“Is there not a girl you ought to accompany on these walks?” Molly jested.
Joseph scratched the back of his head, exclaiming, “Ah…” “Regrettably, I have not had the privilege of interacting with women of my age group, as many are already married or have not acknowledged my presence.”
“What?” Molly enquired, her lips slightly parted. That assertion was unequivocally false! Numerous men at Life Pharmacy were not nearly as attractive as he was. “You are charmingly attractive; I was certain numerous girls fantasised about you!”
Joseph scoffed and averted his gaze, his cheeks flushed. “It is inconsequential; I have not encountered anyone as exceptional as you.”
“Is it prudent for you to express that, considering I will be returning home in a few days?” Molly enquired.
“I have nothing to lose,” he stated, revealing his radiant smile. He would be a heartthrob if he interacted more frequently with women of his age group. Additionally, all the maids at the palace. Molly merely glimpsed a flash of blue eyes in her mind, akin to a dream that tormented her more than any other. Jayce’s volatile temperament and possessive disposition incited a desire to strangle him, yet a greater part of her longed for his presence to embrace her and kiss her passionately.
Molly sighed and attempted to dismiss the prince from her thoughts. He guided her to a vacant clearing and grasped her hand. Molly enquired with suspicion, “What are you doing?”
“I am competing against a prince, and my time is limited. I am attempting to captivate you. Not literally, of course,” he added hastily. Molly chuckled and restrained her voice by biting her lip.
“What is your anticipated method for achieving that?”
Joseph abruptly drew her against his chest and clasped her waist. For an instant, she had forgotten how to articulate. “Have you ever performed a dance in the snow?”
“I-what? No, I am not proficient in dancing-”
“Nonsense, it is trivial.” Joseph smiled as he elevated her until she was positioned atop his boots. Molly lacked the opportunity to protest before he began rearranging them in the clearing as if they were characters in an absurd fairytale. A bubble of laughter attempted to emerge, yet she refrained from encouraging him.
“Joseph!” Molly exclaimed. She clutched him firmly, and he appeared to be self-satisfied. He spun them to a melody she could not perceive. Every movement was elegant, causing her embarrassment as she realised there was no possibility of matching his pace had he not elevated her onto her toes.
He observed her with a smile and a measure of focus as he progressed. One of her hands grasped his shoulder while the other rested on his waist. She gradually lowered it as he appeared increasingly distracted. She grasped the cold metal of his keys, concealed them within her sleeve, and then resumed her hold on him, never diverting her gaze.
He clasped her waist and twirled her around the clearing as if she were a liberated dancer. She permitted herself to relish it, if only briefly. As her feet returned to the floor, she recalled the reason for her presence.
“I did not perceive you as the dancing type,” Molly remarked. Despite the romantic allure of dancing in the moonlight, he was directing his affections towards the incorrect heart.
“My mother instructed me during my childhood,” he remarked with a smile while guiding her back to the building. Its dimensions were akin to those of a castle, rendering any alternative designation peculiar.
“She must have been enchanting. I have never acquired the skill to dance. It is not typically anticipated of a maid.”
“I would presume it would be so if you were a prince’s consort,” Joseph remarked, observing her intently as the burden of the keys weighed heavily in her sleeve.
Molly stated, “I need not concern myself with that; he has a companion at the palace.” She attempted to disregard the surge of guilt that arose whenever she recalled that. Did others perceive her merely as an adjunct to the prince? The shame she experienced was nearly more profound than the guilt she harboured, despite her awareness of her disdain for Vera.
“Fascinating,” Joseph remarked softly. He covertly escorted her back into the palace and along the corridors to her chamber. They stealthily manoeuvred past a slumbering guard and hastened towards the door that was ajar. Molly pivoted towards him and embraced his shoulders with her arms.
“I appreciate the delightful evening,” she murmured, kissing his cheek. Upon her withdrawal, he appeared more crimson than a tomato, nearly provoking her amusement.
“Certainly, my lady. Goodnight.” He inclined his head. Molly smiled and shut the door behind her. She perceived the lock engage behind her.
Molly waited approximately thirty minutes before extracting the keys from her sleeve and proceeding to unlock her door.
She scarcely believed it upon hearing the lock engage. Multiple attempts with various keys were required before it ultimately functioned. Molly donned an additional jumper before cautiously opening the door and glancing into the hallway. She was uncertain how it had become so dark in such a brief period; perhaps Joseph had taken all the light with him.
She swiftly dismissed his benevolent visage from her thoughts. Kindness proved futile in her quest for survival—she acquired this knowledge through difficult experience. Lessons are invariably acquired through adversity, and she had experienced numerous such instances.
Molly cautiously opened the door and slipped through the narrow gap. She closed the door and secured it behind her as though she had never exited the room. It would deceive them only until morning, after which they would pursue her. It is hoped that she will locate the camp well before that occurs.
Whether it was hours or mere minutes until the sun emerged, she was uncertain, yet one thing was unequivocal. She needed to expedite her actions before anyone else arrived to knock. Joseph was the sole individual to enquire about her well-being since her arrival, apart from Mr. Hugh. However, she already had a scheduled appointment with him, so she did not anticipate his inquiry regarding her until the evening. That provided her with sufficient opportunity to distance herself as much as possible from this location.
Molly maintained a buoyant gait as she retraced the route Joseph had guided her along less than an hour prior. She surveyed the walls and scrutinised each corner to ensure the guards remained soundly asleep before she swiftly passed. She was uncertain whether Joseph had finished for the night after departing from her or if he was patrolling the grounds, as no one else was available to do so. She was acutely aware of the necessity for heightened caution.
Her feet felt as though they were floating on air as she hurried to the door that opened to the outside. No sound resonated against the ground, as though she possessed no weight. Nevertheless, her heart was the most prominent sound within her. It might have even roused the deceased.
Upon attempting to open the door, she collided with it. The noise was so intense that she had to hold her breath and listen for any indication of footsteps approaching to send her back from whence she came. She mentally counted and remained motionless as ice. Upon reaching the age of thirty, she attempted to open the door, but it was secured.
Molly extracted the keys and attempted each one until she found the correct key that fit the lock and enabled her to turn it. The frigid breeze that caressed her face was nearly a reprieve. She cast a fleeting glance backward before hastening into the snow that still bore their footprints.
