Chapter 55: Chapter 55

Chidi, Nana and Xiao Wéi decided to go see Avril in the evening since she and Verona came to see them but they were super busy. Remus had a lot of agricultural wealth and engaged in lots of farming activities. They had huge farms and plantations of different plants and trees. Their flower gardens were simply the best, producing so many beautiful flowers which were used to produce perfumes and fragrances. The Kingdom Of Remus was one of the secrets to the finest perfumes and colognes produced from Italy. They didn't produce it themselves, but sold the needed ingredients to human companies. Since it was almost winter, the agricultural activities were rounding up and it was more of storage now. Xiao Wéi had much work to do now because she worked at the Mill. They had to produce a good amount of flour, and also take care of all the grains harvested.

Anyway, the day was almost over and sunset was crawling in. It was so cold, so the three of them wrapped themselves up in thick, cotton jackets. Nana wrapped a woolen scarf around her neck because she was dramatically complaining that her neck was becoming stiff and refusing to turn smoothly. She and Chidi were not really used to the cold weather because they were from the tropical regions. Xiao Wéi on the other hand was not too affected. In fact, it reminded her of home.

“Don't you guys think Avril wanted to tell us something earlier?” Chidi asked as they walked gently on the cobbled street leading away from the outskirts of the Kingdom. They climbed an arch bridge of stone which was over a beautiful flowing stream. Yellow birds were taking a dive from the trees, bathing in the stream and flying back up the tree.

“Ehm, well, yeah. I kinda noticed that she was making swift eye contacts with us. Maybe there's something?” Nana replied.

“We'll find out when we get there,” Xiao Wéi stated and they walked silently from there onwards. The palace was just a two hundred metre walk from the place they lived and worked. And since it was a cold day, they decided to walk to heat up.

Finally, they reached the back gate leading inside the Royal Palace. It was a tall but small gate with black iron bars welded together. This was the unofficial gate inside and it was used by people who had unofficial businesses inside the palace like servants, family visitors or friends, etc. However, people still needed to have a special type of permission to be able to pass through the security at that gate. The three girls were authorized because they were the only friends of the newest concubine to the Prince. When they passed through it and reached Avril's house, they were led to the courtyard by Aida. Avril was right there reading a book from the shelf in her bedroom. She was sitting at a table surrounded by three chairs in the middle of the lawn. A plate with five leftover cookies was in front of her and a glass of already cold coffee leftover was sitting lazily by the plate.

“Hey, girlie!” Xiao Wéi hailed brightly with a wave. Avril looked up and smiled.

“Oh thank goodness! I was dying of boredom here!” Avril stated and laughed. Chidi and Xiao Wéi sat down on the two empty chairs by Avril while Nana took a cookie straight to her mouth. She butt-kicked Avril, making her fall from the chair to the grass.

“Ouch!” Avril yelled and Nana rolled her eyes dramatically before sitting down on Avril's seat. The girls laughed while Avril glared at Nana and got on her feet.

“Stop treating me that way at my own house!” she nagged but Nana raised a brow at her.

“If it's your own house, then you know where to go find another chair,” she said and Avril smacked her on the head.

“You witch!” she stated and walked away.

“Take it easy on her, you. We're at the palace grounds and she's the prince's concubine. Don't want to be thrown into a creepy underground dungeon because of your attitude,” Xiao Wéi joked and Nana laughed. She took the cold coffee, gulped it down and squeezed her face.

“Cold coffee tastes terrible,” she minced and dropped the glass immediately. Avril returned with another chair and sat down beside Nana.

“How have you girls been? How's the work at the fields?” she asked.

“Stressful now. But good thing the pay is really good. I honestly thought we were just going to be slaves here,” Chidi answered.

“Considering the fact that they bought us, right?” Nana chipped in.

“Exactly. I mean, who buys humans to work for them and still pay them well,” Chidi replied.

“I heard it was the Prince's policy. That it wasn't always like this,” Xiao Wéi whispered.

“The Prince?” Avril asked and she nodded.

“He said all servants must be paid whether humans or not. Well, the pay given to their fellows is higher but aren't we grateful they actually listened to him and are paying their human servants?”

“Yeah. It's a great way of doing things. Though, I wish to stop working for that nobleman soon. I hate the way he looks at me,” Nana stated while munching on the third cookie.

“And how does he look at you that you don't like?” Avril asked sarcastically. Nana glared at her and tried to smack her head but Avril dodged.

“I know you're just going to make fun of me anyway. So, we skip that topic,” she said and continued to eat the cookie.

Chidi turned to Avril and peered at her.

“And you...how have you been?” she asked. Avril shrugged casually.

