273 The trip (2)

Soon, Alicia began to speak less, so the conversation only revolved around Susan, Luciana, and Paulina, whom Luciana was trying to get to tell them more about herself and her hometown, while Susan wanted to know how she had learned to paint.

Williams smiled as he listened to Paulina, who answered their questions timidly as it was flattering for her to find herself amid noble ladies who were interested in having such conversations with her. 

But anyone who listened in closely or who knew Paulina well would know that her stories were either made up or partly true, and Alicia could not help but look at her sadly. 

She had only had a normal childhood for a while before she was almost sold off and then started serving Amber before she was sent on exile with her, and now she was with Alicia here, and had just managed to narrowly escape death.