Charlotte's POV
If anybody was still conflicted and shocked by what had occurred, it was me!
Nothing like it has ever happened in my life, from the day I started going for flowers from that plot of land, and suddenly it has chosen to happen now?
Why now?
I knew Charmaine was much more startled than I was, but that didn't mean I wasn't astounded as well.
If there was a possibility that one could take a break from life and come back later when they were done with their vacation, I would definitely go for one because I really needed it.
I was desperate for a getaway from everything.
My candle-making business, my lonely and miserable existence, my dread of the black market and the person I'm seeking for, and...
As the market came into view, I sighed.
I needed a vacation from it all!
We hadn't eaten breakfast yet, and I wasn't sure Charmaine was hungry after what she had witnessed.
I was split between starving her and bringing her to one of the local little restaurants that had 'not too awful meals' and buying her something to eat in the hopes that she would eat and I wouldn't wind up wasting my money.
I sighed once more. At some time, we began strolling past numerous individuals and attempting to make our way through the masses.
This irritated me.
I despised people; I despised mingling, and I despised the vast throng gathering in the market square, watching things that made no sense...
I loathed how they took up the entire opening and one had to squeeze through the nearest place they could find and pray they fit in to pass.
"Do you want to eat?" I inquired as we made our way through the initial crowd.
She didn't respond, so I figured she hadn't heard me because of all the commotion in the air.
I asked her the same question again after around 50 meters, almost reaching the quieter zone of the market, but she stopped and kept her eyes fixated on the ground.
This wasn't your standard floored floor market in the city square near the castle; this market had no luxury items surrounding the area she knew as home.
"Hey." I stated this as I tagged her hand, which I held slightly in mine, to catch her attention.
But it didn't work as well as I had hoped.
Getting her attention? I did, indeed.
But receiving a simple response from the little princess was a another story.
She gently lifted her head from the ground and fixed her gaze on my face, tears streaming along the rim of her eyes.
"It's entirely your fault!" She exclaimed.
'What the hell?' I thought to myself as I stared at her, lifting my left brow in response to her recent comment.
"Are you all right?" Do you have a fever or something similar? If necessary, we can bypass the specialist's place." I suggested.
I tried to feel her forehead with my free hand, but she refused.
Was she still irritable? I knew a children's trader who sold candy, and at this point, I was prepared to acquire her a few candies in exchange for a peace bargain with her. Of which, I could tell that she wasn't interested even though I hadn't even told her.
She sniffed and withdrew her hand from mine.
'Please, God, I'm not prepared for this child's tantrums right now.' Not now, not here. Please.' I prayed inwardly, but it was safe to assume that the prayers were never answered, or perhaps they never made it to heaven in time.
Because the tiny princess suddenly began shouting at the top of her lungs and spoke at such a rapid pace that I could only catch a few sentences.
"You pulled me away from my parents and brought me here to..." she said as I didn't even bother to listen to her other crap. I didn't take her away because I wanted to. That was why Heaven never blessed me with a suitor or children, because I hated children!
I couldn't cope with the amount of attention and energy they needed!
What didn't help was the little throng that had gathered around us.
If Charmaine didn't keep her mouth shut, these folks would start to suspect that I had abducted her.
If I were to be taken away, she would have no one to look after her, and therefore the King and Queen would be failed by me.
Jin emerged from the crowd and stood beside me, bestowing on me that sneaky smile of his that I despised and wished I could knock off his face.
"Is everything good here?" he inquired, raising both brows.
What was he? Blind? Couldn't he just look at the problem and let it speak to him?
"I understand, no need to say anything!" He grumbled before turning to his four buddies and signaling with his head, and they drove away the gathering that was forming around us.
"What occurred?" He inquired once the crowd had cleared.
What was I supposed to say to him? That the youngster was not my niece?
That would be betraying the King and Queen indirectly, and if the princess had been given over to me for safety reasons, didn't that imply that her origins and title were to be kept hidden?
On the other hand, he was the town lord's son, which wouldn't be so awful if I entrusted him with such sensitive information. Jin might be trusted, but I'd never given that sensation a chance!
One of my own first commandments was to let others trust you but never to trust anyone!
You do not know what they are composed of.
"There's nothing wrong!" Charmaine took advantage of the chance that I wasn't looking at her and ran away, as I mumbled in response to Jin.
"Hey!" I called after her, but because I was in a market with many people, I lost track of her.
"Go after her; don't return until you locate her!" Jin gave the order to his men, who responded with brief nods and "Yes, your highness!" before rushing off in the route Charmaine had headed.