I exited the second part of the test before I could even have the chance to be tested. This left a bitter taste in my mouth, though I was grateful that I still had one more chance to redeem myself.
However, I was still mad over the fact that I could not show off the list of medicinal herbs. I spent three days learning with Ms. Kimberly! I could not show the fruit of my hard work ! Hmph! But I had to swallow this hard pill and accept it for now because I had a bigger goal, and at least I still had a shot at achieving it!
" Ms Hilda, just now... thank you." I said to her, I won't lie I had prejudices against her earlier on and believes that she would try to harm me since she was aware of my identity and had actually revealed it without consulting me first.
" It's no big deal, Mrs Evans, anyone would have done the same thing if they wanted to annoy Ms Xander." She said with a victorious smirk. I didn't know whether to cry or laugh. In the end, she was still using me for a personal vendetta!
Ms. Hilda suddenly stopped, and I almost bumped into her as I was following right behind her from the moment we left my second exam station.
" However, since I have placed my bet on you, you better not disappoint. After all, my war with Ms Xander and my reputation are riding on this. So show me your worth in the last exam, okay?" She said to me without turning to face me. I could not read her expression,, but her body language told me that she was very serious about what she was saying to me.
" Of course, Ms Hilda. You won't be disappointed!" I said to reassure her.
Since she had saved me, I was surely not going to let her down.
" Good. I'm glad I chose you." She said with a smile.
" Chose me? What do you mean?" I asked
" Oh nothing, I chose you by chance, but it turned out, you are the pupil, that idiot student of mine said I should look out for." She explained.
" An idiot? Who could it be?" I muttered
" Don't worry about it. Just focus on the last test because if you fail this one, you'll have no chances remaining, and you will have to come back next year. " She explained. She felt like the voice of reason I needed right now because I got easily distracted.
" Yes, ma'am. Thank you." I said sincerely, offering my gratitude.
" You're welcome." She responded
" By the way, Ms Hilda, may I ask something?"
I said, and she used her hand to do a 'please' gesture.
" How did you know about..." I said but trailed off.
" About what? Your identity? Darling, anyone who attended the marquess banquet months ago knows who you are, and people gossip, so even those who were not at the party would have known by now." She explained, and she was correct, we made a scene at the banquet held at home back then. However, the reason I asked her was simple, I thought only the aristocrat class and the nobles knew of me, but Ms Hilda was not an aristocrat because she had no symbol on her clothes as embroidery or anything else indicating that she was.However, what bothered me was one question, how far did rumors about me travel?
" Alright, enough questions. This is where I will leave you, I can't go inside with you." She said as we reached one extremely large door made of metal.
" Yes, ma'am. Thank you." I said with a polite bow.
She smiled strangely and said,
"Of course, anything for young love."
" Pardon?" I looked at her shocked.
" Oh, look at old me, I forgot to mention. The Duke will be a part of the audience observing the last part of the test." She said with a smirk as she turned around and waved, scratch anything I said earlier, this woman was not nice, she was sly...in a good way.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed the door. I braced myself for what awaited me behind this door...