บท 17: The escape plan
Anastasia used her hands to suppress the sneeze, while her back pressed against the pillar behind which she hid. To her relief, after two minutes, the Mother Queen and the minister left the abandoned place, and she quickly slipped out of this side of the palace.
Dodging two guards on her way, she returned to her room. During the remaining hours of the night, she slipped in and out of sleep, somewhere worried that she would sleepwalk again.
The following day, the Flores sisters met in one of the music rooms assigned to the courtesans to use. As today was Marianne's turn to use the room, the sisters met in the closed space while Anastasia had the task of cleaning it. But instead of the courtesan, Anastasia was the one to pluck and release the harp's strings.
Marianne softly hummed along with the music. On noticing Anastasia yawn, she said, "I think you should nap, Anna. I will wake you if I hear someone outside the room. You have yawned twelve times in the last five minutes."
"Sleep is for the privileged," Anastasia stopped playing the harp and brought her hand to cover her mouth. "More importantly, I wouldn't be able to spend time with you."
Marianne thoughtfully replied,
"To think there was a time when we used to spend every hour of the day with each other. Now we steal time for it. But something is better than nothing, isn't it?" She smiled, consoling Anastasia and herself with that thought.
Anastasia turned to look at the door and then turned to her sister, saying, "Lady Sophia's birthday celebration is in four days, and I was thinking… The celebration will last for three days and two nights. What better day to leave, when the entire kingdom will be busy with guests and entertaining each other?"
"Did you arrange the camels…?" Marianne asked, and Anastasia shook her head.
"I am hoping to arrange it during my next visit to the Bazaar. But I don't have the money to buy the camels," Anastasia said, biting her bottom lip. Noticing the look of worry on her sister's face, she smiled, "Don't worry, Mary. I will find a way out for us. We can leave on the first night of the celebration. Pack your things and be ready."
Marianne pursed her lips before nodding, "Okay."
The days were quick to pass in the Blackthorn Palace, where everyone was preparing for the grand celebration, ensuring every guest room was ready to be used. A day before the celebration, Anastasia was sent to the Bazaar with the other maids for a last-minute errand.
Anastasia was at one of the shops in the corner when she heard someone remark,
"Do you think these are pretty?"
Anastasia's eyes widened upon noticing Prince Aiden disguised as a commoner, as he examined a trinket in his hand from the shop. She tried hard not to bow, the way she and the other servants were taught to show respect to the members of the royal family.
Prince Aiden turned and offered a smile to Anastasia. He said, "I am glad that we got to meet again. I didn't see you around for the last few days, and wondered where you went."
Did this mean that the prince had no idea of her being a maid in the palace? Anastasia asked herself.
"It is good to see you too…" Anastasia carefully replied.
He said to her, "I am looking for something unique. A present for my mother, as it's her birthday tomorrow."
Wanting to test him, Anastasia said with a surprised look, "I heard that even King William's wife's birthday is tomorrow as well."
"Haha, it is a good coincidence, isn't it?" Prince Aiden turned slightly nervous, as if not wanting to be caught. He quickly switched the subject and said, "I realised that I don't know your name."
Anastasia didn't want to meddle with the royal family members, but it was hard to get rid of the prince when he had an earnest look, which reminded her of a small puppy that one of the princesses owned but was later killed.
"It is Tasia," Anastasia answered.
"Tasia? That's a pretty name." Juan nodded, looking over his shoulders for someone. He leaned towards her and whispered, "Why does it look like you are hiding something, Tasia?"
"I could ask you the same," Anastasia replied, turning her back to one of the royal maids walking by the shop, and looking through the metal jewellery. At the same time, a palace guard appeared, and Juan turned along with Anastasia. She had picked up a hairpin with only one butterfly wing and green stones on it. She asked, "How about this?"
"This is pretty! I wonder how I missed it."
Prince Aiden took a closer look at the hairpin with a grin, and he turned to the shopkeeper and said, "I will take this one." Being a prince he didn't inquire about the cost and handed fifty buckles to the shopkeeper. "Keep the change," he said, before slipping the hairpin into his pocket. He turned to Anastasia and asked, "Tasia, you found me a lovely gift. How can I repay you?"
"It is nothing. Anyone would have been able to help," Anastasia responded. Unable to resist, she bowed, before biting the inside of her cheek.
Prince Aiden didn't notice Anastasia's bow, as his eyes had fallen on the palace guard walking in the direction where he stood as the guard searched for him. He quickly caught Anastasia's hand and pulled her to a narrow alley that wasn't too far from where they had been standing.
Anastasia had not expected the prince to drag her to an alley, and the grip of his hand around her wrist was tight. He exclaimed,
"Phew! That was too close. I thought I almost got caught today," he laughed, looking in the direction they had come from, before realising what he had just said and done. He cleared his throat and explained, "I don't get along with the palace guards. We have bad blood between us, as I am not very fond of them." At the same time, feeling Anastasia's calloused hands, he remarked, "Your hands…"
Anastasia quickly pulled her hand away from his hold and said, "I should return… home now."
