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| At The Kingdom of Azalon |
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"Now that's not possible!" Princess Aria hands trembled as she shook her head in denial.
°Our one clue, gone!° Lady Leah sighed.
"I'm so sorry Princess Aria, but it was confirmed earlier today." Leah Leah's head hung low as she conveyed the news. "A horizontal cut to her neck killed her instantly, we also found strangling marks on her."
"Who did this?" Princess Aria scrunched up her hands in rage.
"We are yet to know who did this, but it was done with an aim," Lady Leah's eyes narrowed, "whoever they were, they made sure their one lead to them, which could bring them out of their secret stays that way."
"And that is a justification to have Pael killed?" Princess Aria's blue eyes glinted in rage. "So inhumane at that!"
"It's my fault," Lady Leah's timid voice croaked.
Princess Aria's head sprang up at the word, "what do you mean, it's your fault?" She stood up from her bedside, shaking the now silent Leah slightly.
"If I had not met her to question her on the reason for her unusual order on your table the previous night, maybe... just maybe, she would be alive now." teardroplets cascaded down as Lady Leah was drenched in unimaginable guilt.
"Why would you confront her on my behalf? I told you I was fine, why did you have to go to the kitchen?" Princess Aria's hands fell to her side, turning around she walked to her window, touching the pane, feeling the chill with radiated from it.
°It was supposed to be a bright new morning, but all that I feel today is literally the opposite° Princess Aria sighed in despair.
"I couldn't stand to see you in that state," Lady Leah began, "you have always been someone who is cheerful, kind, stubborn-"
"Hmmm!" Princess Aria's lips curved up in a smirk as she listened to Lady Leah.
"and most important of all, you never cowered in fear or despair, but when I saw you that night, it was like a heavy stone placed on my heart." Lady Leah's hand shot up to her chest, grabbing onto her cloth, "I thought, why would you react that way? I had to get to the bottom of things, I had to ask from the only source of clue that might help."
"And that put Pael in danger." Princess Aria hit the window frame in anger.
"I didn't know it was a bigger mystery than it already is, whoever did this clearly has Intel on us." Lady Leah slammed her fist on her open palm.
"Does Zane know about this?" Princess Aria looked over her shoulder.
"This is considered insignificant in the eyes of the King." Lady Leah gulped, "People die everyday, what use is a servant death to the King?"
"Are people really this unemotional? Just because she was a servant, they don't care?" The more Princess Aria thought about the sharp contrast between Azalon and her home; Glacier, the more nostalgic she got.
"People have gotten accustomed to these kind of news," Lady Leah replied, "King Ragan made sure of it."
"Where is Zane right now?" Princess Aria questioned.
"The King is out with some guards, they went out for a little game hunting." Lady Leah related.
°You would go out for a game, even with the news of the death of a servant?° Princess Aria gnashed her teeth.
"We are heading out then," Princess Aria walked to her wardrobe searching for a new outfit to put on.
"Where are we going?" Lady Leah shrieked, "The King would be furious if he found out we left the castle grounds.
"We are going to visit Pael's family, someone has to atleast pay them a visit to offer condolences." Princess Aria shrugged,"Which is why we would be disguised!" She pulled out a two-piece knee-length pinafore dungaree made of cotton fabric from her closet,
"Catch!" Princess Aria warned before flinging the cloth towards Lady Leah.
"Wha-" Lady Leah turned in the direction of Princess Aria's wardrobe.
*Slam*
"Whoops!" Princess Aria grimaced as it made an impact with her face, "Are you alright?"
"Do I need to worry about being alright when I'm with you?" Lady Leah narrowed her eyes, squatting, picking up the dress from the floor.
°Here we go again!° Lady Leah internally cried in frustration.
"What am I meant to do with this?" Lady Leah pulled on the white cotton top, eyeing the black dungaree.
"You have a body right?" Princess Aria deadpanned, "You and I both know, most clothes in this wardrobe doesn't fit."
"I'm supposed to wear this?" Lady Leah asked in confusion, taking a sniff of the cloth.
"What's up with that?" Princess Aria pointed on her action.
"I wanted to make sure it's not laced with something that might attract... I don't know! Bugs!" Lady Leah's trust level low.
"Don't you trust me?" Princess Aria smiled.
°Finally! A smile!" Lady Leah couldn't help but smile back.
"I do-" Lady Leah looked up at the calm expression on Princess Aria's face, "most of the times." She ended, smiling to herself as Princess Aria's expression fell with her last words.
"Hey! Would you put it on? We don't have all day!" Princess Aria pushed Leah into her dress room, "Hurry up!"
"But what about you? What are you going to wear?" Lady Leah struggled to speak before being shoved into the dressing room.
"Don't worry too much about me, you can't outshine my dressing just because you are wearing royal clothes!" Princess Aria teased.
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"Now that's what I call a disguise!" Princess Aria finished Leah's makeover with a hat. "There you go!"
Lady Leah looked at the reflection which stared right back at her, "Is this really me?" She marvelled at the skill, she couldn't even recognize herself, pushing back her maroon her which got in her view.
"How come you get to wear high waist pants and a fluffy black shirt?" Lady Leah pointed out jealously. "How is that laying low?"
"These are my kind of clothes that fit." Princess Aria adjusted her spectacles, looking at her reflection, she adjusted her infinity scarf cowl snood head covering.
"Uhuh!" Lady Leah rolled her eyes.
"Do you know where Pael's parents home is located?" Princess Aria questioned.
"Sure, we have the record of all staff details, and luckily I looked up her record a few hours ago." Lady Leah grinned proudly, "Well you know, because of..." She coughed on the last part.
"Right!" Princess Aria deapanned, raising a brow.
"I should clean up!" Lady Leah looked around at the mess Princess Aria had made.
"Oh! please, we don't have much time," Princess Aria stomped her feet in frustration, "besides, no one can come in here while we are gone, right?" She shone a big bright smile, wiggling her brows.
"Righ-t" Lady Leah was unsure if that was the right word to say in this instance. "How do we plan on leaving the castle unnoticed?" Lady Leah's panic fit tripping off again.
"You worry too much!" Princess Aria clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "Let's go!" She whooped, pulling on Leah's hand.
°I'm not sure I'm ready to do this!° Lady Leah's thought screamed in defiance but the firm grip on her hand defied her mental thought as she was being pulled.
As per Diamond_Love_5022 request, I mellowed down on the tragedy, for now *muahahaha!*
Would their silly disguises work?
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