Viola cried her heart out, and her mother’s voice was choked with emotion as she reassured us, “Don’t worry, we’ll succeed.”
I felt like a ghost in that moment. I missed Ronald terribly, but he was grounded by my father. I looked at Viola and her mother, and my resolve solidified.
When I got home, I found vegetable scraps freshly swept over the wall into our yard—clearly a move to push me into a corner!
After calming my sobbing mother, I quietly headed back to Awakening Manor, only to bump into Princess Angela at the entrance.
“So, Awakening Manor is right here. You’re quite bold!” she said. “With such an obvious location, it’s no wonder the king is mobilizing everyone to take you down.”
I was stunned and quickly invited the princess into my home to talk. I gathered everyone and introduced Princess Angela.
Princess Angela, ever straightforward, settled into a chair and started munching on nuts. “No need for formalities. I admire what you’re doing, so I came to give you a heads-up. The king knows where Awakening Manor is and is working with generals on a plan to capture you all. They’re aiming to act in three days.”
Three days from now was the eleventh day, and my execution was set for the tenth.
Viola and I exchanged a determined look, seeing the same fierce resolve in each other’s eyes.
I bowed first. “Thank you for the warning. We’ll take steps to stay hidden.”
Princess Angela raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you afraid?”
I managed a smile. “If the laws aren’t changed, I’ve only got two days left. Besides, the people of Awakening Manor aren’t afraid of death. If our sacrifice can wake up the people, we’ll accept it willingly.”
“Willingly accepting it!” Princess Angela suddenly stood up, her expression fierce. “With that spirit, I’m committed to helping you. If my sister had had allies like you, she might still be alive.”
I kept my lips tightly sealed. Life is unpredictable, and so many women have died. We are all victims of the times.
“I came to introduce someone to you,” Princess Angela said.
That’s when we noticed the woman pretending to be a maid behind the princess—Duchess Isabella! Her father was a half-brother of the king, unlike my father, who was the only non-royal noble in the dynasty with no blood relation to the king.