The Abandoned Princess, Yet She Is Loved - Chapter 89

To Grace, it was simply absurd.

 

Ever since learning the truth, she found Rayleigh’s smile unbearably repugnant. After all, Rayleigh was the one who had tried to drive a wedge between her and Frederick. But Grace forced herself to smile back.

 

“May I dare make a request of Your Highness?”

 

“Of course. I was wondering if there’s anything I could do for you.”

 

Rayleigh nodded.

 

“I could offer you some of the finest pearls that were recently presented to the royal family.”

 

“That won’t be necessary. I’m not particularly interested in jewels.”

 

This was an opportunity. A strong intuition stirred within Grace. When a princess wanted to make a show of generosity, it was the perfect chance to act.

 

“Well, since Your Highness is so gracious, there is something I’d like to ask, personally.”

 

“What is it? If it’s something I can do, I absolutely will!”

 

“I heard that Your Highness is looking to appoint new ladies-in-waiting.”

 

“Yes, two of my current attendants are getting married and moving to the countryside. I’ve been asking around for suitable young ladies to recommend.”

 

“Would it be alright if I suggested my sisters?”

 

“Your sisters… you mean Diana and Sarah?”

 

Rayleigh’s eyes widened.

 

“Yes. Not just because they’re my sisters — they’re genuinely cultured and capable. I’m sure they’d be thrilled at the chance to serve Your Highness.”

 

“Hmm… I’ll think about it.”

 

Princess Rayleigh nodded slowly. She didn’t seem displeased or hesitant.

 

“Please don’t tell Diana or Sarah that I recommended them. I think they’d feel more proud knowing they were chosen on their own merit. And I know they’ll do well.”

 

The position of a princess’s lady-in-waiting wasn’t one just anyone could fill. It was a role of influence, as both a close aide to royalty and a prominent figure in high society.

 

It wasn’t necessarily reserved for daughters of high-ranking noble families. The princess’s trust and the candidate’s social reputation played a major role — and just being appointed was considered a great honor.

 

“You truly have a generous heart,” Rayleigh said, gazing at her with interest.

 

“After everything you’ve been through, most people would ask for something for themselves. But you ask on behalf of your sisters.”

 

“I don’t have many personal desires. And my sisters have done a lot for me — I just want to give a little back.”

 

Grace had suffered countless humiliations and oppression. It was time to repay that debt.

 

Diana and Sarah were probably delighted to be appointed as the princess’s ladies-in-waiting, believing they had finally made it — and that, backed by power, they could now suppress Grace.

 

But what Grace truly wanted was to raise them to the peak of brilliance — and then bring them down herself.

 

“If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask,” said Rayleigh.

 

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

 

Grace finished with her usual pleasant smile.

 

 

 

Alan woke in the middle of the night.

 

“……”

 

Selena lay right beside him, sound asleep, breathing peacefully. She looked so serene that Alan reached out toward her face — then withdrew his hand.

 

He looked toward the window and sighed softly. How much longer would they have to stay here?

 

The room where Alan and Selena were being held had about thirty children trapped inside.

 

It was essentially a prison without bars.

 

Men and women in jet-black hoods watched over them. They stood at intervals in the hallways and were always stationed at the main entrance. Even if you couldn’t see them, the moment you tried to escape, they would catch you.

 

“……”

 

The mood in the room was always somber.

 

Once or twice a week, a young man or woman in a white lab coat would enter and draw blood from each child, one by one.

 

Then, a few hours later, they would return and take one of the children away.

 

The child never came back.

 

No one imagined that the child had been adopted or sent to a better future. They had all already been lied to once and ended up locked in this place.

 

“There’s no hope for us, Alan.”

 

“That’s not true, Selena. Don’t give up.”

 

Selena often spoke as though she had resigned herself, but every time she did, Alan encouraged her.

 

“I’ll help you get out of here.”

 

Alan’s voice was full of conviction. In truth, he was completely determined to escape with her — no matter what it took.

 

“Meal time.”

 

The food arrived. The children’s eyes lit up instantly.

 

Each of them received a plate piled with food and a drink. As soon as it was served, they eagerly reached out.

 

The single daily meal was the only joy they had in this place.

 

Surprisingly, the food — meat, bread, cheese, fruit — was better than what they had at the orphanage.

 

“For being prisoners, we eat pretty well…”

 

“There’s a rumor that a monster lives in the deepest part of this building — and they’re fattening us up to feed it.”

 

A boy named Franklin spoke up.

 

“Has anyone actually seen it?”

 

“No, not exactly…”

 

“Then it’s just a rumor, isn’t it?”

 

Selena cut in bluntly.

 

“Ron said he thought he saw something…”

 

“And where’s this Ron now?”

 

“He was taken right before you guys arrived.”

 

Franklin’s face fell. Selena didn’t say, “See? I told you.” That would’ve been too cruel.

 

“Anyone want my pumpkin pie? I’m not really into this stuff.”

 

“Me! Me!”

 

“I want it! I raised my hand first!”

 

At Selena’s words, three kids clamored for the dessert. She gave it to the one who raised their hand the fastest.

 

‘We’ll have to move at night,’ Alan concluded, gazing out the window. The entrance of the building was wide open and too exposed — any movement would be immediately visible.

 

From that day forward, Alan observed the window often, figuring out a route that would allow them to escape without being noticed.

 

Inside the building, he memorized the paths that led to the exits. They’d need to slip away under the cover of darkness.

 

“Selena, let’s leave in two days.”

 

A few days later in the afternoon, Alan pulled Selena into a hallway near their room and whispered. It was a corner where neither the guards nor other children could overhear them.

 

“But… can we really escape without getting caught?”

 

“Trust me.”

 

Alan placed a hand over his heart, his eyes serious.

 

“You asked me to get you out of here, didn’t you?”

 

“I didn’t know it would be this horrible…”

 

Selena’s expression darkened, tears welling in her eyes.

 

“If I had known, I never would’ve dragged you into this… You’re in danger because of me.”

 

“No. I got the chance to help you when you were in danger. I’m glad I can be with you.”

 

“Alan… you always say things like that to me. You’re so kind…”

 

Selena’s voice trembled with tears. Alan felt like he could ask for nothing more.

 

“But what about the other kids trapped here?”

 

“We’ll have to leave them behind.”

 

“They could end up suffering something awful… and you want to just leave them?”

 

“We can’t take everyone at once, Selena.”

 

Alan took her hand and held it tightly.

 

“I’m not willing to risk everything to save everyone. The only thing that matters to me is your safety.”

 

“……”

 

“And we couldn’t all escape through the hallways anyway. It’d cause too much noise, wake people up — and then it’s over.”

 

“But…”

 

Selena trailed off. Alan understood how she felt.

 

Despite her calm and composed demeanor, she was deeply sensitive.

 

“Instead, once we get out, we’ll tell people. We’ll let the world know that children are being held here unjustly. That’ll be the way to expose this place.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Selena nodded at Alan’s words. She realized he was right — escaping first and then reporting the truth would be faster and safer.

 

“Then meet me outside the room at midnight, two days from now.”

 

“Okay… I will.”

 

And on the promised night, Alan met Selena outside their room.