"Wait!" Prince Aiden stopped her. He quickly apologised and said, "Forgive me if I have upset you. It wasn't my intention. I really meant it when I said I would like to repay your kindness. Being a Blackt—black sheep, it is the least I can do."
The prince found this commoner woman interesting, ever since he had seen her hit the drunk man with a wooden ladle. He didn't know where she lived or who she was, because he couldn't get past the Bazaar without being followed and chased by the guards to return to the palace with them.
Anastasia stared at Prince Aiden as if he had given her the opportunity she had been waiting for. She carefully asked him, "Then… Can I borrow two camels?"
Prince Aiden blinked at her request. He then laughed, "The camels! How could I forget that! Let us have you ride a camel right away. Follow me!"
"Not now!" Anastasia replied, and he gave her a look. She said, "My sister… She's coming to town tomorrow evening. I would like to ride along with her…"
Prince Aiden pursed his lips and murmured, "But I will be busy tomorrow with my family." He then said to her, "I can ask my uncle to have two camels arranged for you and your sister to ride then."
Anastasia asked, "Really?"
"Mm," Prince Aiden nodded pridefully.
"Then perhaps you can ask your uncle to bring the camels near the end of this alley? I wouldn't want to draw any attention from my neighbours that we have two camels," Anastasia requested, her eyes filled with hope.
"I will have the best camels arranged here so that you and your sister can enjoy the ride. Riding when the sun sets and no one can see you, yes?" Prince Aiden asked naively, without suspecting her true intentions. "I can relate to you. This is why we are friends. Not to mention, you and I share a secret."
Friends? Anastasia wasn't sure about it, but she offered a nervous smile.
Anastasia didn't know if Prince Aiden, who was now disguised as a commoner, would keep his word. He could forget or get busy. But she hoped that tomorrow night when she would arrive at this alley with her sister, the camels would be here.
"Thank you, Juan," Anastasia offered a deep bow. She wouldn't see him here after tomorrow night. "I will forever be indebted to your generosity and will never forget it in my life. I hope God blesses you with what you want."
Prince Aiden smiled at her words, his eyes reflecting the same emotions as hers, and he replied, "I hope you enjoy your evening ride with your sister tomorrow. I look forward to seeing you here again in the Bazaar."
Anastasia watched the prince leave the alley and disappear from her sight.
บท 18: Words behind the bush
The day of Lady Sophia Blackthorn's grand birthday celebration had finally arrived.
Guests of high and respectable status began to pour into the kingdom from faraway lands and also from Versailles.
At the back side of the royal palace, carriages lined up after dropping their owners at the front of the palace entrance. Mr. Gilbert was in charge of attending to all the guests, and at that moment he was giving orders to the servants about carrying the luggage to the guest rooms.
Anastasia stood next to Theresa with a few other maids behind them, paying attention to Mr. Gilbert, as it was their turn.
"Take Mr. and Mrs. Lumbard's trunks to the first floor, third room on the right. Their daughter, Miss Amara's room has been assigned on the second floor, three rooms from… "Mr. Gilbert took a closer look to see if the name was written correctly before he finished his sentence, "from Prince Dante's room."
The Mother Queen and Lady Sophia were the ones who had allotted the rooms for the guests. The rooms were assigned according to the relationship the guests had with the Blackthorns, as well as the benefits that could be exchanged between them.
Mr. Gilbert already knew about it, which is why the expression on his face didn't change. Looking at Anastasia and Theresa, he ordered, "See to it that two flowers are placed on the pillow." He dismissed them, moving to the next guest's trunks.
Anastasia and Theresa walked in front of the four male servants, who carried Miss Amara's trunks. This was one of the few times when the lowly maids were allowed to step closer to the heart of the palace. When they reached the front of Miss Amara's room, Anastasia lightly knocked on the door.
"Miss Amara, your luggage has arrived," Theresa announced.
"Come in," someone from the other side of the door gave permission.
Upon entering, the male servants placed the trunks on one side of the room and excused themselves from there.
"You should wear the blue gown tonight, Amara. It will go well with your grey eyes, and first impressions are everything, as you will be meeting the King and the Mother Queen tonight," Mrs. Lumbard advised her daughter, while Anastasia and Theresa opened the trunks and began folding the clothes and placing them in the room's cupboards.
Anastasia couldn't help but take a quick glance at Mrs. Lumbard's daughter, Amara. She looked like an angel with her sweetheart face, thin lips which were tinted pink, and her skin appeared smooth and soft. Her dark blonde hair was combed to the side and loosely braided to rest on her shoulder.
