The Abandoned Princess: Promises Arc

Chapter 9

𝕾𝖔𝖓𝖌 𝖙𝖔 𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖔: 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝖁𝖊𝖗𝖞 𝕱𝖎𝖗𝖘𝖙 𝕹𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖙 𝖇𝖞 𝕿𝖆𝖞𝖑𝖔𝖗 𝕾𝖜𝖎𝖋𝖙

***

My entire body began to panic by the time I heard what Anna had said. If Henry hadn't been yawning like he had just woken up, my mind would have nearly completely blanked out.

"What's the problem?" I heard him ask, and when I turned to face Anna once more, I saw that her eyes had gotten bigger as she continued to stare at Henry and me.

"Milady, I think young master Henry would need to be in another room for this day, since----" I interrupted Anna before she could say anything more because I knew what she was about to say. Rather, I stood with Henry's arms around the bed. I smiled at Anna as I led him in front of her.

"That's why you are going to get Henry from my room and lock him----I mean, get him to see Sir Feldin now, don't you think?"

"Milady, Sir Feldin is on vacation and I'm afraid that----"

"Sir Feldin, what did I say about him? I must have been perplexed," I answered, trying to think of something else to do. I turned away from Anna and Henry to look around my room, telling myself to keep thinking until I came up with the last possible solution.

"Oh, remember, I wanted you, Anna, to take Henry to my mother because I think Mother wanted to tell me something concerning Henry and because I would be busy today. She would like Henry to master the embroidery lesson, so just mention it." I smirked at him and finally pushed Henry towards Anna before I could even allow her to speak.

But before Henry could release my hands—I have no idea how he managed to hold them—I noticed that his eyes were narrowing and he appeared really angry.

"Designs? Vestia, are you really with me now? I'm not a woman for crying out loud; those types of lessons were reserved for ladies like you." If I hadn't been able to cover his lips, Henry would have screamed, and I would have stared at him whenever he spoke again.

"When I reach the age of eleven years old, I will also learn how to use a sword. That's a promise," I murmured to him, taking hold of his little finger and swearing to keep my word.

Then, as I shut the door, I let go of him and shoved him aside. But first, I gave Anna a signal, and she unquestionably seized Henry and took him to my mother's place.

That was the first time I had heard him swear, but it didn't bother me since I knew he was just bewildered, and I couldn't let Calier know that I was here. Besides the horrific things he had done to me in the past, I couldn't imagine what he would do to my friend if he found out.

I took a moment to clutch my knees as I leaned against my door. I turned to face the sun, which was shining across my room, but I felt no warmth. Henry had ceased to be the kind person I had sensed earlier, and I would constantly be reminded of that horrible nightmare.

Caliere was a man I knew who had the unwavering ability to rule over anyone. He had fought in numerous wars before, and I would always wait for him to return to the empire.

When he beheaded one of the corrupt nobility at an event, everyone gasped but no one talked, and that's when I first saw his bloodlust. Nobody, not even my family, should ever get on his wrong side because he was a terrifying person.

I would be sincerely sorry if Henry and the Vellitas family suffered as a result of a single, catastrophic error, as he would never show pity.

I shook my head and smacked my cheeks a few more times until this memory was over. My resolve to let go of the past was the only thing keeping me balanced on a thin rope.