"You should take a bath then. I’ll inform you once we are ready to leave," Griffin stood up ready to leave. "And don’t forget to eat. You’ve lost weight." He pointed before he left. Isadora let out a sigh once he was gone. What would she do now? Many emotions were swirling in her right now. Was she confused? Yes. Fear of the unknown was eating her soul and she could not get the image of a frail Alexander out of her mind.

The last time she checked on him, his face had lost color and his body was pale. That sight of him got implanted in her mind and she feared more for his health. If that was two days ago, then how was he right now? And what about Lord Richard? She could only imagine his frustration when he came to his room and found out that she was gone. But that would also raise some brows as he had made sure that every exit was well guarded. That increased her worry now. Maybe it was not wise to go back to Valoria.

But why then did the urge to go back feel so strong? Was it because of Alexander? She had only met him for a week and she was caring that much for him? Or maybe the guilt that the dagger belonged to her was the driving force that made her want to so badly save him. She searched for an answer in her mind but that was the only logical reason she could form, or maybe she thought was true.

"Your Highness," a voice called startling her. She looked at the direction and found Laura holding a towel. Did she knock? Or was she deaf? Laura would never barge into her room unannounced. Or maybe she was definitely deaf. "You need to take a bath." Laura pointed.

Come to think of it, Isadora couldn’t even remember the last time she took one. She looked at her dress and almost gasped in surprise. She was wearing the same maiden attire which was painted with dust and blood. Gods! She looked nothing close to a maid, let alone a princess. She rose hastily from the bed and went to the full length mirror placed beside the dresser and almost jumped back at the sight that welcomed her.

The Isadora that was staring back at her was nowhere close to the one she knew. Her hair was messy and her face pale. Her eyes were dark as if she didn’t have enough sleep despite being unconscious for two days. And she wanted to go back to Valoria, looking like that? She traced her fingers on her face in disbelief. Maybe it was for the better that her uncle came into the room that moment. She looked like a walking corpse! Maybe the whole Valorian palace would be helter skelter if she had gone. That idea made her to smile at least.

"Once you are done with your bath, I will serve your breakfast." Laura said pulling Isa back to reality. And speaking of food, her stomach growled surprising both herself and Laura and the two women laughed simultaneously at that. Maybe she needed to take it easy and eat after all.

Isadora led the way into the bathroom and she had to admit she missed the place, and her maid too. Laura had been her maid since her childhood and their relationship could be termed like that of a mother and daughter. She had been the person to comfort her when she was young. The one to read her stories when she lacked sleep and sing her lullabies. She was forever grateful to this woman who had filled the void when her mother died.

Gareth was also there for her. They had been raised together since childhood. King Griffin had taken him in after seeing his preternatural abilities. Gareth’s parents had died in a tragic event that he did not want to disclose to anyone. Every time such a topic surfaced, he would try to ignore it because it hurt him badly. And since she learned about it, she had never dared to question him about it.

And come to think of Gareth, she wondered if he already knew her whereabouts. What if Griffin had told him? Oh no! She wanted to keep Gareth out of this. She knew Gareth would do anything to save her and that was the reason she wanted him out of her plan. And now that she thought about it, she feared that he could do something regrettable if he knew about it. But it was better to ask first.

"Does Gareth know I am here?" She asked Laura as she undressed.

"I don’t think so Your Highness. If he knew that you were here, he would have already come to see you." She said as she poured water in the tub. Relief washed over Isa’s face at the statement. That at least assured her that Gareth had not done something stupid. But he would be deathly worried about her. Still, she didn’t want to inform him about it. Not sooner.

Shaking the thought out of her head, she stepped into the tub and sat letting the cool sensation of the cold water calm her tired muscles. It was only then that she realized how emaciated she was. And Griffin was true. She had lost weight significantly. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that she had lost a lot of blood. She vowed to eat. That sounded funny in her mind.

Laura helped her to clean up and within minutes, she was done. She had to admit she missed Laura’s services. Taking a bath on her own in Valoria was somehow hard but with time, she had managed. She sat on the dresser as Laura combed her hair. How she had missed that too. She admitted that she missed everything. Her room, her maid, her uncle and everyone else in the palace, especially Newton. Thinking of which she had not seen him.

"Did Lord Newton come to see me?" She asked. She knew he could not have failed of all the people. Still, a part of her wanted to know. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"No My Lady." Laura said and she could see Isa’ shoulders drop in disappointment. But she knew why Lord Newton had failed to come. Maybe it was good if she told Isadora too. She would know later anyways.

"Lord Newton got demoted to be a King’s Informer. That is all I know." Laura said and she could see Isadora frown through the mirror. She expected no less from her especially given the relationship between the two.

"How and when did that happen?" She asked turning around to face Laura.

"I don’t have the details but that’s all I know. Maybe His Majesty can answer that for you." She said making Isadora’s shoulders to drop again in disappointment. Laura could see a hint of anger on her face and she knew something bad was going to happen.