*Ciana*
It was late afternoon when I saw that the coast was clear, and I decided to go ahead and go to my parents’ house. I could tell Warren had moved in because the light was on in the Master suite.
I had a feeling that Raymond would insist that Warren take the best room in the house.
I would have to sneak in like a common thief, but once I was in there and with Warren, I should be safe. I didn’t think that the servants would be hanging around Warren too much since he could easily just tell them to leave him be.
I could see Warren pacing around the room. Carefully, so as not to fall or draw attention to myself, I made my way to the window of the Master suite. Keeping my balance, I situated my knees on the window sill and knocked on the window.
He jumped a bit when he saw , and then rushed over to open the window, helping inside. “Thank the goddess you’re here! I was worried. It seed to have taken you a while. Did you run into trouble?”
“No. Sorry to make you worry,” I said. “I wanted to make sure no one saw .” I straightened my clothing and took a deep breath, happy to have made it in. Now, I felt relatively safe—at least for the mont.
“You have a beautiful ho! I’m impressed,” Warren praised. He poured a glass of cool water from a pitcher and handed it over. He was so thoughtful—unlike so people....
“Thank you. Mom and Dad poured their love into this house. It indeed is a wonderful place.” I couldn’t help but smile.
“Is this the Luna and Alpha’s bedroom?”
“Yes. Why?” I asked him, taking a sip of the drink. The cold water felt good going down my throat. I looked around at the familiar space and instantly missed my parents.
My heart felt heavy as my eyes landed on a picture of the three of us that was sitting on my mother’s dresser.
When would they be ho?
“I should’ve asked for another room,” Warren said, causing to give him my full attention.
“No, you’re totally fine. Even if my parents were ho, they’d put you here. You’re the prince. You’re not just another visitor.”
His cheeks pinked slightly with my complint. “Still, Ciana, I feel rude.”
“It’s all good, Warren. I promise.”
Just then, we heard voices in the hallway. I lifted a finger to my lips to signal him to be quiet.
Maids. They were passing by in a bit of a rush. I assud they had decided the whole rest of the house needed a thorough cleaning now that a distinguished guest was staying here.
“I wonder if Miss Ciana has t him yet,” one of the won was saying.
“No, I believe she’s still out in the garden,” the other said. “She sure does love to tend the flowers. Her mother will be proud to see how they are doing when she gets back.”
Once they were out of earshot, I said, “Since she is nearby, we should go do so observation.”
I had always loved to take care of the garden in the past, so I was curious to see how this new version of did when it ca to pruning the hedges and tending the flowers. Any information we could gather about her could be helpful.
Warren nodded. “I think that’s a splendid idea, but we’ll have to make sure no one sees you.”
I nodded. Luckily, it was getting dark, as long as we were careful, it shouldn’t be a problem. Otherwise, our entire plan could quickly go off track.
Warren went first, and I followed behind him. He was careful to watch for servants or anyone else who might see us.
Eventually, we made it out to the back garden. It was easy to find a place to hide out there because of all of the high bushes, shrubs, and trees.
The mont my eyes landed on her, a wave of fury washed over . I wanted to run right over to her and accuse her of pretending to be . But I knew that wouldn’t work because I had called her out the last ti I was here, and clearly, no one had believed she wasn’t .
Now, she was kneeling in front of my mother’s prize rose bushes, a pair of shears in hand, trimming away the weeds and so of the undergrowth.
We moved down closer to a curve in the stone path and took up a position behind a large blooming tree. It slled lovely, but I couldn’t think about the beauty of the garden or the fact that I was finally ho again at the mont.
Instead, I needed to concentrate on listening to what the servants who had accompanied her outside were saying.
There were four of them, and I recognized them as people who had worked in my parents’ ho for a few years.
I didn’t spend much ti around them myself because I preferred to be by myself most of the ti. But this Ciana must’ve been different because they were clearly there as her attendants.
And they were talking. About her.
“Really, being off at the palace has matured her quite a bit, don’t you think?” One of them, an older woman, was talking to a man.
“Yes, yes, I agree. They must’ve given the girls etiquette lessons,” he surmised. “After all, she seems so much more graceful.”
“I appreciate how much self-control the Alpha’s daughter is able to exhibit now,” another woman was saying. She had her hands folded in front of her, standing like a statue, all prim and proper. “Do you recall how she used to always be running about, getting dirty, and tracking filth into the house?”