Mrs. Lumbard picked up the blue gown and held it in front of her daughter's body. She said, "Prince Aiden is too young for you, and from what I have gathered, he isn't interested in sitting on the throne. But on the other hand, Prince Dante is the eldest prince."
"Then I guess I should get close to Prince Dante?" Amara offered a sweet smile. She was no more than nineteen years old.
This wasn't anything new to Anastasia, as she had seen plenty of parents ready to marry their children to the princes and princesses for their own benefit.
"You there," Amara called Anastasia, who had walked towards the bed and was placing two flowers on it. "Where is Prince Dante's room?"
Anastasia wished to tell the young lady that whatever she was thinking, it was a bad idea. Approaching Dante was nothing less than trying to enter a lion's den and trying to pet it with the hopes of taming it. Anyone who worked in the palace knew that this lion was untameable.
But Anastasia also knew that most of the young ladies didn't like to be advised. At least, not by a maid. She raised her hand towards the door before pointing it in the right direction.
"What?" Mrs. Lumbard questioned, not understanding what the maid meant.
"Forgive me, milady, but she cannot speak," Theresa apologised with a bow for speaking out of turn. "Prince Dante's room is on this very floor. It is three rooms to the right."
"Looks like even Heaven is trying to match you both, Amara," Mrs. Lumbard smiled, before praying, "I hope by the end of the celebration we can have you both married."
Once Anastasia and Theresa finished placing all the items in the cupboards, they excused themselves and stepped out of the room.
When they had crossed one corridor, Theresa muttered, "Seems like the matchmaking season has begun. There will be at least one royal wedding." Noticing Anastasia take a different turn, the woman asked, "Where are we going? The way to the first floor is the other way."
Anastasia replied, "I need to give Mary something."
Theresa looked behind them as they walked and asked, "Are you sure that the camels will be waiting for both of you? What if the man fails to fulfil his promise?"
"Hopefully he doesn't fail."
Since Anastasia had woken up, a ball of nervousness had come to settle in her stomach and she was anxious. After all, what she was going to do, no one would even think of attempting to do, after what had happened recently to one of the late courtesans. She said in a low voice, "If he fails to keep his promise, we will return to the palace. The palace gates will be open tonight and tomorrow because of the celebration. It is our best chance."
Theresa was unaware that it was Prince Aiden who was lending the camels, as Anastasia had not mentioned it, knowing the stress it could put the older woman in.
"I will cover for you until midnight. Until I know for sure that you have escaped from here, so that no one is suspicious and follows you," Theresa knew how much Anastasia had longed to leave Versailles to return to her home. But at the same time, she was worried about the Flores sisters being caught and punished.
When they came upon the courtesans coming from the other side of the corridor, who were laughing and having a good time as if looking forward to the evening celebration, Anastasia and Marianne's eyes met. As they passed each other, Anastasia slipped a small folded piece of paper into Marianne's hand and continued to walk without stopping for even a moment.
Marianne purposely fell behind the other courtesans to read the little paper. The note read—
'Our ride is arranged. We shall meet before the gates of the palace at sunset.'
A smile graced Marianne's lips, and she murmured, "Of course you did." Over the years, if there was one thing she had understood, it was that her sister never gave up.
"Marianne, are you coming?" One of the young courtesans turned back and asked her.
"Yes." Marianne quickly crumpled the paper and slipped it inside her dress pocket.
"Did you get lost in your thoughts? Thinking about Prince Maxwell?" The courtesan teased her.
Marianne only smiled before her lips fell as she realised something.
As the evening approached, Anastasia was ready with her small cloth bag, which held a spare dress and a water bag. She and Theresa were in her room when the older woman picked up her hand and placed something cold in it.
"Take this. You will need it for your journey."
When Anastasia looked down at her palm, she saw coins. There were a total of fourteen buckles of coins. She looked up and shook her head, "I can't take them, auntie."
"Hush now, child. I have no use for them here. But you, you will need it. Trust me," Theresa covered up the coins by pushing Anastasia's fingers.
Anastasia didn't know how to repay the woman's kindness, and she put her hands around Theresa. She whispered, "Thank you for everything you have done. I will never forget it."
Theresa smiled, patting Anastasia's back before she said, "Hurry now. The sun will be setting soon, and you cannot afford to be late. Please be extremely careful. If the guards stop you, use a guest's name to slip in or out of the palace today. They won't suspect you."
Anastasia could feel her nerves jittering. She said, "If we get caught… you don't know anything about it. Okay?"
Theresa nodded, and her breath shuddered. She replied, "I remember… Good luck, Anna. I will miss you."
"Me too…"
On stepping outside the room, Anastasia watched Theresa walk in the direction that led further inside the palace to continue her work. Taking a deep breath, she finally began to make her way out the back side of the castle.
