Princess Thief [✔]

11. The Brazen Knight

HARPA DAY OF FRIGG

After a whole day of searching, I did not catch any glimpse of that guy again. It was already the third day and I could hear the bustling of servants from inside my chamber. They were probably busy with the Coronation Ceremony held later this day.

The maidservants entered the room and brought my breakfast. For today, there were no required activities so I was planning to go out again. I took a bath and when I went back, the maidservants were already packing my belongings. 

There would still be a dinner party after the coronation but the guests were allowed to stay the night or to go home. Father asserted on the latter and we had no choice but to tag after him. The distance between our kingdom wasn't that far but it wasn't near either. It would take a few hours unless we didn't stop for rest and we could arrive by midnight then.

I put on a simple walking dress and just let my hair down. I already asked the maidservants to throw away the old dresses since I would have no use for them anymore.

Gerald was in charge of my clothing and he would be surprised to see the several pieces of attires I had. In that case, I could only ask Willow that I would use her name instead of Cindra to not arouse suspicions. 

Luckily, she had ordered a servant to send me a message last night. We scheduled to meet today since she was very busy yesterday while I was raking around for that man.

I'll definitely see him later. I convinced myself and prepared to go out.

***

Per usual, I had the same group of people with me today, the maidservants and Xenon. I saw Willow in the palace courtyard and she was with other girls. Our eyes met and she appeared like she was excusing herself from the crowd.

"You didn't need to leave them," I said and locked our arms as we walked.

"It's fine, I don't like them anyway. So where did you go yesterday? I saw Duchess Pheles and you were not with her. Did you make any friends?"

I did meet other ladies and men since it was easier to approach others outside the party because there were not that many rules. Although, they could not talk for long because of Xenon's figure lurking behind me.

"Just acquaintances. How about you?"

"I was dying of boredom but I can't do anything because of Mother. Oh!"

She abruptly stopped then came close and whispered, "Did you know that the evil sister of yours with such mouthful name got her own bitter medicine?"

Willow must be referring to Erodessa. She pulled back and we kept on strolling.

"What happened?" I probed, partially curious.

Erodessa could have her own way with anyone and it was not every day someone could match her.

"She picked on one of the ladies like the bitch she was, turned out the lady was the cousin of Princess Carrion. What's more, she was also the only niece of Princess Deliora's husband." Willow portrayed the corresponding events in detail with matching actions.

All I could think was my sister was not really using her brain. How could she forget that the only titled lords and ladies invited were the ducal families? Most of the time, ducal families were related to the royals, the reason why they had such high titles.

"Then?"

"Of course, she had no choice but to leave and stay in her chamber for the rest of the day."

So that was why she was not there at dinner yesterday. I didn't pay it much heed but I was not aware she actually offended someone. Perchance I guessed I should be thankful since maybe because of her, I was not called by Father even if I went wandering around the whole day.