Chapter 43: Chapter 43

She got to the farmyard and was told to pack the harvested fruits to the storeroom.

She collected the big bowl and began packing the fruits into them one by one.

The bowel got filled up and she pleaded with one of the guards who helped her lift it onto her head.

She took the fruits to the store and arranged them on the racks then walked back to the farm to pack another one.

She kept on going from the farmyard to the store, her waists were threatening to fall off but she persisted.

She wouldn't be able to retire to her bed if she doesn't finish the work assigned to her.

It was already midnight when she finished and a guard approved her work before she retired to her room.

Diana wiped off her tears when the door opened and her friend staggered in tiredly.

She had been up waiting for her, she knew Mariam and master Robin are frustrating her life and would have given her workloads.

"Why are you crying?" Galene asked staring at her weeping friend.

Diana instantly pulled her to a hug. "I am so sorry Galene, I am sorry you have to go through all this pain. I am sorry I could do nothing to help you" Diana wailed clutching tightly, the hem of her friend's cloth.

"Why Diana? This is none of your faults and I know if there's anything you could do, you wouldn't hesitate so stop crying" Galene said sniffing.

"But you are not fine, look at you, a pregnant woman yet you are always given work meant for four women to do only you"

"I am strong Diana, My baby is strong too just like his father. He would stay strong with me and together we would get out of this stronger so do not cry for me" Galene said.

Diana sniffed still holding her friend tight. She would never forgive Robin if anything happens to her friend or her unborn child.

"It's ok, look at you, Diana. When last did you cry" Galene said in a peal of weak laughter trying to lighten up the mood.

Diana only chuckled in return. "You do not know what these people are making you go through. So much torture" Diana pouted.

"Well, my husband would come soon and rescue us. I have a strong feeling for that" said Galene pulling out her clothes.

She reaks of dirt and dust particles and she needed to take her bath.

"Luciana had gone to look for food in the kitchen. Maybe she could find leftovers, it would be better to hold your stomach.

"Thank you" Galene muttered and gently stood up.

"I'll help you"

"No, I think you are the one who needs help with cleaning up that your awful crying face," Galene said and Diana busted out laughing.

Galene finished taking her bath and luckily, Luciana was able to get some food.

Madam Pat was still present in the kitchen so she quickly made it food, you would like it" Luciana said.

I have no choice with its sweetness. I was not burned to eat the royal food, I started it while here so the sweetness matters not to me.

Galene opened the plate of food and the aroma wafted through her nose.

Madam Pat's food is so delicious that Galene always forgets her surrounding whenever she's eating a meal prepared by Pat.

She scooped a spoonful of the Jasmine rice into her mouth, savoring the taste.

Her tastebud opened, taking in the taste of the food, her stomach gladly welcoming them.

"Thank you Luciana" Galene muttered in-between meals. What would she have done without them both friends by her side?

Galene finished eating and gulped down water. She rested for a feel minutes then took her robe to the bathroom.

Galene finished dressing up and walked towards Diana who was already snoring out in sleep.

Luciana too had slept off and she smiled knowing they stayed up for her instead of sleeping.

"May the gods bless the both of you abundantly and reward you greatly" Galene mumbled and laid down and soon, she also drifted off to sleep.

*******

"Why are you dressing up like that Galene?" Diana asked, her eyes traveling down Galene's garment.

She wasn't putting on a garment meant for the slaves but the rich and powerful.

"There's somewhere I need to be, I would be sure not to stay out late. If anyone asks of me especially Mariam, please tell her I went to see my family for something important" Galene said.

"But why are you so dressed"

"The man I'm going to see is not an ordinary man by the mere look in his eyes.

I need to find out some things concerning master Damien and know if he would help me search for my husband" Galene said, tears already gathering at the side of her eyes.

She blinked off the tears and continued dressing up.

"I hope you find answers and please do be very careful," Diana said.

I would sure be" Galene stated. She was done dressing and ready to leave.

"Tell Luciana I went home too" Galene muttered and walked out of the room.

She tiptoed out, following the hallway that led to the back of the house.

"There's a secret passage she discovered which was only known to her and her husband and knew very well she won't be found.

She got to the last door and entered the room at the right-hand side which revealed an old library stacked with old worn-out books.

She quickly bolted the door and moved to the end of the library, moving away from the large shelf with the whole strength in her, a hidden door revealed.

She took out the keys from her hair and inserted them into the keyhole. The door clicked opened and Galene breathe out.

She wasn't sure if it was the exact key her husband showed her because there were many keys there.

She had taken the key from the master's chambers when she went in to arrange the clothes she washed yesterday.

The entrance led to the woods so she was so sure no one would see her.

Closing the door and locking it back, Galene journeyed off. She was lucky to see a passing carriage immediately she got out of the wood.

She got in and called out the address she had to the rider. The rider was a bit surprised at how the young lady got to know about such a place.

He nearly asked her what she was looking for there but he decided to mind his business and take her to her destination.

The journey took so many hours, what she left in sunrise, she got there by sunset.

