Blind The World

CHAPTER FOUR

“It's not much, not what you're used to, but I hope you can stay here for as long as your father is still in town," Miranda said, as she walked into the cottage, she flipped the light switch by the entrance, and house lit up, to reveal a warm cozy space.

"Are you kidding, This is more than comfortable. Thank you so much, you're the best," Alicia tried to hug Miranda, who just avoided her touch, a disturbed look on Miranda's face.

"I know what you're thinking, but I promised I wouldn't let Aunt Caroline find out you helped me," Alicia promise. but Miranda didn't look convinced at all. She knew better. Lady Caroline would never believe that Alicia would go into hiding without Miranda knowing about it.

"I need to go back now before they notice I'm missing," Miranda said, still looking uncomfortable.

Alicia had managed to convince Miranda to help her escape from the mansion, promising to go back once her father was gone.

"When I can, I'll sneak out some of your things and get you something to eat for breakfast," she Miranda's said her voice sounding cold.

Alicia had sneaked out of the mansion before anyone else was awake. She knew it would take her aunt Caroline a long time to notice her absence, long enough for her to find and settle into her hiding place.

“I am so grateful” Alicia said to Miranda, who just nodded before walking out of the door.

Miranda didn't agree with Alicia's plan, and Alicia knew it. She had only helped her because Alicia pleaded with her to do so.

"Am I just being dramatic?" Alicia thought as she explored the house. It was cozy and comfortable, with three well-furnished rooms.

Alicia was never a fan of the biig mansion. She always imagined having a small, comfortable home where she could read her books in peace.

A loud knock on the door distracted Alicia from the book she was reading. She had managed to make herself at home, finding comfort in one of the rooms where she laid down comfortably to read her book.

She walked towards the door, trying to see if she could peep through the keyhole, but it was too small to see through. Skeptical about opening the door to a stranger, Alicia asked.

"Who is it?" She asked her heart races, and a million thought bombarded her head, “did Miranda confess” she thought.

"Hi! My name is Jason, Miranda's friend. She asked me to come and give you some things," the person behind the door introduced,

With a conflicted mind, Alicia decided to take the risk of opening the door.

She opened the door to find a young handsome man with a warm smile at the door.

"Can I please come in?" Jason asked holding up the baskets in his hands.

Alicia nodded. And opened the door wider for him.

"Miranda asked me to get you some things to eat and some clothes," Jason explained as he walked in.

"She told me to let you know that she got a bit busy and will come back when she can,"

Alicia looked at him, her eyes narrowed and her mouth slightly open. wondering why Miranda would send someone to her secret hiding spot.

"And you are?" she questioned.

"Jason, I am Miranda's friend," he replied so informally.

"Do you know who I am?" Alicia wondered, her brows furrowed and her stare intensified.

"Yeah, a visiting cousin, right?" Jason answered confidently.

Taken aback by his reply Alicia's eye opened as a smiled formed on her lips. It was amusing how he had no idea who she was, she assumed everyone in Veeradawalls knew or had heard of her.

"Right," he added, and Alicia nodded.

"Yes," she lied through her teeth, he walked confidently into the kitchen and she followed.

Watching him in amusement as he knew his place around the house.

"Did Miranda bring me to her lover's place?" Alicia wondere watching him keenly.

The placed the basked the basket on the kitchen table, setting out a plate for her.

"Is there anything else I can do for you?" he asked, and Alicia shook her head, thanking him for his help.

"It's no problem. Any family of Miranda is a family of mine," he stated warmly.

"Are you and Miranda some kind of secret lovers" Alicia blurted out, her thoughts voiced aloud, which made Jason laugh.

"I wish!" He chuckled

"No, I am her best friend. We grew up together," Jason explained.

His words like a dagger in her heart “bestfriend!” She exclaimed and he nodded.

"And you live here" Alicia inquired further, curious about how Miranda managed to find such a comfortable hiding place.

"I live just around the corner," Jason clarified.

" Then who lives here?" Alicia continued questioning, noticing Jason's surprise as if she had asked something strange.

"This house belongs to Miranda and her mother," he responded as if expecting Alicia to know already.

"I thought they lived in the mansion?" Alicia realizing how clueless she was sounding.

