Adeline and the other Princes and Princesses were walking slowly after the eye-opening discussion about the deity. Raphael, Gustin, and Claudia had believed that they were going to be tested by their deity. But after hearing the facts from Nefriti that countered their beliefs, they were forced to rethink who was actually going to take their test.
Claudia, who had seen Adeline remain awfully quiet and stiff, asked to Adeline, "Adeline, who do you think will take our test? Did you also believe that a deity would take our test? Or do you think that soone else from the Palace will?"
Claudia had noticed the change in Adeline's expression when Nefriti had asked the question regarding who was going to test them. And she suspected that Adeline sohow knew about it.
Adeline's heart rate shot up the pace when that question was directed towards her. She was trying hard not to look uncomfortable or awkward when her brothers and sisters were having the debate earlier.
But now that Claudia specifically asked that question to her even when most of them had already agreed to Nefriti, Adeline felt as though she might have got caught. She was never really good at hiding things.
Even so, Adeline tried her best to keep up the act and replied softly, "I never really gave much thought to it." She humd for a while as though she was thinking right now and said, "I think what Nefriti said makes sense. We have never seen the deity after all, so…" Adeline just shrugged off her shoulders and left her answer open-ended.
The others didn't think much about this reply from Adeline, but Claudia didn't buy that act. She believed that Adeline knew more about the test than what she was letting them know.
Adeline's quarter was the nearest from the training ground and they were all already near her quarter. Adeline quickly glanced at her brothers and sisters and then gave a warm smile to all of them. "See you all again tomorrow."
But Claudia stopped her by saying, "Adeline, wait." She gave a quick glance at everyone and said, "We all have been so stressed out lately because of this test. Why don't we blow off so steam by going out to the market and then treating ourselves to tasty food like the last ti? It has already been so many days since we last went to the market."
Nefriti clasped her hands in excitent and instantly agreed, "Yes, please. Let's go and have so fun before the test." She narrowed her gaze and said dramatically, "Who knows, we might all beco enemies after the test."
Kaela gently nudged Nefriti and laughed. "Yeah, right." She mimicked Nefriti and said, "So we should have one last dinner together."
Nefriti held her head high and then said in a boastful voice, "Yes, and you all won't be that lucky to have dinner with after I get selected as the future ruler. So, agree while I am being generous to have dinner with you commoners."
Adeline could not help but laugh because of the way Nefriti was speaking all high and mighty. And she replied while still chuckling, "Sure." She pretended to bow her head to Nefriti and said, "I would be honored to have dinner with you."
"Why are you agreeing with this fool?" Raphael puffed his chest outward as though he was copying Nefriti and said in a deep voice, "It's who you should be honored to have dinner with because I am going to be the next King."
Gustin sneered all of a sudden and said to Raphael, "You are nothing compared to brother Edwin. I have my money on him." Then he also fisted his hands on his hips and held his head high. And spoke almost as dramatically as Nefriti, "Of course, I have my money on myself first. You all may surrender yourself now and bow to your King."
"In your dreams!" Nefriti shouted and showed her tongue to Gustin.
Kaela was serious all of a sudden and then she whispered, "Haven't you all heard? Prince Edwin has been sick for quite a while now. I heard that he might not recover in ti for the test. I wonder what happened to him."
Everyone went quiet all of a sudden. Kaela glanced at everyone. They had a sowhat shocked looks on their faces. And she asked, "You all didn't know?"
"How do you know that?" Raphael doubted the credibility of that information.
Kaela said in a soft whisper, "I heard the Healers talking amongst themselves. I wouldn't have believed if so maids were talking about it."
"That's sad!" Raphael said while scrunching his brows.
"Yeah," Nefriti added while puckering her lips.
Gustin folded his arms and whispered, "Does that an I actually have a chance to be the future King?"
Nefriti stomped on Gustin's foot and shouted, "Why would you even say things like that?"
Gustin raised his foot and then jumped around in pain, "Did you have to do that? Obviously, I was just joking!"
"Let's not talk about gloomy things and make ourselves sad. I am sure Prince Edwin will recover soon." Claudia took a deep breath in and then asked, "Are we all going to the market then?"
Nefriti agreed excitedly, "Yes. Let's dress up like the last ti and go, just the six of us."
But Adeline rembered sothing when Nefriti said that, she rembered the warning of her father. So she instantly said in a worried voice, "Actually, I don't think we are allowed to do that."
"Of course we are allowed. We went the last ti didn't we?" Nefriti gave a whimsical grin to Adeline.
Adeline puckered her lips and then said, "I an we are not allowed to go out without our guards and without taking the permission from the King. The King scolded for going to the market without taking his permission. And he asked to warn you all as well. He said that we will be punished if we step outside of the Palace without his permission."
Everyone had a dreaded look on their faces as though they had just seen a ghastly ghost.
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