Chapter ninety

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"Oh.. may i know how?" She patches my wound with gauze and bandages it. "I used to have a lover that was too.. Toxic, I suppose. I had a hard time mustering the courage to leave him."

I got sad hearing that. No wonder she's so kind to me. "But I think yours differ from mine in some way."

"I can't be sure about that aunt, I've been with him.." she looked at me. "Say, have you no affection towards our King?" she grins. "It'd be a lie if I denied, aunt. And if there is, it's because he let me live."

"He's not the type to kill anyone. He always justifies it in his head." She then starts to clean the mess. "How can you tell, aunt?"

"I just.. know him." Why does that not satisfy me? "Can you please elaborate, aunt?" She stood up to throw the used cottons and I followed her.

After she threw the cottons, she looked at me. "I've seen him. He's far from his father."

"I saw that time where he was doing rounds on the ground and a thief accidentally ran to him, his sword was already at the forehead of that quivering man."

"And.. he lets him go?" I questioned. "Even better, he gave him a home." I could only stare at her. "Dear, he may be seen as ruthless, but I know you know that he's not all that." she smiles.

"Now," she held my hands, "no one caught you. Do you finally feel free?"

Why don't I feel it? "I-"

"No, don't answer, better yet. Rest." She turns me around and walks me to my room. "We'll talk again once you're well." She closes the door on the way out.

I laid down staring at the ceiling. Why do I feel confused now.. No, this is just guilt from viewing him different.

I closed my eyes and took a pillow to cover my face. I should be happy now. I should be..

Weeks passed and it was back to the old.

I tend the animals, plant and harvest and help around. No neighbors can know about me because houses here live far apart. If there are instances that people walk here, I quickly lower my straw hat or scurry away.

It sounds foolish, but I need time to let the hunt die down. I sighed. I still feel something empty in me.

I dug the dirt deeper and looked for more yams. It seems I cleared this spot. These six yams will do for now, they are big.

I removed my gardening gloves and placed them inside the basket. I stood up and dusted my knees and went back inside the house.

"Aunt Mona, will six yams do?" She stirs the stew she's making. "Yes dear." I proceeded to clean the yams in a basin full of water.

Hmm, the dirt on them is too hard to rub it away. Now, where is the brush here..

I looked for the brush in a cabinet when someone knocked on the door. "I'll get it dear." Aunt Mona wiped her hand and I went back to look for the brush.

"Please move aside, we are sent to inspect the houses here." I froze hearing that voice. No.

"O-Oh you must have been mistaken sir, some of your men already visited here, approximately two weeks ago?.." I could hear through aunt Mona her fear for me. She's stalling them for me.

I quickly got to my knees and I tried to open the back door quietly but I got shocked as I peaked through outside to see guards all over the fields.

I-I can't run to the barn! How did we not hear them?? Oh God, it was a close call. I would have been abducted if I stayed longer, looking for yams.

I panic not knowing where to hide. "Please, move ma'am. We mean no harm."

"B-But what is this search for, officer?" oh no, i can't find anything to hide under except this big narra table.

"Someone reported to have seen a missing woman living in this town. We will just do another search operation here."

I quickly hid under this table. I'm through.

I already heard footsteps spread inside this house. My eyes widened seeing black shoes walking around the table. Oh God.
I covered my face with my hands and tucked it on my knees. "Ah!" my heart drummed when a hand pulled me out of the table.

"Found her." I could feel the strong grip on my arm. I looked around teary eyed. I see all the guard's tension release from them. They must've been restless by the King's order.

Then I see aunt Mona, it hurts twice to see her teary eyed. "Tell everyone we found her, and call Majesty."

I cried hearing that. The guard started to pull me but I resisted. "I-I will go with you, but i need to talk to her." The guard looked at aunt Mona. "make it quick," he strictly said.

The rest of the guards didn't move. I went to aunt Mona and hugged her. She hugged me tightly and I sobbed. "I'm deeply asking for forgiveness, for causing you trouble aunt." she held my face to look at her. "You never did, dear. You will be okay, trust me." she said with sad eyes.

"I-I don't know, aunt." She held my arms. "It will, you have to trust me." tears rolled from her but her smile didn't diminish.

"Thank you for the time spent, dear." I cried, this hurts my chest. "T-Thank you-"

"Time's up." the guard pulls my arm and drags me away from aunt Mona. I tried my best to resist and run back to aunt. "I-I will meet you soon, Aunt! P-promise!"

I saw her nodding with tears and it broke me. The door shut on our way out.

I kept sobbing while this guard kept dragging me to walk. All of the guards are walking behind me.


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