The carriage stops in front of a huge gate. They visit unannounced so the guards meet them and verify their identity, then call for the butler of the family to notify the princess.
Princess Minerva, from her room, went down to meet them. "It is not wise to see people visiting people during the plague's breakout, am I right?" were her welcoming remarks.
Princess Shannon answered her indirect offense. "You're right," she agreed. "And it is not wise to allow a huge celebration during this time as well," she counters.
A smirk leaves both princesses' faces, and though it might seem contradictory, both ladies get along very well.
"It was the king's idea. Even if I disagree, he will never listen to me," she said as they walked towards the receiving area of the mansion. "That's why I wanted to stay separated from the palace of Gemma and reside here at our vacation estate," she added as she gracefully sat down on the chair.
"Please, suit yourselves." She extended her arms with an open hand and gracefully gestured, telling them to sit down and enjoy the food the servants meticulously prepared.
They started to dig in and enjoy the moment and the conversation.
"Is it true that you are Duke Oliver Cannon's fiancée?" the young lady asked out of the blue.
Princess Shannon was silent; if she's with the five other officials, she will definitely not be the one to speak and break the awkward silence.
Princess Minerva was not speaking. Lady Sarang tried to pull out another topic just to change the atmosphere.
"Umm... yes, we want t-to leave Lady Lovelle for the meantime before the carriage from the Central Kingdom arrives. We already sent a message to them so when they receive it, they will take the young lady home. I swear she will behave, RIGHT, Lianes?" (caps for emphasis).
She nodded and stooped, agreeing.
Princess Minerva followed the flow of the topic Lady Sarang had brought up. "I see. She can stay here for a while. You know it's very dangerous outside—human trafficking is spreading everywhere." She took a sip from her cup. "Isn't it ironic? Disease and plague are all around, yet people still celebrate festivals and kidnap other people. How fearless the Gemmans are, aren't they?" she added with sarcasm.
She stopped and continued. "We have a vacant room for guests; please lead her to her room," she called to the maid and then Hidelga came forth.
"This is Hidelga; she will lead you to your room. Actually, she was almost kidnapped when I found her," the princess stated as she turned to introduce her to them.
"Is that true?" Lady Lianes stood up and greeted her.
Hidelga nodded with a smile as she stooped, greeting the young lady.
They went to the guest room while the two other ladies left for their mission.
"Isn't she one of the dethroned emperor's wives?" Lady Minerva asked.
The two nodded. "Yes, my lady," Lady Sarang said. "We are both wives of the dethroned emperor," she added.
"She looks so young. How old is she?" She asked them.
Her reaction, when they told her the young lady's age, turned to disappointment.
"It is a marriagable age, Princess Minerva," Princess Shannon said.
"And yet you are still unwed," Princess Minerva stated, knowing that the two ladies are the same age. "She is still immature both in heart and mind; you should have at least spared that innocent girl," she insisted.
"You have a point, but that is entirely a matter within the Central Kingdom. The Honorary Lady chose her as one of the emperor's brides even though she is still young, so apparently, we cannot do anything to intervene," Princess Shannon countered the idea.
Meanwhile,
Along the hallway, the young lady held back, seemingly wanting to start a conversation. Sensing this, Hidelga opened one.
"You shouldn't leave your room or wander around the estate alone," she said.
She nodded. "Yes, I'll take that in mind."
'What a sweet child,' Hidelga thought, wishing she'll have a daughter like her someday. It will be as sweet as this little flower.
"How old are you, my lady?" Hidelga asked.
The lady gave her a glance and smiled. "I'm sixteen," she said. Then they stopped by the door, and Hidelga took the keys from her pocket and opened the room.
She started to light the candles in the well-maintained room, open the windows for a fresh night breeze and signal her to enter.
"I'll help you prepare for bed. First, your bath," she stated.
Later after a long warm rinse. She brushed the golden locks of the young lady's hair. "You are very skilled on this," Lady Lianes complimented.
"I had two younger sisters, Mateja and Dsso, with a two-year age gap yet they are like twins. They are the best partners in crime. Mateja is good at covering up the mess, while Dsso is the one planning it. They always end up being scolded by the elders but one thing is for sure: they are having lots of fun," she narrated dearly.
"You seem very close to them. I only have an older brother and we have a huge age gap. When I was married off, I was not able to see him anymore," the young lady frowned
Hidelga was shocked. "What did you just say?" Forgetting the formality in her words.
She hastily accepted the fact when she realized that they were wearing the same shoe. (Something related to the idiom "put yourself in someone's shoes.") She was married off early as well.
"You also have a husband?" The young lady turned to look at her in their conversation.
Hidelga, who is brushing her hair, giggled. "My first husband did such horrible things to me but now he is gone. I don't know where he is. I have a new husband but.. I got separated from him recently." Her tone changes at the very end.
Being able to narrate the horrible experience she encountered before is a good sign that she has already moved on and recovered.
"My husband was the dethroned emperor," the young lady said but Hidelga was not able to grasp it because she was busy thinking.
'Everything thanks to Leon,' Hidelga thought. However, her eyes widen as she notices a wide gap of empty space in her memories.
It wasn't just Leon's care and affection. In fact, she had only been with him recently—for just a few months, to be exact.
She escaped Sur years ago. She ran and waited...
Where did she go?
Where did she stay?
What did she do?
"Hidelga, are you alright?" The young lady asked with a worried tone. "You're so pale," she said.
"Aren't you going to look for your husband?" She asked.
Hidelga being confused and puzzled, dropped the brush on the floor. She moved two steps backwards. Her head lowered and her expression was like there was pain whenever she tried to recall.
A stranger's voice resounded in her mind.
"I have another sister," she muttered.
But the thoughts stopped when the face and the name and the happening were about to be revealed. She fell on the floor, groaning like she was experiencing vertigo.
The dizziness is like the whole place is rotating.
The young lady was so scared that she ran outside to call for help.
Hidelga faints.