43: One favour for another

One favour for another

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Anastasia returned to Princess Emily's side with her mind preoccupied after receiving the news about her sister's elevated status.

Some women stared at her as nearly an hour had passed since she left the hall with Prince Dante, but they didn't bother to make conversation with a lowly maid, believing she was only a disposable plaything. 

"Looks like you don't have luck when it comes to retaining maids for long, Lily," Princess Niyasa remarked while she briefly glanced at the shabby maid. Even for her brother without a Crux, sleeping with a maid was a little too low, and she expected better. 

Princess Emily turned away from the dancing concubines and asked, "Why do you say that? Anna hasn't caused any trouble." 

"I don't mean in terms of her death, but because of Brother Dante's actions of seeking her out more than once or twice," Princess Niyasa stated, and this even caught Anastasia's attention. 

Lady Amara, who sat with them, glared at the maid, not knowing why Prince Dante had fallen even further from his position. Even she was embarrassed to think that he was doing this maid. 

"I am not giving her away, though," Princess Emily said firmly. "She is my maid, and that decision depends on what I want to do."

"Sure," Princess Niyasa softly chuckled, because as much as she and her sister thought they had power, they didn't. While the celebration continued, Madame Minerva arrived at the entrance along with Marianne, which had some of them stop talking and turn in their direction. 

Madame Minerva announced, "Let me introduce you to Prince Maxwell's exclusive concubine, Marianne."

Murmurs filled the room while Anastasia stared at her sister, who tried to hide her discomfort. Marianne offered a bow before making her way to where Queen Sophia and the other important women sat. 

Lady Amara leaned towards Princess Niyasa and inquired, "I thought Prince Maxwell found his soulmate. Why does he have another woman?" 

Princess Niyasa pursed her lips before saying, "He has. This was something that happened before he found his soulmate."

"It's a pity," Princess Emily remarked with a frown. 

"Hm? Isn't she lucky to be exclusively his?" Lady Amara asked. 

"If he didn't find his soulmate, she would be," Princess Emily replied. 

Anastasia stared at her sister, who sat quietly while no one attempted to talk to her. They ignored Marianne's presence as if she didn't exist, and it only made Anastasia feel that much worse. Even though they were in the same room, she felt guilty for not being able to provide her sister with  company when everyone else ignored her. 

When the women's celebration concluded in the hall, everyone stood up and began making their way out of there. As Marianne walked past Anastasia, she spoke to her younger sister with her eyes, asking her to meet her outside. Usually her sister never asked to meet her when they were surrounded by people, which made her wonder what her sister wanted to tell her. 

After making an excuse with Princess Emily, Anastasia walked through the corridors before hearing her sister's voice, 

"Anna! Here!" 

Anastasia noticed her sister's head peeking out of a room and walked over there before stepping inside. She asked, 

"Are you doing okay?" 

Marianne didn't answer as she threw her arms around her sister before hugging her tightly out of desperation. 

"I don't think I am… I don't know what to do, Anna. It feels like things are turning dark. Prince Maxwell forgot to cancel the registration when he found his soulmate, and now it is too late. H—he—" Marianne broke down in tears before she continued, "He doesn't acknowledge my presence anymore, like I don't exist even if we are in the same room, and with time, it is only going to turn worse. I have been alone in my room up until the last hour, with no one to talk to. I knew the soulmate bond was strong, but I felt abandoned and cast aside. I did not want to be his exclusive concubine after he found his soulmate, and I was ready to leave…" 

When they pulled away from each other, Anastasia noticed tears spilling from Marianne's eyes, and it broke her heart to see her sister in this state. A courtesan was taught not to fall in love, but Marianne's tender heart  failed to understand it. Marianne wiped the tears off her cheeks. 

Anastasia said to her sister, "We can still leave. The situation is still the same, except that the risk has now escalated. I will try to find a feasible night for us to leave," she promised. Holding her sister's hands, she squeezed them. "Don't worry, Mary. We got this."

Her elder sister nodded, her eyes moist, looking heartbroken and in pain. She whispered, "Okay." 

"Once everything is planned, we shall leave this place behind. Just be ready, okay?" Anastasia said as she doubted she could sneak around to meet her sister as she used to until now. "We just need to find a day to escape."

"There is a day. Actually, two," Marianne took a deep breath and said, "Two days from now, some of the guests are coming in to attend Prince Maxwell's wedding."

"But we are going out," Anastasia pointed out. 

"Yes, but at the same time, some of the supplies will be transported from the kingdom to make early preparations for the war. I heard it from Queen Sophia earlier," Marianne let Anastasia know. "There will be a lot of traffic, and we can take advantage of it. It will be in the evening, and it is the perfect time. The next time we will have this opportunity will be at Prince Maxwell's wedding… which is in less than a week."

Anastasia could tell that her sister wanted to run as far as she could from here and not look at the prince again, even though she would miss him. She said, 

"Let me see if we can still get the camels."

