Followed in the dark

Eve returned home with Mina after leaving the tutoring room and she headed straight to Isabel's room. Eve was determined, mind already made up. She knew it was either now or never. In reality, it hasn't been easy for her too. If words go out that she has been taking the princess lessons, the Queen would be the one to punish her and there would be no sparing. She wonders how the king would feel if he knew, and she doesn't want to disappoint him.

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, ready to call the princess but her eyes were quick to scan the place to know the princess was missing.

Where did she go? She questioned in her head and thought, "she wouldn't have gone to see the Queen, right?"

That could only mean one thing; the princess had sneaked out again.

She quickly turned her feet and looked at Mina who was standing at the entrance and she asked her, "Where is Beth?"

They both left together and went to Eve's room only to meet Beth who was just getting up from the bed and Eve heaved a sigh of relief.

"Uh…you're back?" she asked.

"Did the princess sneak out again?" Eve asked without delay.

Beth looked at Mina and then at Eve again and she said in trembling voice, "I told her not to go. I even asked her to take me with her but she said no. what am I going to do now?"

"No one found out about it yet but we need to find her as soon as possible. This is what we'll do, let's scout the area first. She should be on her way back already," Eve said and they replied with a nod.

They all left the room and made their way outside. As they walked, Eve stopped next to Maidservant Ann's room and she stared at the door. She wondered what could have happened that she doesn't want to see anyone, but Eve knows she is not fine, yet, she has to follow orders.

Mina came back and took her by the arm. "What are you doing?" she asked in a hushed voice. "We have to hurry."

"Ah, yes," Eve said and gave one last look before they hurried from there.

Maidservant Ann heard the footsteps and saw the shadow that was outside her door and she waited until they left before she moved her eyes to look at the physician who sat quietly while checking her pulse. After a little while, he dropped her hand gently and looked up at her.

"The symptoms are getting worse," he said. "There is no more treatment left. I'm afraid this is the time."

"How much time do I have left?" Maidservant Ann asked.

The physician hesitated and then he said, "We could resort to therapy. If there is one thing you love doing or someone that makes you happy. I think it's best to let your servants know so they can be of help."

"Doctor," Maidservant Ann called and inhaled hard before releasing. Her lips were white and her skin was pale. It was now very obvious that she was sick. "You promised to keep me updated about everything I should know. There is no one who can take care of me better than myself and I have no one. So, tell me, how much time is left?"

*

Moon stood while talking to a messenger who had a cloth tied around his head. They were outside the palace and he had gone to receive his package which had just arrived. People still walked the streets and torches burned at every corners to give light to those walking where some also carried lanterns and some hung it outside their house.

A horse stood at the side where the man held the rope as he spoke to Moon;

"It came in today. I had them checked already. Do you want me to take your ride to the palace for you?"

"No," Moon said. "Is there any other place I can keep it?"

"Hmm," the man said as if thinking and he said, "I know of a place. It will be fed and taken good care of. You can say it is one of the safest places around here."

"I see. Lead the way."

When the messenger got to where he suggested they could keep the horse, Moon looked at the surrounding and the silence around the place could only mean there was much more that was going on inside. The man looked back and smiled at him before proceeding towards the main entrance and once they got in and the ladies living in there sighted them, one recognized Moon instantly and they came rushing towards them. The ladies surrounded them and Moon let out a soft sigh as he looked at the man who had brought him to the place. Even the horse felt uncomfortable as it was moving back and front each second.

Escorts, Moon thought and when one of the ladies tried to touch him, he moved his hand and dusted his clothes, making the lady move away from him.

"What is the commotion all about?" a stern lady voice asked from a distance and Moon saw her standing at the little raised platform that led to the inns. The ladies parading them quickly rushed back towards her and one of them whispered to her ear. She stepped down after and walked to meet them with a warm expression.

"Welcome to our abode. I am Lilia, the one who manages this place. How may we be of help to you?"

The messenger who had brought Moon to the place smiled and said to the woman, "We will like to keep the horse in your safe care."

"And who may the owner be?" she asked.

The man pointed to Moon who was busy moving his eyes around to look at the place, not paying attention to the people there until he felt a light tap and he raised his brows at the messenger before looking at Lilia.

"Are you the one who owns the ride?" Lilia asked again with a smile.

Moon gave a nod. "Yes, I am," he answered.

"You have nothing to worry about then. It will be properly cared for."

The messenger brought out a small money bag and wanted to hand it to Lilia who refused it immediately and she looked at Moon again.

"By the way, are you that new tutor they recently hired for the princess?" she asked.

"Yes," he answered and then asked, "but how do you know?"

"Words spread around fast and also, I see you have the king's royal insignia."

Moon looked down at his waist where he hung the present the King had gifted him and he grazed it with his finger before looking back at Lidia who then said;

"Also, there's no one who will see you and not know you are not from here. You stand out among the rest."

"Well, thank you for your hospitality. It's getting late and I have to get back now." He gave a slight bow and turned his feet to start leaving when…

"Wait!" Lilia stopped him and Moon turned his feet to look at her with slightly raised brows.

"What is it?" he asked.

Lilia took two steps forward, her dress sweeping the place and she said to him, "I didn't say you won't have to pay for keeping the horse here with us. I'm saying you should pay with something other than money."

"Huh?" Moon made a sound and looked at the messenger who was secretly blushing before he moved his eyes to look at the ladies who gathered at a distance watching them and whispering something to each other.

"Let's bet on it, he would rather have his horse taken to another place than yield to madam's request," one of the escorts said.

"Yes, I know right," the others agreed with her.

Lilia let out a small laugh when Moon did not respond and she said, "I'm not asking for too much. It's just to share drinks and have some late-night conversations whenever you feel bored. You can always come here to relieve stress."

"Ah I see," Moon said and then nodded. "I will…find time someday."

Lilia looked happy immediately on hearing that response and she said, "I will be expecting you then."

The escorts who saw their madam blushing almost tore themselves apart as they figured out what his response might have been, to their surprise.

Once Moon left the place, he set his lips into a thin line and looked down at the package he was carrying. A small smile crept on his lips and he made his way back to the palace. The guards recognized him instantly and because of the royal insignia they saw with him, they let him in without any question. He hummed softly as he made his way back to the quarters he was staying but then he stopped on the way when he sighted someone in a hurry. His eyes followed the person and he wanted to call but didn't know what name he would say.

"Servant? Maid?" he muttered to himself indecisively as to what he should call but then he looked ahead at where she had gone and after two seconds of deliberating, he moved his feet and started to follow her.

As Moon followed without her being aware, he couldn't help but be concerned about her leg as she seems to be limping a bit while also searching hard for someone. After a long search and touring the place in dark with her, he had followed her back to where she stays and he stopped at the fence area where it was dark.

Moon saw the maid walking to meet the other maids he had seen with the princess the other day and his brows slightly pulled when he heard what they were saying;

"The princess is not back. Why is she so late?"

"I'm scared already."

Moon moved his head to the side when he heard dragging footsteps and he saw the princess walking towards the house while grabbing the cloth around her chest area. He also heard her sniffing, one that comes when someone is crying. He was moved to go help her when she fell but then she got back up and not long after, her maids sighted her and they all came rushing towards her.

Seeing how miserable she looks, no one asked her any question and instead, they helped her inside the house. The door to the house closed and Moon lowered his eyes down, thinking about what he had just seen.