The Missing Enchantress (English Version)

Chapter 6

“Selfish? You think I am selfish? Why? Who do you think is being selfish here? That one who doesn’t like being tailed? Before you pleaded on them, you could have requested to me first because I am the one who ordered them at the first place!” Theron outbursts.

“What? You know you are very unbelievable… do you want to be the boss every time? We are still humans… we still feel uncomfortable or something!” I replied.

“I don’t even care! They are here to serve! What do you know? You don’t know anything here, right? You were just here because you are lost and you have nowhere to go… I was really wondering why you are still here!” Theron stated.

“Theron!” Sigurd started to raise his voice.

“Oh! Okay… I see… now I know why you are still here, is it because you starting to like living here? Is it because you feel like some kind of princess living here? Come on, spill it now you don’t need to be shy… and at the first place, I really don’t trust you… I am really thinking that you are an enemy and was just pretending to be a lost damsel… you know, for your own good, you should admit it now before I find the truth first because I won’t really show any mercy if I will ever know that I am right!” Theron said.

I was taken aback on what he said. I feel like I lost all my strength hearing those words from him. Is that how he really sees me? Is that how he viewed to who am I?

“Theron enough,” Sigurd again warned.

“What now? Tell us the truth! We are ready to listen!” Theron continued on his bursts.

“THERON, THAT’S ENOUGH!” Sigurd roared.

I was surprised when Sigurd did that, I noticed Theron was surprised as well. I guess this is the first time I saw Sigurd being like that, I could only look down.

“You don’t know, that I really wanted to go home now!”

I stared at him at his eyes. I couldn’t contain my tears anymore and it just flowed like a water in the river streaming into the seas. I couldn’t hold it back… I lost all my composure when I heard those painful words he said. Why is he like that? Why is he so mad at me? What did I do wrong to him?

“I know that I am just a stranger who doesn’t have a place here. I already know that I am the stain in your picture here… I don’t belong here! I know that! You don’t have to slap that in my face so I would know because I already know! You don’t really know my frustration and desperation… that feeling of being trapped inside a place you didn’t even know… I really wanted to go home!” I yelled, with tears still flowing uncontrollably in my face.

“If only know how to f*****g go home… I would have done that at the first place, I would already have done that even yesterday or even at that time when I entered this frigging world then I wouldn’t have to be here! If I just knew where is that way home!”

I turned away from them… I don’t want them to see my face specially like this when I’m crying… I don’t want them to say or just hear from them anything specially when I am at the state of being horribly weak. I just ran and ran until I finally found the way out all the way to their gate.

Even if I bumped repeatedly to the people around here, I just went on and on… even if everything seems to be in blur because of my tears that still don’t stop from flowing.

I just stopped when I realized, I am now at the edge of the town. In front of me is a pathway which is covered in thick foliage. I turned around and get a one final glimpse of the castle’s silhouette before going on.

I remembered this was the same path I took when I first came here. Even if it is a bit scary here, I just steeled my resolve to go through this scary forest than going back there. I just went on until the dark went falling in and making the forest more eerie than ever.

I feel like as I went on and on here, I am getting lost in this deep forest. I could only be thankful to the moon light as it shined on my way… at least I wouldn’t have to deal in a completely dark environment. But still my senses would still rise and I can feel the eerie cold creeping up in my skin as I started hearing scratching noises in the dark void of the forest.

I kept walking despite of being tired, I am just looking for a spot I could safely rest in. I don’t even know, what time is it now but I guess, it’s nearing dawn judging from this chilly atmosphere. When I finally got tired and feel like I cannot go on anymore, I picked a tree and thought of climbing it so that I can rest. I decided to rest up there just for additional safety for myself, to avoid some creature from finding me and might put me in danger.

I raised the bottom part of my dress to my knees and tied it, so I wouldn’t have so much trouble climbing the tree with this outfit. I sat on the big branch and leaned my back on it, then took a nap.