The carriage riders had stopped her in the middle of nowhere and had given her the direction to the place she sought for.

Galene was surprised at the place the address pointed at.

It was a large field with bushes. There was no sight of a house anywhere and the carriage riders were so sure it was there.

"Does someone leave in such a place?" She couldn't help but wonder.

The man who gave her the address was dressed in an expensive robe and doesn't look like an ordinary man so why give her a meaningless address.

Galene was about to turn and walk away in anger when she heard a voice called out to her.

"You must be looking for me young lady," the voice said and Galene turned back to see the old man who looked so much like her husband.

The man wasn't as old as she had thought him to be. Maybe her vision wasn't clear when she saw him at the ball.

He was a man in his late 50's or so.

"Yes sir, good evening" Galene greeted with a bow showing him the address.

" Come with me lady Galene" the man muttered and began walking into the bush.

Galene followed behind him wondering while he kept going deeper into the bush.

She was supposed to be scared but she found out she wasn't scared of this man.

She was determined to get her husband back so she followed him deeper into the bush.

Galene gasped as they came out to a huge green field and her eyes widened at the huge castle standing before her.

"Who was this man?" Galene gasped. How would a person build such a huge castle in the middle of the forest" Galene wondered.

"You must be wondering while I leave in the middle of the forest and why this castle was built here," the man said with a little smile.

"Yes, I couldn't help but wonder" Galene replied, her eyes fixated on the castle which looked ancient but beautiful.

"I will tell you, come with me to the inside," The old man said and began walking into the mansion with Galene following suit.

They got into the castle and it was more bigger than Galene ever expected.

Her eyes dance around the designs on the wall and they remind her of the designs of the ancient ruler castles she sees in scrolls.

When she was young, she and Diana would go to the house of an old warrior grandfather.

They would do chores for him and in turn, he would tell the war stories showing them pictures of the different castles they had destroyed during the war.

Most of those castles had the same design as the old man's.

"Can I ask a question?" Galene asked and the old man nodded in approval.

"Was this place once a ruler's castle or are you once a ruler?" Galene asked and the man's eyes darted to her in surprise.

"Why do you ask?" The man asked staring at her in admiration. How didn't she manage to figure out even after everything royalty had been taken away.

"The wall designs. I know they are unique and are usually used in the olden days by kings" Galene said.

"How do you know that? Are you royalty?" The man asked and Galene shook her head. "An old warrior told me so".

"Well yes, you are correct. This place used to be a royal castle and that is the story I am about to tell you now.

****

"What do you mean by Galene left the Castle? To where?" Master Robin yelled glaring hard at the guard who came to report to him.

"Her friend told us so my Lord. We had gone to call her as lady Mariam requested to see her and we knocked, the two girls present in the room told us they haven't seen her the whole day" the guard said.

"Call those girls and Mariam for me. How can you tell me She disappeared" master Robin barked, his voice thundering.

The guard bowed and scurried out of the hall.

"Mariam when last did you see Galene? Master Damien asked, his gaze pinned on Mariam.

"Earlier this morning, she had come to pack the clothes she washed," Mariam said rolling her eyes.

She wished she disappears forever. She had seen the way master Robin stares lustfully at her and she had caught him one-day making advances at Galene.

"So where has she gone then. "You, he pointed at Diana. What's your name" Master Robin asked.

"Diana My Lord" Diana muttered her expression neutral. Galene had told her to tell them she went to see her parents but she decided not to say anything.

Telling them Galene went to see her parents might make them send a search team to her house. They would end up not seeing her and might harm her parents so she decided to say she hasn't seen her.

"Where is your friend?" Master Robin yelled in a strong voice. The yell did not affect Diana as her expression remained plain and calm.

"I have no idea, I woke up to see her bed empty and I had thought she had gone out for her chores so I did not bother to raise alarm not until the guards came to ask of her," Diana said.

Master Robin turned to Luciana and she gave the same answer saying she left to the kitchen very early when Galene was still asleep.

"Mariam you said you saw her this morning and it seemed you were the only one who saw her so where is she?" Master Robin yelled in rage.

He can't afford to lose her. He needs her and his obsession with her had gone out of hand that her disappearance sound like hell to him.

"Why will you ask me such a thing, my Lord. You know I have no hand in her disappearance. Why would I want to harm her" Mariam yelled back.

"Seize her" Master Robin ordered the guards and they Swifty seized Galene.

"You threatened to deal with Galene even after warning you not to harm her.

She was your Servant and only you were accessible to her. You said she came into the chambers this morning and you claim you have no hands in her disappearance?" master Robin thundered.

His voice shook the hall as veins popped out of his forehead in annoyance.

"Throw her into the dungeon until she speaks" He ordered the guards and they began dragging Mariam away.

Diana smiled, at least the witch would have a taste of her own medicine.

"My Lord you can't do this to me, I do not know where that witch disappeared to" Mariam cried as she was being dragged away.

"Return to your duties" Master Robin ordered and everyone left the hall going back to the duties.