Unmasked

Chapter 23

-unedited-

Chapter 23:

It's feels as if it is a dream... Yet if it were, would I be feeling this conflicted?.

I'm relieved yet afraid.

Afraid of what?

Of getting in trouble...

I could feel my mothers disgusted stare on me, but it's only him and I in the hall way.

I'm leaning into him, letting the tears fall but I'm too afraid of touching him. My throat still feels too tight to speak too tight to even speak. I bury my eyes into his shoulder, he should let go now, but he doesn't.

I'm afraid of when he does.

'How disgusting," I can hear her voice in my head.

'Mother...'

That's when I hear the footsteps approaching and suddenly I remember the other maids, I jump away from him. He looks at me, confused and I still can't speak.

The others leave and I'm reminded of my duty.

I stare at him, hoping he can read what I'm trying to say.

...I still can't speak...

My legs carry me forward and I make my way past him and to my cart. I've done my job here, I should be going now.

I'm late in fact.

"Wait," his catches my sleeve and turn back to look at him. Still saying nothing.

He pulls me back into his room except this time he closes the door behind me. And just like that...

We're alone.

"I never received a letter from you, I began to worry...," he begins to explain, "and I..."

He trails off, staring at me as he does. I feel like I should say something but this is the first time we've been together since the ball and since then he's been searching for me... And I revealed who I am to him.... I never did imagine a day where we would actually meet again except years in the future where he had long forgotten me.

"I couldn't," my voice so softly comes out, "so much had gone on since... then."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asks suddenly. With that I finally look at him, really look at him and when I do, I don't see the prince, I see the kind man that danced with me and tried to make me calm when I was nervous and afraid.

'Remember your place,' mother's voice spits out.

"I-I shouldn't bother you so..." I bow in respect and begin to search for the door handle with my hand:

"Wait," my hand finds it as he says so and I make my way out.

"I-I can't," I whisper.

"What?" He follows me I follow the pathway back, "you can't what?"

The knot in my chest I didn't notice I had begins to twist and I can't breathe.

Someone can see us...

And I'm too afraid of that.

"I can't be seen with you," I push the words of my mouth.

"You mean you don't wish to be seen with me?" He slows his pace.

"No, it's not..." I breathe heavily, trying to calm my racing heart, "it's not that."

It's then he grabs of the cart and it comes to a sudden halt. I still look ahead as I feel his eyes on me.