Chapter 42: Chapter 42
Sara stared at the beautiful redheaded princess with wide terrified eyes, her face was drained from blood once she heard her say those words.
She was meeting her actual sister for the first time.
“Bring her a cup of water.” The princess said and stepped forward towards the pale girl, looking genuinely worried, at first she was only doing her diplomatic duty as a princess by reassuring and looking after all the noble guests while the matter was being investigated, it was not confirmed yet but the darkness that took over was probably of a demonic origin, and for that to happen in the royal castle during the coronation was a big blow to the Yoren name and the whole kingdom’s reputation. Thus, she was obliged to check out on all the guests all while secretly pick up any rising rumors among the noble ladies and redirect them in what serves her family instead of creating additional disturbance.
These were not the best times and Nara knew it, and even though she wanted to go assist her mother and her brothers to figure out what actually happened out there, she knew she would be of more use with the noble ladies around her, her family was facing it possible down fall, her father, who only fathered them by name lead the kingdom to this state of chaos with his neglection and temper, her mother and elder brother were working day and night to save their kingdom all while her father was Gods know where, and she, as Taghit’s only princess, only legitimate one at least, had to help, with everything in her power, even if it meant spending time with all those shallow nobles with their fake smiles and empty heads.
Spotting the girl siting by herself on the far corner of the room, Nara walked up to her, she was sure she never saw anyone with that unique hair color before and presumed she was from another kingdom, her doubts confirmed when the girl turned to look around her like a lost frightened puppy, not only she was acting like someone who was seeing the castle and the nobles for the very first time, she was also putting on a mask.
She was a foreigner.
Extra work, Nara sighed eternally, but she still had to go and talk to the girl, to make sure she had the closest version to “the truth” about what happened in the castle. However, something caught Nara’s attention about the girl, not her unique features and beautiful gown, not her damsel in distress act, it was something that warmed up inside her once they were close and talking, as if she knew the girl deep enough to actually care for her without any hidden agendas nor motives.
“Here, Drink.” Nara offered Sara the glass of water before inviting her to sit back, seeing that the girl wasn’t exactly comfortable, she asked her followers to take few steps back, but even like that the girl remained sickly pale and it troubled the young princess.
“I am sorry for troubling you, Your Highness, please do not worry about me.” Sara finally managed to utter, she didn’t think she will be meeting her own sister and even sit with her on the same table, she didn’t know her sister would be that beautiful, the princess was simply gorgeous, not to mention, so nice and gentle.
Sara didn’t really know what to feel about that, in one hand her sister was still one of the suspects in the attempts on her life and her father’s disappearance but in the other hand, she was her sister, her family.
“Oh, please don’t say that, Lady…?”
“Sara Ren, I apologize for not introducing myself earlier, Your Highness.” Sara said with an apologetic smile, remembering Eren’s words as well as Geraldine’s instructions, she quickly adjusted her posture, straightened her back and placed her hands on her lap, just like a young lady should act.
Nara didn’t miss that as she had been trained to spot such subtle gestures since she was a kid, if it was anyone else she would have labeled them as a fake nouveau riche without any old and noble status but their fortune, or plain fake who did not deserve too much of her time, but the frightened silver haired girl was an exception for some reason, she just looked like a lost child in the middle of the crowd looking for a hand to hold, and Nara wanted to be that hand.
“The Ren family from the north, am I right?” Sara nodded her head, she had never heard about the Ren family in her life but she did remember Eren saying something about the north, happy that her information matched, she smiled warmly.
Nara only nodded her head at the information not letting her emotions show, it was weird that a member of the Ren family who were banned few decades ago to the north borders of the kingdom was there to celebrate the new king’s coronation, unless…
“Are you here with anyone, Lady Sara?” she asked with a sweet smile, the girl might have been from the wrong family, it wasn’t her fault, and it would explain why was she left to sit alone and even her earlier agitation when she introduced herself. Plausible, Nara though, deciding to give the girl the benefit of the doubt.
“I am here with my fiancé, Duke Salvatore.” Sara didn’t know which part of her words was wrong but all eyes stared weirdly at her, even her sister who looked at her skeptically, she felt her palms sweating when Nara stood slowly with her eyes fixated on her, and they didn’t look so kind anymore.
“Your Highness. Excuse my intrusion but the king is asking for your presence.” A woman called for the princess before she could say anything, she didn’t look like a maid but not like a guest either, the princess only gave Sara one skeptical look before exchanging a look with one of her ladies in wait, and then walked out of the room as gracefully as she entered.
“You don’t mind us sitting by your side Lady Ren?” the question sounded more like a statement as the lady in a blue gown didn’t wait for her reply and took a seat facing Sara who gulped, she didn’t need anymore signs to know that something was wrong with her story, she just couldn’t tell what.
The lady didn’t say any other words, she just looked at Sara with an intense gaze and a fake smile, and Sara knew she was only there to monitor her until the princess comes back.
Few minutes passed and nothing happened, the princess didn’t come back and didn’t send anyone to fetch her, however, Sara was petrified even though she showed a calm facade, she wondered where was Eren as she couldn’t think of any possible way to save herself from this situation, she didn’t even know what to say if questioned, her palms were sweating profusely and her panic started to make her throat feels tighter, the lady sitting next to her seemed to notice and was about to ask when a piercing scream was heard and darkness took over the whole place again.
Unlike the first time, the darkness didn’t feel just cold but threatening and she didn’t have any arms around her to make her feel safe, instead she was surrounded by screams, the young ladies in the room forgot their manners and started to scream like terrified children.
Despite being scared herself, Sara didn’t waist the opportunity to dart towards the door, leaving behind her mask which turned very uncomfortable and heavy out of sudden, and luckily, all the time she spent watching the entrance for Eren’s returned had paid as she managed her way through the darkness without stumbling into any furniture, it somehow reminded her of her room in the tower and she was happy her eyes were quick to adjust to the darkness.
Once she was out of the room, it was not that dark as the moon light shown from the windows and Sara walked quickly but aimlessly in the corridors, there were several maids and soldiers but she kept her face straight and walked through them with dignity, telling herself that they wouldn’t have any reason to doubt her if she didn’t provide them with one.
She didn’t really know why she escaped, and she knew that it would make her situation even harder if she got caught, however, an inner voice told her that she was going to get herself exposed and then possibly killed, her best chance was to find Eren, she doubted he would be far as he had probably left to help the men find out what happened, and he was probably able to figure out the reason behind their doubtful eyes and deal with it, the question though was: where to find him?