The cheers of her fellow competitors faded into the background as Adanna's mind raced. Escape. She had to find a way to explore beyond the estate's confines. Just then, Serena, her eyes alight with excitement, rushed up to her.
"Adanna! We did it! We have made it to the next round!" Serena shrieked, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she threw her arms around Adanna.
Adanna forced a smile, the thrill of survival momentarily dampened by her predicament. "Indeed," she mumbled, patting Serena awkwardly on the back. "We have."
Serena pulled back, her brow furrowed in concern. "What troubles you? You look as though you have swallowed a griffin feather the wrong way."
Adanna hesitated, then let out a frustrated sigh. "Serena," she confessed, "I came here to explore Aeronia, to see the wonders beyond these walls. Now I am stuck on this estate like a caged bird."
Serena's eyes softened with understanding. "I understand, Adanna. This competition is turning out to be a bit more... restrictive than we initially thought."
Adanna leaned in conspiratorially, her voice barely a whisper. "So, I am considering an escape."
Serena's jaw dropped. "Escape? Adanna, are you mad? The Duchess's rules are clear, and the penalties for disobedience severe!"
"I know," Adanna said, her voice low and intense. "But I did not come all this way to be cooped up like a prize chicken. I shall see Aeronia, one way or another."
Serena stared at the carriage, then back at Adanna, a mixture of disbelief and apprehension in her eyes. "Are you certain about this, Adanna? The guards might spot you."
"I shall be careful," Adanna assured her, already formulating her escape strategy.
Serena sighed, "Very well then. If you are determined to do this mad thing, I suppose I am stuck helping you."
A wide grin spread across Adanna's face. "That is the spirit, Serena!" she exclaimed, throwing an arm around her friend's shoulder. "Together, we shall conquer!"
Serena could only shake her head in amusement, a flicker of nervous excitement dancing in her eyes. This competition was turning out to be far more adventurous than she had anticipated. Adanna's plan was risky, foolhardy even, but Serena knew her friend would not back down from a challenge. She braced herself for the unknown, a small smile playing on her lips. It seemed a wild adventure was about to begin.
Inside their chambers, Adanna paced the floor, her mind racing with thoughts of escape. The walls felt suffocating, and she could almost hear the call of the world outside. Serena, watched her with a mix of amusement and concern.
"Adanna," she said, her voice calm and measured, "perhaps we should wait for a better opportunity?"
Before Adanna could respond to Serena's suggestion, a sound from without caught Adanna's attention. She ran to the window, and peered out, her eyes widening in excitement.
"Serena, come here quick!" she whispered urgently.
Serena joined her at the window, following Adanna's gaze. In the courtyard below, the massive estate gates creaked open, allowing a griffin-drawn carriage to enter.
"See?" Adanna whispered, a triumphant grin spreading across her face. "Our ticket to freedom!"
Serena stared at the carriage, then back at Adanna, a flicker of doubt clouding her eyes. "Are you certain about this, Adanna? Sneaking into a carriage leaving the estate sounds... reckless."
Adanna puffed out her chest, her voice brimming with confidence. "Of course I am! Think upon it. The carriage is leaving, the guards will not be expecting anyone to hop in. It is the perfect opportunity to slip out and explore Aeronia!"
Serena chewed on her lip, her mind racing. Adanna's plan was audacious, reckless even, but seeing the determination blazing in her friend's eyes, Serena knew arguing would be futile.
"Very well then," Serena finally conceded with a sigh. "If you are determined to become a fugitive, I suppose I am stuck being your accomplice. But promise me you shall be careful, Adanna."
A wide grin lit up Adanna's face. "Careful? I shall be a master of disguise! Nobody shall even know I was gone," she declared confidently.
Serena chuckled, shaking her head in amusement. This competition was turning into quite the adventure. "Just try not to get us both disqualified before the next round even starts," she warned playfully.