SIGURD’S POV

“Kiera? Kiera!” I called countless times, but it seemed she’s not hearing a thing. I kept on running trying to find her. I turned to Theron, I saw him just looking down and then left afterwards. I could only massage my temple. I’m getting a lot of headache in this situation.

“Your highness…” Mr. Romulos called me worriedly.

“I am fine Mr. Romulos, I am more worried to Kiera now…” I reassured.

How can I reconcile this two? It will be a disaster if things go like this… I ceased searching and just head to my chambers, I’ll just let things cool down… maybe I can talk some sense to the both of them tomorrow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When the morning came, I came to the dining hall as early as I can. I sat down and waited for the two to come down here, I’m pretty sure they will eat right? After some time, Theron came and sat down beside me. Only Kiera’s left to wait now.

One of our maids came rushing in, she was the one I instructed to fetch Kiera from her room.

“I beg your pardon your highness but we cannot find Lady Kiera in her chambers,” she said.

“What?!” I shot up from my seat, after hearing the news she brought.

Theron just stood up and went out… and where could he be going to in times like this? I sighed. I am really getting headaches in these two.

“Find her! Search the whole castle and the outside territories,” I commanded all the servants present here.

“Understood, your highness!” they answered almost in unison.

God! What if that lady got into trouble now? Or she might have been caught by the enemies? How can I explain that to uncle...? I went to here at the guest receiving hall and just sat here to wind down from the stress. Theron came after awhile and sat directly across me.

“She’s not at the library,” Theron said.

Oh, so he tried to find her. That’s good if at least he still has that little concern about Kiera.

“Your highness… we apologize but we cannot find Lady Kiera here in the castle,” Mrs. Sonya reported.

I sighed. “In the town near the palace, start to find her as soon as possible,” I commanded.

“Let’s go Theron, we will also help in finding Kiera!”

He just nodded without a trace of protest in his face. We fetched our horses in the table and went full speed to the towns. I just hope we can find her.

KIERA’S POV

I felt something hot touching my face. I slowly opened my eyes and had to squint through because of a ray of sunlight went flooding in my vision. The sun light is already slipping through the gaps between the leaves of this tree I am taking rest on.

I stretched my limbs first before climbing down from the tree. Even if I still feel a bit groggy, I had to continue walking… I really want to get out of this forest as soon as possible. But jeez! How far does this road go? I feel like I have been walking almost forever last night but there is still no sign of the exit yet.

Well, I guess the long walk had really finally paid off since I can now see houses which could only mean I have reached another town. I felt the joy in my heart as my pace starts to get faster and faster.

First! I need to find a place to stay… and in order for that to be possible I guess I need to work here. I need to find a job. I scanned myself and my clothes, well I don’t look like I’m that really dirty right now so I guess I can go on. I just need some kind of cash here in order to survive the day.

I entered a restaurant. The sweet and delicious smell of the foods they served welcomed me as I entered here. A lot of chatters to the restaurant’s patrons enjoying their meal. A lady about my age approached me suddenly.

“Good Morning milady,” she greeted me with a smile on her face.

“um… Good morning as well miss… it’s… is the owner of this restaurant present here now?” I asked.

She was surprised when I asked for her boss. Still skeptical she replied, “What? Umm… what do you need from the owner?”

I was hesitant for a moment but I thought I really need this so I have to do this.

“it’s just… um… I just want to work here if there is an available job for me,” I smiled awkwardly.

“Oh… okay, I will tell her… can you wait for a minute here?” she said.

“Thanks,” I smiled.

Well, I didn’t wait for so long since the owner emerged from the door leading to what seemed an office to me. The owner was an old lady, maybe on her 60s, slightly curved posture with a staff aiding her in walking.

“Are you the lady who is looking for a job here?” She asked.

“Yes, I am that lady,” I replied.

