6.1 - A difficult decision

I walked down the slippery pathway towards the old bookstore by the corner as heavy rain clouds thundered in the dark sky.

The whole street was devoid of any life as people had taken refuge inside their homes amidst the heavy downpour.

The cobbled pathway towards my right was drenched in water as if Poseidon had claimed his territory.

I had ditched my carriage and footmen two blocks down the road in the pretense of going inside the bakery to meet a friend.

Little did they know it was all a faux and I had slipped through the bakery's backdoor long ago and was on my way to the old bookstore.

As I reached the small building in question, I closed my umbrella and took hold of the hem of my skirt so it didn't get drenched before opening the rickety door and stepping inside the haven of warmth.

The nostalgic smell of old papers and freshly printed ink wafted through my nostrils and the heat coming from the burning fireplace in the corner engulfed my body in a warm hug.

I made my way around the long aisles lined with books brimming with stories to be told. My soul yearned to reach out and pluck a book from the shelf so I could escape into one of those millions of lives whose story was waiting to be discovered.

But I was here for a different purpose today. Being here made everything feel so real.

All the planning that had been going on for weeks had seemed like a mock play to me. But standing here right now with that small but valuable piece of parchment safely hidden under the cloak over my body finally made me realize the severity of the situation.

If my uncle knew I had slipped past his guards and stolen this document from his study, he wouldn't hesitate to send me to the guillotine the very next morning.

The very thought sent shivers passing through my body and made me more determined to carry out the purpose I had come here for.

A shadow loomed around the corner for a few seconds before walking towards me.

A young man in a crisp white shirt and black pants stood there with a cloth covering his face.

As his eyes recognized me ,he removed the cloth from his face and his lips curled up in a welcoming smile.

" Amanda. " He said in a charming voice. " You have brought the papers I believe? "

I hesitated for a while as I mulled over the consequences of my actions.

If I gave him the paper , my uncle would no longer be the king tomorrow. I knew they were planning something big.

My actions could be the spark of fire which would ignite a revolution.

But the man in front of me had assured me that it was all for the betterment of the country.

I knew my uncle wasn't the best king. While we lived in luxurious grandeur and had all the comfort in our disposal, there were people throughout the country suffering from poverty which the king refused to pay any heed to.

The kind hearted man in front of me had persuaded me that his organization would make life easier for everyone around the country.

He had shared his plans and at that time everything he said had made sense to me.

So here I was, betraying my family as I handed over the parchment to his extended hand because deep down I believed my actions were for the greater good.

As soon the man's eyes scanned the contents his pupils lit up in a victorious smile and a smirk replaced his previously pleasant smile.

" Wonderful!" He pocketed the paper and turned towards me " A word of advice in exchange for your valuable assistance - I wouldn't go back to the palace tonight if I were you. It would be in your best interest to stay here until everything's sorted. "

My eyes widened with worry, " What do you mean?"

Let's just say tomorrow morning this country shall be in the hands of a better ruler

His charming smile and persuasive speech which had led me to make this difficult decision now seemed to have been replaced with a cold and distant expression.

A wave of anxiety coursed through my veins and fear gripped my heart.

" You said my family will be safe. "

A ghost of a smile passed over his lips ," I assure you that anyone who is innocent shall not be harmed "

With those parting words he slipped through the door and disappeared through a hidden alley.

I leaned against the cool glass window of the bookstore as the rain droplets from heaven shot down like arrows and hit the ground in a rhythmic pattern. Stray droplets of water trickled down the glass window racing against each other.

Tonight as the clock struck twelve, everything would change.

I did not know if I had made the right decision.

All I could hope for was that he kept his parting promise and my family would be safe.

Author's Note

This was a different kind of one shot! I may consider adding further details and chapters to this story but until further notice this is it (:

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