The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 182: Trapped Under Anxiety (2)

Chapter 182: Trapped Under Anxiety (2)

"This.... Part?" Madeline looked to her left and right, the speed of her heart increasing at the idea of taking the wrong route. The palace building was incredibly big, and almost every corner of the building seemed alike, and the fear of misinterpreting the direction Cassian had made her memorize made her clutch her fingers even tighter to the bag hanging on her shoulder.

Did she take the wrong route and bumped into Queen Theresa? Where does this part of the palace lead to??

Now she’s doomed!

"I... the thing is.." in the middle of coming up with another quick excuse, Madeline sealed her lips when a familiar, and a much more rich baritone voice echoed in the corridor, gaining everyone’s attention.

"You’re here already."

With all heads turning to the sound of the voice, Alaric could be seen approaching them from ahead. At the glorious sight of him, all the maidens lowered their heads shyly, and Madeline, who’s heart immediately felt relieved by the sight of His Majesty, equally dipped her head in a low bow.

"Your Majesty." Theresa looked in her husband’s direction, a bit surprised to see him here as well. "What brings His Majesty to my royal boudoir?"

Hearing this, Madeline’s eyes immediately widened, and she was so close to the point of lifting her head up and looking at the corridor she had taken.

The Queen’s royal boudoir? This part of the palace leads to the Queen ROYAL BOUDOIR??

Madeline felt like smacking herself as embarrassment took over, she must have come off as some kind of a perverted man in front of the Queen. Oh no! And his Majesty, will he recognize it’s her and not one of the military guards he assigned for tonight??

Taking small strides to stand beside his wife, Alaric smiled softly before looking at the guard, and then his wife. "What? Am I not allowed to visit the Queen in her royal boudoir?"

"That’s the least of what I mean." Theresa corrected with a smile, then glanced at the guard who still kept her head bowed in front of her. The only issue was, she mistook the guard to be a ’he’.

"This must be one of the guards you recruited." She gestured at the low military guard in front of her, "it’s a good thing you’re here, cause your guard must have lost his way and ended up in the wrong corridor. What did you say your name was, uhmmm.... Private Smith?"

"Y...yes." Madeline responded in her cracked deep tone, one that nearly elicited a laugh from Alaric if his wife wasn’t here to make him hold it in.

"Oh yes! I remember." Alaric snapped his fingers before looking at his wife who was still waiting for some answers. "I already gave the orders for the recruited guards to stay at the downstairs quarters and begin patrol for tonight, but I suppose this young Mr must have been excited to begin duty, and lost his way in the process."

Hearing things from Alaric’s side, Theresa seemed to believe the story as she finally lowered her guard. "Very well."

"And as for you, private Smith." Alaric’s tone turned unusually cold as he referred to Madeline who squeezed her eyes tightly to stop herself from flinching at his unhealthy tone.

"This is my wife’s private chamber, considering you’re a new guard and you must be unfamiliar with the directions, I shall pardon your actions, but if this happens to repeat itself, your eyes shall be gouged out as punishment for intruding on the Queen’s boudoir, am I clear?"

"Yes, your Majesty!" Madeline answered quickly, and after having that settled, Alaric looked at his wife with a softer expression.

"Forgive me for having inconvenienced you with the guard."

"Ah! No," Theresa immediately stopped her husband from apologizing, " there’s nothing to apologize for, the guard didn’t inconvenience me at all, actually... I was just startled, that’s all, but it makes sense now after having things clarified."

Madeline let out a silent breath of relief, silently thanking the heavens for giving His Majesty such a nice lady for a Queen. There are some Queen’s who wouldn’t hesitate to flaunt their powers and punish those that were of low status, and Madeline could only feel thankful that His Majesty met a woman who didn’t possess such a toxic trait.

"Thank you for your mercy, My Queen." Madeline showed her appreciation, and Queen Theresa said nothing more before taking her leave with the rest of her maids as they continued down the corridor and took a right turn down the passageway, fading from their sight.

Alaric let out the breath he had been holding and looked at the guard in front of him. Once alone, Madeline lifted her head up and tried to explain.

"Your Majesty, it’s me..."

"I know." He cut her off while laughing inwardly, "you really took your disguise to the next level," he said, referring to the scarf she had wrapped around her nose and down to her neckline.

The only thing visible was her eyes.

"Come with me." Alaric turned and led her down the stairs, and Madeline took a deep breath before following His Majesty.

They walked a few more corridors down the second floor until they arrived at a small room tucked away in the back of the palace. Following Alaric and taking notes of the direction he took, Madeline came to the realization that she had followed the upper floor instead of the middle floor, and that was what brought up the confusion.

"You’re so dumb Maddie." She smacked the back of her head, recalling the embarrassment she had to face in front of the Queen and His Majesty.

Looking around to make sure no one was in sight, Alaric opened the door and walked in with Madeline taking the next step behind him.

Cassian was waiting for them on the inside as he sat down on the bed, looking anxious about something, but his eyes immediately lit up when he saw Madeline entering the room after Alaric.

"You made it." He breathed, rising to his feet as he pulled the woman into a tight embrace, and Madeline clung to him with her arms wrapped around his neck.

"I’m happy to see you too." She whispered.

Alaric cleared his throat to signal his forgotten presence, his eyes darting between the two of them. "We need to go, now."

Cassian, having been brought back to reality, nodded his head before taking the traveling bag from Madeline. The look he gave her conveyed a silent message, asking if she had packed everything that would be necessary for the journey to Amade’s place, and she nodded.

"Let’s go."

Stepping out of the room with their hands locked, Alaric had to get rid of a few guards in order to grant them access towards the back exit that led to the backyard garden.

There was a secret passageway that Alaric brought them to, and after offering their thanks, Cassian and Madeline slipped through the hidden door which was camouflaged by green shrubs and flowers, and they successfully snuck out of the palace.