Chapter Nine

Alora woke up the following morning just as early as she usually does back when she was out of the palace. Walking out of her room, she walked to the balcony and looked towards the farm where she could already see people going to farm already as it was still dawn and the sun wasn't up yet. 

Walking back to her room, she grabbed the robe of her nightdress and walked out of the room. The passage was still dimly lit and no one was there. She walked down the passage looking at some of the paintings on the wall.  

She didn't know when she walked towards the other room at the other end of the passage. She was brought back to reality by the sound of the door closing. She looked up and saw Ava walking out of the room there. 

"Ava." Alora called and the poor girl almost screamed but she quickly used her hands to cover her mouth. 

"Goodness, Alora, were you planning to kill me?" Ava panted as she walked towards her. 

"What are you doing there?" Alora whispered. 

"Lord Zayen sent for me." Ava replied with her cheeks turning pink. Alora got the message and smirked. She wasn't in the mood to tease her friend so she just left her. "What are you doing out here? You should still be in bed, you should know. Like other ladies in the palace." 

"I'm not them." Alora replied as she looked at the painting on the wall next to Ava. 

"Oh that reminds me. I want to show you something. Come with me." Ava whispered as she pulled Alora down the large stairs. 

"Where are….." 

"Shhh. No one must see us. What I want to show you is a secret." Ava placed her index finger on her friends lips as they hid from some of the maids who were walking up the stairs. 

Ava dragged her behind to a room filled with boxes. It was clear that it was a store room. Ava pushed a few boxes away and a door covered with dust appeared. Ava pulled it open and pulled Alora in. 

"Welcome to my abandoned secret room. It's been a long time since I've been here. I use this place for my paintings." Ava said, lighting all the candles. 

Alora gasped looking around the whole room. The room was empty except for a corner where old paint brushes and paints were. On the walls were paintings made by Ava.

"Wow. These are beautiful." Alora gasped as she walked over to the wall. "But who knows about this place? What if the first Lord sees this. He's going to punish you." 

"Well I'll just take the punishment. But no one has been here in years so I just decided to use it." Ava replied as she packed the old paintbrushes in a small bag. 

"Well good luck bestie. Zayen can get you out of trouble so I don't need to worry." Alora smirked and Ava giggled. 

"Let's get going. Your maids might be looking for you already since it's already nearing sunrise." Ava stood up and pulled her out of the room.

True to Ava's words, her maids were looking for her already. By the time they finished dressing her, it was time for breakfast already. 

"Good morning father, aunt, uncle." Alora greeted when she got to the dining hall where everyone was sitting. It was a joint breakfast so they were much at the table. "Good morning Zayen." 

"Good morning dear." Ruger smiled. 

"Good morning sister." Zayen smiled as she sat opposite him. 

The maids served Alora her own breakfast and she started eating before Ruger interrupted her. 

"Ira told me you needed some dresses, Alora. Why don't we go to the market to see the dressmaker ourselves." Ruger asked and everyone except Zayen looked surprised. 

"The royal dressmaker can come here my Lord." Ira pointed out wiping her lips with a napkin but Ruger ignored her. 

"How about we go after breakfast? We can use that opportunity to see the village, don't you think?" Ruger smiled and she nodded affirmatively. "Good." 

Immediately after breakfast, the maids prepared Alora for the outing. She had asked them to dress her in a simple dress so she won't embarrass herself by tripping due to the dress. 

It was going to be her first time going to the village market despite being someone who wasn't living in the palace or a noble family. Everything she used was bought by her mother and sometimes some of the peasants made things they would need. There was food on the farms so no need to go to the market again. 

"Are you ready?" Ruger asked her as she stepped out of the palace. 

"Yes." She replied before he led her down to the carriage that was waiting for them already. 

The carriage had two horses pulling it and the royal family crest was on each side of the carriage. Unlike the carriage that came to pick her from her cruck, this one was more elegant and fit for royalty.