*Marcus*

I’ve been waiting for Pam all day and she still hasn’t showed up. I delayed the trip by hours, I’m behind schedule and it’ll take a few nights of travel to try and catch up. The Duke was clear on no more delays past today. If she really doesn’t come, I’ll have wasted this opportunity.

On another hand I’ve heard little about Lilian, ever since her honeymoon started, the news on the other hand has run with every scandal under the sun. Pam seemed more angry at them than anyone.

“Marcus! Marcus!” I heard my name being yelled, lifting my head to see Pam running over with a small bag she was carrying.

“Why are you… well running?”

She hunched over when she reached me panting hard, “Because… I… I had…” She stood up straight having caught her breath, “Because my parent don’t know I left.”

“What- I thought your father agreed.”

“He did, he does.” She put a hand over her chest her hand was griping the bag hard, “It’s just mother disagreed.”

I felt guilty, “Maybe it’s best if you stay then.”

“No!” She crossed her arms, “I’m going, it’s my decision, it should affect no one but me.”

If she really was sure I didn’t really have the time to fight her over it, “The lets go, we’re late.” I grabbed her back walking quickly over to the carriage as I held the door open for her, “Six months go by in a flash Pamella, the Baroness will be over it by then.”

As she stepped onto the stool and was half way in the carriage i heard the softest mumble, “I hope you’re right.”

As I set the luggage aside and headed in myself, I couldn’t help agree.

“Have you heard of Lili?”

“No.” Honestly it felt surreal that even Pam didn’t know a thing.

She held her hands together, with one she gripped her skirt, pinching the fabric between her fingers, “I wrote her a letter, I told her I was going on a trip, and I’d bring her presents, I hope she doesn’t get angry.”

“She’ll be happy for you, she knows how much you’ve wanted to go out and travel.” I said, seeing as the words flew right past her.

“I didn’t say I was going with you.”

“Oh.” I can’t help think she’s ashamed of me.

“I’ll tell her once we reach the first place. I’ll send her something nice.” Pam took a deep breath, finally looking up and meeting my gaze, “So are you going to tell me why Duke Sable payed for this endeavor?”

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I crossed my arms, having her attention directed at me after what she just said, “He said he’s giving me the same opportunity as my father.”

“Really? I had the feeling he never liked you tho.”

“Oh he doesn’t.” I looked out the window, the changing of scenery, “But I’m not going to question such a rare opportunity.”

“Maybe you’re onto something.” She said, seeing her from the corner of my eye, how she looked out the other side, “I hope this trip is for the best.”

“I do too.”

Yet, all we said that day seemed to fly right past us. I saw the letter she wrote Lili when we got to the first town. She did not tell her she was traveling with me. She didn’t tell her in the next town either, or the next one. But I wasn’t particularly bothered by that, I was far too preoccupied with trying to run a business, and winning her over.

Holding a box of sweets from this towns bakery I knocked on her door.

“Just a second.” I heard her say while the sound of a chair being dragged across the floor and a vase breaking reached me before she did.

When she opened the door I could see her messy head of hair greet me, “Marcus, you’re back already, how did the meeting go?”

I handed her the box, “It went smoothly, I’ll get the answer by tomorrow surely.”

Her smile was the highlight of my day, “Well come on in, tell me all about it.”

“Well the nobles ain’t as snobby as those in the capital,” I said, grabbing a chair as I glanced on the letter she had on the table for a second, “They are quite friendly. There was also this girl I saw today. She had this violet hair, it was just like Lilian’s-” At my words the smile on Pam’s face faded.

“Did you talk to her?”

“Oh no, I just saw her in passing, might not have even been her real hair color, just some magic, you know how rare that color is.”

“I meant Lili.” Pam’s face was downcast.

“…” I opened my mouth but couldn’t find the words, “I… I haven’t gotten a chance to actually. So busy with all the paperwork and having you around it slipped my mind.” I scratched my head, “Have you?”

Pam lifted her gaze to the table, “Yeah, was actually writing a letter before you got here. I got a reply, it reached me this morning.” she got up picking a still closed envelope from the table, “I haven’t gotten the chance to read it.”

I saw her fidget with it, “Well I’ll leave you to it then.”

Getting up I headed to the door, feeling a tug at my sleeve, “Actually, I’d like some company to read with.”

When I saw her face I knew I couldn’t just ditch her, so I silently sat back down. Saw her sit on the bed and open the envelop carefully, pulling out the letter as I saw her eyes skip through the lines.

She cleared her throat glancing at me a second before looking back at the letter, “Dear Pam, I’m glad to hear you’re having that trip you’ve wanted for so long. I also got the gloves you sent as well, they are such a lovely color of blue. I truly appreciate this gift, and I hope mine brings you well. I’m excited to hear about your next adventures, and I hope to see you soon. Your sincere friend, Lili.”

I noticed Pam’s eyes lingering on the words, her eyes starting to well up with tears, “Sounds like-”

I didn’t get to say a single word as Pam burst into tears, “I’m horrible, I’m just horrible, I should just head home and never leave my room again. Lili’s going to hate me, my mom’s going to be so disappointed, I should have never come here.” The words spilled out like the tears down her cheeks, holding the letter close as she hugged it against her chest, " I’m so sorry…” She was having a hard time breathing as I just sat there gawking, not knowing what I was supposed to do.

“Hey it’s-”

“What do I even say when I go back? How will I face my mom? What will I even tell Lili? She’s never going to talk to me again and-”

I grabbed her shoulders, looking at her red face, “Lilian loves you Pam- Pamella, she’s not going to stop talking to you just because of a trip.”

Her eyes seemed to go from sad to angry, “You don’t know that!” She seemed to hold the letter even closer than before, “I know Lili, and I’m hurting her- I’m hurting my best friend.”