Aunt Rose observed Arainna for sometime, before finally giving a reply. " Are you sure all is well with you dear Brianna ? Why would you want such a thing ? What about your maids? " She asked searching into Arainna's face.
" All is well with me aunt rose. You know, you remind me of my mother, you administer care graciously and effortlessly. There's that motherly aura around you, that I appreciate so much! " Arainna praised.
" Aunt rose, please say yes to me " Arainna pleaded all the more.
" Oh Brianna ! " Aunt Rose called softly and slowly with a stress. " I can't take laws into my hands that way, if the king or even prince Liam finds out, then I would be in so much trouble. " She said revealing how handicapped she was to help. " Meanwhile here is what you can do, ( she said more concisely )talk to prince Liam about it, all I need is just a royal order, and I would get to work. " She said smiling lightly.
Arainna just nodded, not too sure if prince Liam would understand her reasons. She didn't want to send the wrong signal that Emmaline and Iris were not carrying out their duties properly, else she wouldn't have bothered with coming with them to St Lucia , all the way from her kingdom. And another reason is that she hadn't really established a talking environment between herself and the prince. She wished it was possible to tell aunt rose to do the talking for her, with prince Liam.
After a while she stood up and headed for the bathroom, to get washed and face the day properly...
Emmaline had just returned to the palace. She headed first for her room, her feet were sore from walking, coupled with the injury that she had accidentally sustained from the encounter at the woods.
Emmaline shared a room with Iris. All the maids in St Lucia shared one room. They all stayed together in a large room, filled with bunks, making the room look like an army barrack. They had the female room and a room for all the palace wardens. Preference were only given to maids with special duties, like aunt Rose. However Emmaline and Iris both shared one room alone, this preference was given to them because of princess Arainna, thought to be Brianna.
Emmaline didn't knock before opening the door, as soon as Emmaline pushed open the door Iris began to clean her eyes, obviously she had been crying. Iris and Emmaline hardly spoke to each other, despite the fact that they were room mates. Iris stood up immediately and began to walk away from the room quietly with her head bowed. Emmaline knew there was something very fishy about her, it wasn't that she was reserved, there was more to it.
" Iris wait a minute " Emmaline called to her. Iris paused but did not look at Emmaline. Emmaline walked to her, and stood directly in front of her. " Hey I know we're nothing but mere maids without any form of relation, but you can confide in me anytime there seem to be a problem. " Emmaline said to her hoping to get her to talk. Iris just stood, without a word.
" You have been crying, what's the matter " Emmaline asked again rather very friendly.
Iris still did not move, talk more of giving a reply.
" Iris are you just going to stand here and say nothing to me ? Talking about it could make you feel better you know, " Emmaline pressed on Iris, not wanting to give up.
Iris gave room for more tears, as it rolled down her cheeks with great ease. " Iris...." Emmaline hadn't completed her statement...
" Just leave me alone! Let me be! I don't want to talk, and I do not want your help okay, I have learned to cry and be fine, let's mind our boundaries here okay ? " Iris said yelling at Emmaline amidst tears.
Iris began running off, away from the room.
" I know your alliance with Ferdinand Iris, I know it, and I will make sure to report this great wickedness that you have done " Emmaline retorted in anger not realizing that she had said what she wasn't supposed to say.
Iris turned sharply, and stood like a person starring at an apparition. Emmaline stood on the other side of the room as well, with the look of a person who had just defeated an enemy. Emmaline although with regrets that she had made Iris know that she was aware of her games, composed herself even the more to face Iris, with the aim of sucking her dry of informations for princess Arainna.
After a long hard look from Iris to Emmaline, " I do not know what you're talking about " Iris said to Emmaline, turning to leave.
" I have evidence that you helped Ferdinand to abduct princess Brianna. I am aware that you knew all this while that it hadn't been princess Brianna, but princess Arainna . I am not going to waste my time here convincing you that you're guilty, I guess you'd be the one to explain that your self to princess Arianna " Emmaline threatened, making a move to leave the room as well.
" Emmaline! Don't ! " Iris called sharply, pulling her back. Iris dropped on her knees, completely overwhelmed by her own tears.
" Look I am not a bad person. I never intended to do such a thing. I honestly loved princess Brianna so much, and enjoyed serving her alot..." Iris began to confess, but had to pause a bit because she struggled between talking and crying.
Emmaline pitied her, but didn't allow her notice it, for the fear of losing control over her.
" I was threatened into doing this ( Iris continued again ) few weeks before the wedding, Mr Ferdinand showed up at the palace and found me. He had done his under ground findings and was told that I was princess Brianna's personal maid, he threatened to kill my mother and my brother and thereafter end my own life, if I did not tell him about princess Brianna's daily routine. He even showed me my mother and brother's pictures and gave me our home address, confirming that he was well acquainted with them. My mother and brother are the only and most treasured possession I have left in my whole life Emmaline..." She said crying even more.
Emmaline gave her sometime to cry... She remembered the encounter at the woods. She was finally hearing what Ferdinand said, that the buzzing sounds of birds had denied her. She had the mixed feelings of pity and astonishment for Iris.
" On the day princess Brianna was abducted, ( Iris began again ) he had told me to meet him up at the palace garden. That was where I told him that princess Brianna was going to visit prince Liam. The rest is history... Emmaline I did this to preserve my life and that of my family. Please don't expose me. I'd spend the rest of my life in prison, and that is if I am not killed and my family sent on exile. "
"How do you think the king family feels as well? You are preserving yours and another suffers ? " Emmaline asked back sharply.
Iris just kept sobbing. Trying to keep her voice as low as possible.
" Where was princess Brianna taken to ? ( Iris gave no reply ) where the hell is she ? " Emmaline asked again raising her voice.
" I don't know! I don't know anything about where she was taken to, Emmaline please believe me! " Iris said crawling towards Emmaline. She held Emmaline's legs and pleaded while she cried.
" Why then do you always sit crying alone " Emmaline asked tactically as a detective would.
" Emmaline ! ( Iris called as tears clustered around her eyes ) my conscience eats me deeply. It pricks me day and night. I know I have committed a crime that is unforgivable and unforgettable. I am always ashamed to look my self in the mirror. I am dieing of guilt ! " Iris painfully expressed her grief.
" Tell me ( Emmaline began again ) is princess Brianna dead ?" Emmaline asked looking into Iris eye balls...