The Path to Redemption

𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝐹𝑜𝓊𝓇

↞･:*✵*:･↠

"No." Raquel, a maid I'd met when I'd first arrived at the palace, stated with a frown. "You're not coming with us. I don't even know how you found out about this festival. Who told you?" she asked, her lips pursing tightly.

"Oh, Raquel, please?" I begged the woman, my eyes filled with eagerness. "I've done nothing except sit in the library all day, I want something more to do than just that," I complained, but the maid merely shook her head.

"No, I refuse. His majesty already has you under tight watch here in the palace. He's instructed that you do not leave for your own safety. If I go against his words then I'm breaking his trust, and by doing that I'll get fired, or worse, killed. So no, you are not coming and that is final," Raquel countered, her deep brown eyes shimmering intensely. At her words I rolled my eyes, letting out a groan.

"Oh please, Gale doesn't care whether I'm close to him or not. The only reason I'm living here is to help with some project," I argued, making sure I didn't jump into detail about the true reason why I was here. I was told to tell no one about it besides Velut and Gale, for obvious reasons. Raquel narrowed her gaze as I spoke before shaking her head sternly, clearly not having it.

"If he doesn't care then he wouldn't have so many people making sure you don't leave. There's obviously some reason you're not allowed out in the town. I, for one, think it's because you're reckless and would cause some sort of disaster," Raquel muttered, and I frowned.

"Wow, that makes me feel so much better. Thanks so much, Raquel!" My words dripped of fake enthusiasm. Raquel closed her eyes in response, putting her finger on her temple so as not to lose her temper.

"You know that's not what I meant, Aria," she began slowly, her voice low. "It's just that he cares for you. It's obvious, and I get the feeling that if something bad happens to you under my watch, I'll be screwed," Raquel argued once more although this time she was far more calm.

"Raquel, please. I'm so desperate to get out of here. I don't care if you don't stick around me or if you do the whole time. I just want to get out; I need to get out. I feel I'm going insane trapped in here with nothing to do. And if something does happen, I'll say I found out about it on my own. You won't even be mentioned. Please, Raquel. Please," I pleaded with the maid, my voice full of desperation. Raquel took a moment, looking me over as I stood there, awaiting her response, hoping I'd like the one I got. Eventually, the maid let out a sigh, shaking her head.

"Fine," she muttered. "But if you get into trouble and happen to tie me into it, you're dead, got it?" she spoke darkly, and I nodded brightly, a shining grin across my face.

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" I gave the maid a swift hug before turning to leave, waving behind me. "See you tomorrow!"

↞･:*✵*:･↠

The next day I was up before the sun had made its ascent into the sky. I'd jumped out of bed and hurried over to my wardrobe, deciding on a mocha colored dress that reached the middle of my calves. I allowed the dress to fall off my shoulders as I tied on a deep brown bodice, then slipped on a pair of boots. I let my hair down before tying half up. Then grabbing a cape and tucking it beneath my arm, I exited my room with a small satchel of coins for the book—which I'd had Lullaby retrieve for me from my old shop—along with my dagger strapped to my thigh in case of an emergency.

Placing the cape and coins behind a statue near the stairwell, I made my way to the dining hall where, much to my surprise, Velut sat alone. I took a seat across from him, unable to contain my excitement as I grinned broadly. Velut cocked a brow at me, surprised by my sudden happy attitude.