Chapter 132: Escape 2.1
Rina opened her mouth as if to scream, but Evanna waved her hands and pulled her mask and hood down. "It’s me! It’s me!" She whisper-shouted. Rina shut the door behind her, leaning up against it as her hand raised to her face in shock. The elf then looked at the fairy on her shoulder and raised her brow in question.
"This is my friend," Evanna murmured as she slowly approached Rina.
"Are you.. Are you leaving?" Rina stuttered, her eyes filling up with unshed tears.
Evanna inhaled sharply. She didn’t want to see her friend cry. "I have to, Ri," Evanna reached out and clasped her by her hands, staring intently at the elf.
"Nothing would ever happen to you here, my lady.. The prince, he may seem cold, but he adores you. Has he not treated you well here? Have we not.. kept your secret?" Rina searched her eyes, the tears beginning to spill down her cheeks.
Adores? He adores teasing her and making her blush.
~ This is troublesome, Evanna. You might have to knock her unconscious..~ Nesrin interrupted her.
Evanna frowned; that was the last thing she wanted to do. But if it came to it, then she would not refrain from such drastic action. "Shh, shh. My leaving has nothing to do with Arawn’s hospitality nor how truly loyal you are. Thank you for keeping my secrets," Evanna was aware that the handmaiden knew she was part elf. She was, after all, in her care during the fever. "But my mother is very sick. She has been all this time. I must see her," She urged.
Rina pursed her lips together; she could see the pain burning behind Lady Evanna’s eyes at what she revealed. It made sense now. Many times, the handmaiden would approach Evanna only to stay back and watch from a distance; in those moments, Evanna looked closed off, distant and as though a great weight rested on her shoulders. She knew how composed her lady was in front of others and knew it was not good to always keep her emotions in check. Rina would approach her with tea and smile as she left, seeing Evanna’s shoulders relax after taking a sip.