Chapter 23

AUDREY POV

A week later and I was in the fitting room with my maids, trying on new dresses for the engagement ball. Prince Liam and his father King Roland had gone back to their kingdom days ago but had promised to be back. I was busy through the entire week and haven’;t had the chance to even see Myst or hear from him. Venturing outside the palace wasn’t possible unless I was with a guard.

“Did you hear that a girl was killed in the woods a week ago. They just found her bones and clothes. I heard an animal ate her up.” I heard a maid say as I paused in her tracks.

My tailor hadn’t noticed it yet because she was focused on ironing out the little creases that was showing on my dress. I strained my ears to hear what was being told.

“I heard that nobody is permitted to walk those forest alone now, unless they are in a group. Being in group, frightens the animal and they wouldn’t attack. I can’t believe such news and to think I knew who the girl that died such a gruelsome death was.

“Of course I know her, nobody liked talking to that town’s outcast. Before I started working in the palace, my mum made sure I had nothing to do with her at all. Now she is dead. It is almost as if the animal was doing us a favour by getting rid of her.” The second maid said giggling softly, as the first maid leaned in and said,

“If only the animal can take care of our royal problem, I will be more than happy too.” I clenched my fists and looked away. They didn’t know that I had heard them. It was sickening to see how they turned something of bad news to a jest just because she was treated as an outcast.

I made to walk over there and give them a piece of my mind but my tailor stopped me and said,

“No movements please. This has to be perfect.” She murmured more to herself than to me as if I was a mannequin. I sighed and watched as the maids left the dressing room.

After about an hour later, I was finally done with the dress and I was allowed to go. I walked out of there and made my way to my room. I had to speak with Myst and ask him if the animal attack had anything to do with the man I had rescued. I opened my door silently and entered closing it behind me, as I turned around and yelped. Because right in my front was Myst smiling.

“Oh my God, how did you sneak up on me? You almost gave me a heart attack.” I said in a whisper.

“Sorry about that, I had a feeling you were going to call for me as soon as you got to your room so I decided to be here.” He said shrugging it off as I walked to the bed and said,

“Okay I know you have some wicked reason for not twlling me how you know everything I am about to say or do, but do not sneak up on me like that, I have a fragile heart. I can’t be dying days to my own wedding, now can I?” I said as I kicked off my shoes and collapsed on the bed. It qwas so comfy.

“I thought you didn’t want to marry Prince Liam, now you seem really eager to do such a thing.” He said as I rolled my eyes and replied,

“Well I got no choice. He is my betrothed after all, and I decided not to feel miserable all because I am being forced to marry someone, I do not even like.

“Oh okay, fine. I won’t stress you about it okay. So what did you want to talk to me about? Do you want to try sneaking out again, remember we were caught by Liam and well there is a ban now on the forests, guards are patrolling as we speak so we can’t exactly go. It is a suicide mission.” He said as I rolled my eyes and replied,

“Of course I know about this. But I heard that a girl was killed by an animal. Was it really an animal or…” I heard the word hanging but I was confident, he knew what I was talking about because he shrugged and replied,

“Could be our mystery guy, could be a plain animal attack, I don’t know.” He said as I frowned.

“Why are you saying that? You are supposed to be the one with all the answers. This is the first admitting you do not know anything.” I said as he shook his head and replied,

“First of all, I didn’t see the girl so I can’t ascertain what kind of animal that did attacked her. I would know the signs. And we can’t go out to explore so pardon me if my only options are I don’t know.” He said as I took a step back. Did he just lash out at me?

“I am sorry, I am just feeling angry now, I feel caged up in here. Listen if we have a way of finding out, who did this or what did this, we will but I would suggest that you focus on the engagement okay.” He said as I sighed and nodded my head.

“Oh okay, but you know that the dreams doesn’t get any better. In my dreams, he stills calls me, telling me to come save him. It is so frustrating when you don’t have anything to go with, and this news is the closest I have got to him and you don’t even know if he did it or a wild animal.” I said holding my forehead as Myst replied,

“We will get to the ending of the mystery soon.” He said comforting me.