Chapter 42: You Are Guity

Chapter 42: You Are Guity
Alicia was surprised to receive a letter from Althea inviting her over for lunch. In the letter she congratulated for her win in the Arena games and said she wanted to offer her some gifts. Alicia smiled.

“Why can't she just come over here, she's feeling too big,” Nora snorted.

“Of course she can't because Damian will think she is using it as an opportunity to escape”

“Oh that's true,” Nora said.

“Get ready, we are heading there at noon” Alicia instructed with a smile.

Her plans to convince Althea to escape is still in play. She is sure that sooner or later she will want to escape.

Back in the estate

Althea was heading upstairs to the chamber alone with one of her guards.

She had asked Nina to go get her a book at the library.

Suddenly as she was about to climb the stairs she saw a guard whose face was covered coming down and her heart bit increased. This is because she knew who it was, it was the second time they were meeting in this way.

She looked at her personal guard following behind her. She could not speak to him when her personal guard was present.

“I will excort her, you can go take a break" Luis said to the guard.

Rudi was hesitant to leave her alone since the Baron instructed him never to leave her side but since the person speaking was wearing a higher rank uniform, he had to obey. He bowed his head and walked away hoping he did not make a mistake. This was the second time it was happening.

When Althea was sure he had gone far, she spoke “Why are you here again? I told you to remain in the administrative side Luis” 

“I'm sorry my princess but I needed to speak to you and know you are okay”

“It's Baroness, here I'm called the Baroness, if you call me princess they will know that you are not from here”

“My apologies, Baroness. Let's go somewhere else and speak”.

Althea looked around before following him.

They went to a secluded place.

“I told you I am getting help, you were supposed to wait for me, Luis,” Althea scolded.

Yesterday after the Arena games, she had returned back to the estate and was heading to the chamber when he came in front of her just as he did now. She had thought he was a senior official of the Baron until he spoke and she was shocked to hear a familiar voice. He had something covering his face so she could not see his face but she recognized the voice to be that of Luis.

She was so shocked and wondered what he was doing here in the West. How did he get here, especially into the estates of the Baron and also wearing a uniform that was not his.

They were able to speak privately, since no one would suspect as he was wearing a high officials uniform.

Luis had answered all her questions. He told her that after her marriage he had rebelled against the royal family because he was angry that they had sold her to the Baron of Westland. He was locked up for his rebellion but then a prison guard had helped him escape and he came to Westland.

He was wearing the uniform of an official who died while trying to help him when he came here and got into trouble. This is how he is now wearing the official's uniform since no one knows yet that the official is dead.

He had told her that he came to help her escape from here to a far away land since marrying the Baron was not what she wanted in the first place.

Last night she was so worried and thought of a plan. They had to leave, Luis was not safe here and it's an opportunity for her to escape as far as possible.

Last night she had slept off tiredly from mental stress and did not even notice when Damian came back.

With Luis being here, now was an opportunity to actually leave for good. Alicia had offered to help her, which is why she had wanted to go visit Alicia in disguise of congratulating her for her win but Damian refused. She was not able to concentrate today during training because of Luis who suddenly appeared.

“We need to leave, have you contacted the person you said will help?”

“I'm still on it Luis, I invited her over for lunch. She will be here at noon. She will help us escape”

Luis nodded and sighed in relief. Since she got married his mind has not been settled. He wondered how she had been living but coming and seeing that she was not being abused, he was relieved but then such a man will start harming her when he doesn't get what he wants.

“You have to go”

Luis nodded “I will be waiting for you. You know can't stay in this disguise for long, soon someone will want to investigate especially since I have been covering my face and have not said a word to anyone”

“I know, so go” Althea instructed.

“Take care” He bowed his head and walked away.

After making sure he was out of sight, she came out from the hidden place and headed to the Baron's chamber.

The guards outside bowed their heads and she responded before walking in.

She walked into the living room area and was shocked to see Damin seated there looking at her with a deep frown on his face.

Althea’s heart beat fast, her feet trembled. She was far from him, so she is glad he will not hear her heart beating fast.

“Why are you just returning back from training, I thought you left there like 30 minutes ago?”

“I…..I”

Damian stood up and walked to her “Why are you stammering? As he got closer he could hear her heart beating fast. He did not like the feeling he has been having since yesterday that something was wrong.

“Where is your maid?”

“I sent her…… to get me a book at the library" she tried to speak but stammered a bit.

Damian anger was rising, he held her hand tight and dragged her closer to his chest "Answer my first question, why are you just returning”

Althea winced in pain because he was holding her hand very tight “You are hurting me”

“You are guilty, your heart beat is not stable, you know I can hear it right? 

“Because you are making me scared,” Althea said.

“This is not how your  heart beats when you are scared” he let go of  her hand and raised her chin so she would look at him. Tears rolled down her eyes.

Althea swallowed “I was just walking around since there are parts of this mansion I haven't seen”

Damian shaked his head “No, that's a lie. Tell me why you really delayed, I will forgive you if you are honest with me, and act like it never happened. What have you been up to? 

Althea's feet trembled, did he know about Luis?