Faye startled out of her seat upon Kimberly's outburst. "What's the matter?" She asked warily looking at Kim's astonished face.
"Is he still here?" Kim asked ignoring Faye's previous question.
"Who is?" Faye enquired now confused.
"Father," Kim replied anxiously looking at her.
"Lord Heather left the manor an hour ago." Faye stated as she wondered what was happening with Kimberly.
"W-what about the other man?" Kim asked as she wringed her fingers together trying to appear discreet.
"He's with your brother," Kimberly's eyes widened the more as she rushed out to the living room where she knew Gerald would be.
She sloppily came down the stairs almost losing her footing twice because of all the rush. Two men were indeed seated there.
One whom she recognized as her brother, and another that she hadn't met before. The man was stern, just as Faye had stated though as he talked to Gerald, he appeared friendly.
Her eyebrows knitted in confusion as she stared at the new man. Looks like she got riled up for nothing. This was not who she had expected to see. Kim smiled sheepishly at the duo as her brother rose up from his seat to greet her.
"How have you been dear sister?" Gerald asked as he gently ruffled her hair. He had developed this habit since he was young.
"Very well, brother." Kim replied merrily as she hugged him. She had missed spending time with him.
"Right, I came with a friend. This is Sir Collins, a scholar." Gerald introduced his colleague who had been strangely standing there.
Kim put on her best smiles as she gently shook his hand, "I'm Kimberly Heather," Sir Collins returned the greeting cheerfully.
"I'll leave you now," Kimberly excused herself heading back to her room. Faye opened the door once she heard Kim's footsteps approaching and pulled her into the room.
"What was that about?" Faye asked wondering why Kim had gotten so concerned about the new man in their home.
Kim's face was however back to normal, her perplexed face already gone. Faye knew there was something she was missing and she had to find about it.
"Nothing important." Kim brushed off her question laying on her couch once more.
"Something happened last Friday, come on tell me already. I'm dying of curiosity!" Faye probed further.
"And you better not say nothing happened because you returned home extremely late with a totally scrunched dress and you didn't even have the herbs with you."
Kim had not thought Faye would catch on this fast. She had avoided talking about that day when she came back.
Her mother, Lady Flora, had been out to visit the queen and Madame Paula had gone into town that evening to book an appointment with the seamstress.
She had luckily gotten in with no questioning but Faye was very observant. She already caught on her.
Kim tilted her head from the couch she was laying on and glanced at Faye, "I ran into knights at the mountains."
"Whaat?" Faye almost shouted. "They took you to the palace right?" She queried knowing what was to come.
"Yes , I also encountered father there." Kim added as she stared at the ceiling.
"Oh no! Was he told that you were collecting herbs?" Faye sat straighter trying to get ahold of what had happened.
"No, I convinced him that I was there to visit the coliseum." Kim replied as she looked back at Faye.
"That's a relief, but do you think he really bought your lie?" Faye eyed her suspiciously knowing how Lord Heather was not one to mess with. He could clearly see through all your lies.
"I think so," Kim replied quietly unsure of her answer. Her performance at the ball was really going to determine whether her father had believed her or not.
"Well at least you snuck out without me, you got into too much trouble." Faye smiled cheekily as she sat beside Kim on the couch.
"Traitor," Kim slapped her arms slightly feigning betrayal. Faye laughed away at Kim's antics knowing she was just messing around.
She had found out later that day that Kim had sneaked out with informing her. She was angry at first but since Madame Paula had swamped her with too much work, she would have barely managed.
"Mmm, what was it about the new man?" Faye questioned raising her eyebrows. She barely missed anything, her eyes always sharp to spot anything out of place.
"T-that's , I don't know about that." Kim mumbled inaudibly as she returned her eyes back to the ceiling. She avoided Faye's eyes at all costs.
"Something is fishy here, should I investigate?" A wide smile plastered on Faye's face as she stood above Kim staring down at her.
"I mistook him for somebody else," she replied quickly to escape this questioning. She was now shifting nervously on the couch wanting to dart out of the room.
"A handsome somebody!" Faye exclaimed wriggling her eyes at her enjoying this conversation.
"What! I didn't say so," Kim defended as she sat up idly glancing around her room.
"You rushed out after I described so!" Faye beamed as she sat beside her on the couch ecstatic about the matter.
"Well, you said so yourself." Kim argued raising her eyebrows now as she watched Faye play with her fingers her face lowered as she hid the small smile that threatened to show.
She however felt herself fall into the same predicament as her cheeks flared up and she stood up quickly before Faye could see it. She wasn't going to stand her teasing but she had already found her defense.
"Let's head downstairs," Kim said enthusiastically a smile forming on her lips. She was going to enjoy teasing Faye this evening.
Faye was reluctant at first but was dragged out of the room and across the hallways till they were halfway through the stairs. Kim released her grip and motioned her to continue with their walk.
Her eyes glinted with mischief as she followed behind, happy with how things were going to turn out.
"Oh, you're done with your talk? I could hear you from here." Gerald spoke once the two stepped into the living room.
"Really, were we really that loud?" Kim asked as she plopped herself on the seat beside him. Faye stood a few feet ahead transfixed at the same spot she had been once she stepped into the room.
"Aren't you going to seat, Faye?" Kim spoke amusedly as she looked at the wordy girl who was now tight lipped .
"I'll get some drinks," Faye offered silently as she dashed out of the room. A smile spread out on Kim's face glad at how things were already moving.
"Is everything okay at the palace?" Kim asked as she looked at the two men seated with her at the table. She had tried to pick up a conversation with them before Faye came back.
"It's alright, just lots of scripts to be read." Sir Collins replied and Gerald laughed at his reply. "That's because you joined recently."
Kim knew that being a scholar entitled a lot of research and reading something that Gerald enjoyed. There were tons of documents to be read and Kim knew she would just doze off were she given such a job.
"When did you join?" Kim asked, suddenly interested in the palace work. "Two months ago, I'm barely holding up." Sir Collins replied frowning a bit.
"I'm sure my brother here is helping you catch up," she said as she glanced at Gerald.
"Of course he is," Sir Collins answered thankful to her brother.
"Why are you even here when you have a lot of piled work?" Kim asked now confused.
"Am I not welcome to visit home?" Gerald furrowed at his sister.
"Well, I'm just curious." She answered hiding her laughter at how Gerald scrunched his face in what could have been a crestfallen look.
"We were given a break because of the upcoming royal ball," Sir Collins explained.
Did everything revolve around that event? Kimberly wondered already disinterested.
"Are you practicing well for the ball?" Gerald asked his sister all of a sudden as if he had remembered something very important.
"Why are you asking?" Kim questioned back not liking where this was headed.
"Father told me to ensure you were doing well with-" Kim cut him off before he could expose her weakness before his friend.
How embarrassing could it be when someone she had just met learnt that she couldn't dance, something that most maidens were already good at.
"All is well, I'm just finalizing some steps." She smiled brightly trying to convince her brother who was suspiciously eying her.
Faye stepped in a few minutes later with the supposed drinks in a small tray that she balanced in her hands. She placed the drinks on the table avoiding looking at anyone.
"What took soo long, dear Faye?" Kim asked as she slowly sipped her juice enjoying how Faye's cheeks warmed up as she shyly glanced away.
A game well played. Kim mentally applauded herself.
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Another chapter is here, I hope you all enjoy reading this.