“Oh, yes,” the last of them, an older man said, shaking his head. “It was nearly impossible to keep the dust out of the drapes when Miss Ciana would co running in, wildly, covered in dirt and debris.”
“I think she is truly a charming young woman now,” the first woman said with a nod of approval. “Fit to marry a prince. It’s too bad that Prince Theo didn’t choose her.”
“Well, perhaps the rumors are true, and Prince Warren is here for her hand.”
I turned to look at Warren then, my eyes widening, but he wouldn’t et my gaze, and since we were being sneaky, I couldn’t verify this with him.
The servants continued to go on and on about how elegant “I” was now until it started to irritate . I didn’t want to listen to them, but they continued to comnt on how I used to live my life.
“Don’t listen to them,” Warren said, leaning in closely. His warm breath tickled my cheek. “They don’t know what they’re talking about. Uppity snobs.” He made a face, and I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing.
He was right. These people’s opinions shouldn’t matter to , and they all sounded like they were simply trying to impress one another with their knowledge of etiquette and manners.
“I am finished,” the fake Ciana announced standing and removing her gardening gloves. “I would like to go inside and rest.”
“Yes, of course, my lady,” the first woman said, rushing over to take her gloves. “We shall accompany you.”
The party began heading in our direction. They would walk past the bushes we were hiding behind, but they were thick, so I wasn’t worried about them seeing us.
One of the n gathered up the basket of flowers fake Ciana must’ve cut at so other point. He was walking down the stone path in front of her. I ducked down lower, and Warren swiveled to make sure he was hidden as well.
The stones were uneven on the path. Sohow, the servant managed to catch his toe. He pitched forward, and the basket launched its contents everywhere.
My imposter was behind him and she tried to dodge him but failed. She managed to trip over the back of him, falling toward the bushes where we were hiding.
“Ahh—!”
So much for this us not being discovered. Why were there always accidents when I tried to hide?
In that split mont, Warren stood up, though, and he managed to grab fake Ciana mid-fall before she could see and before she could further injure herself. Luckily, it was dark, and we were close to a corner, so he probably could pass as if running into her by accident.
“Whoa!” he said, wrapping his arms around her and steadying her. “Are you all right, Ciana?” he asked, setting her back on her feet.
Imdiately, the servants broke out in exclamations. Not only did they want to make sure that she was all right, but they also were shocked to see Warren.
“Prince Warren! What are you doing here in the garden?” a maid asked him, surprised but not asking in a rude manner.
“Just taking a walk. Sorry, I was distracted by this beautiful garden and didn’t see you.” Then he asked the fake concernedly, “Are you alright? Are you injured?”
“Prince Warren?” She seed shocked, but she quickly collected her composure. “I’m fine, thank you kindly, sir.”
Except, now I noticed the bright blush that reddened her cheeks. Then, she dropped her eyes to the ground, staring at the points of her shoes, and a faint smile was still on her face.
A very typical reaction from girls when they first t the handso, graceful and gentle Prince Warren.
“I’m glad to hear you are okay. By the way, thank you for inviting to stay at your house.”
“You’re so welco,” she replied, still blushing, “It was my pleasure.”
Warren released her, and he maintained his warm smile, but then he asked, “Ciana, why are you acting like this?”
Fake Ciana was confused. I saw her eyebrows knit together. “What do you an, sir, I an, Your Highness?” she asked him.
Warren chuckled. “You’re acting like you’ve never even t before, Ciana. We spent so much ti together back at the palace. Why are you behaving so oddly? ”
I saw the faces of the others as they exchanged glances with one another. They were obviously confused as well.
“Oh...um... Your Highness... because I just didn’t expect to see you here,” she explained. Then, realizing she’d gotten caught up in a situation she needed to get herself out of, she exclaid. “Ouch! My ankle! I must have sprained it when I almost fell.”
“Your ankle?” Warren asked. “Do you want so help getting back to the—”
But before he could finish the sentence, the servants all rushed over and surrounded her.
“Miss Ciana!”
“Oh, Goddess! It must hurt!”
“Let us help you!”
“Take to the healer, please,” she told them. Imdiately, one of them shifted to a wolf and the others helped her to get on his back.
Before she left, she didn’t forget to excuse herself from Warren politely, “Forgive for not being able to show you around, Your Highness. Please make yourself at ho.”
Then the group ran off as fast as they could, leaving Warren standing there on his own.
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