Burn The Palace

When Evan looked baffled, the maid entertained, 

"We are mostly victims of war. But some of us have been born handicapped or face domestic violence. Your grace has saved us and protected us. And here, he has provided us with a new life.

In the palace, most of the servants are like us. But we assure you that your grace would find better maids for you." Evan felt the desperation in the voice of the girl at the same time she realized how the maids were protecting the duke, his image at least. 

But Damien does not need protection. Not from her… he was her savior too. He had… she closed her eyes at her folly.

"I never knew your grace is a savior until he saved me." there was a helpless smile on her face, "at least that makes me one of you." the eyes of the maid widened. 

They were told that the lady was going to be the duchess. The mistress of the house. They were so scared of leaving a bad impression on her. After all, in the noble houses, the mistress manages all the internal affairs of the estate but she looked so vulnerable, so much.. Like them.

The elder one smiled reassuringly, "your grace protects all of us, my lady. But in this palace, we protect each other. You will never be alone here." 

Who would believe that a proud woman like Evan would feel reassured by the words of the maid one day.

—-----------------

In the palace, 

"Where is Evangeline, Elene?" Harold spoke in a low whisper but his narrowed eyes and dark face told Elene that he was furious. 

"Did I not tell you not to make any mistake? That maid had already complained that we were tormenting her and last night, it was proved that she was forced to take your place. Do you even realize how serious the matter is?" Elene flinched at the harsh words. Of course, she knew that they could not harm Evangeline. She was just scaring the woman for her boldness.

"If you are planning to test my patience, you have achieved it, Elene. Where the hell is my wife?" his wife? The last word undid Elene and she gritted her teeth.

"She is not your wife. She is not! I am the one sleeping with you every night. I am the one who fills your needs, makes sure that you eat on time and live a better life. Harold, how can you blame me for everything when all I did was for you only?" Two thick tears fell from eyes , making Harold sigh. 

Would someone remind him why he was wasting his time on this woman when all she could do is cry?

He took a deep breath to stop himself from strangling this girl. "It is already morning and Evangeline has been missing. If the maid brought another investigative officer then you might go to prison, Elene. Now will you tell me where she is?" 

"I swear Harold. I have seen her falling from the window. That proud woman had decided to end her life but when i went to check in the garden, she was not there. She must have run away. It must have been her plan from the start." for Christ sake. Harold looked at the sky for patience.

"You meant that she jumped from the second floor and there is not a single drop of blood on the ground. And after falling, she stood up and ran from there to trap you in your own plan?" if Else did not know how stupid her words sound even to herself, she would have realized it by the look on his face.

He looked like he was dealing with an imbecile. 

"Harold, i…"

"That is enough." she flinched and closed her eyes when he sighed and left the room. "Make sure the lady did not leave the palace. Refuse everyone who comes to meet her. Even her mother is not allowed to see her." Elene's eyes widened with the strange command to maids but when she reached the door, she realized it was locked.

"Harold! What do you mean? You can not lock me at my own house. Harold.." but his cries went unheard. 

Harold was tense, anxious. His eyes were so dark that no maid or knight dared to question him when he asked them to lock the second lady of the house. But they were baffled by his actions.

They were sure that the lord loathed his wife. It was the second lady he adored. That was the only reason that they started ignoring the first lady, the madam of the house and favored Elene. Could it be that the lady had fallen from his grace?

They all were unsure of their future too since they have already angered the first lady. But last night.. What exactly happened last night? His knights followed him silently. They were surprised to see him back at the garden. He had visited this particular area of the garden thrice since morning. 

Harold did not pay any attention to them. He looked at the window again. If Evan would have fallen, this would have been the area souled by her blood. The mere thought of her dying set Harold ablaze. He wanted to burn the whole palace with Elene inside if something happened to Evangeline. He exhaled a deep breath and closed his eyes, now was not the time to think about that wench but to find Evangeline. 

 Crouching on the ground, he checked the soil again. There were faded footsteps but they did not belong to a woman. His eyes deepened. 

"Who was on the guard last night?" The knights looked at each other unsure of how to reply to that.

"Gabe!" his voice rose when the man took a step forward.

"No one, my lord. Like maids, the knights were given a day off too. Except for the guards on the main door, there was no staff available last night."