Chapter 11 - Change of Mind

When I woke up, I couldn't help but think of the same thing that I had been thinking the whole night.

Am I choosing the right thing?

I must've gotten out of my right mind when I agreed to go to the King's palace and pretended to like the idea of marrying the Prince.

I stood out of my messy bed and went right out of the room to find Martha. I have to have her help me decide what I am supposed to do. I chose carelessly yesterday. I have made sure I have never given the Prince my word but in my mind, I have already agreed on coming. And I told them that the moment I came back from the Prince's palace.

After coming out of bed, I went straight to the door. But to my surprise, I was greeted by the Mistress. "You seem to be in a rush, are you excited?" she asked me. I looked behind her and saw Martha busy carrying everything I'll be needing in the bathroom later.

'I'm sorry but I need to talk to Martha,' even though I knew she was never going to understand, I still moved my hands to at least send her a message. I was just about to walk past her when she grabbed my arm and forcefully brought me back inside.

"Where do you think you're going? We need to talk," she said as she locked the door behind her. The ominous intent visible in her old face made me shiver. I knew this wasn't going to end up well. "About your necklace,"

The necklace I have given up on taking back. But with the decision that I have made, I might need it back for me to live.

"The Prince's palace sent me a letter today. They want you to live in their Palace as soon as possible, is that right?" she asked but I didn't give a response. "Well, I am unhappy to think that you will be slipping out of my hands if that's the case," she said so wide it showed all her teeth and showed the signs of age on her face.

What does she mean?

"I have come to realize that the fortune they have given me is not enough," she said ominously. "I might want to have more than money,"

Then what does she want?

"But I still don't know what it is, " she suddenly switched to a depressed damsel. It sent shivers down my spine. "Then I shall keep it with me until I have decided," she said and laughed. A laugh so wicked a normal person could have run away.

From then on, I just realized that she might've already plotted this since the beginning. She knew she was going to do this even before she took my necklace and that's why she took it. She couldn't find any weakness to use against me and for her own advantage.

She left the room with me not being able to process everything. As I stayed behind, I started to realize it was not a good turn of events with my decision. I need to have the necklace if I want to leave this place. If I don't, then I may have to change my decision.

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"She's late, Your Highness," Anton said in a panic. They had been waiting for the Lady to arrive at the palace an hour before. The carriage has been ready and so has the Prince who has kept himself calm this whole time. "Your Highness, how can you still read a book? If that Lady doesn't show up, we will have to attend the banquet tomorrow," he hysterically told the Prince who didn't even look at him and continued turning the pages of the book he was reading.

In the Prince's mind, he was confidently certain that the Lady is going to show up today. The hint of certainty in her eyes the moment she had come up with her decision the last time they had talked would give nobody a doubt she was going to change her mind.

But he knew well enough there could be something that could change her mind. He gives his trust in the Lady's choices. But not the people around her.

"Maybe we can go to the mistress's manor to know as early as possible, your Highness," Anton suggested.

"There is no need, Anton," he answered as he turned another page.

"But your Highness!" Anton insisted. "We have to bring a woman to the King to save ourselves from the Royal Banquet,"

"I know that well, Anton."

"Then why are you sitting still and not doing anything about her late presence, Your Highness? She could be at home doing nothing as she had already changed her mind and decided not to come! You said yourself that she never really has given you a confirmation," the old man was almost crying. "You've been smart your whole life I didn't expect this moment to come. You left without having her word," he added as he flicked the fake tears from his eyes.

The Prince almost shook his head. He knew he shouldn't have trusted the woman to show up. He despises himself for trusting someone he met only a few moments when he has lived his life trusting no one other than Anton in those 6 years he went out of the palace.

But the regret doesn't feel so real as most part of him believes she will eventually show up.

KNOCK KNOCK

Anton's eyes swiftly went to the door.

"What?!" he screamed from the inside.

"The Lady has arrived," said a person behind the door.

"OH! GOOD GRACIOUS, HALLELUJAH! SHE CAME! YOUR HIGHNESS, SHE CAME!" Anton yelled as he ran past the woman and the door and came running on his way outside as he yelled some more in the hallways his voice echoed in the whole palace.

"Your Highness, Anton might have forgotten to bring you with him. It is time," the servant said.

Prince Kairus wanted to reprimand Anton's lack of trust in him but he was too late. The old man has escaped. Dressed in the usual robe gown that he uses at home, he stood and went out of his room as if he wasn't on his way to the Royal Palace.

"Your Highness, are you sure you are not going to change clothes?" the servant asked him when he realized the gown did not fit in the Royal Palace. A suit and a decent pair of pants would do.

"No," he answered lazily as he walked down the hallway on his way to meet his Lady.

When he reached the ground hall where Everyone had been waiting, the Lady, Anton, and more of his maids who had also been agitated by the Lady's tardiness, Locked eyes with the lady.

Her blonde hair moved lightly as the air coming from the open door entered the hall. She was dressed in a beautiful yellow dress, completely opposite to the one he was wearing. Her front hair was clipped in the back with a ribbon creating a simple yet stunning look. He watches as she bows before him making him see her long beautiful lashes covering her mysterious black eyes.

The Lady has always been beautiful in the eyes of Prince Kairus. Anyone who would dare to look at her cannot deny how beautiful she was. There are not a lot of creatures in the Valor Kingdom that can create such beauty. Now that he has thought about it, he wonders if the Lady is a human or one of the magical creatures. He started to wonder what magic she has and what she could do.

He snapped out of his thoughts when she started to move her hands.

'I am sorry for being late, your highness. ' she said. She moved her hands more but the Prince only walked passed by her and said,

"Save your explanation in the carriage, we're running late."

Alliyah felt offended by the Majesty's actions but she tried to hide it. She forced herself to keep her expression calm as she walked past the line of maids and servants and closer to the carriage where she'd be off for a ride to the main palace.