Chapter 56 - Red Strings II: Trust

As the first string is a bond. The second red string is trust. The red string doesn't just represent a new bond. But a form of trust, leading to a new bond.

When a soldier informed Emelia her carriage has arrived, she closed the book she was reading and laid it on the table. She walked toward the mirror and used her fingers to brush her hair in one stroke. Still, she couldn't believe how she looked. Anyone would be speechless after seeing Emelia's dress up, thanks to Vanessa.​​

At first, Emelia didn't want to dress up because it was just a meeting between her and Melissa. But as a person who doesn't wear nice-looking dresses, Vanessa for once felt tempted to give her a dress-up. Thus, the results show.

There is one reason why Vanessa wasn't in her room, and that was because Emelia didn't want to have powder on her face. She didn't like the dusty and icky feeling on her skin. Though Emelia felt bad kicking her out of the room.

As Emelia continued to check on herself, her necklace shimmered on her neck. She clenched on the necklace and heard a distant voice saying, "You look like your mother, or is it more of your father?" A father. If Maria is telling the truth about her real father. Then why didn't he at least once try taking her mother back? Why didn't he try eloping with her? Is it because of his status?

Emelia didn't want to think about it any further. If Melissa knows about this, she would ask but then her main focus for today was to gather information about Elliot. She wanted to know more about him so that she could understand him more. Every time she asks Elliot about his parents, all he does is dodge it. It's as if he had given up telling the truth.

"Princess? Is there a problem? You're going to run late," Vanessa said behind the door. Emelia clenched onto her necklace before walking towards the door. She opened the door revealing her white dress sewed with golden strings and her hair braided into one. Every servant who saw her was all in awe and couldn't leave their eyes off her. There was one man in particular who couldn't even answer her.

"Sir Enoch? Are you alright?" Emelia waited for him to open the carriage door. Enoch blinked a few times and stuttered, "I-I'm sorry. Please enter." When was the last time he had been stunned by a woman's beauty? He couldn't help but be in awe. But remembering what happened in the past, he forced himself to shut his heart. These feelings should not grow any further, and he knew that.

Emelia sat inside the carriage and looks the opposite side of the carriage. She placed a hand on her chest and felt her heart beating fast. She felt butterflies in her stomach and hugged herself, slouching in the seat.

The carriage started to move and made its way to the Quila Estate where Melissa resides. The trip from the palace to the estate wasn't far, but on the way, Emelia felt dizzy due to the bumpy ride. Though it may not seem like it. Emelia rarely rides a carriage. When other nobles invited them to their party, Emelia would refuse them. Since she didn't like the noisy crowds and didn't have any friends.

In the middle of the trip, Emelia forced herself to sleep until she reaches the estate, and as they were about to arrive, Emelia had just fallen asleep. Emelia didn't feel the carriage stop and worried Enoch and the coachman.

Enoch had knocked twice on the carriage but then didn't hear anything from Emelia. Usually, she would be the one opening the door from the inside, but this time she didn't. Enoch apologized softly before opening the door. When he opened the door, he saw Emelia's head leaning onto the glass of the carriage, sleeping. As much he didn't want to wake her up, he had to.

"Princess, we've arrived," Enoch gently shook Emelia, who jumped a bit from her sleep. Emelia looked to her left and saw a fountain and a butler ready to welcome her. She clears her throat, pretending not to be flustered, and cooly walks out of the carriage.

"I apologize for my unmannered action. Please lead the way," Emelia told the butler, who nodded his head and lead the way to the guest room. As expected, the estate was filled with things she didn't know of. In one of the stand, she sees a camera which cost a lot. It may be even too expensive for a rich noble to buy.

Emelia liked the feel of the estate. The colors on the ceiling looked comforting, and the inside felt cooler than the palace. Once they've reached the guest room, Melissa was already inside, awaiting Emelia's arrival.

"Welcome, please take a seat," Melissa watched Emelia take her seat as she continued in an excited tone, "I can't believe your finally here! I've been waiting. Since the princess kept rejecting my invitation, I thought being friends was just a lie," Melissa frowned after but hearing Emelia laugh, she felt happy.

"I was busy," Emelia answered and returned to her neutral expression. She didn't mean to laugh. It just came out of nowhere. "If it takes that far to expose a person. Is that the only time you'll come to me?" Melissa joked, but then Emelia didn't take it lightly, "Now don't look like that. How about a smile for me?"

Emelia felt Melissa was trying to cheer her up. In all honesty, it did, but she felt guilty for it. As Emelia continued to reject the invitations of Melissa, the only way for them to meet if it would benefit her. And Emelia didn't expect Melissa to offer this in the letter. When she thought Melissa was just like any other lady who admired another, she was wrong.

To judge others by their cover is what Emelia had done. She felt like a hypocrite when it was her morals not to judge others the way they look or act.

"Don't worry, I knew this was the only way to tell the princess," Melissa shrugged with a smile, poured tea, and served it to Emelia. She looked at her asking, "Where do you want to begin?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Emelia answered, "The story of his parents." Melissa flinched and bit her lip. She was starting to act weird.

The usual energetic aura that surrounded her blew like a cloud of dust. Though Emelia kept waiting for her answer. But why did she act like that? She suddenly froze as if it was a hard topic to talk about. Or is it because Elliot and Melissa have some sort of relationship?

"Before I answer you, what do you think of Elliot?" Melissa asked, looking straight into Emelia's eyes. She looked determined to know which left Emelia's mouth with honest words, "He is annoying, stubborn, can be cold from time to time. Can be caring and regrets a lot."

Melissa smiled, and laughter followed. She wiped the tears that escaped from her eyes. But she wasn't sad, just relieved. Emelia stood up, and her hands were confused about what to do, "A-are you alright?" She stuttered as Melissa continued to wipe the tears that wouldn't stop falling.

"I'm glad. I'm just glad he's still the same," Melissa sniffed as she held her hands together. She smiled, but it was a smile that was mixed with a bit of regret. Emelia continued to watch Melissa calm down and knew she was right. Melissa and Elliot had some sort of relationship. Lovers? A lady wouldn't cry about a guy. Unless she loved him dearly.

"We're not lovers. I never liked him. I used to play with him a lot as a child," That clears things, but Emelia still couldn't understand why Melissa cried. Even if she's a woman, she finds women hard to understand. Melissa took a sip of tea then continued, "When the incident happened, that is the time my family pulled me away from him."

So their relationship was just childhood friends. Who slowly grew apart due to some incident. Emelia then had a clue in her head. That incident must be related to Elliot's parents. Melissa took a deep breath and read Emelia's mind, "If your thinking about his parents. Then you are correct."

Emelia lowered her head feeling sympathetic towards Elliot. She has only heard about the story of him killing his parents. But when Emelia looked at Melissa. It's as if she was saying there's more to that story. A story the nobles and people don't believe in. While only a few who stood by Elliot's side believed in.