ROYAL-TEA [ON HOLD]

8.

Portino was separated from Gardenia by a huge lake. This lake was very navigable and was shared equally by both countries. The tiny patch of land that could have belonged to both countries instead belonged to Zardinia.

When I initially made my plan, I never considered the small cape that was under Zardinia. I knew that no one could come via cruise ship to meet us or hunt us down.

What I also forgot was that my country was currently helping Zardinia develop that cape. Meaning that people who could recognize me were twenty or fifty miles away.

When Dimitri asked me to come with Jeremy to view the house, I asked to stay behind to watch over a very exhausted Anya.

The supposed one week trip got cut short when Dimitri came back with a scared looking Jeremy. Their words made me freeze.

"Your father is looking for you. We have to leave. Now."

That was how I found myself with a fake passport passing me off as their adopted daughter. I was wearing a ginger wig, and blue contacts to hide my green eyes from selling me out.

We headed to their home in the MossDale's Green Crescent. It was run using slave labour. They had bought it like that, and could not do anything to change the rules.

Despite my anger at this, I knew that the Hunters were good people. Dimitri had made a beautiful complex for his 500 slaves, that included a school, a church and houses for the families to stay in. The slaves were happy, well fed, and did their work well.

They were so happy, they smiled when they saw us in the morning. They even made little presents for the babies. The first born was called Timothy, and his younger brother was Jerome. They were identical, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"They are so cute!" I kept saying as I watched them in their cot. It was huge. Apparently, the slaves had made it.

"You are smothering them."

"Shut up Jeeremy."

Anya laughed. "You are hilarious! You two are so cute together."

"At least we look cute. The guy I have been promised to gets on my nerves. He is always trying to sidestep me."

"Oookay," Anya looked sympathetic, but still managed to wear a bright smile. "Do you like him?"

"Hell to the no."

Jerome started crying right then, and Jeremy picked him up. Dimitri was outside, guarding sheep. He was such a hard worker, and I wanted to emulate him.

I gathered Timothy to my arms and blew raspberries at him. His mother smiled as she took a photo of Jeremy and I with her babies. She looked so much healthier now. Her skin was starting to smoothen out, and her nausea had stopped altogether.

The MossDale weather was good for her.

*&*&*&*&

"Did you ever think you'd be running away from home?" Jeremy asked me as we watched the goats. We had sent Dimitri in to have lunch with Anya. Jeremy and I found ourselves outside, happily watching over sheep.

Jeremy was a good looking guy, roughly my age, but younger. He made up for age with his muscular frame. He was almost Anthony's size.

Talking about Anthony, I couldn't help wondering how he was doing. Was he okay? Was he now used to the toughness that was Ashish the II? Had Ashish mellowed out with age?

"Your Highness!?"

That woke me up. Infront of us stood a young girl, probably five or six years in age. She had auburn hair and grey-brown eyes. She smiled at me as she called my name again.

"Your Highness!"

"Hello there," I called to her gently. "What's your name?"

"Indira, Your Highness..." she looked around as if she wanted to hide. I wondered why. Was she shy?

It didn't take long for us to find out why she looked worried. Her friends came looking for her. They were both attractive. They would break many hearts with those looks. It was obvious, their already defined jawlines told this story.

"Indira!" they called happily, only stopping when they spotted us with her. They gave us almost hostile looks. I couldn't help feeling my stomach dip in fear.

"I have to go," Indira begged, andi let her. She excused herself by curtsying and ran to the two boys. The taller one, who had the darkest skin, turned back and gave me a chilling look.

"What's with those two?" I asked Jeremy who shrugged his shoulders.

With Indira's blonde hair swaying as she walked away, I once again turned to look at the tall kid. He seemed angry. I saw him clench and unclench his jaw at the same time.

Well, that one is nothing but trouble.