At the maid's quarters...
The hall where Mira's bedroom was located was shallow and dimly lit. Abner walked patiently behind Rose, following her every footstep.
They had walked a distance before reaching an old wooden door that had the name 'Mira' carved on it.
A step more to the foot mat, Rose turned around to talk to Abner. "Abner, stay here ok? I'm just going to see Mira. I won't go anywhere" she said.
"Ok Princess."
She couldn't predict what was going to happen to her behind the door. She knew she would have gotten either Mira or Fredrick or both of them into trouble and the last thing she wanted was for Mira to hate her.
She took a sharp breath to steady her nerves and prepare her mind for the worst.
She took off her shoes and placed them on the foot mat. She took a second to give herself a pep talk then, she opened the door.
The room didn't have that much furniture or fittings. The bedpost was made out of worn-out wood. The mattress wasn't that big but, it was big enough for one person to sleep on it comfortably. There was a small dresser and a stool in one corner of the room but, there was no mirror. There was only one window - which was directly opposite the bed - and a curtain while the room was painted entirely white.
Mira was sitting on her bed, brushing her hair, using her window as a mirror.
She didn't even notice when Rose had entered the room for she was too engrossed in getting the tangles in her hair out.
"Mira," said Rose
"Mi Princesa"
Mira didn't waste another minute. She stood up and walked towards Rose and hugged her tightly. "Mi Princesa, I'm sorry I wasn't able to come to see you since morning. I woke up a little bit late today." Mira said with a remorseful face.
Rose didn't say anything. All she could do was to look to the ground, tracing some imaginary drawing on the floor with her foot. "Let's sit down first" Mira continued.
She dragged Rose by her hand and placed her in a sitting position on her bed.
Rose wanted to say so many things to Mira. She wanted to apologize to her, ask her what happened since she didn't return on time yesterday, ask her for advice on what to do with her father's punishment but, she didn't know where to start from and there they were, with Mira apologizing first...as always. She felt very guilty and bad for putting her friends in trouble even though she didn't know the exact kind of trouble they got into.
She was already tearing up but, she didn't bother holding them back. There was no use forming a stone heart when you were with someone who knew you front, back, and center.
"What happened yesterday?" she said. The tears were flowing heavily, non-stop and, she didn't bother wiping them away. She didn't care anymore.
"Mi Princesa, why are you crying? Is it because I didn't come to help you this morning? I'm sorry" Mira's apology just made Rose's tears flow even more.
Why do you always have to say sorry Mira? Why? I'm the one at fault here and you're the one saying sorry! I feel so guilty right now I can't even open my mouth to talk.
She finally decided to talk saying "No Mira, you're not the problem! I am the problem here! You and Fredrick are probably in some kind of trouble and here you are apologizing to me! While you, you should be despising me by now and pushing me away while I should be begging you on my knees to forgive me"
Mira smiled. She didn't know those were the thoughts that were running through her friend's mind, to the extent of making her tear up. "So, do you want me to despise you now? Cause, if you want that, I can make it happen." Mira said.
"NEVER! Please don't do that Mira please?"
"Wipe your tears then"
Rose obeyed in an instant. She wiped the tears on her face off. She still sniffled a little from time to time and her eyes were even redder and more swollen now.
"Have you been crying before now?" asked observant Mira.
"I'll tell you about that later. First, tell me what happened yesterday"