"Did you know, the Princess rejected yet again another proposal from the neighboring kingdom's Prince."
Ysabel's hands stop from picking wild berries when she hears Laila whispered behind her. They are given orders to pick the wild berries that are abundant at the back of the castle. Slowly, she looks at the girl not older than a few years from her, looks at her with exasperation. Her forehead creased a little from what she said.
Princess Adelaide Sydren is the only princess of King Dalton Sydren. Ever since the princess reached an age when one can be betrothed, the King hosted a banquet to find a suitable match for his daughter. But to the King's dismay, the princess rejects each and every proposal for betrothal that leaves the latter with rage.
Ysabel looks behind her shoulder and gazes up the window of Princess Adelaide's chamber. She feels pity for the princess for being confined in her room as a punishment for her last rejection to a suitable marriage.
"I can't grasp myself as to why she kept giving the King a problem."
" Hush, Laila. You shouldn't utter such a thing."
Ysabel worriedly looks around if anyone is near enough to hear Laila. She heave a sigh of relief when she saw two guards that were already passing perhaps from patrol.
"The princess is still young, perhaps marriage isn't to her interest yet."
"Huh! It is her highness duty to be wed and birth a son that can inherit the King's throne-"
" And it is yours to shut your trap and do your job! "
Ysabel flinched at the venomous tone of the speaker. Her face went pale when she saw the housekeeper glowering at them with. Her hands to her wide hips, it's as if she'll spit fire at any moment.
Martina, if she remembers it was the name she told her before. She rarely sees the woman outside the castle, yet again she's not always in there unless the servants needed an extra hand.
"A-apologies, M-Martina. I- I"
Laila's voice shakes with fear as she can't pick the words to say.
"You go in now!"
Not waiting for Laila to finish, Martina pointed the direction where the back door to the kitchen is located.
Laila didn't spare anymore seconds. She hurriedly stands on her feet and grabs the small basket with wild berries and runs without looking back. Ysabel whose eyes are wide and face red from embarrassment and fear, bit her lip and cast her eyes own basket of berries.
"If anyone hears both of you gossiping about the King's daughter, you'll both end up in the dungeon, worst.. that small head of yours will be nothing but like a ball rolling off the ground. "
Martina said with nothing but truth that even Ysabel felt the goosebumps crawl on her skin. Her head feels light.
After a while, she hears Martina's feet shift. She slowly looked up at her only to swallow hard when she was still looking down at her with contempt gaze.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"Your assistance is no longer needed Ysabel. So from here on , I wish to never see you here again."
Not waiting for Ysabel to react she fished out three bronze coins in her pocket and tossed it to her before retreating back inside the castle leaving Ysabel in shock .