Inside the moving carriage.
"C-can the blindfold on my eyes be removed now?" Sofia asked her companion politely.
Zero glanced at his companion a few minutes later. His mind was preoccupied with the thoughts of getting Nini back to the capital without any delay. His parents were supposed to come to town, but he insisted in his message that there's no need for them to come. He will just bring the missing girl to the capital. "W-what did you say?" he asked the girl.
Sofia changed her mind. "Nothing..." she said.
She remembered that Hera explained to her the reason for the existence of the blindfold. If she insisted it be removed from her face, the lord might get angry and will change his mind and drop her in the middle of nowhere! She needs to get home safely! So, she must stay obedient while they're traveling on the road to avoid upsetting the lord.
Zero went back to making plans about his journey to the capital with Nini in his mind. He was also bothered about one thing... How to explain to the girl's parents about Menedelia's prophecy without sounding like an idiot in front of them? Would they believe it? And if they won't believe it? What he's going to do? Would he insist and do things differently for Nini for the safety of all or leave things be according to their will?
The more he thinks about the whole situation, the more he wants to go to the capital and present Nini to his parents and be done with it. The suspense is killing him!
Zero's mind was preoccupied the whole duration of the travel.
Sofia kept her mouth shut the whole time.
Two hours later.
It was already late in the afternoon, the sunset was already up on the horizon, and the surroundings starts to darken.
Their journey ended, they finally reached their destination.
The carriage stopped in a small clearing near the road. The area was fifty meters away from the house where Sofia lives.
The door of the carriage was opened by the driver. "My lord, we finally arrived at our destination!" he announced.
"Okay, help the lady to the ground," Zero ordered.
"Yes, my lord," the driver replied. He went inside the carriage and picked up Sofia's belonging, and helped her into the ground.
Zero exited the horse-drawn carriage. He removed Sofia's blindfold. "Up ahead is your home. You can walk straight towards the gate. Go on!" he ordered.
A bright smile appeared on Sofia's face after seeing the manor! "Oh my God! I can't believe it! I'm finally home! I'm so happy right now!" she squealed in delight. She looked at the guy standing beside her. "Thank you so much for accompanying me on the journey and for not hurting me physically while I'm under your captivity," she said thoughtfully.
Zero musters a small smile for the girl. "Don't mention it! Go home now. I'll stay here watching over you to make sure you enter the gate of the manor safely," he said.
"Okay," Sofia holds her meager belongings in her hands tightly and took her first step towards home.
She glanced over her shoulder and looked at the lord's face one last time. She probably won't see him ever again. While she was in captivity, the lord seldom visits the rooms in the basement. It's Hera that always visits her room to bring everything she needs.
While she was walking briskly towards the gate of the manor, her mind recalled the ordeal she faced inside the basement. Though, they didn't hurt her physically. The place scared her the most because she was imprisoned beneath the ground, and she had no idea how to get out! She was terrified that she will be locked up there for a long time until her hair turns to gray.
She was now a few meters away from the gate. She stopped in her tracks and looked over her shoulder. She saw the lord still watching her, prompting her to get inside the gate. She waved goodbye at him and resumed walking. She arrived at the gate, she tapped the brass handle on the gate, a small peephole opened immediately, and the guard took a peek to investigate who is outside.
"Miss Sofia! You're back!" the guard exclaimed in joy upon seeing the visitor. He quickly opened the small door and let her in. When she took a quick look over her shoulder, the lord was already gone from the spot where she saw him standing a while ago.
He's gone!
"Miss, where have you been? We've been looking all over the neighboring places for you!" the guard said.
Sofia smiled and released a deep sigh. "I'm stupid to run away. Good thing I met some people who were kind enough to give me a room to stay until my confusion is gone. I'm back now! Please inform everyone that I'm already home!" she told the guard.
"Aye, Miss!" he said and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Everyone, Miss Sofia is back, unharmed!"
Soon all the servants rushed to the gate.
One of them took Sofia's bag.
"We're glad you're back home safe and sound, Miss! Welcome home!" they chanted in unison.
"Thank you so much, everyone. I'm deeply sorry for causing trouble and putting you all in a state of panic and worry when I run away. I apologized from the bottom of my heart," Sofia said apologetically.
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