Chapter 77 Quiet Betrayal
Chapter 77
Rosa's POV
Bang! Bang!
A deep knock at the door steps as if the door was about to be ripped off.
“Come in!” I commanded, raising my head slightly up to see who was coming through.
It was a maid. One of the maids. Not Lyra.
“Your friend is here, your honor,”
I pulled my brow together. “Who?”
“Caramel.”
I hissed, “ that snake.”
The maid was shocked. Her eyes widened.
I had given every one of them the instructions of preventing Caramel from coming straight into my bedroom room.
I knew Caramel would be shocked that I had to do that. She would be thinking that something is not right between us. Because Caramel is just like a blood sister to me, I can't deny the fact that we were inseparable.
We shared the same bed. We wore the same clothes and not until recently, I thought we shared the same dream.
Caramel would wonder how things had gone sour between us. I had told her that I would be travelling to meet Ryder for her to cover up for me by telling Jax that I had travelled to my mother at Crimson pack.
Our plan worked out perfectly, because Jax didn't even bother to approach Caramel. Jax would never. I just have to do that to tighten any loop holes from that end.
Maybe I shouldn't have instructed the maid to prevent her from coming into my room so she would not raise any unnecessary highbrow.
Maybe I was stupid to act so fast to give her the signal for her to start thinking of what she had done wrong.
But today will mark her end. I promise today will be.
“Tell her I will join her in a moment.”
I moved out of my pajamas. I put on something casual. A trouser and a simple t-shirt which was long enough to brush my knees. I tucked something important under my shirt, its coldness shimmered against my skin. . It would be needed for a journey like this.
I bounded my hair and wrapped it in a pony tail. Then I stepped out.
On hearing my footsteps , Caramel turned towards me. She was watching the view from outside like she owned it.
Hey, lovely.” She stretched her arms wide for an embrace.
Her perfume which I had once always adored, now made my heart sink.
I tried to force that embrace and a fake smile.
Hnwa… Hnwa…” She pressed her lips against my two fluffy cheeks.
“How about we take a stroll to the orchard.” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Oh! Brilliant!”
She dropped her bag on the couch, and walked to the exit door.
Then I put it to her again.
“How about you pick your bag now , that way you won't come back to pick it up.”
“Ok, fine then,” Caramel replied by smiling, drifting back to the couch , picking it up and throwing it over her left shoulder.
Good! She took that in too. Everything is working according to plan.
I thought she would have an alternative reason not but she did. Though I would still find means of convincing her to pick her bag.
I will do to her far worse than what I did to Astra. The thought burnt in my chest.
The king orchard is the largest in the stormfang pack. It is a place where different fruits are planted and can supply the alpha king's buffet when important celebrations are approaching.
Apart from that, It also helps to serve as an emergency support unit especially when the palace provisioner can't provide the necessary ingredients for the king's buffet during these important celebrations.
Though it had been living in its past glory. Due to the hands of the gods that had befallen, stormfang came back in recent time.
Though few vegetation of pomegranate and strawberry is still scattered on the large piece of land. The only river in the stormfang pack finds its pact through some section of the orchard.
We walked through the pact, while Caramel had held my hand like a precious gift. For me, her breath on my skin had tasted like a pure gall.
We held our hand and walked a long distance, far from the palace edifice. Far from the eyes and ears.
Workers had not resumed work or probably they were on break.
“How is Ryder doing?”
The word hit me. I turned. I smiled faintly.
He's doing well.” I replied with a faint smile.
Caramel looked at me once again, her eyes locked into mine. Like she wishes to unravel the puzzle behind those eyes. She wouldn't because all I was just waiting for was the perfect time to strike.
Since we have been strolling and chatting, my eyes have been darting around.
“You are scaring me Rosa, with the way you have been so unusually quiet . Like you hardly recognize me.”
She paused and tilted her head a little bit. “Am I really that scary now?”
“No… no not at all?” I chuckled softly.
You are acting strange. But I missed you.”
I know,” I replied, my thumb brushing the trigger. “That is why this hurts.”
“Hurt?” She echoed. Wrinkling her brow.
I leaned closer, my hand clamped around the grip of the tiny pistol underneath my shirt.
“You know some wounds bleed quietly.”
“How? Just tell me… How?” Caramel uttered her voice laced with concern. Still she could not read in between the lines.
Then…
“Your highness!” The voice of a maid sliced through the air. She was heavily panting, her heart thumping. “ Someone called Freya, requests your immediate presence at the palace. She said , "she would not leave until she set her eyes on you.”
I froze. Turned.
Fre…ya?” I was cautious in calling the name. My eyes darted back to Caramel if she knew Freya.
Caramel looked between us, fear creeping i
nto her eyes. Her eyes darted towards my hand tucked under my cloth.
She knew something was underneath it.
And I knew this was not yet over.