Ba-dum. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
That was the sound of Islinda’s heart at that mont.
This was stupid.
She was stupid.
Islinda realized at the last minute how stupid her plan was. Aldric had arrived at the dining room, so what? She should have just run and joined the others before he realized what happened. But no, she panicked and made a stupid decision. One she had no idea how to get out of right now.
Aldric’s approaching footsteps were like impending doom and she dared not to breathe. No, her lungs seized, all of her senses on hyper-alert and waiting for that ominous mont to be over.
Step. Step. Step.
Islinda didn’t even realize she was counting his movents and how long it would take him to take his seat.
Step. Step. Step —
Aldric suddenly stopped close to her position and her soul nearly flew out of her body for the second ti today.
Oh no, Islinda pushed her hands to her mouth in case she unintentionally scread in terror. Why did he stop? Has he sohow sensed her? That was not possible. She was not even breathing anymore. Islinda had no idea she could hold her breath for this long, but desperate tis call for desperate asures.
But most of all, why was she scared of him?
Aldric had never laid a hand on her, as his guest. Islinda believes all of that would change now she’s his servant. After all, a good leader should not be partial. He should treat her the way he treats other servants. Except Islinda forgot one thing, Aldric was not a good leader.
She peered out from the little space, watching him standing at the spot with his polished shoe. Perhaps it was a royal thing but the princes were always impeccably dressed.
It almost seed to last forever when Aldric finally made a move and Islinda expelled a careful breath, hand on her chest. That was so close.
What are the chances that the prince doesn’t know she’s right under the table and he has his al and leaves in peace? Islinda dared to have hope.
He sat elegantly without even the scraping of chair and Islinda felt herself flush at the sight of his wide legs from beneath the table. By the gods, she turned the other way. She must look like a pervert right now. For once she was grateful the prince wears pants and not skirts — yes, the thought was ridiculous she knows — else she would have seen a handful.
She heard the approaching footsteps and she guessed it was one of the Fae coming to serve him and uncovering the lids.
"Where’s Islinda?" Aldric asked and Islinda stiffened at the spot.
Oh no. Please don’t sell her out, Islinda internally pleaded with whoever that was. Aldric discovering her under the table was going to be ridiculous.
"My prince, she must be occupied." The Fae answered without details.
Fae cannot lie but they are experts at wordplay.
Yes, she was occupied under his table.
Those words would only turn out to be a lie based on Prince Aldric’s interpretation.
Islinda recognized the voice of the Fae who spoke and it was Marimar. Good thing, the Fae was on her side. Has it been Sura? Islinda did not even dare to imagine. Good thing the Fae did not speak unless spoken in the prince’s presence else Sura would have told on her already.
"Hmmm, is that so?" Prince Aldric was surprisingly — shockingly — not pushing for details.
She could imagine the thoughtful look on his face as he said, "I made her work as punishnt for her churlishness but it seems she’s having the ti of her life. It annoys yet impresses at the sa ti. Perhaps I should check her out after I’m done eating."
No! Islinda wanted to scream at that mont. Who said she wanted his supervision? The gods help her! Aldric would be the death.
Islinda began to think hard about how to resolve this situation. There was no cause for alarm yet. As long as Prince Aldric left this room first, she would sneak out and get occupied with sothing. Thank God she can lie her way out.
"Marimar, what is Islinda occupied with?" Aldric inquired all of a sudden.
It was still a wonder how Islinda had not gotten a heart attack because her heart was alarmingly close to giving out at this point.
Marimar hesitates as if thinking of an excuse. She says, " I cannot exactly tell my prince. The human is quite an unpredictable, stubborn, and careless little thing. So I leave her to her own devices. I’m sure I will find out after this dinner is over."
Islinda sighed, she owned Marimar a lot.
"Indeed. I cannot wait to find out as well." Aldric said before digging into his al.
Perhaps it was the sardonic humor in his tone but Islinda had this inking Aldric knows she’s under his table. No, that can’t be true. If that’s the case, why hasn’t he done sothing about it? Islinda knew Aldric she knew would have dragged her out by now all just to amuse himself.
Or perhaps he has his suspicion and wants her to co out herself?
Or perhaps, he definitely knows and is toying with her?
Chills washed over Islinda at the last thought but she hardened her mind and stood her ground. This might be a test and she cannot confirm his suspicion. So Islinda waited for his al to be over.
However, no matter how long she waited, Aldric didn’t seem to be done. Or perhaps, it was all in her head. After all, she does eat with him in the past and sotis, they take their ti with their al.
But ti seed to stretch on endlessly. Islinda’s muscles began to cramp, and she tried to shift her position to alleviate the discomfort. She spread out her limbs and lay on the floor, hoping the Fae wouldn’t hear her movents.
By the gods, this was much more comfortable.
Hence, lying on her side, Islinda waited and waited and waited and waited and waited...
And then she fell into a deep sleep.
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