Thinking about the camels brought back  memories of her riding the horse, and she only hoped neither she nor her sister would fall from them. 

"I should go now, and you should return too before someone notices your absence. Be strong, Mary," Anastasia urged,  seeing Marianne leave. 

The next day, while Anastasia followed Princess Emily around the palace, she wondered how to proceed with their escape. During the evening, when Princess Emily was taking a walk in the garden, basking in the soft rays of the setting sun, Prince Aiden appeared to greet his sister. 

"Good evening, Lily," Prince Aiden wished his sister and then smiled at Anna, "Anna."

"Good evening, Aiden. Lady Helma," Princess Emily smiled at the woman beside her brother. "I hope my brother has been of good company?" 

Lady Helma offered a bow and politely responded, "He has, Princess. I have been having the time of my life."

"That is good to see that my brother is taken by you; otherwise he would be at the base right now," Princess Emily replied, and when her eyes met her little brother's eyes, he stared at her. It was because he only had the lady accompany him as his mother had pushed the lady into his care.

To play the part, Prince Aiden said, "I am very much taken by her." At his words, Lady Helma blushed. He said, "I thought you two should spend some time together too, as it would be rude of me to steal her away all for myself," he laughed, switching positions by getting his sister to stand next to the lady. "Go on," he said, giving a gentle push to his sister's back. 

When the two women of status began to walk, Anastasia was about to follow the princess when Aiden stopped her and said, "I have been meaning to talk to you." 

Anastasia's eyes moved to look around them before she whispered with her lips barely moving, 

"I don't think this is a good place to be talking, Prince Aiden." 

"There's no one here," Prince said, watching his sister and the lady taking a walk. "Did you and Brother Dante sleep together?" He asked her. 

Anastasia shook her head. 

"I knew he would never touch you, even if he was on the brink of his death!" Prince Aiden said it as if his thoughts were confirmed. He then quickly said, "Not that you aren't beautiful. It's just that he would never sleep with any woman who lives in the palace, as it would only spur my family to send him a woman so he could father a child. By the way, what were you doing in his room so late in the night?" He looked at her curiously. 

Anastasia turned her head where there were only plants and said, "It was about clothes."

"Ah, about clothes." Prince Aiden nodded as if he understood what she said. "Because of that little misunderstanding, it has blown out of proportion now. Even my mother was asking me if it was true, but I told her it was not possible," he laughed. 

And though Prince Aiden believed it was safe to talk here, someone's eyes fell on them from inside the palace. Dante was walking on one of the first-floor corridors when he saw his brother and the maid next to each other in the garden. His footsteps stopped, and he stared through the window. 

Prince Aiden said, "I forgot to tell you about the other night when I went to the town. It was so colourful and swirly. I thought I was in heaven. You should come with me one day. The food and drinks are different." 

"I think I will pass on that offer, Prince Aiden," Anastasia replied. "There is something I would like to ask of you." 

"What is it?" He asked her. 

"Would it be alright if I were to ask for a camel? To ride," Anastasia added the last words with a hopeful expression. 

"You have some real fascination with camels, don't you?" Prince Aiden asked her. 

"For a long time now," Anastasia answered truthfully with a smile, and the prince nodded. 

"Such simple wishes," he grinned and said. "We can do it right now." 

"No, not now!" Anastasia responded, adding, "I think I have brought too much attention to myself because of the rumours floating around the palace. How about tomorrow?."

Prince Aiden gave it a thought and then said, "Tomorrow, the street is going to be busy. I will have the camel placed in the same spot as I did last time. Whenever you go to the Bazaar, you can ride it."

Anastasia was happy and offered her deep gratitude. "Thank you so much, Prince Aiden."  0

Dante watched them with an expressionless face. His eyes subtly narrowed when his brother caught hold of the maid's wrist when she was about to walk away from there. 

"You haven't heard everything yet," Prince Aiden said, letting go of her hand, and Anastasia's eyebrows furrowed. "I offer you the camel on your word that you will come out with me one night. Not now, but when the opportunity presents itself?"

Anastasia had nothing to lose because once she could finally sit on the camel with her sister, there would be no turning back, and she nodded. 

"Okay. Thank you again," Anastasia thanked him. 

Prince Aiden beamed with happiness, and he made his way to where his sister and the lady stood, talking about the place Lady Helma came from. 

In the meantime, Anastasia let out a sigh of relief. She knew it was wrong to take advantage of someone's kindness, but she hoped that Prince Aiden would forgive her one day.

She looked around as she secretly smiled to herself; her smile fell when her eyes met Prince Dante's, who was now looking at her  from the palace. As calm and composed as his demeanour appeared, there was obvious displeasure as he stared at her. 

Anastasia was ready to slip from Dante's sight when she saw him raise his hand and use his two fingers in a come-hither motion at her, ordering her to come to see him. 

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