Published 8/16/20

𝐿𝑜𝓃𝑔 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇! 𝐸𝓃𝒿𝑜𝓎!

Annalise/Ann's POV

It has been a couple weeks since my encounter with Luca in the ballroom that one late evening. Since then when I am with him, he barely glances at me. He is a man that I cannot understand. One minute we have a moment then the next he will not look at me.

My thoughts are interrupted when Agnesia asks me something, but I did not hear her. "What?"

"I asked if you wanted to go to the market with me?"

I nod my head and grab a nearby wicker basket and my cloak. We leave through the kitchen corridor. I feel the crisp air when we pass through the garden and make our way to the gated entrance. We are immediately stopped by the two castle-guards standing there. They cross their pole staffs to halt us passing.

"What is your business for leaving the castle grounds?" One asks.

Agnesia rolls her eyes, "if you must know, we are going to be the market. Agnola needs some ingredients."

They both look at me for confirmation. I move my eyes back and forth with furrowed brows."She is correct. Let us pass."

The guards pull back their pole staff and open the gate. We pass through and continue to the market.

✣

We walk for what feels like forever through the forest. The scent of the earth filled my senses until I smell another scent. It was familiar. It smelled of fresh bread and different kinds of meat.

"We made it!" Agnesia exclaims. The forest opened up to the market. Stalls were lined up along the path. People were selling different things from clothes to fruits and vegetables. Children were running around, trying to see what they can steal.

We were walking by a stall but something glittering in the light caught my eye. I walked up to a jewelry stall to see all kinds of accessories laid out before me. I pick up a ring. It was a gold ring with a octagon cut ruby in the bezel. It was beautiful. I look up to show Agnesia but she was gone.

"How much?" I ask the man behind the stall. He had a slender face with a sharp jawline. His brown shaggy hair covers his forehead. He stares at me with his mouth slightly ajar.

"100 Florin," he says. I certainly do not have that kind of money. I put the ring back down and give him a small smile. I start to walk away,"wait!" The man comes over to me. He grabs my hand and places something in it. "It is yours. A beauty such as yourself should have it." He winks.

Suddenly I hear someone yell, "Move!" It was knights on horseback leading a carriage through the market square. People rushed to get out of the way. The carriage did not look familiar but the person inside it was. Princess Ayla. She looked out of the window with look of disgust as she looked upon the commoners. She noticed me. Her eyes grew wide.

"Stop the carriage!" The carriage came to a stop at her command.

"Annalise, what a pleasant surprise!" She grinned. She glances down at my hand which is still enclosed by the man who gave me the ring. I quickly pry my hand from his grasp. I curtsy, "Your Highness."

"I did not expect to see you...walking. I assume your wounds have healed?" She says with a tone of concern but I know she does not care.

"Yes they have, thank you, Your Highness. Tell me, does his Lordship know you are coming?" I ask.

Her mouth twists with annoyance but she hides it with another smile. "No he does not but it will be our little secret." She leans her head out the window and winks. I smile and curtsy again, "As you wish."

She hums and leans back into her carriage,"Continue on," she commands. The carriage starts to move again. When the carriage is out of view, I notice Agnesia running toward me. She stops in front of me, out of breath. "Did you know who that was?!" She asks me between her panting breaths.

I nod, "Princess Ayla. She is surprising His Majesty." Agnesia finally catches her breath and nods her head.

"Well, we must finish here and get going." Agnesia announces while pulling me away from the man who is still by my side.

"Thank you!" I exclaim. He bows his head out of politeness.

✣

It was getting dark when we finished at the market square. We were walking deep in the forest. It was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the nocturnal animals that were starting to come out. I was by Agnesia's side, clinging to her arm. Oh, how I hate walking through the forest at night! I thought. The only light provided was by the moon.

Suddenly I heard a snap of a twig. I stifled in a breath while stopping. My eyes grew wide, "What was that?!" I whispered. I frantically look around me to see where that sound came from but all I found was the dark forest.

"Nothing, it was a forest animal. Come on!" Agnesia said while grabbing my arm.

I heard the sound again, but it sounded closer. I was not taking any chances. I started to run while pulling Agnesia behind me.

Not long after we were running I slammed into something.

I looked up to see that 'something' was a man. He smiled a toothless grin at me. Before I could back away, he grabbed my biceps. I tried to frantically fight him off with kicking and screaming. We were surrounded by brigands. Suddenly Agnesia and I were tied up and blindfolded.

I feel my feet lift off the ground and I'm thrown over a shoulder. "Let me go, you dog!" I screamed. I heard chuckling in response.

After what feels like hours, I am set down on the ground. The blindfold was violently taken off. I squint my eyes at the bright fire before me. I see Agnesia beside me. "Are you okay?" She nods, "Are you?" I nod in response.

I notice a figure on the other side of the fire. He gets up and make his way to us. He grabs my face and tilt up towards him. He moves it from side to side then lets go. He does the same to Agnesia.

"My, what beauties you are." Agnesia and I look at each other.

"Please sir, let us go. We will not tell another soul." I plead. He snickers at my plea. His eyes glance at our clothes. Before he can say anything, another man came to his side. The man whispers something in his ear. "Really?" He asked, the man nods.

He looks back at us and our clothes again. "What is the difference between your clothes? Yours is more finer like you are in the public eye more than your friend." He asks curiously while eyeing me. Neither of us speak.

He snaps his finger, the man who whispered in his ear before, speaks. "I do not know sir. They didn't give us any information about them." He says nervously.

They? Who is they?

"You imbecile! Find out more or I will have all your heads!" He shouts. They all nod vigorously.

Agnesia gives in, "We work for His Majesty, the King!" I stare at Agnesia in disbelief that she  gave in so quickly to the pressure.

His eyes flicker between us. He arches his eyebrow, "How interesting." He walks over to me and grabs my chin once more, "You may be of use to me." He lets go and walks back to his seat. "Lock them both up tonight and let the blonde one go early morn." With that said, Agnesia and I are led away to a cell.

𝔈𝔫𝔡 𝔬𝔣 ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 20

𝒯𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓈𝓁𝒶𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈(𝐼𝓃 𝒪𝓇𝒹𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑒𝒶𝓇𝒶𝓃𝒸𝑒):

No translations for this chapter

𝒩𝑜𝓉𝑒: How was chapter 20? Your comments/votes would be be greatly appreciated! So Sorry I have been off of my posting schedule recently. I will post another chapter sometime this week since I won't be able to next Monday. Anyway Bye! See you next time! :)