Chapter 44 Chapter 42

Chapter 44 Chapter 42
“The jolly folly shall become the fallen folly.”

Marina.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. The red dress made my tan a bit too obvious. My shade was a tad bit darker.

But I loved the material. The embroidery flattered its chest and neckline just a little bit. The velvet fabric was thick enough and suitable for the cold weather. It’s long sleeves wrapped around my arms like a second skin.

The last thing I expected after informing the King that I had no outfits for Famur, was a new set of clothing and a dress for the food festival.

A similar blue dress for Lanthernia sat on my bed. I almost teared up by just looking at it. I could barely believe that after all these years, we would be attending the festival together. 

Grabbing the dress, I made my way out of the room. The event would be starting soon and I did not want to miss the opening ceremony. I could hear the starting drums beating from afar. 

Firstly, I needed to go to the Kitchen. 

In a half sprint, I moved with haste towards the smell of broth and stew. I was not sure how much I could take to my family but I would definitely love to take some. They needed to taste these.

I almost bumped into Hilra during my run.

“Need I remind you that it’s not the end of the world? Where are you in a haste to? Have you stolen something?” She said angrily. 

“No. Pardon me. I need a basket and some bowls. Do you by chance have any?” Her attitude could do little to dampen my mood today.

“And why?” 

“I am also interested. Do they not share food at a food festival? I know that was included in the budget from Frankelis.” The King’s voice cut in after Hilra’s from behind me. Causing me to whip around so fast that I almost tripped over myself.

“Your highness.” I said with a curtsy. I noticed he lifted a brow at my greeting like it was an act. “I wanted to take some food home. I felt they may fancy the tastes of your kitchen.”

He thought for a moment. Particularly glancing between the dress in my hand and the kitchen. “Just food?” 

“Yes.” I could say more, but today I did not want to test the boundaries of my limits. The last time I had seen the King, he had caught me in a lie. 

“It would be taken to them.” He reaches out a hand and a second passed by before I realized he wanted me to hand over the dress. Which I did. “You should put this in a bag so it does not get stained.”

“I’ll get that.” Said Hilra, taking the dress from him and immediately walked away. 

“No hood today?” The question sounded like he was hoping I planned on putting one on.

“No. I want to go this way.”

With a tightlipped expression, he nodded and walked further into the kitchen. Leaving me by myself. It did not take long after that for Hilra to return with a mini basket. “If my property goes missing, ensure to go along with it.” 

“Yes ma’am!” Trying to make light of the situation but knowing for a fact that I would definitely go along with it if truly it went missing.

I was handed the basket and was about leaving when I asked “What about the food?”

“You doubt my ability to handle situations?” She replied, very offended.

“No… I…”

“Then leave. It would be taken to them.”

Giving up on arguing, it was time to get to the carriage. Saliel was already standing by the door in his armored suit that only revealed his eyes.

By now, I could tell him just by his stance.

“You look dashing.” He said when he set his eyes on me. Then opened the door to my ride. 

I flashed him a bright smile and added a curtsy to accentuate the features of the dress by lifting its gathers. “Thank you good sir.” 

He laughed a bit at the mini drama and offered me a hand. When I was snuggly sat, he reached for the space beside me and made himself comfortable as well.

“It’s weird seeing you in your armor again.” I had to say. Training with him had gotten me used to staring at his facial features and smiles.

“Worry not. You’d see me naked soon.” He jested and I fought the urge to strike him at the back of his head because I definitely would be the one to suffer.

Letting out a fake gasp “My my! Mr Saliel. How crude of you!” And adding a hand over my heart to feign surprise.

He let out a laugh that I could not help but reciprocate. The carriage driver had gotten into position and the cart was about to move, when I heard the King call my name.

“Marina.”

I had not seen when he got to the door, nor do I know how long he had been standing there.

“Your highness?” Leaning forward in my chair so I could get a clear view of him.

“You would be brought back by Ten PM.”

I gave no audible replies. Nodding of my head was all I could give, which he responded with a single nod back. Then the cart was set in motion. 

My excitement had given some way to worry. I could not help but wonder the state I would find my family now. 

I had left them over a month ago to bring them greener pastures.

Lesser mouths to feed and getting father to supply hay to the palace were my first steps. I hoped it would at least make a difference in their lives. 

And cause them to be able to afford more things that they could not.

A certain guilt was starting to eat at me. What if their lives had not changed? And I was living comfortably at the castle? Getting most… no, not most. All that I had wished for.

Would they resent me?

“I can feel the heat radiating from your temples. What are you thinking of?” Saliel disrupted my train of anxiety.

“Do you think they’d want to see me?”

“Who is they? The community or your family?”

“The community had never wanted to see me for ages. I could never bother about that. I am asking about my family.”

“Why wouldn’t they?” His question sounded like he could not believe I would even conceive such a thought. 

I could not tell him that there was a certain chance that I have been selfish all these while. “I do not know.”

He thought for a second, “Did you do anything? Last time I saw you and your family, they seemed quite upset to let you go. I was almost tempted to leave you behind and bear the consequences of the King.”

“So you’ve always had a soft spot for me dear warrior.” Trying to change the subject so I could feel better. I wiggled my brows at him.

“My soft spot did not begin then. I have always been a compassionate man. It actually began when you farted during our ride back to the castle.” Then casually, he added a shrug.

This time, I forgot he was putting on a cloth of metal and made an attempt to strike him at the back of his head. Let’s just say, it did not take me long to regret it.

“Careful there. I have no words to say to the King when he asks why his mistress is injured.” He grabbed my hand and examined my palms carefully. Palpating some places that appeared redder than others.

“I don’t think he’d mind. He may not even notice.” My mind wandered back to our last encounter before today. When he figured out something had affected my mood but did not care to ask what it was.

Even though I was grateful he did not, it may have hinted that he did care a tad bit if he did.

But anyway, I was just a political tool to him that would warm his sheets some day.

“He did not sound like a man who would not notice when he addressed me this evening.” Saliel sounded like he was leaving some parts out of that particular statement.

“Stop pressing my palm, you’re going to give me the bruise that your suit failed to. I am fine. And I did not fart. You admitted that you knew it was the chair.”

“What if I said so just so you would not feel horrible about yourself?”

“It was the chair!”

He barked out in a laughter that had his chest heaving slightly. “I may never let you live that day down. Just for your awareness dear mistress.”

I glared at him but only temporarily, before I looked out the window. I had just notice the absence of the smell of pine cones. We had gone well past the castle and were headed towards the market now.

The unsettling feeling found its way into my chest again. I was closer to home.