Happily Ever After

Chapter 35

(Y/N) POV 

An ominous feeling kept lingering beside me as I got lost in a sea of thoughts. I could not shake off this feeling of uneasiness since I left the Trancy manor. A part of me wants to go home and let it be. It's probably just me imagining it. However, the other keeps telling me to head back and see if everything is all right. 

I searched the carriage for something that could ease my troubled mind. I rummaged through my purse in an attempt to find something that would calm me down, but I found none. Then, I suddenly remembered about the locket. I used to hold onto it whenever I feel anxious, and it has never failed to simmer me down.

'That should do the trick.'

I reached for the heart-shaped necklace, which was supposedly hanging on my neck. However, I felt my hand grabbing onto nothing. I started to panic, feeling the area around my neck and collarbone in search for the locket.

'No, it can't be!'

I looked down, and to my dismay, it was indeed missing. I tried recollecting memories of the night and even the morning before, but I couldn't pin down the exact location where I left it. 

I kept thinking, and thinking, and thinking. 'Where could it be?' I asked myself. I wore the locket at all times except when I bathe or go to sleep. 

"Oh! That's it. Perhaps I left it in Alois' room. If not, then it must be in the bathroom.'

"Mr. Robinson!" I called out. "Please take me back to the Trancy estate."

~•~

"Thank you for letting me in, Hannah."

"Your welcome, Miss (Y/N). Do you still remember the directions to his highness' room?"

"Yes, I do. There's no need to assist me. You can go back to your chores now. Don't worry, I shall be quick."

"As you wish, Miss (Y/N)." Hannah left me alone and continued completing her tasks.

I went my own way and headed towards Alois' bedroom. "Go straight... take a left...," I recited the directions to myself. "Up the stairs... another left... turn right... go straight ahead... and here we are." 

I was about to knock, that was, until I noticed that the door was left ajar. How strange. He was the type of person to keep his doors closed at all times. Anyways, I did not want to appear nosy and respect his privacy as well, so I decided to still knock.

"I can't keep doing this anymore," Alois suddenly said.

My ears perked up. My hand stopped mid-air.

"What do you mean you can't, your highness? If you don't play the part, then she'll certainly find out," a voice, which I'm sure belonged to Claude, said.

'What are they talking about? What did he mean by 'she will find out'? And who is this 'she'?'

I knew that eavesdropping was bad, but I felt as if my feet were glued onto the floor. The curious cat in me had awakened. I could not move an inch. I had to know what they are talking about. There were too many questions left unanswered. 

"I cannot keep playing pretend forever, Claude. I've seen her hurt so many times because of me and my actions just for the sake of this foolish charade. I can't take it anymore"

"This 'foolish charade' is what keeps her safe, your highness. This pretence is what keeps her from getting hurt twice as much. What do you think will happen if she discovers the truth? What do you think will happen if she gets involved? It will only complicate things even more."

"But I'm hurting her, Claude. I make her sad. I make her cry. I make her suffer all sorts of things with my own two hands."

"True, but she'll end up getting hurt either way. Whether you choose to tell the truth or not, she will still get hurt in the end," Claude stated. "The truth hurts much more than lies. Are you sure she's prepared to handle it?" Claude inquired. He then paused for a bit and said, "Oh, I didn't notice you there. Good afternoon, Miss (Y/N)."

The door opened, and I was met by a horrified Alois and a complacent Claude.

"Why didn't you tell me that she was here all along?" Alois asked with an angry tone.

"My apologies, your highness. I was too focused on you that I forgot to be aware of my surroundings."

"Tell me the truth," I blurted out.

...

"I said, tell me the truth, Alois!" I demanded.

...

"Claude, tell me what is going on." I turned my head and faced the tall butler.

"I'm sorry, milady, but I cannot disclose any information without my master's permission. Please do understand."

"Sigh, is no one seriously going to tell me anything?"

"(Y/N), I'm sorry but-"

"Shut it! Just... shut your trap if you're not planning to tell me anything. I don't need your apologies. I simply want to hear the truth."

...

"Alois, please... please be honest with me," I pleaded. "I'm sick of these tooth-rotting lies. Please be honest with me even just this once. I'm your best friend, remember? You can tell me absolutely anything." I cupped his cheeks and looked at him in the eyes, but he turned his head and avoided eye-contact. 

"But you'll hate me. You'll be disgusted of me, if I tell you the truth. You won't see me the same way as before. And worst of all, you'll only get hurt even more."

"But I was hurt, I am hurt, and I will hurt twofold if you won't be honest with me."

...

"Sigh, so this is how it's going to be, huh? If you're not going to tell me the truth, then perhaps I should make you. I really didn't want to resort to this option, but you leave me with no choice."

Alois furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "(Y/N), what are you planning to do?"

"You'll see," I replied. "Claude, hand me a sword. Oh, and don't forget to give your master one too."