The King's affection

The escape

“Melissa,” the older woman spoke again, warning in her words this time. She thought about it, before her eyes widened again in fear of the choice she may have to make now.

“I’m late,” she whispered, hot tears falling from her eyes.

“So then have you decided you want to do?” The older woman asked.

She thought about it. The older woman’s words from that morning had remained a constant nag in the recess of her mind since she had said them. Melissa had thought about what the older woman had said plenty of times, she just never thought that she would have to make the choice. She subconsciously moved her hand to hold the area where her womb would be, empathizing with the clump of cells in there.

She looked at the older woman, determination taking over her.

“I’ll leave,” she said.

"Good. There's a truck that’ll be delivering groceries to the palace tonight and the driver happens to be a friend of mine. Make sure you gather all your things and meet me at the eastern gate at 7pm. We're smuggling you out," the older woman said.

Melissa’s eyes widened at that.

Moreso in surprise than anything else – she hadn’t expected the older woman to be so brazen in helping her disappear with an aristocrat’s child, albeit a bastard.

“What?” the older woman asked, seeing the look of surprise Melissa had on her face. “You didn’t think you could just walk out of here on your own, did you?” The older woman had a point. The palace walls were very high, not to mention the palace itself is surrounded by a moat. All the servants working here had been sold by their families or goons who had scores to settle, so it wasn’t like leaving would be as easy as just walking out the gates. Every servant there was the palace’s property, and the only way out was through death or a chronic illness that the palace wouldn’t bother getting a doctor for.

“No, I didn’t think I could. Thank you, mistress,” Melissa said, with a slight bow of gratitude to the older woman.

“Oh please,” the older woman said, waving her hand dismissively in Melissa’s direction, “If I’m committing a crime for you, you may as well thank me by my name, you know.” She finished, raising an expectant brow in Melissa’s direction.

Melissa hesitated, looking down at her hands and fiddling with her fingers, “Thank you, Annabelle,” she finally said. Whispering the older woman’s name like it was forbidden to say.

The older woman only smirked in response before dismissing Melissa to gather her things for the evening in the guise of having her rest as she was not feeling well.

Melissa used the time well.

She packed toiletries and rested for the journey she would be embarking on. Later, Annabelle brought her food to eat.

“Is that all you’re taking?” she asked when she saw the small cloth Melissa had placed on her bed.

She smiled sheepishly at Annabelle, “It’s all I have. I can’t exactly wear palace maidservant’s clothing out there. They’ll just send me back here.”

Annabelle thought for a minute. She then stood, “Finish your food, I will be back shortly.” Melissa stared blankly at the door Annabelle had just closed as she left her room, before shrugging and going back to eating. She gobbled the food up hungrily as she had not eaten since yesterday. Once she finished, she placed the plate aside and moved to lay back on her bed.

Annabelle reappeared, holding a bundled-up cloth – in it, were dresses and food.

“For the road,” she said when Melissa looked back at her inquisitively after she saw the food. “What about the dresses?” Melissa asked.

“Well, I can’t exactly let you go out there naked now, can I?”

Melissa smiled, “Thank you. But where did you even get these?”

“I’ve been here for a while,” was all Annabelle offered as a response. Melissa didn’t press further.

“I will come get you when it’s to go, rest for now.” Annabelle finally said, after a moment of silence between the two.

---

Melissa was woken up by knocking on her door. When she opened her eyes, she saw Annabelle walking in – a tray of food in hand.

“Annabelle? What time is it?” Melissa said groggily, as she stretched, yawned, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

“Almost time for you to leave. But first, have something to eat,” Annabelle said as she placed the tray of food in Melissa’s lap as she sat up. “Quickly,” she hurried her on.

After eating, Annabelle told Melissa to change into one of the dresses she brought her earlier. Then she covered her with a cloak. Melissa hugged her cloth of belongings to her chest as Annabelle hurriedly lead her to eastern gate.

“Pascal,” Annabelle nods once at the man.

“Anna,” the man says, tipping his hat to her. “Is this the girl?” he asked, nodding once in Melissa’s direction.

“Yes,” Annabelle said.

“Alright. We don’t have much time; we need to leave. Now” Pascal said as he effortlessly lifted Melissa into the truck, before instructing her to hide under the seat and casually draping a blanket over it.

She gave a single nod to Annabelle before getting in the truck and driving off.

Annabelle looked on as the truck stopped at the gate, getting inspected before the guards gave the okay to let the truck out.

She watched as the taillights disappeared around a corner into the night.

In the truck, Pascal tapped the seat to let Melissa know that it was safe to come out. She tentatively did, sitting awkwardly next to the older man.

"We never got the time to be introduced, I'm Pascal Meadows," he said, offering a polite smile.

"I'm Melissa," she offered back, "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

"So, where are we headed?" Melissa asked after a bit of silence.

"To my hometown. According to Anna, you are to live as my long-lost daughter."