“Hmmm…” She laid her gaze at me first, seemingly scrutinizing me from head to toe first. “What kind of work are you capable of? It seems to me that you came from a well-off family and you just escaped from there.”

Ack! She found me out immediately, she has a good observational skill I guess… well, she is partly right. I escaped there but that’s not really my home actually and they are not any related to me either.

“Um… I can do daily household chores madam,” I replied.

She thought about it for a moment and then decided to take me in.

“Okay, you can now start working here… but first of all you may want to get changed first, that kind of dress doesn’t really fit while working here,” the old lady said.

“I’m sorry um… madam, while I want to get changed like you said… I don’t have any dress I can change to with me,” I said.

“Helen, let her borrow one of your clothes, I guess you two have similar body sizes,” the madam said.

“As you wish madam… follow me miss,” the lady smiled.

“Wait… what is your name again?”

“My name is Kiera madam,” I took a bow at her as I introduced myself. Well I just mimicked what Helen did, I’m not used in this kind of formalities.

“Now, you may go and get changed, you’ll be starting immediately today,”

“Yes, madam,” I responded.

I just followed Helen and then get changed with the clothes she offered to me. Well, I requested a bit to the type of dress I wanted to wear. Luckily, she has those types of dresses, those types which would only reach the knees. I didn’t have to change my sandals since they are flat, and flats are very preferable to me. I then tied my hair into a ponytail.  When I think that I am ready, I went out and started working. Helen made me wear those aprons so I wouldn’t stain my clothes while I serve meals.

I worked all-around here serving meals if there are customers waiting and then go to the kitchen to wash dishes and assist in cooking if the restaurant doesn’t get so packed by customers. When the sun is about to set, I help here cleaning the place.

“See you again tomorrow!” one of my co-workers cheerfully said.

Thank goodness, the atmosphere here is pretty welcoming and my co-workers are all nice. I didn’t have so much trouble adjusting in the place. They became my friends as we continued working together.

“Yeah see you too… wait, do you have somewhere you can stay Kiera?” Helen wonders.

Hey, come to think of it! Now I ask myself where would I go now. Maybe I will just stay and spend the night again there in the woods, at the top of that tree. I am still short in funds… I guess I still can’t afford a room for one night here.

“You don’t have anywhere to go, right?” Helen asked again.

“u-um… it’s…” I couldn’t answer immediately.

“You can stay with us if you don’t have a place to go,” Helen smiled.

“Um… it’s just a bit embarrassing to you, I did already borrow one of your dress, now you offer me to sleep in your home,” I smiled awkwardly.

She beamed, “You don’t have to worry about it, Kiera… besides our meal is given free here in our work… you can just sleep there if you don’t have anywhere to go.”

“Well… I guess, I have to accept the offer… thanks!” I smiled.

I spent a week there working and sleeping at Helen’s home. Well, it took a week before one of Sigurd’s men found where I am staying.

It was in that morning when Helen and I were heading to work, we saw one of the castle’s knights in front of the restaurant we are working. We are already close enough, so I can still barely hear the knight and Madam’s conversation.

“Have you seen this girl?” the knight showed madam a piece of paper at the same time.

“Yes, she recently started working actually here… her name is Kiera, right?”

It was almost like I was splashed by a cold water, without even thinking I started running away. I can clearly hear Helen calling my name but I didn’t bother turning. I don’t really want to go back there.

When I started hearing the sound of the horse’s gallops, I turned to check where is it coming from. And I found that the knight is already tailing me behind. My heart started to beat faster and faster. I have to think quickly how can I escape this situation. I already knew that if I keep running and raced with the horse I would really lose.

I found a cart full of hay along the way in the side of the road. That’s it! I jumped in it and buried my body in the hay to hide myself from my pursuer. Even if my body starts to get itchy because of this hay, I just endured it until I confirm that I lose my pursuers.

When I heard the horses passed the cart where I hide myself, I immediately got out and fixed myself. However, I turned immediately when someone suddenly came at my back.