Chapter 354: Spying

Marianne pov contd.

I know I was the one to flare her up. I should be happy that she had bad-mouthed Killian and now he knew her reality but all I felt was a surge of anger bubbling in my heart. I was so pissed and before I could stop myself and clam down my hand landed on her cheeks hard.

A reverberating voice sounded in the whole garden and as if everything turned still. Everyone stood there holding their breaths.

"Don't you.. I repeat.. Don't you ever dare to call my son a bastard. Do you even have any shame? He is the son of your own sister and the heir of archduke. The ruler of the whole east estate. If i want i can send you to prison again.'' I roared, I tried too hard but I was raging. My chest was heaving up and down in anger.

"Ha! Did you just slap me? What do you know huh? You are just a random girl who came in between us." she continued but i for a minute forgot her and ran to Killian who was standing there shocked.

"Killian, are you okay darling?" I asked as I bent in front of him so that I could reach his height.

He blinked as he looked at me and then at Isabella who was standing there speaking something I did not even care about.

Killian looked back at me and then nodded.

"I am fine, mother. I am feeling tired and want to take a rest for some time. ``His voice was so low that my heart broke. Calling someone bastard was the biggest insult in the empire. I have never used the word for anyone. 

"But Killian.." I tried to stop him but before I could say anything he turned and left.

"What is all this?" I asked Roselia who walked towards me and put a hand on my shoulder.

"I do not know. His highness winter Lady Isabella to come and create a scene here. So I brought her here." she replied in a softer tone.

I took a deep breath, he must have wanted to ruin her and Wiltshire's image further. 

"Why is there a commotion?" asked Philip as he entered too. Only he was the lacking one here!

"If you do not want me to put her back in prison, take her away right now" my voice came out sharper than i expected and the knights bowed.

"Who do you think you are, huh? You are nothing now, so just stop acting like a queen. You are nothing but a woman whose husband left her." she continued shouting as my knights held her hand and escorted her to her carriage.

"Shall I escort her, she is not looking in her senses." asked Philip as if he was a gentleman who could not see the damsel in distress.

"Sure, you must go. In fact you should share the carriage with her in case her problem increases.`` I replied with a smile and he smiled back.

"Then I will see you tomorrow, Marianne. You should also go and rest." he bade me goodbye and left towards the carriage.

"Follow them stealthily. I want to know how much time he is going to spend with Isabella. Or if he stays at marquees Wiltshire home. Mix a maid in their group too.`` I instructed Roselia who frowned.

"Would they not realize that you have sent your amid with them." I shook my head at her naivety.

"They did not know each other's maids. Philip would think that it was Isabella's maid, and Isabella's knights would think that she was there to serve Philip. Nobles are proud that they would not pay much attention to maids. But send a trusted and smart one, because returning safely may create problems, ``I added and she nodded.

"It's better that i shall be the one to go, i just need to cover my face with a veil, try to stop them for a while and distract them well." she added with a sigh. 

I was surprised when she offered herself as a substitute but nodded since she was the best choice.

"Wait a minute" I said as I moved towards the knights who were going to climb the horses.

"Yes, your highness"

"I want to send a letter to marquess Wiltshire telling them about the incident that happened here in case he would blame me for slapping their precious daughter.'' I instructed and they both looked at each other and then nodded at me.

"Then wait here." I looked at Kate and Lina and they both nodded their heads and stood there keeping an eye on the carriage.

I took my own sweet time while writing the letter and then walked towards the room where Roselia had gone too. 

"Here take this letter. Even if you get caught it would be a valid reason for you to be there. But try to do everything stealthily." I advised her with concern. Sometimes I felt bad for her as she was doing so much for me selflessly in every life.

"Do not try to be sentimental now. I have to move fast." she replied as she used the dark makeup and big glasses to cover her face, long red hair hid her natural golden ones.

"Best of luck" she smiled and hugged me as she left towards the door.

I took a deep sigh and walked towards Killian's chamber, hoping that he would not be thinking about it anymore.

I knocked at the door first but no reply came from inside.

"Killian" I called but only silence was all I got.

When I entered the room was empty. I walked in and knocked on the washroom door. But no reply came in from there either. I waited for a while but no sound of water came too. 

'Was he not here?' I frowned as I walked towards the door to look into the garden when my eyes fell on the balcony. He was sitting on the floor in the corner tightly hugging his knees and hiding his face in between.