Chapter 19: Chapter 19 - she fell
"Mommy!"
"Say mother".
"Mommy!"
"That's "mother" Victor".
"Mommy?"
The beautiful face that forced itself to remain and serene faltered. Lips drooping in irritation as the beautiful blue eyes were just off glaring at the little boy. They snapped to big brown eyes that watched them in boredom, her venomous lips opening.
"Stop staring! It's rude!" She barked at me.
She was right. It was totally rude. But would I stop? Meh...
Her jaw clenched at my lack of movement and she strode towards me, lifting a hand to forcefully lift me up and wrestle me out of the room. Pushing me the moment I was by the door frame and shutting the door with a loud bang.
I braced myself for a rough landing, the marble floor beneath me glinted a smooth hard surface, instead, I fell into arms that circled around me, hoisting me up so fast I had no time to think before they disappeared.
"Eh?" I looked around with surprised eyes.
That was Ruby, wasn't it?
The question was: why was he was avoiding me?
It had been like this ever since the pudding incident. Anytime I would so much as come close to getting a scratch on me, he'd appear. Pulling me back, stabilising my core and then he would vanish.
It was always so fast, so I could never grab a hold of him.
"Oh forget him! Where's Edmund?" I started my search immediately, needing some source of entertainment.
Edmund wasn't in the mansion. Or in the garden. He was nowhere to be found...
I sighed. The worst outcome that could possibly happen has happened. There was only one place he'd be if he was neither here or in the gardens.
The dukes mansion.
This was currently a small palace near the main palace and he would reside there until his maternal uncle, the one currently managing his fief, would deem him mature enough to take over.
Yeah... as you can imagine that doesn't happen until he meets the heroine, who cures his low self-esteem... typical.
It wasn't that I still severely dislike the guy. No. No. I just mildly disliked him now.
Oh come on! He had a crappy character ark. I didn't even read most of it. Maybe that was why I didn't realise him and Edmund had such a strange relationship.
Anyway, let's head off.
I knew the palace was near the main palace so it shouldn't be hard to find. It would just be smaller and maybe a bit farther down.
Leaving as always wasn't a grand task. Literally walked passed five maids and they took no notice of me. Hurray...
Since the weather was getting colder, and the sight of dying leaves of orange were becoming a common sight. The dead branches in the garden finally looked normal. Or at least slightly...
The branches were as dry as ever and as the months passed the garden became more of a jungle and finding my way through was becoming harder and harder.
It wasn't a surprise when I left the hound of bushes in scratches and tears. My hair no longer in the neat braid I had put it in but akin to something a cave man would adorn. The dress I wore had its own number of rips in it and barely looked presentable.
"This is great, isn't it?" I muttered sarcastic to myself.
"Doesn't look too good if you ask me".
A familiar voice spoke out, causing me to jump as I caught sight of a caped figure, leaning down and inspecting the wounds on my face. Bright blue eyes peering down at me through tresses of black hair.
"R-Ruby" I acknowledged in surprise.
"You're hurt. This isn't good. I've failed my duty master. Please punish me". He knelt down, head firmly facing the ground.
Um... what? What exactly is going on?
"I'm confused?"
"I allowed you to hurt, future queen", he answered.
S-Still confused?
"I won't be queen and why are you still sitting like that?" This guy avoided me for ages and now he's talking but... just what exactly is going through his mind.
"If you won't be queen of Blackburn then you will be queen of the Brennus. I have been given the honour of protecting you and have failed my duty. Please punish me".
Eh?
Now I'm even more confused!
"How could I be the queen of Brennus?" I furrowed my brows.
He seemed to be startled at my words, lifting his head to look at me with disbelieving eyes, "how else, princess, you would marry Lucas?"
I started to choke at the unexpected reply.
W-What the hell?! Marry- Marry Lucas?! That child?! That's illegal!
"What gave you that idea?!"
"Because you were gifted that necklace. The Brennus people only give gifts to those we intend to marry", he answered.
A sudden flash of a scene came to mind.
Ruby smoothed out the jewelled ring held in his hand. It was rough. Could be mistaken for a rock by others and it's size made it instantly dismissible. But, it was the only thing he could afford. Of course, he found it lying on the ground, it had probably been laying there for years, but the moment he caught that faint glint he rushed to grab it. Excitement beating at his heart as he rushed to where she was. Where she always was.
She sat, huddled up, blonde hair sparkling in the sun and large pink eyes twinkling the moment she caught sight of him.
"Ruby!" She waved, jumping out of her earlier huddled state.
He smiled at her. Nerves playing with his heart as he neared her.
"Why are you here so early?" She beamed, hugging him like she always did.
"I can't be long but,", he faltered the moment he met those curious large eyes. Would she reject him? Hate him like the rest of the humans? ," I- I- wanted to give you this!" He flung the rough ring at her and disappeared.
I snorted as I recalled the scene. It was cute. Adorable.
But- did Lucas mean the same thing? I mean he's just a kid! There's no way. I dismissed the thought with a sigh.
"Come on. Your punishment is keeping me company until I get to the Dukes mansion" I walked ahead, letting the boy catch up.
"You are too nice, future empress".
I shivered at his words.
"D-Don't call me that!"
"As you wish".
We continued in silence. The only sound heard was the grass and that was barely audible.
It was when we were about half-way there that Ruby spoke up.
"Let me carry you princess", he appeared before me like a mirage, kneeling so his back faced me and his hands gestured for me to get on.
"No". I couldn't have been more fed-up with this.
"Let me know when"-.
"No".
"Yes princess".
"Ruby. Are you always watching me?" I decided it was best to get my suspicions out of the way since I had nothing better to do.
"Of course". He answered shamelessly.
"Don't - Don't you take breaks or sleep?" Please tell me you do.
"Yes but I still keep watch".
"H-How?"
"You don't need to know princess".
Yes! Yes I do!
I felt my veins bulge in anger, but all too soon the view of the dukes mansion came to view. I huffed instead, vowing to bring the conversation up again.
I turned to catch sight of the crow boy just as I heard the sound of wings flapping and a gust of wind that made me squint. The wind calmed and I slowly opened my eyes to see... nothing... how shocking...
I turned back to the mansion and marched on to the from door where four soldiers guarded the place. They all stared me down like the potential threat my one year old self was.
"A child?" The oldest one said, tilting his head but still grabbed the handle of his sword.
"I'm here to see my uncle!"
"Your uncle? The duke of Camellia has a?- oh! You must be the princess!" I raised my brows in surprise.
He knew me? Mallory? The unnoticed villain?
He opened the door and with a loud shout for, "MARY!", he gestured for me to come in.
"What is it you loud oaf!" Yelled an angry lady, appearing from the halls in a brown maid dress. She caught sight of me instantly with a double take.
"Princess?" She looked at me with wide eyes and then at my awful appearance.
As far as I knew I didn't know this woman...
"That's right!" The soldier gave a hearty laugh.
"Oh you're just as cute as he says!" Suddenly she pounced at me, grabbed hold of my cheeks and squeezing me into a suffocating hold.
What's going on?!
"But why are you all scratched up like that?" She looked me over with concern.
"I fell over?" Was that good enough?
Apparently it was too effective because her face turned ashen and she lifted me up and started to run up the stairs.
"Adrian! Doctor Adams! We have a wounded princess here!" She shouted rushing up the stairs in loud bangs.
Immediately replies were heard.
"Princess?!" Cried a younger voice. I've found Edmund it seems.
"Mallory?!" Went another, both equally terrified as the ashen faces of the duke and Edmund came to view and stared at my scratched up body in shock.
"It seems she fell".
Well... there was really no need for that input...
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