The Villager

20

THE VILLAGER
ʚɞ Ruth ʚɞ

"Evening, Josephine," I greet the Queen's courtier and her head turns to the sound of me and she smiles brightly. She walks over, wrapping me up in a hug.

"How are you? Serena was losing her mind and worried about you."

"I have been so busy, my apologies. You must tell me how married life is now." Her cheeks blush red when I ask her about Ugene.

"It is so amazing. I do hope someday you can experience this feeling."

"Perhaps so." I was all smiles but my heart cannot stop pounding when heavy footsteps trot throughout the palace and stop when it gets to us. Looking up, I find Timothy whom pauses in his tracks in my presence. We haven't spoken since our argument at my home.

"Timothy." Josephine bows to his presence as he does the same to her.

"Sweet Josephine," he greets with a smile.

She blushes, turning back to me and notices my discomfort. "I shall go fetch Arabella for you. I am sure she will adore your arrival."

"Thank you." I smile at her kindness.

She rushes up the steps, trying to retrieve the Queen of Lockwood. I feel his eyes on me. They don't stop not when the King brings forth himself, shifting the room with his light. Ugene is right behind him, pressing his hand behind his back, standing so still it felt eerie seeing him in any other position.

How in the world did he marry sweet Josephine? He seems so scary.

"Ruth, Arabella was just speaking about you."

"I shall go find her, thank you for allowing my arrival." I bow to his presence, escaping from the eyes of Timothy whom does not let loose on his attack.

The King watches Timothy, realizing the trance he put himself in. He smirks, but nods to my words.

Walking up the steps one by one, I still feel him staring. Arabella's being pops out of her room along with Josephine who both hold smiles on their faces. Arabella opens her arms, invading my space for a hug.

"I am so happy you are here. Serena will be so angry she could not make it."

"How are you? How is the baby?" My hand presses on her stomach, holding a soft, gracious smile.

"We are both healthy as can be."

"I am sure Jaxson is keeping you on lockdown until labor."

She rolls her eyes. "Of course he is. He doesn't even wish for me to leave the palace either without him or Ugene. I cannot breathe sometimes between these walls."

"I am sorry." I cringe.

"I'll be alright. I have Josephine to keep me company." She gently smiles at her courtier, placing her hand over her own stomach. She then waves me into her room. "Come, come. We have much to discuss."

Josephine closes the door behind all of us, and I take a seat on Arabella's couch. The one I know all too familiar with.

"I would very much like your advice on something..." She knows all too well with forgiveness and how to deal with it. I heard that Jaxson had done something before they were married, but I was not too sure what it was. She nods for me to continue and so I do. "If someone hurt you... badly. How do you forgive them? How do you get past the hurt?"

Josephine fixes all of us a cup of tea, pouring herself a cup and sitting next to the Queen.

"When I lived in the village, my mother wished for me and Serena to take on servants. I did not like the idea until I met a man named Oden." A small smile falls upon her lips, remembering her past with this certain Oden. Who was he? Why was she smiling like that? Does Jaxson know of this Oden? "I ended up falling for him, knew so much about him until I didn't."