Chapter Seventeen: Scandalous
...
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9GB2NdJnX
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZqbmwEZkE
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzHudOYyAQ
60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMf2cuCb5a
“Andromeda?”
Philomath called, her voice echoing off the high rounded ceilings of the temple followed by the clicking of her cane against the floor.
Andromeda rushed into the room, her hair half braided upwards around wires like a halo of branches, her bare feet padding on the cold stone tile.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Coming! Coming! Coming!”
She chanted, seizing Philomath’s hands and lacing their fingers together, Philomath’s cane clattering to the ground.
A smile spread across Philomath’s face.
“Greetings!”
She gasped.
Andromeda chuckled
“Did I startle you?”
She asked, tilting her head slightly.
Philomath released Andromeda’s hand and attempted to brush her white hair back from her face.
“Well, I-”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa4jkjqChI
She huffed as her hair fell back over her face.
“I-”
Andromeda tucked Philomath’s hair behind her ear.
“I got it, love.”
She chortled before clearing her throat awkwardly
“Now, why have you traveled here, of all places, at this hour?”
Philomath leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping to a whisper.
“The prince. He is still… absent.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf6mkga1oN
Andromeda blinked.
“What do you mean? Why did you have to whisper that?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOrMSnaud2
“It is a scandal, to say the least.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklVYm51f7O
“So I did see him stumbling down the road?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuUzZSSxgA
“Possibly.”
Philomath peeped, twiddling her thumbs.
Andromeda opened and closed her mouth for a moment, contemplating what to say.
“I- …Does the princess know?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLenIYvjxjT
She breathed, tilting her head.
“No. Virelai has no idea. The queen told her that he was ill.”
Andromeda licked her lips at Philomath’s response.
“Mh… very scandalous indeed. A missing prince.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuWYFbMLub
She purred, smirking to herself.
“You must not tell anyone, Andromeda!”
Philomath snapped.
“But why…?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJrW5BaXWn
Andromeda pouted.
“Because the honor of the royal family is at stake!”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHVqckFLmK
Philomath hissed, crossing her arms over her chest.
Andromeda arched her eyebrows.
“And?”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMgh4pxk5P
“I could lose my job!”
“Better.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpbTV48mVy
Philomath paused for a moment.
“Though I must say, ‘The Missing Prince Leveret’ does sound rather… attention grabbing.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdAeWKtSw2
She admitted sheepishly.
“It does.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDUFlrU6X9
Andromeda said before letting out a snort.
“And to think the queen herself told me that my eyes were ‘not what they used to be’ when I asked her about the rumors…”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNSMcjyEcP
She chuckled.
“You asked her about it?!”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtbbJXMyDj
Philomath gasped in horror.
“Of course I did! I had to go to the source.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQPP76DvrQ
“Oh my Mogshade you are so unhelpful.”
Philomath muttered, rubbing her temples.
“I heard you found my mannerisms amusing.”
Andromeda grinned.
Philomath made a gesture that Andromeda had learned was her version of rolling her eyes.
“I suppose… you are correct.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDUu6VyEIH
She bent to grab her cane.
“Now, I really must be going, love-”
Andromeda pulled Philomath up by her forearm.
“Nonsese! Come! Stay the night! What is mine is yours, my darling!”
She sing-songed, leading Philomath off into her personal quarters in the back of the temple.
Philomath stumbled slightly with a laugh.
“Oh my- if you insist.”60Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTvdlcc32e
and then Add to home screen.