“Adora pleaded with Leen, her voice trembling. ‘Please, don’t take that leap. I promise, if you stay with me, I’ll share the real story of Nyros—how he twists your will and coerces you into obedience just to keep you here.” Leen’s eyes widened as she absorbed Adora’s words, disbelief how Adora knew all these news while the truth was washing over her. “Where have you been, you daft girl? I stood here, longing to catch a glimpse of you wandering the castle halls. Remember all those secret passages I showed you before Nyros pulled you away from me? And now, you’ve left me behind?”
Adora’s heart raced at the hurt in Leen’s voice. “But… my lady,” she stammered, desperation creeping in. “How could I abandon you? I was watching from the shadows, and every time I saw you, it shattered me. You looked so weary, so hopeless, ensnared in a haze of those dreadful potions they fed you without your knowledge.”
“My enchanting Adora, can you truly believe that I, the daughter nurtured under the watchful gaze of the chief scientist, and the mother of all shaman, would remain oblivious to the clandestine schemes Nyrose and his entourage are concocting behind closed doors? How delightfully naive!”
As the faint sound of footsteps approached the door, a wave of unease washed over Leen and Adora. Each soft thud echoed ominously, amplifying the tension in the room. They exchanged anxious glances, knowing that if Nyrose discovered Adora in Lady Leen’s room, the consequences could be dire. Leen shifted nervously, her heart racing, while Adora held her breath, fear gripping her tightly. The door creaked slightly, and they could almost feel the weight of their secret pressing down upon them. As the sound of footsteps grew louder, Adora’s instincts kicked in. Without a moment to lose, she darted towards the wardrobe, her heart pounding in her chest. She pulled open the heavy door, which creaked in protest, and slipped inside, quickly shutting it behind her. The dark confines of the wardrobe enveloped her, muffling the sounds of the outside world. Adora pressed herself against the back, barely allowing herself to breathe, her heart racing as she strained to hear what would happen next. All she could do was pray that Nyrose would not come inside and discover her hidden presence.
As the sound of footsteps drew nearer, Adora pressed herself against the shadows, her pulse quickening in the tense silence. The door swung wide, admitting two maids whose lighthearted chatter sliced through the stillness.
“My lady Leen, you look quite unwell today,” one of the maids remarked, a note of concern thickening her voice. “Are you feeling fine?”
Leen, perched elegantly on the edge of the bed, gave a theatrical sigh, her demeanor one of practiced fatigue. “I’ve been overtaken by exhaustion, I fear. Could you be so kind as to fetch me that tonic we discussed? I would be ever so grateful.”
The other maid raised an eyebrow, exchanging a knowing glance with her companion before nodding, determination settling firmly on her features. “Of course, just a moment. I’ve brought it with me.”
As they began to rummage through the corners of the room, the sound of their movements echoed against the walls. Adora held her breath, her heart hammering in her chest. The maids’ voices grew distant as they stepped out, leaving her enveloped in a shroud of darkness. She silently prayed that Leen’s clever deception would keep them preoccupied long enough for her to escape without a trace.As the maids stepped out of the room, the old door creaked softly, letting a sliver of golden light pierce the surrounding dimness. Once in the hallway, their footsteps fell into a more relaxed cadence, echoing against the stone walls.
“Did you catch her act? Such a dramatist,” the first maid chuckled, shaking her head with a playful grin. “Leen revels in the role of the delicate lady, but we know it’s just for show.”
The second maid turned slightly, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret. “It’s hard to believe someone so proud is the daughter of parents who abandoned her for the First. You’d think she’d want to erase that part of her life.”
“Exactly! She struts around like she’s the one pulling the strings, when in truth, she’s merely a ghost haunting this castle, especially after everything that’s happened. It’s almost comical,” the first maid said, incredulity dancing in her tone. “How can she not see the irony? If anyone should be humbled, it’s her.”
“Maybe,” the second maid contemplated, “it’s her way of surviving. Holding onto that facade of grandeur might be all she has left to cling to.”
The first maid shrugged dismissively. “Pride aside, it doesn’t alter the truth of her past. I just wish she’d embrace a bit more realism sometimes. Let me be honest: when I first met her in the castle, I thought she was so full of herself. But the more I spent time with her, the more I saw her genuine spirit, marred by Nyrose’s greed masquerading as love.”
With a shared nod, they continued down the corridor, their voices gradually fading into the distance, leaving behind a hushed residue of their chatter that lingered in the air.
Adora crouched in the shadowy confines of the wardrobe, the musty scent of aged wood mingling with the faint perfume lingering from Leen’s abandoned dresses. Each heartbeat echoed in her ears, a steady rhythm that mirrored her rising urgency. She held her breath, every fiber of her being focused on the creaking sounds beyond the wooden door.
Outside, the main room the laughter of the maids faded into a hushed conversation, their voices weaving through the air like rumors. Adora strained to listen, every sound amplified in the stillness. She could sense the vulnerability of the moment, aware that even a fleeting whisper could betray her hidden presence.
Meanwhile, Leen sat just a few steps away, tension radiating from her like heat from a fire. Adora could almost feel the rapid beat of Leen’s heart, each thump a testament to her fear—fear not just for herself but for the secret that lay nestled within the wardrobe. The maids, oblivious to the real performance unfolding, held the power to unravel everything.
“Please, don’t let them find out,” Leen murmured under her breath, a silent prayer laced with desperation. She clasped her hands around the delicate glass, knuckles white, fighting back the instinct to betray her facade. A small tremor shook her frame; the weight of her deception pressed down like an unseen hand.
Adora’s heart ached for her. Here was Leen, trapped in her own web spun by Nyrose’s manipulation, balancing on the precipice of exposure. Adora wished she could reach out, to lend strength in the face of such overwhelming fear. She remained completely still, every muscle tense, willing Leen to maintain her composure.
As the conversation continued in the hall, the first maid’s laughter rang out, bright yet tinged with malice. “Leen’s gotten far too good at this act, hasn’t she?” The words hung in the air, sharp and inspecting. Adora felt Leen stiffen in response, the smile on her lips faltering, betraying her unease.
The second maid’s voice took on a conspiratorial edge. “Yes, but we both know the truth. A fragile lady like her wouldn’t dare hide anything at all…”
Adora held her breath. Did they suspect? She peered through a slight gap in the wardrobe door, her heart pounding in rhythm with Leen’s fear. The seconds felt like hours as she waited, ready to act if the facade began to crumble.
In that moment, the space between them buzzed with unspoken tension, the air thick with the danger of discovery. Adora’s resolve hardened; she would do whatever it took to protect Leen from the shadows that threatened to engulf her. For now, silence was their ally, and with each passing moment, she prayed it would remain so.
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