Izzy got up early the next day before Timothy’s call for her. It wasn’t like her to wake up at dawn but she needed the comfort of the garden. The past few days, she had been physically worn out as Timothy distracted her with activities that kept her busy.
The feel of the slight breeze of morning air invited her to take a stroll in the garden. The dew stuck onto the grass which left a sweet smelling scent of clean grass surround her.
Izzy then reached a part of the garden where a single bench stood, looking into the field of flowers. A place she always went for refuge. However, it was already occupied despite the early morning.
As she got closer to the hunched figure, she realized it was Maliki with a sketchpad and an ivory pencil in his hand. The motion of his wrist were swift and professional and he barely looked up at the scenery before him.
“Good morning,” Maliki said, surprising Izzy. She thought she had been quiet enough to go unnoticed.
“Good morning, Maliki,” she said softly, walking over to stand behind him.
Over his shoulder, Izzy found Maliki drawing come to life. It was a detailed drawing of the field, an exact replica if she didn’t know better. The curve of the flowers sent no awkward angles but graceful ones that took her breath away.
“That is amazing,” Izzy whispered without realizing.
“Sit down with me, Izzy,” Maliki said, patting down the other side of the bench next to him. Izzy obliged and sat down, letting the cool air wake her up.
“What are you doing here so early? The sun only just come up,” Izzy asked, unable to take her eyes off the sketchpad. Maliki looked up from his drawing and saw Izzy’s eyes hovering over his drawing. He felt nervous about showing someone his artwork but he felt at peace so he continued.
“The question is what are you doing here,” Maliki said. “I come out here every day since I arrived to your kingdom.
Izzy took this in and rethought about everything she felt about Maliki. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all. However, she was still suspicious and cautious about his ties with his father. Did Maliki even know what his father did to her? His genial smile told her it wasn’t likely.
“I come here to clear my thoughts and meditate,” Izzy said, looking up at the sky that began to shine brightly by the sun’s entrance.
“I guess great minds think alike,” Maliki said, finally coming to a stopping point in his drawing. He looked up at Izzy and observed her as she dipped her head back to look at the sky. A sapphire gem clung between the cleavage of her breast and he wondered where she had acquired such an expensive item. “Where did you get that?”
“Get what?” Izzy asked, her eyebrows scrunching as she looked at Maliki.
“That necklace. Seems too expensive, does it not?”
Izzy turned a light shade of red and Maliki had a hunch on who it was.
“My guess is Prince Alexander,” Maliki said bitterly. That fool was cheating on his sister! Although he did not prefer her sister’s presence and did quite well without her, they were still blood related and tied as family.
“I-It wasn’t. Don’t accuse of things you don’t know,” Izzy said, not meeting Maliki’s eyes.
“My sister will not like this,” Maliki warned. “I will not say anything as it is not my business but you must be careful. Annie is very dangerous when she wants to be.”
“I know,” Izzy whispered.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Izzy said, shaking her head. She didn’t want Maliki tied into everything. She didn’t want him following the footsteps of his father and sister.
“Izzy, if I know something it’s this: do not go for him. You know it is impossible and I would hate to see you hurt,” Maliki said softly. He felt a weird pull to his temporary bodyguard. He concluded it was because she was around the same age as her. Maybe the separation of a year or so.
“Thank you,” Izzy nodded. “I know where my duties lie so don’t worry. I just didn’t have time to take this off.” Izzy unclasped the necklace and hid it in the pockets of her clothing. “I think I must go now. Timothy will be worried sick about me if I am gone but I am also assigned to you so call me whenever you like.”
“I actually acquire your assistance today,” Maliki said, remembering Elizabeth. “I am going to a duchess’ house to meet with her and I know my father would like it if a bodyguard came with me. Will you attend?”
“Of course,” Izzy smiled. “Do you fancy her?” She couldn’t help smiling as she saw Maliki blush.
“I-I might, yes,” he sighed as he pursed his lips. Izzy couldn’t help but laugh. “What?”
“It’s just that you are very innocent and you remind me of a little child confessing who he likes,” Izzy chuckled.
“Oh shush,” Maliki said, looking away. “I do not have to be innocent if I do not wish to.”
