Chapter 7: Into The Mud

ENZO

“We’re so glad that you chose to stay here,” Queen Grace greeted me as soon as I went inside their mansion.

I nodded my head. “I’ll be staying here for the entire month with my guard, Matthew. Thank you for accommodating us.”

“No need to thank us. We have already prepared everything for your stay. Matthew will be staying in one of the rooms on the first floor.”

“Thank you,” Matthew bowed.

“On the other hand, I prepared your room upstairs, Enzo,” she smiled. “Just right across Isabelle’s room.”

“Alright,” I said. Although I would much prefer to stay here downstairs with Matthew, I was thankful that Isabelle and I didn’t have to share a room with each other.

“Well then, let us lead you to your rooms.”

The servants escorted Matthew to his room while Queen Grace led me to mine.

“Your room is right here,” she said. “I hope you enjoy your stay. If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to knock on Isabelle’s door. You can even stay in her room if you’d like,” she said in a joking manner. Although, I don’t think she’s joking.

I entered the room and got changed into the clothes they provided for me. My father said that someone would come to bring my belongings here tomorrow, so currently, I have none.

I was bored and was still not sleepy, so I got up from bed and decided to walk around.

I walked down the hallway, when I suddenly saw a picture frame that contained the royal family.

I immediately recognized the ones that I met this morning, but there were three other people who were in the picture.

This picture appeared to have been taken when Isabelle was still a child, and next to her, was someone I didn’t meet.

Who is she?

***

KEILAH

“Are you sure it’s okay for me to go? I can visit my mom another time,” Weston said.

I shook my head. “You already promised her that you’d go this month. Besides, you didn’t go last month! She’ll be upset if you don’t keep your promise again.”

“But you’ll be all alone!”

“And I’ll be fine. I’m not a child,” I told him. “I have Lucky with me anyway.”

He sighed. “Then, I’ll be back in three days.”

“See you in three days,” I smiled.

With that, he left the house and went to the nearest bus station to go to visit his mom, who lived in the common area outside of the castle.

When I was sure he was gone, I decided to play with Lucky and maybe make him another toy.

“Lucky!” I called his name, sitting down next to his usual spot.

“Lucky, my boy. Come here,” I patted my lap. I knew that he wouldn’t be able to resist my lap, so I anticipated his arrival.

However, when I called his name once more, he still didn’t go on my lap.

That’s when I knew that something was wrong.

I stood up from the couch and wandered around the house.

“Oww,” I exclaimed when my knees hit the table. I was sure that this would bruise later on, but I didn’t care. Lucky was far more important.

When I was at my lowest point in life—when my mate rejected me, Lucky came into my life. That’s why I can’t afford to lose him.

Without any hesitation, I opened the door to my cottage and started shouting his name.

“Lucky! Come home, boy,” I said, wandering around the gardens.

I bumped into quite a lot of structures along the way, but I continued on.

“Lucky!”

I gasped in surprise when I bumped into another structure. However, this seemed to be some kind of deja vu—like it had already happened before.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, and I immediately recognized who it was.

I pushed him away and took a step back.

“You, again?” I exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

Enzo sighed. “I’m staying here in the meantime. I should be the one asking you why you’re here. Shouldn’t you be at the castle if you’re a servant?”

I looked to the side and didn’t speak.

Then, I felt him walking closer to me. So, I held onto my cloak tightly and shook my head.

“I’m not going to take off your cloak,” he said. However, I still didn’t let go.

“What are you doing here all alone, anyway?”

“I’m looking for my cat,” I softly said. “He’s not in the cottage.”

“Oh, that fluffy monster?”

“He’s not a monster,” I defended. “He’s—he’s important to me.”

“I knew that cat looked familiar,” he suddenly said, causing my heart to swell with hope.

“You’ve seen him?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. “He went to the fields, I guess. I saw him there a while ago—“

I didn’t even let him finish.

I ran off in the direction of the field and called his name.

“Lucky!”

I felt a fluffy creature on my foot, causing me to sigh in relief.

“There you are,” I kneeled down. “You gave me a hard time looking for you. Let’s go home, hmm? We’re already too far away from the cottage.”

I didn’t carry him on the way back since I knew that he could walk back home by himself.

We didn’t even make it past the fields when I heard a familiar voice speak from behind me.

“Well, if it isn’t our precious cousin,” Nolan said, causing me to stop in my tracks.

I felt Lucky run away from the scene, so I tried to run after him, but I felt someone pulling my shoulder back.

I pursed my lips together as I felt the pain erupt on my shoulder.

“Let go, please,” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that? I can't hear you,” Sofia chuckled. “I thought you were just blind. I didn’t know you were mute, too.”

They erupted into laughter. I wanted nothing but to escape from them right then and there, but before I even knew it, they had already surrounded me. I could feel their tall heights hovering over my figure, and no matter how hard I fought, I probably would still lose.

“Aww, are you trying to escape?” Evelyn taunted. “I’m afraid there’s no escaping us, dear cousin.”

“Ew,” Sofia said. “Don’t call her our cousin! We don’t have such a pitiful member in our family.”

“Look,” she added, walking over to me to yank on my cloth. I held onto it before it could fall off my face. “She even has this pathetic cloak over her face to cover its ugliness.”

“Please,” I said. “I’m on my way home. I’ll go peacefully, if you’d let me.”

“Well, where’s the fun in that?” Nolan chuckled. “We haven’t seen you in such a long time. I think it’s best if we give you a welcome ceremony.”

I felt my heart skip a beat.

I felt defenseless.

“Why don’t we give her a present?” Sofia giggled. “Let’s give her a home that she deserves.”

I gasped as they started pushing my body.

“No—please,” I begged.

“Ah,” Evelyn sighed. “It feels nice to have you again, Keilah. With your unfrequent visits, we don’t have anyone to mess with anymore.”

“True,” Nolan said. “I also don’t have someone to shine my shoes during events.”

“Since she’s missed so many duties, let’s punish her, shall we?” Sofia excitedly exclaimed.

They finally stopped pushing.

“Here,” Evelyn said. “I think this’ll be a perfect place for her.”

“Where are we?” I asked.

“Your new home,” Sofia said.

And with that, they pushed me—my body toppling down onto something wet.

I gasped in surprise as the thick, slushy, and cold mud made contact with my skin.