“I've been fine. Just here as usual,” came the reply from her.

“Is there something you want to tell us?” Xiao Wéi asked.

“Well, yes. Come on, come closer. Gather round,” Avril whispered and brought her head down and closer to the girls. They did so too until their heads had almost no spaces between them.

“What is it?” Nana whispered.

“Yesterday night, Prince Dakar took me out of the pack on a date in Milan,” Avril whispered.

“Awwwn...” the girls drawled but—

“Sshh—sshh...no awwning. It didn't go well,” she cut them short.

“What do you mean it didn't go well?” asked Nana.

“It went well, the date I mean. But after the date, we were attacked.”

The girls eyes bulged greatly as they stared at her.

“At—attacked?” Chidi managed to ask and Avril nodded.

“How? What type of—”

“It was Luca Aguero. I don't know how they found out I was there but they attacked us. I noticed them when I sensed strange stares at me from strange men at a table so I took the knife immediately and tucked it under my dress. We entered the fight outside of the hotel building. Dakar really helped in fighting them off too....well, killing them off actually.”

“Luca Aguero traced you there? Goodness. But how? Was it a mere coincidence they found you there?” Nana asked.

“I don't know. Maybe it was a coincidence because they is no way they can just sense me, except if they are not ordinary too.”

“What should we do now?” Xiao Wéi questioned nervously.

“Why did Prince Dakar take you out in the first place?” Chidi inquired.

Avril shrugged and relaxed back on the chair.

“I don't know. I don't understand the way he acts towards me now. Today, he paid for all the clothes Verona and I went to get.”

“Do you think he's feeling something for you again?” Chidi asked.

“I don't think so. I...I don't even know. I'm confused.”

Chidi smiled and held a Avril's hand which was resting on her thigh. She was sitting by her left whole Nana sat at her right.

“You are one of the luckiest girls in the universe, do you know that?” she asked sweetly and Avril pouted.

“Lucky to be in moments of confusion and depression? I don't want,” she drawled with her lips pouted and the girls laughed.

“What are we going to do about Luca Aguero? Why in the world can he not just let you be?” Xiao Wéi complained bitterly.

Chidi sighed and sat up.

“I think you should not have anything to do with going outside just yet. We don't want any trouble, not now. So, let's just avoid him. Right, Avril?”

“I agree. I am in no mood to fight anyone. So, I won't let myself be taken out of the pack. It's for my safety.”

“I wanted to ask you, Avril. Where did you keep Alejandro's ring?” Nana asked with furrowed brows.

“Oh, it's there. It's safe, don't worry. With my bracelet,” Avril answered.

“Okay. Make sure you keep that ring safe. We might need it someday. Who knows?” Nana shrugged and picked up the book Avril was reading before they arrived.

“So, you are signing up for this competition everyone is talking about?” Chidi asked as she checked the cover of the book in Nana's hands. It was the history, stories and rules guiding The Weak End Tournament.

“Of course! I would not miss something that can make me have my life all over.”

“I wish I could join in. But nah, we are only permitted to serve around the event venue. Avril, do you know the prize includes a car, a horse and carriage with a collection of fighting weapons?” Nana butt in.

“Yes, Verona told me about it. She said there was even going to be arrows and bows. The finest of the kingdom. Gosh, I miss archery.”

“Why don't you stylishly ask the Prince to take you for an archery expenditure to one of this Remus woods. This place is perfect for such,” Xiao Wéi suggested and Avril made a mental note to tell Dakar that.

Meanwhile, at Dakar's castle...

“Did you get it? Who Alejandro is?” Prince Dakar asked. He was sitting in his living room, on the cushion chair and his hair was let down on his shoulders. He was wearing a white t-shirt and looking up at Verona who was standing. He seemed to be sweating and panting heavily. He also looked nervous and restless.

“Yes, sir. I also got her to tell me a bit more about him...and her,” Verona answered. When she added ‘...and her’, his eyes showed a golden tint but returned to normal immediately. He gulped and tried to seem cool normal.

“Go on, I'm listening,” he ordered and clasped his hands tightly in front of him. He wasn't relaxing on the couch but sat down and leaned over. His veins looked popped up.

“Alejandro is Avril's...” Verona trailed off and at that moment, there was an increase in Prince Dakar's heartbeat.

“He was her master. She worked under him the two years she spent in Mexico. He was a Mafia Leader and she was just one of his workers,” Verona stated.

“Pheewww!” escaped Prince Dakar's lips. He ran his fingers through his hair with a smile on his face and he relaxed on the seat, breathing out in relief.

“Goodness, that was close,” he muttered, totally forgetting that Verona was there.