II. The Impact of Her

~ Twenty ~

Arriving at the bakery, I peeked through the window to see if Laura was inside.

However, the glass was too foggy and I couldn't see through it. I then entered the bakery and looked around. But to my dismay, she was nowhere to be found.

I then looked for Grandpa Ben but even he was nowhere in sight. And I wasn't about to ask Ronald so I figured it was better to ask someone else.

I walked over to another worker and asked, "Excuse me, madam?"

She was quick to turn around and smiled. "Good day to you, sir. What can I help you with?"

"I was wondering if Grandpa Ben or Laura arrived today," I said.

"My apologies, sir, but Grandpa Ben left an hour ago. He is yet to return. I'm not sure when he will be back but I presume he'll be here later," she replied.

"What about Laura?" I asked.

"Laura hasn't been here since this morning. We're not sure why but it's either she accompanied Grandpa Ben or she is ill," she explained. "Is there anything else that I can help you with? Perhaps, you have a message that you'd like to pass onto them?"

"Kindly tell them that I paid a visit, especially to Laura. She's the reason why I came."

"May I know your name, good sir?"

I smiled. "Kindly tell them that it was Robert."

"Well understood, sir. I'll tell them as soon as they arrive," she answered before she headed back to the kitchen. I sighed briefly before I stepped out of the bakery. I took one final glance at it before leaving.

~*~*~*~

When I turned to the corridor towards the main chambers, all the servants ran around. Baffled, I tried to ask some of them but they weren't able to answer me. Thankfully, I saw James, looking out a window.

"James," I called out to him as I approached him.

"Robert," he turned to my direction, his hands behind his back. He enquired, "The gatekeeper said you went for a quick stroll. Is there something wrong?"

"Why are the servants in such a hurry?" I asked as I watched more of them run past us.

"Your Aunt Bethilda demanded some changes within the castle to improve your mother's health," he replied before letting out a sigh.

"What sort of changes?" I asked as my brows furrowed.

"She already gave a long list of requirements. But to keep it short: she is turning the entire castle upside-down," James answered.

I raised a brow. "Did you tell her to leave my room alone?" I asked.

"She's your aunt. Let her do what she needs to do. It is for your mother's health," James replied, trying to convince me.

"James, my room is my place of solitude. Once someone enters my room without my permission, that is trespassing," I fumed.

Without another word, I rushed to my room, hoping that it wasn't too late. I was only hoping that she hadn't entered my room yet.

~*~*~*~

As I got to where my room was, the door was wide open. My guards stood on the other side of the hall. Servants ran to and fro my room, carrying different kinds of cloth. I stepped into my room and to my horror, everyone touched my things whilst Bethilda watched in the middle of the room.

"Leave my room or I shall have you all sent to the dungeons!" I shouted. My voice echoed, causing everyone to stop. The servants fell to the floor. Their foreheads touched the carpeted floor.