novelxo Chapter 113
116 I don't want to keep running away anymore Maya and Cassian were returning to the palace when the carriage suddenly stopped, Cassian got out of the carriage to see why they had stopped and said to Maya.
_Stay in the carriage, I'll be back soon.
Maya ignored him and got out of the carriage.
_I'm not going to stay in the carriage, I'm going with you.
_Okay, but stay behind me.
Maya laughed and said.
_I think it will be better if you stay behind me.
They both headed to the front where the coachman was, standing blocking the path of the carriage were two hooded men, immediately Cassian pulled out his sword and asked.
_ Who are you? What do you want? Both men removed their hoods, it was Ethan and another man that Cassian didn't recognize, what he did know was that the man was an elf like Ethan because of the color of his eyes.
Maya stepped forward when she recognized Ethan and said to him.
_ Ethan? What are you doing here? _We were looking for you, there is something we need your help with.
Cassian stared at Maya and asked quietly as he pointed at Ethan's partner.
_ Do you know him? _And.
Maya came over and asked.
_ How did they find us? _That doesn't matter.
Maya thought that her brother must have told her where they were so she just asked.
_ What do they need? _I want you to tell us more about darkness.
_I thought you said this time it would be our war and not yours.
Cassian replied, somewhat annoyed.
_Darkness is something that concerns us all, Ethan shouldn't have said that.
Dantriel replied.
_ What do you want to know? _Everything you know about darkness.
_Okay, I will answer all your questions, but in return you will have to answer my questions.
Dantriel nodded and replied.
_That seems like a fair deal to me.
*** When Gabriel returned to the king's office, Alessandro told him.
_I want you to teach my wife about accounting and how to manage the palace budget.
_Yes, your majesty.
Gabriel told April.
_Your Majesty, let's go to another room, so as not to interrupt the king.
_Of course.
Alessandro gave Gabriel a dirty look as if to say, You better take care of my wife.
Gabriel felt as if he were going to be killed if he was reckless and rude to the princess.
He headed towards the door with Alessandro's intense gaze on his back and said to April.
_Please follow me, your majesty.
Gabriel took April to the library, April had never been to that part of the palace, she was very surprised to see so many books, the library was huge, there were high shelves full of books, while she looked around her Gabriel told her.
_Your Majesty, we will start by reading some books, then I will teach you how to manage budgets and some matters that are usually the queen's obligations.
_Thank you so much.
Gabriel grabbed a few books from a nearby bookshelf and handed them to April.
She found a place to sit and began to read.
Gabriel stared, which made April feel a little uncomfortable.
_Sir Gabriel, there is no need for you to stay here, it will take me a while to read these books, I know you must be busy, so you can leave.
_I can't go and leave her alone, his majesty would kill me if I do.
_But Alessandro needs you to be by his side, I don't want this to affect him.
_Don't worry, I don't think that's going to be a problem, leaving her here alone would be a problem.
April continued reading, she just looked closely at each page for a few minutes and turned the page, Gabriel believed that the princess found reading boring and that for that reason she only pretended to do so, he had seen many noble women act that way to get the attention of men, he told her.
_Your Majesty, if there is something you do not understand, you can ask me, and if any of these books are too difficult, you can tell me.
_I don't think they are difficult, at the moment I am understanding what I am reading.
_ Really? _And.
April could see the expression of surprise and disbelief on Gabriel's face, he didn't believe her, he must have thought she was just pretending to understand him so she told him.
_Maybe my study method is a little weird, but I'm not pretending to understand it, I really do.
Gabriel wondered if the princess could read his mind.
_I haven't read your mind Sir Gabriel, it was because of the expression on your face, even if it doesn't seem like it, I'm good at reading people's expressions, that's how I managed to avoid problems, I avoided being punished.
Gabriel had thought that the princess had had an easy life, but her words said that this was not the case, that her life had been harder than he imagined.
_I'm sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable, your majesty.
_Don't worry Sir Gabriel, you haven't made me feel uncomfortable, I just want you to know that I'm really trying hard, I want to be of help to Alessandro, I want to be of help to this kingdom.
_I will help you in every way possible, your majesty.
_Thank you Sir Gabriel.
April spent the whole day in the library, she was so absorbed in reading that she didn't realize the day was ending until the light began to fade.
She closed the book and looked at the garden bathed in the last rays of the sun.
Just a few months ago it would have seemed like a waste to have to study in a room on such a beautiful day, but that had changed, she had changed.
She no longer wanted only her own good and that was because she was no longer alone, it was because she had met what was behind the palace walls, good people who deserved to be saved and protected, for the first time she felt that there was a place she could call home.
April had been reluctant to return to the palace because she had no good memories of that place, but she had to leave all her fears behind, it was no longer the same, she was no longer alone, Alessandro already had someone she could call a friend.
She had always escaped from her reality by isolating herself in that cabin, but at that moment she was grateful for that encounter with Alessandro in the forest, she was grateful for having opened her heart and thus knowing what love, friendship and happiness were.