MRS RÓDRÍGUÉZ - EPISODE 28

“Please have a seat.” Old Esme led her to an old thatched chair.

“What did you say your name is again?”

“Sally. A maid of the princess. An d she sent me to bring you this. ”

She carefully handed the freshly made food to old Esme.

The old lady smiled in gratitude.

“Tell my princess I’m indeed grateful”

Taking the small basket which had the food in it from her, Shee placed it on the ground beside her.

“So what can I offer you… You must be thirsty to have walked under this sun to get me these”

“Oh. No I’m okay. ” Sally declined immediately.

She didn’t come to stay long.
Not when she knows the princess didn’t actually send her down here.

She needed to be on the move before her absence is noticed.

She might fix up an excuse later to justify her absence. That’s if she was noticed absent.

She’ll think of anything, but for now… She has to leave.

“I have some baked fillets… You’ll love’ em”

“Uhm. No . I’ve had my fill already. I really have to go. ” She got up. Impatiently.

“Oh.. okay child. If u insist”
Old Esme smiled.

“Say me thank you to the princess” she bade Sally as she turned to leave.

“I’ll surely do that”

Sally nodded nervously. And hurried her footsteps.

This is risky.

This is Handy. But she gat to do it.
Getting old Esme into her plan was never in her head from the beginning. But hearing her statement the previous night. That showed old Esme might have an answer to what she wants.

An answer to what Mario and his Lord wants. Lord Ashton.

She doesn’t know why they want this information… It’s not her business anyway.
She just needs the money. Her family needs the money. Her little sister and her sick mother need the money.

The princess is a nice person, so far she. Can attest to that. She’s really nice. But she has no choice.

It’s just an information they want. She hopes her princess doesn’t get lost in the process.

******

“Come, have a seat.” Lady Castel ushered Audrielle in to a cushion.

She was tensed. So tensed that lady Castel noticed.

” hope you’re good”

“Uhm. Yes.” Audrielle gave an immediate answer. Faking a smile.

“Good.”

There was a small silence. Before the queen spoke up.

“I’ll be away with the king for his treatment. We won’t be back as long as the treatment lasts. I hope you know what that means”

Audrielle felt Blank..
“I think so…”

“It actually means you now have a bigger responsibility here. In the palace. You’ll have doubled task to run a day. The affairs of the city and others. The towns women meeting and other affairs related to the throne. ”

Audrielle Breathe low.
“I’m aware”

“You should be closer to your husband now. If you’ve been distant lately, now’s a reason to patch things up. You two have a long way to go. You can’t start things this way”

Audrielle blinked hard… “It’s not easy…” She felt the lump that slid down her throat.

It wasn’t really easy.

Lady Castel got up from her bed and walked over to audrielle, taking a seat beside her.

“I know. I know. Anthonio can sometimes be a difficult person. I’m aware”…
She placed her hand on Audrielle’s.

“And I’m also aware he didn’t touch you last night”

The last statement made Audrielle flinched unexpectedly. She gasped in shock.

“Bu…

“No need to lie or act surprised…” The queen smiled.

Audrielle looked away from her. Feeling guilty. And sad.

“I know my son is difficult. But he’s your husband. He’s your man”…

“No. He’s not” a tear slipped from her eyes.

“He’s not. He’s different. I don’t know him anymore. … He’s changed and he’s not someone I used to know those years”

Lady castel held her by her chin… “He’s still the same person. It’s just that… Time changed. He grew up. But trust me.. he’s still the same person.”

Audrielle sniffled with a short nod.

“Good. What I want from you is to work on your husband before I return…. Use the opportunity of our absence to know your man.
Antonio is just hurt. It’s not easy for him as well. But two wrongs can’t make a right. You have to step up and act as a queen while I’m away. Is that okay?”

Audrielle nodded a yes.

She Breathe hard.

“Good. I hope you feel better soon”

“Okay. And I’ll miss you”

Lady Castel pulled her into a warm hug. She just hope this peptalk causes a change in these two.

She just can’t wait for her to conceive. Then all her worries, her fears would all be over.

Antonio never touched audrielle last night. She knows. She also knows it takes more than a pep talk to win his son over…

But she hopes for the day he’ll come back to his senses and make a right choice by accepting audrielle as his wife.

She longs for that day.

******

“So, how was the meeting with the queen?”
Tarsia’asked her friend the moment she returned to the room.

“It was okay”.. she Breathe out.

“You look more relaxed now. What really happened? You were so tensed before going to see her. I hope it’s nothing serious”

“Well… Lets leave it a story for another time. I’ll tell you everything you need to know. I’m just tired.”
Audrielle stretched. Her voice too was weary.

“Oh. Okay. I’ll wait till evening. Take your time to rest” Tarsia’shrugged.

“Alright. By the way have you seen Sally?”

Tarsia’ Arched a brow.

“Who’s Sally? The maid that was bugging you at Montane field the other day?”

“Yeah. And it wasn’t bugging. She was just doing her duties as a maid.”

“Whatever. ” Tarsia’rolled her eyes. “I don’t like her” she added.

“Trust me, you’ll do when you finally get to know her”

“Oh. I think I know her already. She’s just an attention seeker. I mean, who in her right senses bug someone the way she does?… She’s always all over you… I wonder what she displayed while I was away. Pfft”… Tarsia’ huffed in disgust.

“You left me. She took care of me. ” Audrielle smirked.

“Whatever. I wonder what you need her for”

“I think I’m hungry. I need something to eat.”

“Okay. I think I’m hungry too. I’ll go get it for you. I know my way to the kitchen”

“Oh wow. “…

Tarsia’ got up from the side of the bed…

“And… Oh. Just in case you see Sally, tell her I want to see her”

Tarsia’ scoffed.

“Don’t boss me around when it comes to Sally,.. I won’t deliver your message”

“Huh!” Audrielle puffed.

She wonders why Tarsia’ doesn’t like Sally. Ever since day one.

****

Grabbing the needed foods into a small tray from the kitchen, she headed out of it.

She wasn’t really happy the way Audrielle talked about Sally.
Something in her tells her this Sally isn’t just who she seems.

She doesn’t know why but she always grow this scratchy feelings anytime she sees her around her friend.

She just hope this feeling wears off. Cause it seems audrielle likes her Alot. And it wouldn’t be proper if she’s the only one against her for no reason.

As she headed out of the kitchen with the small tray,… She suddenly came across…. Her.
Sally.
She was strolling from the opposite direction… Heading her way.