeting me here, and please don't tell anyone from the mansion that I am still alive."

"Can I at least send you a letter, just to know how you are doing?"

I looked back and smiled, "Of course. Just make sure the duke won't find out."

"Princess!"

"Yes?"

"I'm glad you're here."

I flashed him a smile before waving my hands goodbye. I walked up to my friends and we began to walk home.

'I'm glad you're still energetic as always, butler.'

---

Since we only have three days to visit different places and the first day has gone to an end, we decided to wake up early and travel to the near coast. We decided to watch the waves early in the morning and ate lunch by the coast.

It was a new experience for us since in Helwyn, we can't visit the coast, since it's far from the Duke's mansion, and since Helwyn is a cold place, the wind from the coast is colder.

"Should we gather shells?" Mia asked while looking at the sand. Most of the things we're stepping on are stones with a few exceptions being sand, nonetheless, it's a beautiful place.

"Yes, Miss Iza wants some shells from here so grab only a few." I said and gazed out at the horizon.

"Why do you seem to get more dramatic every time we're in one body of water?" Caz spoke next to me. I laughed a little.

"Looking at the water is mesmerizing." I answered.

I also thought of a few scenarios while looking at the waters. I don't know, it just helps me to be able to think things I wasn't able to think of by myself alone in the mansion.

After staying there until lunch, we moved again to another destination, and went to the capital. It took us a few hours to get there, and as soon as we arrived, we decided to try some delicacies that were not available in Helwyn.

"Look! There's even a chocolate stall!" I pointed out, "Ravin would like that. Let's get one."

We then decided to get some chocolates for Ravin, who is a chocoholic. There was one time when his voice became hoarse after spending the day eating the chocolates he brought from his academy along with cold sweet drinks.

We noticed a lot of boutiques as we walked through the capital, which caught Ara's attention.

"Should we go and purchase some dresses?" She suggested, making the boys sigh.

"You took too long to choose a dress you won't wear in Helwyn. You do know that you need thick clothes if you live in Helwyn, right?" Caz said as he munched on a few chocolates that were supposed to be Ravin's.

Noah elbowed him, "That's a gift for Ravin, not for you to munch on."

Caz pouted and closed the bag of chocolates, "Just buy jewelry or shoes."

We then decided to buy a few shoes and jewelry instead of dresses.

"urgh, I want those..." Ara said.

We're in front of a fancy boutique. Ara is eyeing on a purple sparkling dress.

"It's a dress suited for warm places." Noah said, also looking at the dress Ara is looking at, "There are dresses like that in Helwyn, just buy those."

Ara pouted and faced Noah, "But the clothes in Helwyn are expensive unlike here."

That is true. Clothes here in Avalon are cheaper than the ones in Helwyn, maybe because the clothes in Helwyn are mostly made of animal fur, which suits the cold weather of Helwyn. Not only that, but the dressmaker considered the thickness of the clothing into account for the price since they need to produce more fabric.

"Blame the weather then." Caz said and was munching on bread.

"Tsk. Give me one!" Ara snatched one of the breads the Caz is munching on.

"That's mine!"

"Not anymore." Ara rolled her eyes and stepped away from the boutique.

We continued to stroll the capital streets and try a bunch of new things before the day ended.