The Kings Mistress Chapter 82

[ … words ]

“Run away?” Myra gasped in surprise, “I wouldn’t know where to go.”

Sierra was about to make a suggestion. She bit her tongue instead and fell silent as she poured them a cup of tea each.

Myra glanced over to Sierra. Her friend always seemed to have something on her mind all the time. She did not know what it was but she wished she could help her lighten the load after all that Sierra had done for her.

“What’s on your mind, Sierra?” She asked, hoping to help

Sierra blew on the cup of hot tea in her hands. She looked over to Myra, who was eagerly waiting for her reply.

“It’s… it’s nothing,” she brushed it off with a smile.

Myra wasn’t about to let it go so easily. She placed her hand on Sierra’s, stopping her from picking up the sandwich.

“It’s definitely not nothing,” she said, “Sierra, you know you can trust me, right? Whatever it is, I’ll carry it to the grave if need be.”

Myra meant it. She placed her hand on her heart, then on Sierra’s. Back home, she had found it difficult to trust anyone around her. Everyone who got close to her seemed to have an agenda for doing so. People helped her because of what she could give in return.

When Sierra first helped her in Celestial Lodge, she wondered if she was the same as those she had interacted with before. But after spending so much time with Sierra, Myra came to realize she was unlike them. She could not have been more different. Sierra, on the other hand, felt the same way too.

Myra had been a great friend to her, always there when she needed help. She felt like she could trust her. Her gut feeling told her so too.

“Alright, I’ll tell you. But you must promise not to tell anyone. At least, not until they find out I guess,” Sierra sighed.

“You have my word.”

Sierra sucked in a breath of air before she began to recount how things came to be. She revealed the truth about her identity, how she wasn’t a princess. Myra listened in silence. When she was done, she kept silent and waited to hear Myra’s response.

“That… explains a lot,” Myra mused as she took a bite out of her sandwich.

“I’m sorry for keeping it from you, Princess Myra. I-”

“Why did you become so formal all of a sudden, Sierra?”

“What? I… but I…”

Myra smiled as she shook her head, “You’re more of a Princess than most, Sierra. And me finally understanding who my friend is doesn’t change anything from before. So if you still see me as your friend, please address me as Myra and spare the formalities.”

Sierra was so moved by Myra’s words she leaned forward and hugged her friend tightly. She was the first friend she has made in a long time, apart from Ida.

“And don’t apologize for keeping it hidden, Sierra. It’s not like they gave you a choice in the matter,” Myra added.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” She continued, hoping to return Sierra the favor for all that she had done for her.

Sierra shook her head, “Thank you, but for now, there isn’t.”

As they continued to enjoy their breakfast, Myra asked Sierra a few more questions about her past. She also came to know that she was not the only one who knew Sierra’s identity. When she heard that the King and Queen both knew, Myra was stunned.

Should her identity be revealed to everyone, Sierra would not be able to participate in the tests any longer. Princess Cassandra and Agnes were who she needed to be careful of. Both of them were out to drag Sierra down, that was clear.

Should they get their hands on the information, Sierra would be in danger. If revealed in Infront of the Royal Court, even Alistair and Roxine might not be able to save her.

“Your secrets are safe with me, Sierra. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone. But, be careful.”

Later that day, Myra and Sierra rode back to Celestial Lodge. They returned their horses to the stable before heading back to their rooms to shower. Ida greeted Sierra as she came through the door. Her nervous expression set off alarm bells for Sierra immediately.

Sensing something was amiss, she pulled Ida aside to ask what was the matter.

“Princess… I think… I can’t be sure but…”

“Don’t hesitate. Tell me as it is, Ida,” Sierra said as she placed her hands on her shoulder assuringly.

“I think someone broke into your room, Princess,” Ida whispered in a hushed voice.

Sierra didn’t say anything. She widened her eyes in shock as she asked Ida if she was sure. Ida nodded vehemently, swearing on her life that it was true. The issue was, that the person was still in the room. Sometime earlier, Ida was running some errands around the lodge and was about to re-enter the room when she noticed a looming shadow in the bedroom.

As soon as she noticed it, she froze in fear for a few moments before deciding to wait for Sierra’s return before proceeding. She kept a close watch to see if the person might have left but the last she checked, the person was still there.

Sierra pondered on who it might be. Remembering her conversation with Myra just a while ago, she wondered if Cassandra or Agnes might have sent someone to rummage through her possessions to find anything useful they could use against her. That thought only made her blood boil.

Sierra had her twin swords with her. Even without them, she was more than capable of tackling any intruder. They messed with the wrong woman. Sierra told Ida to stay where she was, while she went up to investigate.

“Would you like me to call for the Royal guards?” Ida asked.

“No need, let’s see who we’re dealing with first.”