Chapter 200: A New Life
The once cloudy sky was beginning to appear cloud-free when Samantha made it to Mada Ginevra’s small ho. The news about Callum and how every other instigators involved in the illegal trade business had reached the ears of the villagers, and Samantha could hear endless murmurings on her way to the house.... From the people’s reaction, their faces were beginning to brighten up, and so of the villagers that looked familiar to her were all gathered with their hoes and axes as they walked by, already returning from their farms without the fear of being raided.
Satisfied with the positive energy, she glanced at Ivan who walked alongside her. He was modestly dressed with his glasses perched against the bridge of his nose, and when his blue eyes lowered to look at her, as if he sensed her gaze on him, Samantha was prone to avert her stare, and she was unable to get rid of the endless flutters in her stomach.
"Do you think she will recognize you?" Ivan started a conversation, his gaze still lingering on the woman who struggled to stare ahead. "These people of Fernwood, they stare at you funnily, they must be in a lot of doubt if they are still failing to fathom your identity by now."
"I want it that way." Samantha answered firmly, a faint smile dawning her lips, "my only concern is having Mada Ginevra recognize . You know, when I still lived here, in Fernwood, you could say she was my second Mother. Maurice and I were able to sustain a healthy diet thanks to Mada Ginevra. She always offered a helping hand whenever we had nothing, it was a kind gesture we found rare, and when we asked why, there was sothing she said to
that I could never forget, ’a Mother who understands her own child’s grief, will not overlook the grief of another child.’"
Samantha quoted as her heart suddenly felt heavy, it was a feeling so profound she had to stop talking to avoid turning into the cry baby which she was. Ivan didn’t fail to notice, and he couldn’t be more happier about the fact that she was letting him in on all the people she found close in the past.
"I see... is that the reason why you took the risk to save her daughter from Callum?" Ivan inquired, still able to vividly recall her daring strength in the face of Callum. He had been aning to ask her about it, and now that they were talking about this Mada Ginevra who had been a positive impact on his little lamb’s life, he felt this was the opportunity to face his curiosity.
"It was... a miniscule of it." Samantha answered hesitantly, her tone wavering at the recollection of Callum’s disrespect for the innocent girl. "In the slave establishnt, I had witnessed sothing similar happen before my eyes. There was this girl who had been caught trying to escape...I think she was younger than ? When she was found after her failed attempts to escape, there was an extrely dark corner in that establishnt.... She begged
to help her when a guardsman forcefully dragged her in there, her eyes... She was desperate for freedom, she needed help, but there was nothing I could do to save her, I just... watched. Amanda’s situation was no different, and I guess I... I felt triggered–mhm–!!!"
Samantha’s eyes went wide in surprise as her voice muffled, but it was for a millisecond after realizing Ivan had pulled her into his arms so unexpectedly. She didn’t understand why he was hugging her like this till he said,
"I’m sorry that you had to witness those nightmares alone, they must have treated you horribly." Samantha could feel his hold around her tighten, as if he was still clinging to the idea that everything that happened to her was his fault. "I can’t bring myself to imagine what hell you must have gone through while staying there, but no more. I don’t want you to hide your scars from
ever again, show every single one of them to , and I’ll forever worship them."
He pulled back and held her hands in his, "you won’t have to deal with this alone from here on out, I’m here for you. We’ll fix everything together."
"Ivan.." Samantha had to avert her gaze elsewhere so she wouldn’t give in to the tears pricking her eyes. She smiled before looking at Ivan once more, deeply touched by his pure devotion. "We’ll both be each other’s strength, and nothing more. The past cannot be changed, what has happened has happened, and I’ve accepted that."
Taking his hand up, she kissed his knuckles, vaguely rembering how she had grasped his hand last night. She t his eyes, "I’ve long forgiven you, let’s not hold on to the past anymore. I have a new life now, and it is with you, in the Chevalier Palace." She smiled, and there was a sunshine-feeling in the way he returned her smile, only to crush her in his affectionate hug again.
Continuing down the wooded path hand-in-hand, a smile graced Samantha’s lips after spotting the ho of Mada Ginevra. Amanda had stepped out of the house with a young lad who was busy packing the loads of goods into their ho, and from everyone’s brightened expression, it was rather clear that the guards ordered to hand out the goods to the villagers was doing his job.
Ivan and Samantha exchanged knowing looks, and when they moved forward, Amanda had caught sight of Samantha approaching her ho. In an instant, her expression was lit with a look of happiness, and she could hardly believe it.
"You ca!" Amanda hurried to Samantha’s side, and she gave her a warm welcoming hug without realizing it. Her light-brown eyes moved to the exceptionally handso man who was standing beside her new friend, and it took her a mont to recall where she had seen a face this familiar.
"Your Majesty!" She imdiately lowered her head in respectful bow, evident fear gleaming in her eyes. "I didn’t know it was... please forgive my actions."
"No offense taken." He answered, easing Amanda’s heart.
Mada Ginevra, who was busy directing her oldest son on where the goods should be kept, was made to stop when she heard her daughter conversing with soone outside. Knowing her daughter already inford her of the people visiting today, Mada Ginevra didn’t hesitate to step out of her house, looking eager to see the kind beings who had saved her daughter from being ruined.
Samantha’s eyes fell on the woman who just walked out of her ho, and Samantha could feel her heart squeeze at the sight of Mada Ginevra. There was nothing that had changed much in her appearance except for her face that was already starting to age, and her black hair which was tied in a bun, had developed a number of gray streaks.
"Mother, these are the people I told you about." Amanda excitedly said to her Mother whose gaze traveled between Ivan and Samantha, equally happy to finally et them. She noticed the golden-blonde-haired woman smile in her direction as she took a step forward, and Mada Ginevra squinted her eyes at the familiarity of the girl before allowing her pupils to dilate in disbelief, whilst she looked at Samantha, her eyelids flickering up and down.
"Samantha?"
"Can I get one of your chocolate muffins please? I promise to pay you back in two days." Samantha heartily repeated her first ever request as a child to Mada Ginevra, and the woman’s aging face twisted in disbelief, whilst a look of recognition dawned on her visage as she opened her arms out for Samantha. Samantha had braced herself for this, but even then, she couldn’t hold back her tears as she went into the embrace of Ginevra, reciprocating her hug.
"It’s you my dear! I’m so glad to see you alive and well. Where have you been?? Co, co inside." She ushered Samantha and Ivan into her ho.
"She’s Mr Dufort’s daughter??" Amanda’s eyes snapped wide at her own late realization.
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