“No, they live here” Jason said, Alicia's eyes widening at the realization that she knew nothing about Miranda.

“Are you sure!” She exclaimed.

"Yes” Jason replies staring at Alicia strangely

"You and your cousin aren't that close, right?" he blurted,.

"I am leaving now” Jason announced as he walked out of the kitchen and towards the front door.

"Thank you," Alicia said as she followed him, locking the door behind him.

She returned to the kitchen table and sat down to eat.

Unable able to ignore the aching feeling she felt when she remembered Jason's word, she had known Miranda for as long as she could remember, and she was sure they lived in the mansion's maid quarters.

But now she couldn't help but wonder if Miranda had lied to her about that. She remembered the times she had snuck into the maid's quarters to eat with Miranda and her mother, seeking solace after being scolded by her mother.

Lost in her thoughts, Alicia was startled by the sound of the door knob twisting. She had been sitting at the kitchen table for hours, contemplating various things. Her father, Aunt Caroline's reaction when she returns to the mansion and the reason why Miranda had lied about living in the mansion.

"I see Jason already came," Miranda's voice interrupted her train of thought as she walked into the kitchen, where Alicia was seated.

"Yes, your best friend came," Alicia blurted her voice laced with jealous as she glaree at Miranda.

"I couldn't come earlier because we were preparing for the Duke's arrival," Miranda explained.

"I saw a heavily guarded carriage heading to the mansion as I walked here. I am sure he must have arrived by now" Miranda said ignore the glare Alicia gave her.

"I heard the Duke is such a cool-headed man; a lot of us think he couldn't just abandon his family like that," Miranda commented, trying to find a way to convince Alicia to return to the mansion.

“this house belongs to you and your mother?" Alicia’s said folding her arms as she asked.

"It belongs to Sir Victor Leonard, my father," Miranda answered without sparing Alicia a glance. She walked straight to the the dishes on the table trying to clear them up.

"Your father!” Alicia exclaimed, her eyes widened at the Revelation, “I thought your father was a guard?" Alicia realized she knew very little about Miranda's family.

"No, he was a knight" Miranda corrected.

"The famous Sir Victor is your father?"

"Do I even know you?" Alicia wondered aloud, feeling disappointed that her best friend had never shared these important details with her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Alicia questioned.

"Tell you what?" Miranda yelled, wondering why Alicia suddenly felt entitled to the information she had never inquired about before.

"That your father wasn't just anybody but the great Sir Victor,"

"Okay, what exactly would that change?" Miranda asked, she was clearly not interested in telling Alicia anything.

Alicia paused as the realization that Miranda had never planned to inform her hit her.

"Let's not talk about this please" Miranda requested, lowering her voice as she walked out the kitchen.

"Do you even consider me a friend, or am I just the Lady Alicia to you too?!" Alicia followed.

"Of course, I do, but this has nothing to do with you”

“My father was Victor, but nobody knows or even believes that. My parents got married secretly, and after the wedding, my father was forced to go to war. He died there not knowing my mother was pregnant," Miranda explained tears strimmed down her eyes.

"My father died not knowing"

"No one believes my mother when she says she was married to Victor. because a noble man like him could never marry a nobody’’

"The only thing my mother got was this house, and the rest of his fortune was donated was stolen by the king” trying to wipe the tears rushing down her eyes.

"My mother can’t even spend the night here because it gives her nightmares. Do you have any idea how it feels to live as a maid serving Lady Caroline?" Miranda said, letting it all out. All the pain she had endured for years gushing out as tears from her eyes.

Alicia listened silently, she knew her aunt wasn’t the nicest to maids, but she never knew Miranda went through this much, and never showed it.

"Why didn’t you tell me? Don’t you trust me?" Alicia wondered .

"Everything is about you isn't it?” Miranda said,giving Alicia an annoyed look.

"All my life, I wished I had the chance to see my father. I hoped he would appear one day, saying he never died in the war, saying he went into hiding or something. Even if it means he abandoned us all those years, the thought of having him come back just once... I would do anything for that. You have no idea"

"But you, you have everything, yet still complaining about the slightest things. Where would my story fit in, in your world of unending complaints?" Miranda said, not giving a thought to how hurtful her words were. Miranda's words were raw and unfiltered