EXT E

BELLA'

noticed me. The market wasn't far, just beyond the castle grounds, and I needed to sell these herbs quickly and

small stall run by an elderly woman w

greeted. "What brin

suring no one was wa

e to sell." I said, keepin

fully opened my basket, showing her the collection

red, nodding in approval. "I'll

ure working wi

trange feeling again, like someone was watching me. I glanced around but saw nothing suspicious. Little did I know, that John, one of the castle

was reading a diary. I could feel his eyes on me as he

e said. "We n

ok, trying to appear c

what?"I

his gaze fixed on me with an

he market yesterday. S

h a big of a

s."He

to talk abou

ust."Noah said with a lig

ing. He was getting too close, asking the kinds of questions I didn't

" He said. ''And it's not just about the herbs. What's

w why I needed the money or what I was really plann

reciate your concern, but it's really not a big deal. I just thought it might be fun to have a litt

nced. I need to find

u don't need to

tiful the gardens are this

ding more time there. Maybe

clearly thrown by the

ardens?

''The flowers are in full bloom. It's a perfect

e said, though his tone was

that I'd managed to deflect h

little break from all of th

eyes remained sharp,

s conversation. You can change the subject all y

t for now, I had bought myself some time, and I intended to use it wisely.

her smile. "We'll talk later. But for

tisfied. I needed to think fast and come up with a way to protect my secrets. If I w