Chapter 36: Evening Soiree with the Blackthorns
Hearing Prince Dante’s words, which weren’t free from the trouble she had gotten herself into, Anastasia didn’t know if she was supposed to be happy that he was sparing her life at this moment or worry about the dread that was going to keep hanging above her head, waiting for someone to find out.
"I told you, didn’t I?" Dante had already begun walking away from where she continued to stand with her back pressed against the books. He said, "There are more cruel punishments than death."
Unable to hold back her question, Anastasia asked him, "What happens after someone finds out?"
Dante paused his footsteps. "Isn’t it obvious?" he asked, turning his head to the side. Before leaving, he asked, "How did a maid learn to dance on the dance floor like a lady?" He turned his head further to meet her eyes.
"I had my sources..." Anastasia hesitated as she answered, not wanting to put—
"Your sister," Dante remarked, and Anastasia clenched her hands. "Considering you are a maid, your sister cannot be a lady. But she can’t be a maid either. Especially when you said you came to see your sister at the celebration. She must be a courtesan."
Anastasia quickly bowed deeply before pleading, "Please don’t punish her! She had nothing to do with me attending the celebration!" This man was smart to link the possibilities so quickly, making it hard for her to hide anything in front of him. "I beg you!"
After receiving no response from the prince, Anastasia looked up to find Dante missing from the spot. Her eyes moved around the space ahead of her, but he was nowhere in sight, and soon she heard the library doors open and close.
Suddenly Anastasia felt her knees weaken, which had been shaking, and she fell to the ground while taking deep breaths.
Once she gathered her thoughts, Anastasia picked up Princess Emily’s coat and quickly made her way to the princess’s room. Upon reaching the room, she knocked on the door before turning the doorknob and entering the room.
"It’s good that you are here, Anna!" Princess Emily turned to look at her while she stood in front of the mirror holding two gowns. "Which one do you think looks better? I love them both, but I am unable to decide."