Chapter 5

Roseline had just finished washing her face when she came out of the bathroom and found Hapitha entering into the room. Oh! She was a little early today.

"Good morning, nanny" she greeted calmly, and Hapitha released a tensed smile. 

"How was your night, dear?" She asked. 

"Um...it was fine. You're a little early today, nanny".

"Y...Yes. I just decided to". 

Roseline could notice something different about her. She was acting... strange. 

She decided to just shrug it off anyway as Hapitha got busy, dressing her bed. 

But suddenly, her hands started shaking and Roseline noticed it. 

"Nanny! Nanny, are you alright? What's wrong?" She asked as she held the older woman's hand who was almost in tears. 

"Oh Roseline..." She whimpered. 

"Please, talk to me. What's wrong? What's wrong?" Roseline asked repeatedly, overly worried at the woman's tears. 

Hapitha didn't want to do it, but she had to. 

"They took my son" she whimpered. "they took my son, Roseline, and they're threatening to kill him unless I bring you to them. Oh! I don't know what to do" 

Roseline's eyes dimmed as confusion set in.

"What're you talking about, nanny? Who took your son?" She asked, completely bewildered. 

"Princess Martha - the same people that were here just yesterday. They took him, Roseline" she answered admist tears and Roseline's confusion only increased. 

"But... Why did they take him? And why do they want you to give me to them?"

Hapitha lifted her teary eyes from the floor to look at her. 

Oh! Creators; she didn't want to do this. She promises Richard she'd never betray him, but as it seems, she was having no other option. 

She sniffed and held the lady's hand in return. 

"You're a healer, Roseline" she said. "Y...you have special healing abilities you don't know about"

Roseline's eyes drooped. 

"Your father...Your father never wanted to tell you about it because...he only wanted what's best for you, dear. That was his only purpose. 

"The Healers are rare women with special healing abilities, capable of healing even the rarest illness. And as it stands, I think you might be the last healer on earth. There could be someone else - I don't know. But you're the only healer I know alive, and that's what the princess is here for. 

"Her brother - the King - is critically ill and... it seems you're the only one that can help him, Roseline. They need a healer. 

"The princess had come to the house yesterday to ask your father to release you, but he's adamant and wouldn't do such and as a result, they're trying to use me. I returned home last night and discovered my son wasn't in. They had taken him away and threaten to kill him if I don't bring you to them. Please, Roseline. I don't know what to do" she bent her head and wept more, but Roseline was already too shocked to console her 

She was gobsmacked. 

She was a healer? Had special abilities?

But...why was she just getting to know about it? She was 23 years old but didn't even know such details about herself??

"They want you now, Roseline - this morning. I really don't know what to do. Please, you need to help me. I can't lose Owen" Hapitha cried more, forcefully drawing Roseline's attention. 

"But I.... I can't leave. Father would never let me leave" she stuttered l, her voice weak. 

"He doesn't need to know, Roseline" Hapitha's eyes beamed. 

"He'll be leaving In a few minutes, has an important meeting to attend and hopefully, the meeting should take until evening. 

"I can... I can sneak you out when he's gone, then you'll go with the princess, heal the King and returns back here before your father does". 

Roseline was a little uncomfortable. 

"But what if...he comes home before I do? What if he gets to find out?" She asked, worried. 

"Oh.." Hapitha bursted into more tears, hope draining from her. 

Roseline was so disturbed by the sight and held the older woman. 

"It's okay nanny. It's okay. I'll... I'll do it" she said and Hapitha lifted her face to look at her. 

"Oh! Dear, are you sure about this?" She asked and Roseline nodded. 

She saw nothing wrong trying to help when she can. Her father has caged her for too long already and she was already getting fed up by it. 

"Oh! Thank you so much, Roseline. Thank you so much. I promise, I'll never forget this" Hapitha sobbed more until Roseline pulled her into a hug. 

****************

Everything had actually gone as planned. 

Roseline had a perfunctory breakfast with her father and during the time, he tried making up for the previous day by bringing little chats along the way. 

If not for how the proximity of the meeting, there was no way he'd have left the house that very day. But considering the fact he had no choice, he just had to do it. 

Besides, guards were around the vicinity. So, he was sure she'd be safe. 

He gave her a peck before finally leaving the house and as soon as he did, Hapitha didn't tally at all as she started looking for a way to sneak Roseline out of the house. 

Tho, she was aware of the guards, but Hapitha was already too used to the house to know a perfect escape route. She's been coming there for 21 years. 

Successfully, she escaped with Roseline without being seen by the guards and she couldn't be any more happy. 

Roseline, on the other hand, took the moment to be gold as that was the first time in years she was walking on land. Oh! She's missed it - everything. The views, air...

Why would her father deprive her of such?

If not for the fact Hapitha was holding her hand and scuttling with her, she'd had almost become lost, staring at the places. But Hapitha had no time as she had a target. 

They finally got to the spot where the princess said they'd be waiting for her and Martha's eyes beamed when she saw the Healer. 

Oh! She made it!

"Where's my son?" Hapitha asked immediately when she couldn't find Owen around. 

She was expecting to see him with them. 

For a few seconds, there was silence as Martha and Roseline exchanged stares at each other. 

"Your son is safe" she answered, taking her eyes from Roseline. 

"And as soon as the healer has done her job, he'll be returned to you". 

"What? What're you talking about? That wasn't the agreement we had!" Hapitha half yelled. 

"I need to make sure you don't tell on me or try to ruin my plans by the time we leave. At least, with your son still with me, I can be sure you won't do anything funny. Don't worry, I'm not a bad person. As soon as everything is over, you'll have your son back" she replied and turned to Roseline.

"Let's go. We don't have much time".

She walked towards her carriage. 

Roseline turned to Hapitha beside her. 

"Don't worry. I'll be back,and Owen will be back as well. Everything will be fine, nanny" she said reassuringly.

"Oh! Thank you so much, Roseline" Hapitha whimpered and got into a parting hug. 

"Bye" she mumbled and ran off to join the princess.