The Commoner's Princess

4

Miranda stood in front of the gate and took her hood off.

"It is I, Princess Miranda," she announced. The guards' eyes widened and they immediately escorted her inside.

"Miranda !" Elena exasperated fuming as soon as she made her way through the door.

"Hello Mother," Miranda greeted sheepishly.

"Have you lost your mind?" William asked his voice echoing through the corridor.

"I think I found it," she replied.

"You wasted the guard's time. They could have allocated their resources elsewhere versus dedicating to your folly."

"I asked them not to follow me."

"Anything could have happened to you. If you were to be made out. You could have been robbed, taken for ransom."

"I just wanted to breathe and not have anyone down my throat. I wanted moments alone. I did not mean to cause any hardships. I walked through the town and enjoyed the peace and quiet. I had on this cloak. No one made me out."

"Miranda,"

"No, I've heard enough. You had me walk around for 2 hours with a book on my head and weights in my hands practicing something I have been doing my entire life. All because this man was not satisfied. I wanted to be alone that's the end....the end of the story."

William threw up his hands and walked off.

"Come, dinner has been saved for you,"

"I already had supper."

"Where?"

"In the market square," Miranda answered.

"You've eaten from their utensils," Elena remarked with a horrid expression.

"Maids, will you escort Miranda to her bedroom chambers? Have her bathed thoroughly and discard this gown, cloak, and shoes."

Miranda wanted to smile thinking about Ben's exact words.

"We will talk more about this the morrow,"

It has been 3 days since Miranda's escape and she was under the watchful eye of the guards, maids, governess, and her parents.

Miranda sat by the window and looked out at the palace courtyard. She held a book in her hand. Her studies were done for the day and she was bored. She thought about Ben every day and she wondered what patient he was treating and what he would be cooking. One encounter with a doctor and he consumed a lot of her thoughts. She wanted to see him again.

"We are all going out for a walk in the garden and a croquet game. Join us,"

"Oh mama, that sounds splendid but I am quite tired. I think I am going to retire to my room for an afternoon nap." She lied.

"Very well then," Elena said as Miranda stood and watched as the attendants followed.

She walked into her bedroom and shut the door. After searching through her wardrobe and waiting five or so minutes she peeped her head out and saw that the hall was empty. Miranda read books about the palace and saw that there should be a tunnel leading out of the castle and passing the gates.

Hearing footsteps she moved by the corner quickly and hid watching servants walk by. Miranda placed her purple cloak on her shoulders and made her way to the ground floor.

She looked around for anything that would lead to a tunnel. The book said the ground floor. Miranda walked into the library and looked around.

God must have found pity on her because she noticed it as clear as day. There was a nondescript section of the library wall. Smiling she walked over placed her hand on it and traced until she found the latch. She pulled it down and listened to the click as the door swung open revealing a narrow hall.