"The plan is not working," Islinda said immediately as she came in, shutting the door behind her. Rosalind already said their conversations were safe here, so she was not afraid of expressing herself.
"He barely even looks at you. At this rate, I might age fifty years before Aldric looks at you that way and you can distract him while I successfully escape." She ranted, wrapping her arms across her chest and tapping her feet from unrest.
Rosalind bit down on her lips, looking the other way and Islinda knew she was being harsh on her. But that was the truth and It hurts sometimes. Well, whose fault was it that Aldric wouldn’t look her way? A small voice said in her head causing guilt to gnaw in her chest.
"Don’t worry, I’m sure with time, Aldric would realize your worth to him and he would love you in the end," She comforted her.
"Thank you," Rosalind gave her a small smile and she returned the warm gesture.
With the both of them being this way, Islinda couldn’t help but feel that they were quickly becoming friends and her initial hesitation about the Fae began to fade away. Suddenly an idea hit her.
"What if we drug him?" Islinda let out her brilliant idea.
"What?!" Rosalind shouted.
"In the human realm, there are plants or drugs that can knock a human out cold, I’m sure there must be a close approximation of such plants in the Fae realm. Tell me I’m not wrong, Rosalind."
Rosalind blanched, "I cannot do such a thing."
"In one word, there is one." Islinda already got what she wanted from her words.
"You want me to drug Aldric! That is crazy! I am afraid that I cannot do such a thing, my lady." Rosalind turned it down without even thinking twice.
"You don’t need to do it, Rosalind. I will."
Rosalind’s eyes widened, stuttering, "Y-you can’t!"
Islinda lifted a brow and the Fae quickly explained, "Unless you sedate his food right from the kitchen, I’m afraid you can never be faster than a Fae, not to mention, Aldric of all Fae’s. He would spot you before you move."
"In one word, our intention cannot be too obvious." Islinda walked in circles while stroking her chin thoughtfully.
She stopped and whirled around, a gleam in her eyes, "I’ll join in the kitchen duties from now on."
"W-what?"
"It would look suspicious if I prepared a meal for Aldric all of a sudden, he’s not a fool. However, if it becomes a routine, Aldric would not suspect much." She grinned at Rosalind, "Brilliant, isn’t it?"
"It sounds feasible my lady, however, what about the birds? I can’t be implicated in this matter, in case it goes wrong. I might not know about you but the prince would definitely take it out on me."
Islinda’s lips thinned, "But you’re his lover."
"I’m afraid that Prince Aldric doesn’t care about close relationships when angered. There is nothing the prince hates the most than having his orders disobeyed. That is why my involvement in this escape plan can’t be revealed. He might as well kill me and get on with his life. I’m not exactly irreplaceable. " Rosalind revealed with a pained expression.
Islinda’s brows drew together with a deep furrow. She had not expected this to be easy, but leaving Rosalind to Aldric’s wrath did not sit right with her.
"We would be careful and would succeed," Islinda said confidently. She had to be positive, or else she might as well give up now.
"Aldric’s flaw is that he’s still proud and would never think I am capable of pulling this off. Not to mention, getting help from you as well. We would work with that blind spot. And about the birds, what’s the use of them spying for Aldric when their master would be disabled? Perhaps, I should try befriending them, who knows, I might win them with my charm?" Islinda winked at her.
Rosalind was left speechless by her enthusiasm. This was a difficult plan but It was obvious that Islinda’s mind was made up and she couldn’t convince her otherwise.
"Fine," She had no choice but to consider the plan, "I’ll try and get the drugs while you work on covering your paths. We can’t leave any trace at all."
"That is all for now," Islinda concluded, "If there are further adjustments to the plans, I will inform you while we work together in the kitchen. I’m afraid if we meet too often here, Aldric might suspect we are in cahoots and up to something."
"I understand, my lady."
When they finally left the ballroom, the both of them acted natural, engaging in conversations that didn’t reveal their plans at all. To further prove their newfound relationship, Rosalind stayed and gossiped with her until dinner time.
Aldric did not come for dinner - and she did not miss him. For the first time, Islinda was clear-headed and she had a goal to achieve - escaping this place. To get rid of boredom, she invited Aurelia, Rosalind, and others to join her at the table. They turned it down at first but no one could resist her charm and in no time she had a table full of lively and chatty Fae’s.
Islinda enjoyed her time with the Fae’s, and came across some interesting gossip as well, mostly about Issac and the fact he was eligible for the single females in the castle. If only they knew about Maxi, they wouldn’t discuss their interest in him openly.
However, all good things must come to an end, and so did the dinner. As usual, Aurelia and her entourage helped her with the bath, changing her into nightwear and she was left all alone. Bored and alone, Islinda finally recalled she had saved a book all this while.
She retrieved the book, Money Glory from beneath her bed where she had hidden with a proud grin on her face. So she relaxed back on her bed and opened to the first page. Nothing happened in the first few Chapters but the further she read, it confirmed her suspicions. The book was indeed full of snu snu.
Islinda intended to read late into the night when suddenly she felt drowsy. She barely even had the time to put down the book when it slipped from her hand and her eyes closed in sleep.
And then, she saw Valerie.