Chapter 44: Terror of the dagger
Anastasia softly gulped.
She walked to where Princess Emily was and offered a deep bow before pointing at the palace. Princess Emily asked, "What is it, Anna? Are we going inside?"
Anastasia shook her head before pointing at herself and then at the palace. Prince Aiden helped by saying, "I think she needs to go inside for something?" She quickly nodded.
"Alright. Bring back my coat when you return. I would like to sit here and relax a little bit longer." Princess Emily smiled and saw her maid disappear into the palace.
Inside the palace, Anastasia reached the corridor where Dante hadn’t moved since the last time she had seen him. Walking to where he was, she bowed.
"You wanted to see me, Prince Dante?" Anastasia asked with her eyes fixed on his black shoes.
"You must dislike your neck to be speaking openly where one can see you. Ready to die," Dante remarked, his eyes as steady as the sea. He questioned, "What were you and my brother talking about?"
Anastasia answered, "Prince Aiden was curious about the rumour that has been going around about you and me. I was only explaining that nothing like that happened and it is just a misunderstanding."
"That was quite a long explanation. Considering he was the one speaking," Dante’s words had Anastasia curse him in her mind. Damn this man’s eyes and astuteness!
Forgive me, Prince Aiden; Anastasia’s face scrunched as she stared at the ground. She answered, "He was telling me about the celebration in the town that he likes to attend. About the food and the drinks."
"The night the rumour sparked," Dante’s lips twisted. He usually turned a blind eye to his brother’s little adventures out of the palace, but given that his brother was to assume the throne, it was time to exercise some control over his behaviour. He said, "Stay away from my brother."