Chapter 243: You Look Just Like Her
When Lucinda caught a glimpse of the golden-blonde-haired maiden, she had changed her outfit into a simple, more comfortable, off-white gown. The young woman was taking a leisurely stroll with Lucy when Lucinda suddenly approached her line of sight. With a benign smile, they exchanged greetings.
"I’m... leaving?!" Samantha’s pupils dilated when Lucinda dropped the unanticipated bomb, and she had not prepared herself to make this night journey to Aragon at all. Today had been an eventful day for her– quite hectic, but she never predicted the idea that one of these ceremonial traditions involved keeping her away from Ivan until the wedding day. She never saw this particular one coming, and for a few minutes, she remained utterly dazed until her eyes blinked.
"Is it impossible to schedule our leave till tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately it is, but you have nothing to be worried about. When we get to the Palace, you can have all the rest you want." Lucinda placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "Presently, we have to leave so we don’t arrive at dawn. It’s one of the important customs that must be strictly adhered to, and there is no other way around it. Your trunks are already in the carriage, and whatever you need that is left shall be brought in the day, so we must go now."
"What about Lucy and... Maurice?" Samantha looked back at Lucy who pointed at herself, silently asking if Samantha was referring to her, and Lucinda simply answered with a single nod of her head.
"They will be with you tomorrow, but we must leave now."
"But I’m not ready, do I need to change?"
"Your outfit is as modest as it can be, and we will be using the carriage. Come with me." Placing a comforting hand on Samantha’s back, Lucinda took her away, whilst leading her to the main exit of the Palace.
Reaching the vestibule, Samantha’s confused eyes happily brightened at the sight of Ivan and Abdiel who waited at the foyer. When they approached them, Samantha lowered her head in a polite bow before stealing a peek at Ivan. Unlike her, he made his displeasure pretty evident on his features, and when their eyes met, she could tell she wasn’t the only one itching to close the distance between them.