Tara's live was a living nightmare ever since Maria came into her live. It was as if Maria was a demon from the pit of hell sent to torment Tara's life here on earth.
Maria always had an eerie deamenour, a cold and unbothered woman. Her emotions were fake, in fact she had no emotions. Her laughters were always dry, she never smiles. Her face was firm and so was her countenance, such a scary woman and yet her father couldn't see through all this.
For a moment Tara wished she didn't scurry out of the party like that, that was shameful. She knew her father valued his reputation, what had she done. The thought of it was eating her up, but it was no use fretting over spilled milk.
Just then she heard some whispers, she raised her gaze and saw two men talking, they had just stepped out of the party but what were they doing here? From the conversation they were having Tara could tell they were spies.
They had disguised themselves as guest and had some how gotten into the party unnoticed. Now they are looking for the perfect opportunity to adopt one of the princesses! Tara immediately became alert, she tried not to make as much noise as possible, she shoved backwards, curly into the darkness the horse stable offered.
She stained her ears but couldn't hear a thing, it was then she heard footsteps trailing off. They were gone! She slowly crept out of the horse stable and quickly made her way back to the palace, what was she thinking?
Venturing out like that was a grave mistake, especially with so many guest around, one can never tell who a traitor was among such a noble gathering. If this men had seen her, they would have easily abducted her and whisked her away.
Then they would use her as a bait to get
anything they wanted from the king. Tara slowly tiptoed back into the palace and made her way to her room. Her eyes felt heavy from too much weeping, she was sure that by now they would have been swollen.
Immediately she got to her room, as expected Rani was awaiting her return. "My lady you stayed out too long, I was worried about you." Rani said making her way to where her mistress stood. She was the only one who knew that Tara liked to gaze at the stars while sitted in the horse stable.
"I am sorry making you worry about me, it won't happen again." Tara said still agitated. There were some maids in her room ready to get her ready for sleep. The first thing she did was to change out of the stain dress she was wearing. She felt much better after doing that.
"Rani you mustn't tell this to anyone, I saw spies in the palace." Tara said almost in a whisper. Rani wasn't surprised but she pretended to be, "Really? That is not good, we must inform the king." She said getting busy selecting the perfect nightwear for Tara to wear.
"Hhm." Tara hummed, feeling weary, her eyelids were heavy with tiredness. Thinking of how ashamed her father will be of her pricked her heart. Her thoughts were snowballing every minutes, her head soon began to ache.
Suddenly tears began to streamed down her face, if only her mother was still alive, life wouldn't be so miserable. Rani saw her tears and immediately became alert.
"My lady crying doesn't suit you." She said trying to palate Tara.
Just let me cry Rani, this pain I am feeling us too unbearable to be locked up." She said bitterly.
Meanwhile Ivy had just walked into her mother's room. "Mother what do you think about what I did to that wretched girl? Ivy was beaming with a sly smile.
Maria was sitted on a rocky chair facing her window. Her soft delicate face was firm, her almond coloured eyes held many mysteries.
For a while there was silence, all that could be heard was the noise from the chair that Maria was sitted on, as it rocked back and forth.
It was then Ivy realized she had made a mistake by coming, she swiftly turned around to take her leave but froze when Maria's voice pierced the air....
"You didn't knock before entering." Maria's voice dripped with coldness. Ivy blinked her eyes rapidly, before slowly turning around to face her motym, who was backing her.
The aura around her was overwhelming enough to suffocate Ivy, but she was used to it. "Oh! My bad, it won't happen again." Ivy said instead of accepting her mistake and apologizing.
Maria took note of this, "Really? But that was what you said the last time, and the time before...but yet you never learn! Her voice was calm but firm. Ivy gazed at her mother with Trepidation, then lowered her gaze.
"Mother I am sorry." She apologized.
"Keep your apology to yourself", Maria squealed. "Don't you know how to scheme like your mother? Huh! Maria looked vengeful.
"But mother I am trying! Ivy felt like crying. "Trying my foot! Do better, annihilate her, she is your rival a threat! Maria was still sitted backing Ivy, but her gaze could cut through the enter room.
"Have you seen Austine around? Ivy asked changing the topic, ostensibly her mother wasn't impressed with what she did.
"What kind of question is that? Do I look like I care about his well being." Maria said without mincing words. Ivy ached her brows in aware...."But mother he is your son." Ivy said as if trying to remind her she had a son.
"My son? Huh, I wish he wasn't. That spoiled brat is good for nothing, all he knows how to do is to go around making illegitimate babies with concubines." She shrilled and started drumming her fingers in the arm of the wooden rock chair she was sitted on.
"Don't you see how your father deposes him? Austin his your father's son, and yet....it doesn't seem like it." Maria continued to drum her hands in the arm of the rocky chair.
"Brother will do better.....Ivy didn't finish talking before mother shrilled.....
"Silence!
At this moment Ivy felt like disappearing, her legs shook uncontrollably, but she still managed to remain standing. Maria suddenly broke the silence after some minutes if torture.
"Ivy! Maria cooed, calling out to Ivy who was already fidgeting.
"Y...yes mother." She answered Maria's call.
"You are my only hope, do not disappoint me."