Once Upon an Apple by Gabrielle Landi

Author:Gabrielle Landi [Gabrielle Landi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gabrielle Landi
Published: 2024-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter thirteen

Sophia

Sophia’s heart was trying to beat its way out of her chest as she ran down the hallway and down the stairs toward the kitchen.

How could she have been so stupid?

She should have known Caspian wasn’t a normal guard.

How could she have ignored the signs for so long?

He hadn’t acted normally from the beginning. He hadn’t attended a single evening meal in the servants’ dining hall, for heaven’s sake. She should have known that something was different about him.

She’d been escorting Liliana back to the family’s wing and on her way back to the courtyard had heard his voice.

She didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help hearing what he was saying.

When she’d overheard him calling Lady Rendon his mother, it felt like he’d stabbed her with a knife.

All this time, he’d been keeping a huge secret from her.

It was probably better that she found out now…but she felt betrayed.

Why had no one else said anything?

Liliana hadn’t ever said a word about him being her brother. She’d just assumed he was the guard assigned to follow Liliana when she went on adventures with Sophia.

Dietrich had been right to warn her away, even if he hadn’t known exactly what was wrong. Because he would have warned her if he knew that Caspian was nobility.

Right?

She could hear Caspian’s footsteps thudding on the floor behind her as she darted into the kitchen and hid around the back of the door.

Maybe no one had noticed her. They seemed particularly inclined to ignore her anyway—what would make today any different?

Caspian crashed through the kitchen door and slammed to a stop. “Where’s Sophia?” he demanded.

Sophia watched with wide eyes as no one said anything, even though half of the kitchen could clearly see her hiding behind the door.

“I know she came in here. Where is she?” Caspian said.

Cook’s eyes shifted to Sophia for barely half a second, but it was long enough for Caspian to realize where she was. He moved the door, and his brown eyes took her in. Could he tell that she was shaking?

“Sophia,” he said softly. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. She didn’t want to talk to him.

“Tell me what happened,” he said.

“Why don’t you tell me, Lord Rendon?” she asked quietly, though the words had a bite to them.

His eyes widened. “You didn’t know.”

It wasn’t a question.

She didn’t want to hear his excuses. He’d known who he was all this time, and he hadn’t told her. That wasn’t something you should keep from someone, especially if you were spending time with them.

Maybe she’d been reading it wrong. Maybe he wasn’t trying to get to know her like she thought. Maybe that was simply her inexperience talking. Maybe he only saw her as a friend.

But even a friend should know who you were.

Did everyone at the café know who he was? Had they kept silent, too?

“Sophia, please.” He offered his hand. “Let me explain.”

There was a lump in her throat as she swallowed, unsure of what to say. Everyone in the kitchen was staring at her, which was the most attention they’d paid to her since she’d arrived.

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