Chapter 11

AUDREY POV

I was woken up the next morning and my maids came as usual to carry out their routine as they helped me. Mad soon after I was dressed and ready for the day. The news about my disappearance and appearance was still going on as I looked, I saw maids from afar talking and pointing in my way while nodding their heads..I decided to ignore them and head-on with my day because if I called them.and scolded them, if would only make things worse.

It was better giving a blind eye to all of this. I walked to the dining hall and found my mother eating alone and my dad was nowhere in sight.

"Good morning mum." I said kissing her hand before sitting down and she gave me a warm smile.

"How are you doing today? Did you sleep well? Did you have any nightmares?" She said but I shook my head. Now that I think about it, I had a dreamless sleep which was quite weird because I expected to have a dream.filled with terrifying creatures.

"It was okay and yours?" I asked as I took my cutleries to collect what I wanted to eat.

"Well since you returned I have slept peacefully and without no worries so I guess it was okay." She said with a broad smile as I felt bad for her and said

"Once again,I am so sorry for what I have done to you. I didn't mean to chase you such stress on your heath and mind. I am such a bad daughter, I deserve to be punished." I said looking down but she just held my hand tightly and smiled saying,

"The good news is that you are safe and here with me and that is all I can ask for. So what if your little adventure failed and you got hurt. God knows I was just like you growing up always moving and never been able to sit still but once my parents died....well that's a story for another day. She said as I nodded my head.

I never knew what happened to my grandparents. Mum never talked about it, and dad refused to say anything. He told me they died cause they reached old age but I knew they had to be more to that but I never persisted.

"Mum where is dad by the way?" I asked looking around half hoping to hear his footsteps on the stairs but there was none.

"Oh your father went out not long ago on the chariot. But it seems like he didn't go far because he didn't pack any items with him. He will be back soon." She said as I frowned.

"Father just....left? Without telling you where he left and you are cool with that?" I said obviously displeased. They always went everywhere together and even if they didn't,

Father always told his wife where he was going all the time, why did this have to be different?

"Of course I am. Your father has an entire Kingdom to run and we have been doing this for more than a decade. If it is so urgent that he has to leave without telling me, I will accept it like that. There is nothing to worry about. Just eat, why are you so agitated in the first place?" She asked as I looked back at my food.

I was scared that maybe he ventured into the forest and I was worried that the creature might get him. But I didn't say that either, so I just ate and my mum did the same too

Throughout that day, I felt stupid and uneasy waiting for news of my father, but there was no such news, neither had he reply. I checked on my mum and found her reading a book. She seemed relaxed or was she just putting up an act so that she wouldn't scare me and put me at ease.

But slightly before dinner, I heard the neighing of horses and I quickly raced to the courtyard and I saw my dad walking out of the chariot looking unharmed although there was a sour expression on his face. I didn't mind that at all. I didn't care what expressed he had on so long he was back and safe.

I wanted to huh and hug him then I realized that he was probably still.anhry at what I had done and decided that wouldn't be the smartest decision now. I went back to my room and slumped on my bed, hoping to calm.my racing heart down and focus on.readumg before I get called up for supper.

I had barely started reading when there was a knock on my door and I sat up.

"Come in." I said setting the book down as the door opened and my dad walked in wearing another change of cloth.

"Hey Audrey, can I come in?" He asked as I sat up instantly and said,

"Sure is anything the matter Father?" I asked as he closed the door and shook his head saying.

"Not at all. I just decided to come and see you. I wanted to know how you are doing." He said.

"I am doing quite well Father. And you?" I said as he nodded his head and said,

"I am fine. You really gave us quite a scare back then when you went missing. I thought something might have happen to you but luckily our prayers were answered and you were brought back home to us." He said as I stayed there quiet. I haven't heard my father talk like this in a long while. Probably since I turned 8 years old, he came cold.

"I am...." I said as he interrupted me.

"Sorry? Yeah I know you are. I am sorry too. I guess it is all my fault, partially..but now I have done something that will help you, benefit you. I will make sure that nothing like this happens again." He said kissing me on my forehead as I remained speechless.

" Oh okay father..thank you." I said still confused about what he meant but I knew that he wasn't going to tell me more else if I asked so there was no need asking.

"See you at dinner." He said and with that he was gone leaving me alone with my thoughts.

The next days were pretty tough for me. I had guards 24/7. Nobody let their eyes off me, which was fine because I didn't bother going outside again not after my accident.

I was in the garden weaving with my mother as it was one of her favourite past time and I needed to speak with her about something. The dreams and the cave incident. It was burned into my name memory so I couldn't pass it up as a dream.

But there was a lot my mum was going through so I didn't have the opportunity to bring it up. But right now, my father was in a meeting with one of the neighboring kings who had come to the town and I was left with my mum who decided to weave.

So she asked me to join her and I readily agreed. Half of me knew like it was just her way of keeping an eye on me but I didn't say much because I needed to talk to her, and now that she was here, I didn't know how to start it.

"Hey mum, you wouldn't believe what happened, I almost died that way. I saw a monster and he slashed me up so bad and...." They would probably send me to the doctor house for lockdown till I am better.

I shrugged it off. There was a way to smtalk to her, to know more about this thing. After all they were the one who told me about the cave and the man trapped inside it but they also told me that It was just a myth and I shouldn't pay attention to it. Growing up, it was a device to ensure that I was in bed after dinner and fast asleep or he would come for me, although I didn't know how that would work since he was chained up and all that, but I was told that he loved eating disobedient princess and his chains would remove magically when he smelled one close.

It was probably true because that would clearly explain what happened when she touched him, she hadn't even tried to help him out but the chain started losing, although it just made my head hurt.

"Is something wrong? You have been muttering to yourself for the past few minutes. Do you have anything you want to say or is bothering you by the way. Talk to me, I am your mother."

There was a look in my eyes which seemed to say trust me. I will listen and understand you better. There is nothing to hide.

I signed about to say something but in that moment, we were interrupted by someone else who barged in as if he owned the place.