Chapter 71: A tongue for a lie
Music Recommendation: Ghost Waltz- Abel Korzeniowski
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The horses trotted towards the front gates of the palace. The guards respectfully lowered their heads, offering their bows.
Anastasia leaned closer to Princess Emily and whispered, "Princess, I think I should get down here before someone sees me riding on your horse."
"Let me stop the horse," Princess Emily said, pulling on the horse’s reins, bringing it to a halt. Anastasia dismounted and heard the princess say enthusiastically, "I will see you inside, Anna."
Anastasia bowed in response.
Princess Emily’s horse proceeded forward; the next to follow was Prince Aiden, with Prince Dante bringing up the rear. The first prince and the maid turned to look at each other at the same time, and upon making eye contact, Anastasia quickly offered him a bow.
Anastasia stared at the ground, listening to the fading clip-clop of the hooves until she finally raised her head, looking in the direction where the royal siblings were headed, making their way towards the front entrance of the palace.
As she walked towards the back of the palace, she noticed a young man walking in the opposite direction, carrying gardening tools in his arms. He wore a frown, as if deep in concentration, while he stared at the palace walls. Just as they were about to walk past each other, the things in the young man’s arms fell to the ground.
"Pardon me," the young man apologised, while picking up the fallen objects from the ground.
Anastasia also bent down and helped gather the scattered belongings before handing them back to the young man.