With every step she took to leave the palace, her heart beat so loudly that she could hear it drumming in her ears. She entered the kitchen to make use of the back side door. Her eyes and ears were on alert, and though everyone was busy preparing for the upcoming feast, she felt as if they knew what she was up to.
The head cook, on noticing Anastasia in the kitchen, called her,
"Anastasia, if you have no other task to do in the inner palace, we need help here."
Anastasia dropped the bag behind a counter. She raised her hands and moved them to respond,
'Forgive me, but one of the guests wants flowers from the garden. For her hair,' she pointed her finger to her hair.
"Oh, well then, go on! We don't want the lady to be left waiting," the head cook said, shooing her with his hand.
When no one was looking, Anastasia picked up the bag and finally stepped out. Though there were candles and torches lit around the place where she walked now, she went unnoticed. All she had to do was act normal.
Finally, they were going to leave Versailles… and the thought roused nervousness in her because she knew she and her sister still had to cross the initial white pillar gates. Walking through the path of the garden, she tiptoed, feeling the tension rise in her body.
On seeing Marianne standing at the side, waiting for her, Anastasia smiled. She quickly made her way to where her sister stood.
A worried Marianne said in a hushed voice, "I am glad that you are here, Anna! I was worried that someone would catch you."
"Mr. Gilbert and the senior maids are busy. There is no way they would pay attention to me," Anastasia replied, and then turned to look at the guards who stood next to the wide-open gates, where the carriages and other people passed through. On noticing many people heading towards the gate, she said, "Now is our time. Come."
But when Anastasia took a step forward, Marianne caught hold of her hand. The elder daughter of the Flores family said, "Anna…I cannot."
"What do you mean?" Anastasia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Marianne pulled her sister behind a large bush, hiding out of people's sight. She softly replied, a little ashamed, "I don't want to leave Versailles or the palace."
"Why?" Anastasia asked, not expecting her sister to change her mind. "I thought you wanted to go home..."
Marianne's eyes lowered halfway in shame, and she answered, "I did want to go home… but that was in the past. This is my life now, Anna… I know it can be hard to understand, but I am a courtesan. A woman who has been touched by and has spread her legs for many men."
"That doesn't define you, Mary," Anastasia whispered. She pursed her lips and said, "We won't tell anyone about the life we have lived here until n—"
"I am tainted," Marianne replied. "Do not confuse it with the idea that I don't want to leave because of the so-called luxuries that the palace offers. I have sold my soul and body, and there is no return for me. Also, someone came along… and he offered to marry me, because he loves me. It doesn't happen often to courtesans, you know that." She held Anastasia's frozen hands and said, "I won't stop you, Anna. Because I know how much you have wanted to go home."
Anastasia became sad, because she had promised to leave this place with her sister. She replied. She asked, "Who is this man? Who promised to marry you? Is it Prince Maxwell?"
A slight blush appeared on Marianne's cheeks, and she nodded. She said, "You cannot tell anyone. It is still a secret." Noticing Anastasia's stare, she asked, "What is it?"
Not knowing how else to frame her words with the little time they had, Anastasia said, "I do not mean to discourage you Mary, but what if he is lying?"
"He said I was different. That he's never felt this way with anyone before," Marianne's eyes held hope.
As much as Anastasia wanted to be happy for her sister, she was heartbroken at the thought of leaving her behind. After years of waiting, the opportunity to leave stood right in front of them, just beyond these gates.
Closing her eyes to gather her thoughts, Anastasia asked, "Why didn't you tell me until now? That you didn't want to go home?"
Marianne offered a sad smile and replied, "I—I have wanted to tell you about it for a while, but it was hard… when you were so excited. And I didn't want you to change your mind for me. This life chose me, and I cannot change what has happened… all these years."
"You are young, Mary. You are beautiful, kind, educated and… I am not sure if Maxwell is right for you. You deserve to be seen, and not hidden…"
"Like some dirty secret?" Marianne completed the sentence that Anastasia had trouble finishing. "I know it feels and looks like that, but he's the only one who has cared enough for me, apart from you and Theresa."
Anastasia noticed how her sister was deeply in love with Prince Maxwell. Something told her that even if Prince Maxwell was not in the picture right now, Marianne would have still refused to come.
Marianne had always tried to protect her younger sister. She was happy that Anastasia was a servant and had never been turned into a courtesan. She continued,
"The closer you move to the heart of the inner palace, the more pain it will cause you. Leave now, Anna. I couldn't help myself, but you still can." She took out a pouch from her dress pocket and handed it to Anastasia, "Here is a necklace and a hairpin. Sell them and you will have enough buckles."
Anastasia's thoughts had become disoriented as she tried to process the situation. They had already begun walking towards the pillared gates when she caught her sister's hand to stop walking and stated,
"I cannot leave you behind, Mary." Anastasia turned to meet her sister's eyes and said, "I have spent many years here. A little longer won't hurt… until I know you are married."
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