Penelope rushed downstairs, passing Julius in the corridor. "Where are you going, Penelope?" Julius asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
"Somewhere," Penelope replied, her voice barely above a whisper, without turning to face him.
Julius shook his head, a mixture of amusement and worry on his face. "Tsk, kids. One minute they're sad, the next they're excited."
Penelope arrived at the castle garden, realizing she couldn't leave the castle without a miracle. The vast, imposing walls seemed to close in around her, making her feel trapped. Just then, a gunshot echoed from the forest, shattering the silence.
Penelope's heart skipped a beat as she spun around, her eyes scanning the surrounding area. "What was that?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.
"What was that?" Penelope turned to run but bumped into Julius, who had three guards behind him.
"Did you hear that, Julius?" Penelope asked.
"Yes, and I'm here to escort you to your chamber for safety," Julius replied, gesturing to the guards.
Penelope hesitated. "What about you, Julius, and everyone in the castle? What if there's an intruder or a murder in that forest?"
Julius reassured her, "There's nothing to worry about. It's probably just a hunter."
But Penelope knew Julius didn't believe his own words. She saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes.
As Penelope walked to her room, she wondered if the gunshot was related to the Cloak Shadow. Should she tell Julius? No, it would only worry him more.
Meanwhile, Julius sent guards to search the castle and forest for any signs of an intruder. A chubby, round-faced guard reported, "Sir, we've searched the forest, and it's clear."
Julius asked, "What about the castle surroundings?"
"All clear, sir," the guard replied.
Julius nodded. "Tell everyone to retreat back to the castle."
As the guards dispersed, Julius couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. He sighed and headed back to the castle to check on Penelope.
As Penelope entered her room, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was off. She paced back and forth, her mind racing with thoughts of the gunshot, the Cloak Shadow, and the possibility of an intruder, But what troubled her the most was Tracy, Where is she? She thought
Just then, Tracy walked in with a tray of tea,
"Oh, Tracy, where have you been?" Penelope rushed to hug Tracy.
Tracy explained, "I've been in the kitchen, assisting the cooks and maids with dinner preparations."
They sat down for some tea and as they sipped their tea, Penelope couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She glanced out the window, her eyes scanning the forest below. What if the gunshot was more than just a hunter? What if it was a sign of something more sinister?
"Tracy, I saw something," Penelope said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Tracy's eyes widened. "What was it?"
Penelope hesitated, unsure if she should share her fears. "I saw a cloaked moving shadow in the forest," she said finally, her eyes locked on Tracy's."What if it's trying to distract us while sneaking into the castle?"
Tracy's expression turned serious. "Penelope, calm down. I know you want to leave this castle, but this is getting too far."
Penelope felt a surge of frustration. "What do you mean?"
Tracy explained, "This castle is deep in the forest, full of wild animals. It's scary. Who would be crazy enough to venture in?"
Penelope poured herself a cup of tea, her mind racing with possibilities. Maybe it was an intruder or a thief or someone who have decided to end her misery and come to save her,The last one is too good to be true. But what if it was something more.
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the castle,as dinner approached, Penelope remained silent, lost in thought. Julius noticed her distant behavior and asked, "Penelope, are you okay?"
Penelope murmured, "That last one is really low...no."
Julius furrowed his eyebrows. "Penelope?"
Tracy tapped Penelope's shoulder, bringing her back to reality. "Yes?" Penelope replied.
Julius asked, "Are you alright? What was it you said?"
Penelope brushed it off. "Nothing, I'm fine. Just tired. I'll go to bed early."
As Penelope retired to her room, Julius watched her disappear, concerned. "She must be traumatized by what happened today. I need to notify the King and Queen."
Later that night, Penelope lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The moon shone brightly, illuminating her room. She felt like she was being watched, but saw nothing.She glanced around her room one more time, her eyes scanning the shadows, but saw nothing. Still, the feeling persisted.. Goosebumps covered her body as she wondered, "Am I being watched, or is it just my imagination?"