Adanna winked. "Do not worry, Serena. We shall be back before anyone even notices we're gone. Now, let us prepare for our grand escape!"
Later that day, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows through the window of Adanna and Serena's chambers. Serena laid on her bed fast asleep after a long day of strategizing and gossiping with the other contestants. Adanna, however, was wide awake, a determined glint in her eye as she sat on her bed, writing a letter to her sisters back home.
"Dearest Family," she wrote, "I safely arrived in Aeronia, yesternight. I am presently enjoying my time in Aeronia," another stretch of the truth. "The culture is beautiful and the food is absolutely delicious. However, the competition is quite rigorous. The first challenge has concluded and to my surprise, I have advanced to the next round." She paused, the tip of her quill hovering over the parchment as she contemplated her next words.
"Serena is with me," she continued, "and she is as delightful as ever. We are sharing the same room, which brings comfort amidst the uncertainties of this grand quest." Adanna took a deep breath and dipped her quill into the inkwell once more. "I have made a bold decision, one that may seem reckless, but I believe it is for the best. I shall not be confined to the estate. I shall find a way to explore the lands of Aeronia. It is not merely about the competition. This is a chance for growth, for understanding and discovery."
"Yours Truly, Adanna."
Re-reading the letter, a mischievous smile crept across her face. This would be her excuse to venture into the courtyard, a necessary step in her grand escape plan. Just as she was about to fold the letter, a knock on the door startled her. She quickly slipped it under her pillow and called out, "Enter!"
The door creaked open, revealing the familiar faces of Juana and Inés, the maids who had dressed them that morning.
"Dinner is served, ladies. We shall escort you to the dining room." Inés said with a courteous smile.
"Very well," Adanna replied, hopping off the bed. Juana walked towards Serena, her touch like a feather as she gently shook her shoulder.
Serena, buried deep in sleep, let out a muffled groan. Adanna chuckled. "Serena, it is time for dinner," she nudged her friend playfully.
Serena's eyes fluttered open, blinking away the remnants of sleep. "Dinner? I shall only wake up for food," she murmured, stretching languidly.
Their laughter echoed softly through the chamber as Juana and Inés led them out. As they walked down the hallway, Adanna's ears perked up. Two maids, their voices hushed, were cleaning a nearby room. Though she could not understand the language, the urgency in their tones piqued her curiosity.
"No puedo creer que hayan pasado 2 meses desde que desapareció el padre del duque," one whispered, her voice laced with concern. (I can't believe it's been two months since the Duke's father disappeared.)
The other maid replied in the same hushed tone, "Lo sé, es una pena, desapareció así como así. Creo que hay algo sospechoso en su desaparición." (I know, it's a shame. He vanished just like that. I think there's something fishy about his disappearance.)
Adanna furrowed her brow, frustration bubbling within her. What were they talking about?
Suddenly, Inés, who had been walking a few paces ahead, turned around and spoke sharply in Spanish. "¡Ya sabes que no se permite chismorrear en la finca! Tenemos invitados, no difundas rumores, especialmente cuando sabías que la duquesa quería mantenerlos ocultos y en secreto." (You know gossiping is not allowed on the estate! We have guests, don't spread rumors, especially when you know the Duchess wanted them kept hidden and secret.)
The two maids exchanged apologetic glances, muttering apologies under their breath. "Nos disculpamos," they mumbled, their voices filled with shame.
Inés shot them another stern look before turning back to Adanna and Serena. "Apologies for the interruption, ladies," she said smoothly, as if nothing had happened. "Shall we continue to the dining room?"
Adanna and Serena exchanged confused glances. They hadn't understood a word of the exchange, but the tension in the air was undeniable. Inés, who was so friendly and cheerful, had turned into a scolding authority figure. Perhaps, Adanna thought, Aeronia wasn't the perfect paradise it seemed on the surface. A dark secret, hidden whispers – a mystery that gnawed at her curiosity even as she longed to focus on her escape plan.