Arianna returned back into the castle to meet a horde of maids bombard her with questions like ‘what did the prince tell you’ and other stuff like ‘did he mention my name’ and junk. Arianna pushed past the crowd, and grabbed a glass of water and gulped it down,
“are you guys nuts?!?!?!!!!!” she screamed at the top of her voice.
This surprised all the maids. Normally the maids in the castle had dreams of marrying the prince, except for herself and her sister. They thought it was absurd.
“I’m not telling you what he said, and no he did not mention any of your names, got that!!!?!?!” she stormed out of the kitchen leaving the maids completely dazed.
Arianna was frustrated of all her fellow maids’ whacky dreams. If you want to marry the prince, why don’t you tell it to his face. She walked to her room and saw a door open, she planned to close it, until she heard moans coming from inside. She peeped and saw the princess and the ambassador doing the unbelievable.
Her hand covered her mouth, she was shocked to the bone. She fled to her room and locked the door, wishing to have never seen such act. She tried to dismiss it from her brain, but her thoughts kept on going to Rob and how he would feel when he heard this. What would she tell him?
Arianna had changed since the last three days. She would talk to herself when alone and separate herself from everyone including Ruby and Adrian. Sometimes she would skip breakfast and this has got Ruby worried.
“Adrian, Arianna has been acting weird since the last three days” Ruby whispered to the soldier who was off duty for a while.
“I know right. She wouldn’t eat anything or talk to anyone. Not even me” he whispered back,
“I’m worried Adrian. We have to figure out what’s wrong with her, I’m really scared for Arianna” her eyes drooped,
“don’t worry Ruby” Adrian held her hand in his, “I’ll get to the bottom of it” his words put a smile on Ruby’s face. They had feelings for each other and had even planned on getting married as soon as Adrian has fulfilled his dream to become the ambassador. But all this they hid from Arianna. They thought she was just too immature to understand.
Arianna was at the pool side wiping the floor with a napkin. Since nobody was ready to take notice that the floor was dirty, she had to take care of it herself. She put a lot of elbow grease into it and it reflecref the sun's rays. She had managed to avert her mind from what she saw three days ago. She’d been hard on herself and finally reached a conclusion that what happened was not her fault. She had to tell him sooner or later. The truth must prevail, as her mother said.
She went to the shower room and after a few minutes came out with a towel around her perfect body. She then removed the towel, revealing her in black knickers and dived into the swimming pool. She swam peacefully, her hair moved in an airy motion due to the water. Her body relaxed to the motion of the water, her face just on top of the water to get air as the rest of her body submerged with the water.
She further removed the band tying her hair in a single ponytail which made her hair spread in the water. She then remembered another song she had heard on the radio,
“hit me like a ray of sun, burning through my darkest night, you’re the only one that I want, think I’m addicted to your light.” she sang and swam around in the pool. Little did she know, her angelic voice had attracted the prince who just watched her with his trademark smile. He was enchanted by her voice, although he didn’t utter a word. He didn’t want her know he was watching.
“feels like I’ve been awakened, every rule I had you breaking, it’s the risk that I’m taking, I’m never gonna shut you out.” she continued, her eyes closed. She was finally at perfect peace. Rob sat down on one of the chairs near the pool and enjoyed the concert.
Her voice echoed in his ears, making him at peace. He starred at her with all interest. Not only was her voice enchanting, she was also extremely beautiful. He had never felt this way about his maids before, he smiled to himself. As mama would say, he has a crush. He chuckled lightly, looking at Arianna as she danced her way through the water. The scene was capturing and maybe it had just captured his heart.
“maybe” he thought out loud. By the time he opened his eyes, he met Arianna’s stare at him. She quickly exited the swimming pool and packed her things,
“wait!!!” he cried out to her and she stopped.
“please, stay.” her body heated up and blood rushed to her cheeks. He stood up and walked over to her,
“why are you avoiding me?” he asked concerned. This the question she didn’t want to hear. She looked down at her feet, images of what she saw flashing in her mind. Her breath rate increased,
“Arianna? What’s wrong?” he asked more concerned this time. She couldn’t answer him, instead she ran away, inside the castle and into her room. She locked the door behind her and sank to the floor. She buried her head in her hands. What can she tell him?
Next day…..
Arianna woke up rather early the next morning. She sneaked out of the palace to go to church. She couldn’t miss church on a beautiful Sunday like this one. Plus it’ll give her a chance to see her mother. She made it to the large building just in time. She tied a scarf on her head, entered the building and took a seat beside her mother,
“Good morning mama.” she whispered while the bishop preached. Sandra looked to the woman that greeted her. It took her some time to realize it was her own daughter, she was surprised,
“oh Arianna it’s you. I never expected to see you here, since you’d be busy at the palace.” Arianna had never really had time to visit her own mother not to talk of coming to church.
“I snuck out mama. We’ll talk after the service.”
After the church service, Arianna and Sandra stood outside at the doors of the church. Arianna decided she couldn’t keep the secret from her mom, so she told Sandra everything that had happened since the past four days.
Sandra was just as shocked as her daughter was when she found out,
“oh my word, that’s terrible. That princess Eleanor is a shameless woman!!” Sandra said with all disdain in her heart,
“mom, shhh!! Please don’t tell anyone. It’s a secret between me and you, okay. When I come up with a plan, I’ll come tell you.” Arianna reassured her mother. Sandra gave her a loving smile,
“my daughter is trying so hard to protect our prince.” she smoothened her hair with her hand “may the Lord guide you to victory.” Arianna smiled at her mother and said amen. She bid Sandra farewell, and departed to the palace.
When she reached the palace, she saw Adrian on patrol. She motioned for him to come closer. He reluctantly approached the woman and noticed it was Arianna.
“what are you doing here?!?!?!” half shouting, half whispering he asked her,
“would you keep your voice down?!” she relaxed herself, “I went to church.” she told him half truth. He cocked his eye brow, not sure whether to believe her or not. She stared at him as if expecting something,
“well, don’t just stand there. Help me get inside.” she urged.
“what do I get?” he relented.
“a slap!” she snapped at him which nearly made him jump out of his skin. He pouted like a child, and snuck her past his fellow guards and into the palace.
“thank you Adrian.” she smiled at him,
“you’re welcome.” he said grudgingly and left for his duty post. Arianna sighed a sigh of relief. But her ease was cut short,
“And where are you coming from young woman?” Eleanor’s voice filled her ears, anger slowly rising within her. Arianna stuffed her bible in her chest and adjusted her muffler to cover her chest area.
“when I ask you a question you answer me!” she said agitated, “where are you coming from?!” Arianna swallowed a huge lump in her throat. But she thought for a while,
“why should I be afraid of her?” she thought. She turned around to meet the angry princess and gave her best smile,
“Good morning princess” she greeted somewhat mockingly. She took off her scarf, giving a clear image of who it was.
Eleanor was shocked to see Arianna under the scarf. The goofy maid, turned her back on the princess and walked away like a superstar, flashing her greatest smile ever to herself.