143 Scandalous Question
As usual, Anastasia was sitting in her antechamber and was busy reading the novel that her brother had gifted her. She had been reading nonstop for about five hours now. And her eyes were starting to get a little blurry.
Thus, she lifted her gaze from the book and looked out of the window. She appreciated the cool breeze that was gently caressing her face.
She pushed the few stray strands of her hair away from her face and then marked the page in her book.
‘I think I should take a walk in the garden. The sun isn’t that harsh these days.’
With that thought, she put the book aside and got up on her feet.
“Ow!” She almost stumbled because she didn’t realize that her legs were numb at the moment. “Mhmm...” She grimaced and lightly slapped her thighs. “Come on... Let me walk....” She talked with her legs and tried to move both of her feet.
After her legs finally stopped hurting, Anastasia turned around and walked toward the main door.
“Where’s Tilla, by the way? I thought she went to grab some sweet snacks for me. She should have been here by now.” She walked while mumbling to herself.
—
.....
Tilla was still in the kitchen. She had asked the chef to prepare a carrot cake for the Queen. But he took quite some time because he didn’t have enough ingredients.
“How much longer is it going to take?” Tilla asked the chef for the umpteenth time.
The chef looked at Tilla, a bit irritated, and answered, “If you know how to make it faster, then you are free to try. I will leave the kitchen for you.”
Tilla gave a nervous smile and a gentle bow. “I’m sorry. It’s just that the Queen is unattended at the moment, so I was worried that she might need something while I am not there.”
The chef heaved a sigh and replied in a bit calmer tone, “It will be ready in about five minutes.”
“Thank you!” Tilla smiled and awkwardly kept on standing there in the kitchen.
The chef then cut a slice of the cake and plated it. And he also decorated the cake with frosting. He took a final glance at his work of art and then said to Tilla, “It’s ready now. I hope that the Queen will like it.”
“She will. It smells really delicious.” Tilla grabbed a tray and then shifted the plate on the tray. And she quickly scurried away from the kitchen.
She was hurrying towards the central wing when she spotted Anastasia taking a stroll in the garden. “Oh god! What is she doing alone here...” she murmured and then headed to the garden.
“Your Majesty, what are you doing out here alone?” Tilla asked from afar.
Anastasia was happy to see Tilla. She was even happier to see the cake that she was carrying in her hand.
“I wanted to get some fresh air,” she replied with a wide smile on her face.
Tilla stood in front of the Queen and then reprimanded her, “The air is too cold for you to be walking around like this. You aren’t dressed enough.” She then pointed her brows towards the castle and asked, “Come, let’s go back.”
However, Anastasia wanted to stay there for a bit longer. “Why don’t you bring warm cloth for me? I want to sit down for a bit.”
Tilla wanted to say no. But at the same time, she didn’t want to deprive Anastasia of the smallest pleasure that she was seeking.
Thus, she handed the plate to the Queen and said, “Wait here for a while then. I will be right back with something.”
“Oh,” Anastasia smiled ear to ear and asked Tilla, “Why don’t you bring me the Pashmina that my brother sent me?”
“Sure.” Tilla was happy to see Anastasia excited about her new clothing item.
Anastasia then sat down on a bench to enjoy her carrot cake while Tilla left for the Queen’s room.
Tilla was climbing the stairs when she stumbled upon Vincent. She bowed and greeted him, “Good afternoon, Milord.”
“Good afternoon, Tilla,” Vincent replied cheerfully.
Tilla tried to walk past him, but Vincent shifted to the side and stood in her way. “I had been meaning to talk to you for a long while now. But why can’t I find you anywhere these days?”
Tilla kept on looking down when she replied, “I mostly stay inside the Queen’s room these days. Maybe that’s why...”
“Ah!” Vincent rested his elbow on the railing of the stairs and then said in a playful tone, “Then I should consider today as my lucky day. How have you been, Tilla?”
Tilla was already getting restless. She wanted to get back to the Queen as fast as she could. So she quickly answered and tried to excuse herself, “I have been well, Milord. Thank you for asking. Now, if you will, please excuse me. I have some work to do.”
“Sure, sure.” Vincent stepped aside and gave way to Tilla.
Tilla climbed the rest of the stairs and began to head towards the Queen’s chamber.
After walking for a while, she realized that Vincent was following her. But she didn’t pay attention to it and kept on walking ahead, thinking that his destination was somewhere else. However, he ended up following her to Anastasia’s room.
Before opening the door, Tilla turned around to face him and asked, “You would like to meet the Queen, Milord? If so, then she isn’t here. She is out in the garden.”
Vincent looked into her eyes and answered in his deep voice, “Why do you think that I want to meet the Queen? It was you who I wanted to meet and talk to, but you said you were busy. So, I thought of following you around until you were free.”
Tilla felt as if her heart stopped beating when Vincent used his enchanting voice to talk to her. Her face instantly turned as red as tomatoes.
And she stuttered, “I d-don’t think I will be free until l-late at night. S-So, you s-should stop following me, Milord. You will only waste your t-time.”
A corner of Vincent’s lips slightly curved upward. He liked seeing Tilla flustered instead of angry and uptight.
And he asked in a much more enticing voice, “Then... would you mind if I come and find you late at night?”
Tilla instantly coughed and covered her mouth with her palm. “Ex-Excuse me?” Her whole face and ears turned the color of ripe cherry upon hearing such a scandalous question from Vincent.
Vincent took the chance to make Tilla even more flustered. He leaned a little closer to her ear and whispered to her, “I really need you to accept my apology, Tilla. It’s been killing me, you know.”
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