Published at 22nd of July 2019 11:25:06 AM
Chapter 25 – I Already Knew The Truth (2)
“I’m…I’m here to see Prince Heinley…”
The woman approaching the southern palace intercepted a man passing by . The man was a knight, though not a citizen of the Eastern Empire .
“Who are you running an errand for?”
“Oh, no . I wanted to tell him something…”
The knight tilted his head as he observed the woman .
“You?”
Though woman was neatly dressed, she didn’t look like a noblewoman . She had to be a servant working in the palace . He found it difficult to fathom why the Prince would want to meet with a foreign maid .
“I hear the prince is looking for his letter acquaintance…”
The knight’s eyes widened .
“You’re the one Prince Heinley is looking for?”
Coincidentally, the knight was of the Western Kingdom, the same as Prince Heinley . At the knight’s distrustful look, the maid—Cherily—turned red and cried, “Yes!” Rashta had persuaded her that she could play it as a joke if it didn’t work out, but if it did, she could win the love of a beautiful prince . She was still terrified, however,
The knight stared silently at Cherily then turned around .
“Come this way, please . ”
Cherily anxiously followed the knight . Viscountess Verdi had told her about the contents of the letters, but considering the time when the lady-in-waiting returned to her estate, Cherily was uneasy about not knowing the recent exchanges . Rashta reassured her that she didn’t have to know, but…
“We’re here . ”
Cherily stopped, swallowing dryly and staring straight ahead . The knight knocked on the door and announced the maid’s visit .
“Your Highness, a woman has arrived claiming that she was the one exchanging letters with you . ”
But no matter how long they waited, no one answered .
“Oh . Did he step out?”
The grumbling knight told Cherily to wait in the drawing room, and she sat motionless in the empty space . It must have been an hour before the knight finally came back and said, “He’s here . He’ll be seeing you now . ”
“What? Now?”
The door to the empty drawing room was not closed, and the sofa she was sitting in faced towards the corridor . She hadn’t seen anyone passing by . But the Prince was here?
‘Maybe he was inside the whole time and pretended he wasn’t…’
Cherily’s unease grew, but she stood up quickly and followed the knight . The bedroom door opened .
Inside this door, she could be humiliated, or her future could be changed . If things went well, she would be like Rashta…
Cherily cautiously ventured inside the room . Inside the large space stood two windows wide open, the curtains drifting inwards from the breeze . A tall man stood between the curtains . He was partially nude, wearing only an open thin robe .
‘That’s Prince Heinley…’
Cherily’s eyes widened .
The man’s light hair scattered in the breeze . He was more handsome than the rumors even suggested . If an angel came descended to this earth, he would certainly look like this . However, the moment Cherily looked into his sharp purple eyes, she was struck by the thought he might be more devil than angel . He seemed ethereal at first glance, but soon she felt a chilling undercurrent . Cherily’s instincts told her to run away .
However, the moment their eyes met, Prince Heinley offered her a gentle smile, and she pushed away that instinctive feeling .
“My Lady, are you the one I’ve been exchanging letters with?”
“Y-yes . ”
Prince Heinley raised his eyebrows, and Cherily stared back, her heart pounding . She thought he would ask for proof, but he did not say anything . Her heart thumped louder . After a long moment, he smiled .
“Are you sure?”
“What?”
“I want to ask you for sure . The person I am looking for is very precious to me . ”
“I would be very happy if you were my letter acquaintance, but if not…I would be so disappointed that I don’t know what I would do . ”
She heard the implied threat . Prince Heinley approached her and smiled benignly again .
“Are you sure it’s you, My Lady?”
I was having friendly lunch with the nobles I knew . Princess Soju, who I had become close with yesterday, arrived at the table with a bottle of wine . *
“This is a speciality of our Southern Kingdom . Consider it my apology for being late . ”
As people looked towards her, Princess Soju smiled, then seated herself and placed the wine bottle on the table . Laura turned to the Princess, who she was seated next to .
“Have you heard?”
“What is the gossip?”
Princess Soju gave a broad smile .
“Well, I’ve only just heard, so not many people are talking about it yet . ”
The table pressed Laura for the gossip, and she lowered her voice conspiratorially, her eyes shining .
“I heard it on the way . Someone said they knew Prince Heinley’s letter acquaintance . ”
Laura’s eyes fell on me, and I reflexively furrowed my brow . It was one thing for me not to come forward, and another for someone else to pretend to be me .
“Who did they say it was?”
“Yes, Your Majesty . I heard it was Miss Rashta’s maid . ”