Chapter 28

Chapter 28
The door opened to let in Cara who had left to go get Queen Jasmine a cup of coffee to help lighten her mood. The Queen so much enjoys coffee, what she'd do to have coffee every morning and night.
Cara smiled as she knew how elated the Queen would be to know that the content of the mug cup was purely coffee.

Queen Jasmine sat up as Cara approached her with the mug as she felt it had to be one of those portions.

As Cara drew close, she could perceive a smell.

"Mmm, that has to be coffee". She sniffed in some more, "Yes, it is definitely coffee" she added grinning from ear to ear. She couldn't even hide her excitement.

_Why should she? It's her favourite beverage to take in the morning to start her day and at night to end the day_

Cara watched her grab the mug from her hands, slowly emptying the content of the mug into her stomach with so much pleasure. One could have a craving for coffee with the way she drinks hers. Cara thought about this and had a good laugh.

Queen Jasmine looked up at a laughing Cara confused and asked innocently, "What's funny?"

This cracked Cara more and before she could maintain her composure, she was already rolling on the ground with laughter.

Queen Jasmine still concerned with her dreams paid less attention to Cara who was laughing uncontrollably on the ground. She would only stare at Cara from beneath her mug of coffee and wonder when she'd stop laughing.

_Oh well.. Whatever is cracking her up must be really funny, I haven't seen her laugh like this before_

By the time she was done drinking, she asked Cara who was now sitting crouched by her bedside, for a refill. Cara obliged.

While on her way to the Kitchen still concerned about Queen Jasmine, she tried thinking of what she could say to Jasmine to make her happy. She thought long and hard, so many ideas, yet no good idea. Finally, a thought came to mind while reaching for the door. She stopped in her tracks.

_Yes! That's the one. I should probably remind her of our outing today. I'm sure she'll be pleased. Besides, she could even get answers to that troubling dream when she gets there._

Feeling fulfilled and overly joyed, she hurriedly rushed for the door, nearly bursting into a conversation she wasn't invited to. Just few seconds from pushing the door open and hurrying to the coffee machine, she heard something drop and spun around against her will to look for it. While bending to check she heard some footsteps and for some reason, hurried to hide. Running to hide behind the curtain separating the maidens' room from the kitchen and other rooms, she heard the door handle flicker. By then, she was already comfortably hiding behind the curtain.

The first person stepped out then two others followed. From where she was she couldn't possibly see their faces clearly but could guess who they were by their voices and physique. She could spot Rose... Becca and...
_Who is she? I don't think I know this one, I haven't seen her before._
_Then again... What is Becca doing with Rose?_ She asked pondering.
"When did they recently become friends?" She questioned asking no one in particular.
_The last time I checked they never really got along._ Cara thought.

She moved closer to the curtain and with her hands, adjusted the curtain a little to the side trying hard to know what the discussion was about. Seeing Becca made her more curious as she etched forward. She paid rapt attention but could only hear a little of what they were saying. She had often times wished the curtain had a lighter texture and was transparent in order for the maidens' to get good views on what was happening in the other rooms and not to feel like they were being isolated but today, she was more than grateful for it's thickness and less transparency.

Speaking a little above a whisper, "Who will be accompanying her today?" Rose asked eager to find out.

"I don't know" came the reply of one, looking away. She didn't want to go anywhere today and wouldn't like anyone to impose anything on her.

_I intend to be where I am, relaxing and not babysitting a grown ass woman_

"You should go" Becca suggested pointing in Rose's direction.

"Me? No, I'll rather not!", I intend to be on the low for now.

"Really, on the low? After the stunt you pulled the other day" said Becca looking at Rose with so much annoyance.

"Tell me about it", added the other person.

Rose stood in awe, wondering how they found out about her and Matt. She had intended to just play her own cards secretly.

Soon her amazement turned into anger as she felt a pang of betrayal.
_It has got to be her! I only told her and she talks too much! I'll get her for this._

Rose was lost in her own thoughts and didn't hear what Becca and the other lady had said.

"... Let's go with that arrangement, it would serve better" the other lady added, agreeing to whatever Becca had just said.

Rose stood confused but didn't dare ask as she was already being hated for not following the initial plan.

Why should she? She has never been known for being subjected to other people's plans. She must have a plan in the general plan should they decided to stab her in the back.

_Who do they even think they are? So what if I had decided to just have a little chat with Matt, my ex lover. What difference did it even make?_ She thought, trying hard not to feel guilty for creating a loophole in their plan.

"What do you think, Rose?" Becca asked looking at Rose for some sort of contribution. They have been standing there for close to thirty minutes discussing on what and what not to do, while Rose just stood there, acting like it didn't concern her.

"Huh?" asked a confused Rose after being jolted back to the present by the mention of her name.

Becca and the other lady exchanged glances and Becca already looking pissed asked again, "We were asking what your contribution was. We have been standing here for minutes discussing, while you act like it doesn't concern you or like we are saying gibberish. This is how you'd do and end up ruining the entire plan again". Sneering she added, "Thanks to you we had to devise a new plan!".

The other lady noticed the stare Rose had shot at Becca upon her last statement and nudged at Becca to calm down. She knew she had to put an end to this two bickering if not it'd attract the attention of others and even be catastrophic to their plan.

_I don't know why this two can't get along... I'm tired of them._

"It's going to be really hard to achieve this with the way you two keep getting at each other" the other lady added resigned.

_I think we might just need more hands in this particular one and we would need them fast and..._ she thought. _...I would be the one to handle it this time around_ she concluded.

Rose anger could be seen from any angle. She didn't try to feign or cover it up. She just couldn't. Becca was really eating deep into her skin and she wasn't going to take it any more.

_Just a little longer_ she tried to assure herself.

Rose with a fake smile asked, "So, is nobody going to brief me on the new plan? We all know now, all thanks to Becca that I wasn't listening and as she has said, it's totally my fault and I would like to be involved".

Becca looked at Rose, not buying any of it. She thought it best to leave in order not to get really upset and that was exactly what she did. She looked at the girls, shook her head and left hurriedly.

While walking hurriedly, she kept checking to see if someone was watching her until she disappeared.


Behind the curtain, Cara stood watching the many drama unfold before her and was more shocked at their plan. She needed to go inform the Queen and she needed to do that fast!

How would she leave?

_Krikk!_

Cara looked down to find her leg on the saucer she had left on the ground while trying to eavesdrop on the ladies' conversation.

She horrifically looked in the direction of the two ladies and saw them looking towards her direction as well.
She had to get out of there without being seen but how?

Rose left the other lady to go check what had happened. As she moved closer, about to draw the curtains, the other lady alarmed, said above a whisper, "Stop!"

Rose turned back to meet the lady's horrified face and didn't know why.

"What's wrong?" Rose whispered back, leaving that position and heading for her friend, concerned.

"Have you forgotten it's a taboo for the royal family to go near the maidens' room, not to speak of drawing the curtains?". She asked with so much caution as though dreading the worst.
"It seems like you are ready to permanently move out by daybreak" she added lightly.

_Phew!_
That was a close one. Cara thought as she almost got caught. If she had been caught, she would have stood before the council and wait for them to decide on the best punishment to give to her for eavesdropping on the royal family.

_I need to go, now!_ she thought, as soon as the other two walked out.

She waited until she couldn't see their shadows again before coming out of her hiding place. Quickly, she made for the Queen's room to inform her of all their plans.