In the Shadows~zayn au~Completed ✅EDITING

~Chapter 18: A Task and Discretion~

A/N: As promised, I'll still be updating, but less regularly. Hope you guys like it. The big journey is coming soon! :O I'm so excited for you guys to see what's going to happen! This chapter is important, so remember it later. ;)

Kalysta returned to her room and began preparations. She sincerely hoped that Delia would not be back soon. It would be easier to leave a note for her than to face her questions and ire at leaving.

She grabbed several pairs of undergarments and the nicest of her dresses for when she was meeting the other rulers, but she knew that wearing dresses aboard the ship was impractical. Something else would need to be found, but she wasn't sure where to start. Delia usually fetched such random items as the need arose, along with anything else that Kalysta had not thought to consider. It was at that moment that Kalysta realized how much she relied on Delia for her day-to-day life.

Just as she was thinking this, Delia stepped into the room.

"Going somewhere, milady? Now, I know you wouldn't be running away," she admonished tersely.

"I'm not... running," Kalysta responded carefully.

"What other reason would you have for packing this late at night?"

"I am indeed packing, but my motive is not to run away," Kalysta clarified.

"Oh, I take it you've decided to start cleaning then?" Delia said with sarcasm.

"I am going away for a time, but I will be returning."

"Running off to faraway lands is not the solution to an arranged marriage."

"I would ask how you know about that, but I'm not sure I want to know," Kalysta sniffed.

"Your father sent for me and explained, saying you asked for a day of reflection after learning of his agreement to marry you to the Prince," Delia explained. "That sounded so deceptive and entirely unlike you that I knew something was amiss."

"You're right. However, this is not my solution. I will marry the Prince if necessary, but not until I've exhausted every other option."

"Milady..." Delia began uneasily.

"I am adamant on this, Delia," Kalysta warned. "I will stand firm in my decision. I'll be back. I am not going into permanent exile."

"You always stand firm in a decision," Delia sighed, "but you've hardly been wrong in the past situations."

"You believe I am wrong?"

"I cannot profess to know what drives you to leave, dear Princess, but I can say I am not sure it's for the right reasons."

"Oh, Delia," Kalysta said, stepping forward to pull the older woman into a hug. Delia returned the embrace. "You have always been there for me, and I thank you for that. But this is something I have to do."

Delia sighed before pulling away.

"I suppose there's no way for me to talk you down on this issue, then?" she asked.

"You suppose correctly."

"Very well," she said. "What do you need help with? You're rubbish at packing for yourself."

Kalysta laughed. "You're quite right about that. I know I'll need trousers, but I don't know where to get them. As well... I... I actually do not know what I need beyond that."

It was Delia's turn to laugh.

"Leave that to me," she ordered. "Go to Bill's out the secret passageway. Wear the wig. I'll meet you there with what you need. It will be less suspicious if I'm seen carrying luggage."