"You don't have to thank me, Eve.." Charlotte responded tenderly, "I wish I could do more for you."
Somewhere in Charlotte's heart, she wished she could free Genevieve of the unwanted marriage if she had the power to do so.
She was never against the King of Darkshire, but neither was she with Genevieve living an unfulfilled life. Genevieve's stay here was of coercion, not of willingness.
Through her experiences, she knew what it felt like to be forced into something a person never wanted…it was dismal and gloomy. A tinge of sadness pierced her heart, unfortunately she didn't have the power to change her fate and things were likely to remain the same.
Genevieve was like a feeble lamb that found herself unknowingly surrounded by ferocious wolves, wanting to tear her apart. Only the heavens could save her, because the dangers lurking around the castle were more deadly than venomous snakes.
Charlotte noticed that the Princess' demeanor still held a lot of gloominess. Her eyes were livid.
Slowly, Charlotte's hand pulled the princess's shoulder towards her, taking Genevieve by surprise. She made the princess head to rely on her shoulder.
In a low emotional tone, she then uttered, "Eve, everything will be okay. I hope you believe so too."
"D--do you think the k-king would ever let me go?" Genevieve knew she was never to ask such a question.
But seeing how tenderly Charlotte treated her, maybe she could confide in her and share her unanswered thoughts without the fear of getting betrayed.
Charlotte seemed to have frozen momentarily at her unexpected question.
Nevertheless, she honestly replied, "I don't know, Eve. But I certainly know that the king of Darkshire will not hurt you."
But he did it to everyone and she would not be an exception.
"He will not?" She asked with disbelieving thoughts.
"Eve, if the king had planned on hurting you, I don't think you would be alive right now sitting here, even before you reached Darkshire. But for the fact that he didn't do anything to you, he won't hurt you." Charlotte sounded confident.
"Y-you t-trust him so m-much."
Charlotte smiled in response, "Yes, Eve…did I forget to mention that I have been working for him for a decade?"
Genevieve was genuinely shocked by the revelation, as her eyes seemed widened.
Ten years? She was really closer to the King than Genevieve thought.
"And, Genevieve….. once the king hasn't done something at first, he won't do it again. If he didn't hurt you before, it means he won't. Believe me." Charlotte revealed.
Genevieve deeply breathed, trying to balance Charlotte's words and her contrasting feelings.
"I didn't know that you are close to the king."
"Actually, we are childhood friends" a proud smile left Charlotte's lips when she said those words, "I only started working for him around a decade ago. Friends right from the beginning of our birth."
"C-childhood friends?"
To Genevieve, it was so much disposal from Charlotte to a girl like her whom she met barely twenty minutes ago.
She could feel Goosebumps all over her skin. The fact that Charlotte had known the king for all her life made her stunned.
It meant she knew the reason why the king had constantly worn a mask,.. maybe not. But whether she knew or not, Genevieve would never ask. It wasn't for her to know.
"Yes. We have grown up knowing each other very well. He is the most villainous, yet caring person I have ever known, Eve."
Villainous? Yes. Caring?....well…it seemed too hard for Genevieve to swallow.
With the wind that blew towards them, Charlotte pushed back stray hairs from Genevieve's face.
She was really a beautiful soul, thought Charlotte.
"You don't have to worry. Worrying would only birth fear for the things that can never be changed. Just believe that the creator will guide you, Eve." In as much as Charlotte felt pity towards her, she couldn't help but encourage her.
She wouldn't even want to plant a single thought of rebellion in Genevieve's tender head. Like running away, which could lead to more issues.
"I-I don't think t-that my presence here is useful."
It wasn't like she was meant to give the king an heir, or become a queen,...the most impossible thing that could ever be on it, which she never thought of.
But to her thinking, Charlotte protested.
"I don't believe that most things just happen without a reason. Everything happens for a reason, even if it takes a while to unravel.,..just like your arrival here."
"Really?" Genevieve's blue eyes lit up curiously, wanting to know her use other than being just the king's amusement.
"Yes, Eve. Maybe the Messiah has brought you to him to change him for good," Genevieve never expected such a response, "Maybe you've been sent to melt his villainous heart that seemed to never be able to get melted….to change him into a better person."
To Charlotte's response, Genevieve's lips pursed, with countless thoughts running through her mind.
It wasn't…it could never be.
How could a little drop of water quench an inferno? Genevieve was sure she was never here to play such an impossible role.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Charlotte asked, seeing her facial expression and Genevieve truthfully nodded.
A small left her lips, "You don't have to look down on yourself, Eve. You're far more important than you think."
"Don't worry, you don't have to believe me now, but hopefully in the future, I can convince you about the king." Charlotte concluded.
With each breeze that blew every passing second, it added to the force that swung the chair to and fro.
Silence hovered amidst the females for some times and all that could be heard were the joyful chirping of birds. The sea of flowers that surrounded the garden seemed to be emitting a floral scent that entered into Genevieve's nostrils.
Charlotte noticed how the princess was lost in her stare at the beautiful scenery.
"You know, this place used to belong to the king, but it wasn't originally a garden." She revealed to Genevieve's surprise.
"Six years ago, it used to be a building, not until something tragic happened and the king ordered it to be demolished. I suggested it be used as a garden and that is why a garden ended up being planted here. The king used to come here, but at some point he stopped."
Genevieve wondered how much Charlotte was close to the king. Definitely, she must have been the daughter of a noble man. She didn't want to ask about what happened.
"Ok," she nodded.
"The plants and fruits here are the very best you'll find in Darkshire. The servants here have always paid careful attention to make them healthy. Would you like to have a taste?" Charlotte offered her, hoping she would not decline again.
Genevieve nodded to her offer. "The mango fruit has the nicest taste."
Just as Charlotte pulled away from Genevieve to get the fruit, she hadn't even got out the chair when a voice suddenly called out,
"Lottie!!"
The voice was dramatic and annoying and therefore Charlotte didn't need an angel to tell her who it was. The smile on her face instantly died down at his voice, turning into an annoyed look.
The two ladies instantly looked at the direction of the voice, to see the king's right hand man, coming through the entrance with an annoying smile on his face.