“Oh yes, yes. I believe you,” Izzy said sarcastically. Maliki only smiled at Izzy. He liked this easy going side of her and he wished to bring it out more often. “I shall see you are off. I must go find Timothy now.”
They exchanged their good-byes and Izzy walked back into the castle. She had some things to finish before she met with Timothy.
The words of Edith from a week ago still stung in her mind.
She wrote in that little leather diary of hers whenever she could… I think Marge, her friend, might still have it.
Izzy had to find the old librarian and ask if she knew her mother. Running down the corridors that not many people walked, she found the entrance to the library.
Opening the doors, she crept silently towards the front desk where Marge usually sat reading a book or dozing quietly. Just as Izzy thought, she saw her mother’s friend drowned in a book. The friendly librarian looked up from her book and smiled warmly as Izzy approached.
“Isabelle, is there anything i can do for you today?” she asked, taking off her bifocals.
“I would like to ask you some questions if you don’t mind,” Izzy said, walking up to Marge’s library desk.
“Of course my dear. Did you need another book?” Marge asked, getting up from her desk.
“It’s not that Marge,” Izzy sighed. “I want to know about Marissa, my mother.” Izzy watched Marge stop cold in her tracks with a grim line forming on her mouth. She shook out of her idle state and began walking back into her chair, settling in.
“I knew you would ask me someday or later,” Marge sighed, unsurprised by Izzy’s knowledge. “Come around the counter and sit with me dear Isabelle.”
Isabelle complied with Marge and pulled back a chair to sit on. Marge observed Izzy carefully, watching how much she looked like her mother. Their bright happy eyes were replicas and their hair seemed to be the exact match. Marge yearned for Marissa, wishing her friend could see how much her daughter has grown.
“Before you ask questions, I warn you that I cannot answer all questions,” Marge said. She watched Izzy’s eyes furrow just like how Marissa would when she got frustrated.
“Can’t or won’t?” Izzy asked.
“Both,” Marge answered. “I am sorry you do not understand right now but there are reasons, my dear.”
Izzy nodded. She couldn’t torture it out of her like she would have if it was anyone else so instead she asked her first question. “What do you know about my mother?”
“That is a vague question, dear,” replied Marge, “but I can tell you she was a wonderful woman. She escaped a dark past and came here to start a new life. The rest I cannot say. It is not the right time.”
“Please tell me about her past,” Izzy begged but knew Marge wouldn’t say more.
“Right now is a very dangerous time for the secret to set loose but time will come with patience,” Marge said in a cryptic message.
“Dangerous?”
“You know what I mean,” Marge said, giving Izzy a knowing look. Izzy panicked. Did she know more than she let on?
“N-No, I am not quite following-”
“I know the threat King Henry has on you,” Marge said. “The spirits told me about him but an old woman can do so much as stopping a king even if you are Marissa’s daughter.”
“Spirits?” Izzy asked, finding everything that was coming out of Marge not possible. A part of her was glad Marge knew the truth but she knew Marge couldn’t help her.
“I hear voices sometimes but maybe it’s because I’m getting old but I am right about King Henry so we’ll pretend I’m only half crazy,” Marge said before chuckling to herself as if it was a joke only she knew about.
“So I cannot convince you to tell me, can I?” Izzy said disappointed. All her hopes were gone but it bothered her that Marge was keeping it a secret until the future. What was she waiting for? Izzy thought she was ready to know the truth about her mother and where she actually came from. If she knew, then she would be able to search for her extended family. Even the thought of the possibility made her excited and hopeful.
“Be patient my dear and the time will come. I will see it to be so,” Marge said again, confusing Izzy with her vague message.
“Where is her diary?” Izzy asked.
“A place where you would never dare to go,” Marge warned, pointing her finger. “Now leave child. I must get some rest. I am afraid our conversation has tired me out for today.”
“Thank you Marge,” Izzy said politely, although feeling bitter about the situation. She hadn’t learned anything except for more mysteries. Where could the diary be hiding? The library was definitely the place she would go to so it wasn’t in the library. As she left the library in mild defeat, she felt as if she had more questions than she did before.