Peace Offering To The Cursed Prince

When Jeffrey left the palace he had no idea where he could get a house big enough to contain his family. He had checked the inns with good standards but there was no room available anymore. 

As he rod his small carriage, he caught sight of a familiar figure. "Eva" he recognized her.

"Sir Jeffery, I did not think I will see you here," Eva smiled.

"Hmm, " Jeffery nodded his head. A lot of lords and people of Avalo returned to the kingdom to witness the coronation. It was going to be difficult to find a place but seeing Eva now he had an idea. He felt that she might be able to help him with his problem. 

"My family is coming to Avalo to witness the coronation. I am in need of a small house they can stay in for a few days. I am willing to pay. Do you have any idea if there is someone renting out their house or rooms for this period?" Jeffery said.

"Oh, a lot of my neighbors rented their extra rooms out," Eva answered.

"So do you know anyone who has two rooms to rent? My family will arrive tomorrow," Jeffery asked.

"No, but we can meet a few of my neighbors and find out if they still had space," Eva suggested.

Jeffery had no choice but to agree, it was luck that Eva's house was still within Avalo's Royal city. Jeffery knew that with the number of people that came over to the royal city it will be difficult to get a place.

They rod together to Eva's neighborhood, after checking with a few people that still had available rooms, they discovered that most of them just have one room.

"Thank you for your help," Jeffery told her as soon as they got to her house.

"Welcome, it is unfortunate that we did not find any," Eva felt regretful.

"It's fine,  I should have made the arrangement earlier," Jeffery could feel his headache as he did not know what next to do. 

Eva nodded her head and got ready to come down when Jeffery suddenly stopped her. 

"wait," Jeffery said.  He remembered that she lived alone in a small house. As long as they were up to two rooms, Jeffrey decided to settle with it. 

"yes, can I help you with something?" Eva looked at him. 

"How many rooms are there in your house?" Jeffery asked.

"Three," Eva replied not knowing what he was up to.

"perfect, can you rent the rooms to my family? Just name the price," Jeffery said.

Eva paused, she had not dared rent out any room in her house because she was scared that she might meet the wrong kind of people. What if she rented her rooms to a pervert who will take advantage of her. But she had a feeling that she could trust his family so she accepted.

Moreover, she needed an extra gold coin, one could never have enough wealth right?  "I am willing, I can even help with cooking and cleaning for the right amount," Eva replied.

"Great, can you get the rooms ready by tomorrow evening?" He asked.

"yes," Eva answered.

"Great," He said and took out a small bag of gold coins. You can use this to visit the market and get all that you need. I think they should be three or four of them, " Jeffery said.

He was not sure if his grandfather will come along. Eva collected the back, although it looked small with the weight Eva could guess that it was a lot of gold coins.

"will that be enough?" Jeffery asked after a short pause. He has never visited the market before so he was not sure how much was needed.

"it should do, but if it is not enough I will inform you," Eva said. In reality, she knew that the coin will be more than enough.

"Great, I will come by tomorrow afternoon, to check on you," Jeffery took a deep breath of relief since he solved a problem that would have been too difficult.

After Eva got down, Jeffery returned to the Palace. On his way, he found himself thinking about Eva. To him the girl was pitiful. 

Unlike him who managed to find his family, Eva will never be able to get her identity back. He did not even realize what he was thinking. 

The more he thought about her situation the more he felt that he should find a way to help her. His father at the end of the day did the right thing. 

Things like necklaces and rings can be stolen. How can a man think to use something this simple to recognize their child? "Stupid," he cursed Eva's father in her heart.

"So pitiful, he sighed. " Maybe I can talk to the princess if there is a need for new hands in the Palace, " thinking in this direction he felt more at ease.

" As long as she has money to take care of herself she will not think of selling her body," Jeffery thought to himself. He did not even realize that he was thinking too much. 

So the minute he got to the Palace he decided to see princess Ellen but he found out that she was with the prince. 

No matter how much he wanted to help Eva he will not dare disturb the prince's time with his wife unless he did not like his head anymore. 

Meanwhile,  Eva had no idea that a certain man was worried about her. She was going about cleaning all the rooms in the house. It was a good thing that she kept the house clean.

So all she needed to do was change the bed cover. 

As she cleaned her mother's room she could not help but remember how her mother had died.

"I am doing fine now," she said. In her heart, she felt that her mother will finally rest in peace.

Although she was not sure what she will do after the coin in her had finished. she felt more hopeful. 

She no longer needed to go out to do daily labor and hand over her earnings to her so-called aunty. 

The next day. 

Once Eva woke up, she immediately took her bath and headed to the market. Her house was small and she did not have a horse or a carriage, so she needed to walk over to the market. 

She was a bit confused, about what to get. By the time Jeffery's family arrives, they will be hungry but she did not know what kind of food they like. 

'Ahh! I should have asked him about it yesterday,' Eva frown her brows. Suddenly a carriage rode past at a fast pace. Raising a lot of dust. 

Naturally, some of this dust bathed her from head to toe. As annoyed as she was about this situation she did not dare say anything, especially since the carriage looked like it belonged to a noble family. 

She walked for over thirty minutes before she arrived at the market. When she did, she noticed the carriage from earlier park at the entrance of the market. 

The Couchman was standing at the front of the door. 'why will someone be in such a hurry to arrive at the market?' Eva thought but she soon got distracted as she tried to buy the things she will need to make dinner for Jeffrey's family. 

"Eva," she heard a familiar voice call her name. She did not need to turn to know that the person was her cousin who stole her identity. 

"How can she be so thick-skinned? ' Eva wondered.  She did not understand how this cousin of hers managed to live carefree after stealing someone else's life. 

" I did not see you there, " Eva turned around and looked at her cousin.

" that's fine, how is Mother? I will find time to come and see her," her cousin said.

Eva made a sad face the minute she heard her cousin's words. *sob *sob

"Mother, Mother..." Eva started crying. She knew that this cousin of hers had more power. She could not afford to be on her bad side.

"speak! What happened to mother?" Eva's cousin asked. Her heart was beating fast. In other not to raise suspicions, she did not visit her mother often. She was afraid that if her maids saw her mother too often they might realize that she looked so much like the woman.

Moreover, Eva looked more like her father. One look and even a blind man would know who the real daughter of the lord is.

"She... She...  The crown prince took her, I do not know what really happened," Eva answered.

"WHAT? How did mother manage to offend the crown prince?" her cousin asked.

"How should I know? I have gone to my daily labor as usual. When I returned, I saw some men leading her out. All I manage to find out is that they were from the crown prince," Eva lied. As she spoke she cried and one could tell that she was scared.

She had lied to her cousin because knowing her, she might come over to collect the gold coin and make life difficult for her. Since her cousin had stolen her identity the house belongs to her. 

This cousin of her will dare to chase her out of the house. Moreover, Eva was certain that her cousin will never find out the truth no matter how much she tried.. So she decided to play safe.