CHAPTER 248: ECAPE

Meanwhile Ernest refused his subordinate offer and decided to find Anastasia. He followed Rosa to the last place she left Anastasia and started following the clues. It lead him to the guest room that the king had entered and he witnessed the scandal hiding outside the door

He felt his blood go cold when he heard a voice saying that Anastasia had made up with the formal king.

"My lady would not, something is wrong,," Rosa wanted to rush inside and tell the truth but Ernest stopped her. He was not a fool. This was a set up to force Anastasia back to the royal family and ruin her reputation.

Who would take the words of a servant seriously?

Rosa started crying, she could not believe that she left her lady for such a short while and something so big happened .

Just as the two were in dispair they had the conversation "then, where is my lady?" Rosa asked.

"Let check the other rooms around this area," Ernest said releasing a breath he did not realize he was holding. Rosa immediately cleaned her tears a followed his instructions.

The sun was dipping low in the sky, casting long shadows across the hedges and statues of the southern garden. Ernest noticed the faint trace of blood on the ivy-covered path near the servants’ gate.

He frown, after all, blood in the palace floor was unusual."My lady..."

Rosa turned to ask Ernest if he had any new lead but seeing the look on his face her heart missed a beat.

Without a word, the two of them broke into a quiet run, following the droplets that led past the rose maze and toward the small abandoned pavilion by the reflecting pond—a place rarely visited.

Rosa reached the door first and gasped.

Inside, huddled in the shadows behind a broken marble bench, Anastasia sat curled on the ground, her back pressed against the stone wall. Her gown was torn at the hem, her palm crudely wrapped in her own sash—the cloth soaked through with blood.

She looked up with dull eyes, barely registering their presence.

"Anastasia!" Ernest strode forward, his voice tight with panic. "What happened? Who did this to you?" he asked as many possiblies run through his mind.

Anastasia blinked, as if she were still dreaming. Then she saw Rosa, and a flicker of recognition sparked in her gaze.

"I think it was in the wine." Anastasia said sounding weak

Rosa knelt beside her, tears filling her eyes. "We were so scared... We thought—" She couldn’t finish. She did not dare say what they have just witnessed.

Ernest was already shrugging off his coat and kneeling down. "You’re safe now. No one’s going to touch you again."

Anastasia winced as he touched her hand. "There is ...

"Don’t speak," Ernest said gently. "We’ll take care of it. You did what you had to do." he saw the guilt in her eyes and had some guess

He glanced at Rosa. "Go and inform her grace that you lady is sick and left the palace early," saying this he lifted Anastasia up and carried her in the opposite direction.

.....

The women who left the chamber continue to gossip about what they just witnessed. They focus on Elizabeth, after Edward was a king and they did not dare gossip as they pleased about him especially in the palace. Moreover, in situations like this the one who beared the blame was always the woman.

As they moved towards the garden they saw Anita who looked worried.

As soon as she saw the queen mother, she walked over

"Your grace ." She just started talking when Mary cut her off.

"Duchess Anita, I was just letting looking for you to ask how you have raised your daughter?"

"Your grace, what do you mean?" Duchess Anita felt her heart missed a beat. When she had Anastasia was sick she also wanted to go and see what was going on. After all, as a stepmother she had to show concern even if it is for show. That was when she noticed Elizabeth was not present and she had been gone for a while. She started looking for Elizabeth and all she saw was her personal maid

"My lady went to relieve herself," the maid answered but they have search everywhere but could not find her. Duchess Anita started feeling anxious when the women returned. Mary’s question further scared her.

"What I mean is how your engaged daughter ended up in the king"s bed?" Mary asked with a frown.

"What..." Duchess Anita was shocked. She could not believe this news after all she had raised her properly.

Mary open her mouth to continue to rebuke Duchess Anita but Rosa arrived at that time

"Your grace, " Rosa bowed calling the attention of everyone to herself. She did not notice the atmosphere was wrong because she was worried about Anastasia.

Mary turned with a cold gaze to look at her. Usually, Rosa would have been scared silly by that gaze but at this moment she did not really notice. "My lady has suddenly become sick, she sent me to take permission to leave early," Rosa said.

When Mary heard this, she suddenly withdraw her cold gaze and show concern, "why is she in a hurry to leave, I already sent the for the royal physicians for her," she said. She was not willing to allow Anastasia leave the palace she held this banquet just for her.

"Your grace, my lady dare not request a royal physician. She is just a common woman," Rosa said this and suddenly realized a problem. She had seek Ernest for help in a desperate situation. Now she had no idea where her mistress has been taken to.

"What nonsense are you saying? " Mary gaze turned colder. This time Rosa felt her body go weak

"Your grace, I have said the wrong thing, I am just very anxious about my lady, she is already in the carriage leaving but she did not want her grace to worry, so she send me with her last strength to inform your grace, please your grace I’ve the permission," Rosa said. She knew her lady could not remain in the palace.

"You go back with the royal physician. I will not be at eas," Mary said. Since Anastasia was already in the carriage she could not continue to keep her in the palace.

"I thank your grace for your kindness," Rosa said and hurried away. Its was like she was been chased by a wild beast.

Duchess Anita used this opportunity to calculate and compose herself.

"Your grace, I have been looking for my daughter. It is not in her behavior to wander away without telling me, her maid said she went to use the out room. Now she is in the king’s bed. Please investigate," Duchess Anita understood that she could not allow her daughter’s reputation to be ruined.

Mary turned her gaze to Duchess Anita, "of course I will investigate, The king and lady Anastasia’ were discussing reconciliation, I also want to know how your daughter ended in his majesty’s bed" she almost snapped. The more she thought about it the more she got angry. Saying this she ended the party and walked away.

"What happened?" She turned to Miss Margaret as they walked over to the king study.

"Your grace, I have asked the maid, she put Lady Anastasia in that room," Miss Margaret answered. Seeing the situation in the room, she had began to investigate.

"Then how did she turn out to be another?" Mary asked.

"Your grace, this is the part I am not sure of. The king was informed after she fell asleep on the bed," Miss Margaret could not also understand.

"What about her maid? How did you handle her?" Mary guessed that Rosa must have been the one that help her escape. She had instructed them to take care of her maid properly.

"Your grace, when the maid went to help lady Anastasia her maid was not with her. She sent her away. Lady Anastasia sent her to arrange the carriage. The maid deliberately lead lady Anastasia in circles so she would not find her. Moreover, we had a servant keep an eye on her, she did not go to that courtyard," Miss Margaret replied.

Mary frowned when she heard this, she continues towards the king study and walked in without knocking.

"What happened?" She asked as soon as she walked in.

King Edward raised his head but did not say anything. Instead he poured himself a cup of wine for himself.

"Answer me..." Mary was irritated by his actions.

"Should I not be asking you? The person in that room should be Anastasia. She was supposed to be half unconscious when I go over," Edward said running his hand through his hair feeling frustrated. This had been his mother’s plans to solve the rumors.

"You... Why did you not check the woman you were on the bed with. Is it not funny that you can not recognize your wife?" Mary asked.

"I did not, I just set the stage, must I do it for real?" King Edward asked. He actually had no plans to share a bed with Anastasia. Or allow her bear his children. This time he just wanted to set the stage and force her back. Since she ruined his reputation he wanted to destroy her.