"Don't tell me what?" A voice creaked as Abigail's skin jumped.
"That you've been poisoning my woman's mind with your lies?" Carol's voice echoed as Abigail turned around trying not to look surprised by his sudden approach.
"If you have a problem with me, then don't involve Abigail in this" Carol wrapped his hand around Abigail's wrist.
"2 years and you still haven't changed." Rebecca smiled and turned her attention to Abigail.
"I'll see you in a while Your Majesty" She curtseys and without any words attached, she left. Carol clinched his fist watching her leave but didn't have any say in this. He didn't know what Rebecca had said to Abigail but noticed how unsteady her breathing was.
"What are you doing here?" Abigail snatches her hand from Carol's grip while acting unbothered as she watches Rebecca leave from a distance.
"What did she say to you?" He turned to Abigail, fixing all his attention on her.
"That's none of your business. Why are you here?" Abigail repeated.
Carol chuckled silently ignoring her question.
"Let's head back." he changed the subject
Abigail took one last look at Rebecca who just entered the palace. As she finally left with no sight left to see, Abigail scowled at Carol and turned her back on him.
During her trip home, Abigail stared outside the carriage window trying her best not to turn her gaze to Carol who was sitting opposite her. Minutes passed and the atmosphere was choked with silence. As they both fixed their gaze staring outside the moving carriage, preserving the view, Abigail's mind was quite occupied with everything that happened today.
It's just been 7 hours since she moved into the east and yet, things are going downhill with the man she's supposed to marry in a few days. Just months ago, she was in her room reading her favourite book living in her fantasy world of imagination but now, it seems like she had suddenly entered the world of fantasy, and not the good type.
Watching the trees go by, she felt the sandy ground hit the gravel which meant they were getting closer to the east.
Centuries of silence later, the carriage finally took a stop right in front of the castle. Right as the door to the carriage opened, Abigail sprinted outside barely waiting for the coachman to help her down. Sprinting into the palace and dashing past the maids, she shut the door behind her. Her heart started to pound faster than her breathing... She had never run so fast in her life, even when she heard the palace was serving the last dish of her favourite food back in the Western empire, It didn't surpass how fast she sprinted the minute the carriage took a stop.
"What do I do now?" Abigail asked herself feeling lost. She puts Puddin on the ground but to her surprise, Puddin darted around the room excitedly. This was the first time Puddin acted a lot more lively. Normally, he'd barely put his paw down to walk because Abigail mostly carried him anywhere she went, but now Puddin was racing around the room.
"How adorable" she cheered plastering a smile on her face.
"You're energetic today aren't you?" Abigail giggled while stroking his black fur.
Looking up at the view of the sunset right outside her balcony, It was hard to believe that the day had come to an end.
Abigail stood on her feet to take a closer look at the sunset as she tightened her grip on the iron rail while staring at the orange glamorous sun from a distance watching it completely vanish below the sky's crust.
As the sky completely darkened, Abigail stepped inside her room and closed the balcony door behind her. Just then, she heard a knock on the door. The minute she opened the door, a bunch of maidens, including Adeola stepped into her room circling her in a spot.
"Your Majesty, you need to change so you can get your beauty sleep" Adeola lamented bowing low as the rest of the maids followed
"Very well" Abigail lets out an exhausted sigh.
Within seconds, the maidens took off her lace and fabrics one by one. They replaced her dress with a flowing blue nightgown and made her hair into 2 loose pineapple buns. After hours of getting dressed, they all left her room while Abigail on the other hand was laying on the bed staring up at the ceiling like she was in a couffin.
"Good night Puddin" She muttered under her breath as she closed her eyes trying her best to sleep but with each twisting and turning she made, falling asleep was the hardest choice she could make.
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The next day, Abigail opened her eyes widely hoping that she had awaken from a nightmare but to her horror, this was reality. The whole betroth, her father selling her out to an evil king, her sister and step mother having no say in this.... All just reality.
'So it wasn't a nightmare? I'm really getting married in a few days' She groans which later turn to whining. Abigail screamed in her pillow frustratedly as she counted how many days left until her wedding with Carol.
'6 more days' She wailed louder as she checked the calender almost leaving her in tears.
Just as she thought things couldn't get worse, she heard a knock on the door.
'Come in' she groans.
Adeola lets herself inside her room and curtseys to Abigail
"Good morning your highness" She greeted
"Did you enjoy your night?" Adeola smiled warmly
"Barely did but I managed" Abigail takes off her buns as she turns her direction at the dressing mirror staring bitterly at herself.
"I apologize your Majesty, but I promise today would be different" Adeola's smile grew wider as she comps Abigail's long brown hair.
"Why do you think so?" Abigail's suspicions raises as she speaks out of curiosity
"the King told me to get you ready for today. It looks like he has a surprise for you"