It was part of his job.
It was an hour---or more---of staying still.
Elion was standing on the cold, waiting for the Princess to finish her meal. In contrast to his fellow personal attendants' discomfort, it was a job that he found the easiest to do, it was something he had an experience doing before---in the slumps.
In his short stay in the palace, he became more accustomed to the royals. He knew the drill. Not to look them in the eye if you passed by a royal, not to talk to them--- just act invisible in front of them--- and give them a curt bow then scurry away from their magnanimous presence.
Elion blamed the royals for this discriminating culture, these unnecessary customs that were not implemented in the slumps--- who needed courtesy if you were busy trying to survive.
The Queen and King was nowhere to be found, making the other royals more candid than usual.
A small commotion caught Elion's attention, there was a royal shoving a humongous book to the Princess. The Princess smiled awkwardly and accepted the offer, inconveniently placing it on her lap.
After spending all his time at the Princess' side, he got to know a thing or two about her. She loves desserts, she does not eat meat, she bleeds, and…she is human--- the Princess is as uncomfortable as he was in the palace.
But Elion and the Princess had a different point of view, while Elion blamed the royals, Princess Alyssa blamed herself.
The Princess was too sensitive when she was being talked about--- locking herself up in her room was the evidence. The Princess also hated to be associated as being perishable, an idea that bothered Elion--- being safe from the plague was a blessing to anyone.
Unless of course, you voluntarily inject yourself to be infected--- like the royals.
Other servers were a blur to Elion, but he could easily recognize Maya from a distance.
Maya was carrying a tray filled with foods, placing a bowl in front of each royal.
Another reason why he liked waiting at the mess patio, it was the only place he gets to see Maya, not to even talk to her, but to just see her reminded him of home. He had so many things to ask Maya, he wanted to confirm with her everything that he observed, everything that he discovered, things were more serious that what he initially thought it was. Maybe that was why Brian finally decided to make a bold move.
With an empty tray at her side, Maya walked pass by him, but she walked closer to him than usual, brushing the side of his arm. Elion felt Maya's hand touching his as she passed a crumpled paper to him.
Elion clutched it on his hand with his dear life.
Finally finished with her meal, Princess Alyssa stood up before the others. Elion followed behind and escorted her to her room.
Elion's next schedule was to wait for long hours--- again. One would need a pair of good knees to survive the job.
Elion's left hand was balled into fist, sweat forming, the small paper was slowly being dampened.
"Uhgm." Elion cleared his throat. "Uhgm."
The Princess turned her head, facing him. "What is it?"
"Can I go to the restroom?"
The Princess blinked a few times before answering. "Of course."
Elion pivoted around to open the door when the Princess stopped him. "Wait!" The Princess said, bewildered. "Where are you going?"
"To the restroom." Elion said innocently.
"Yes," The Princess pointed at her bathroom. "and we have one right here."
"But…" Personal attendants, like Elion, were instructed to use the common restroom at the hallway.
"I don't mind." The Princess assured him. "You can use mine."
"Okay." Elion proceeded to the bathroom and locked the door.
He did not pull his pants down. Instead, he sat at the toilet. He did not ask to go to the restroom because his bladder was about to burst, he needed privacy so he could read Maya's note.
Elion opened the note and read the words, 'Expect a visitor tonight.', letters were smudged due to sweat.
Understanding, he stood up and threw the note at the toilet, flushing the paper down the drain, leaving no trace of their communication.
Finally, it was time for them to talk, it was time for Elion to ask questions, time for them to form a plan.
Elion returned at his station with his usual blank face, as if nothing had happened.
***
It was a slow day, there was nothing in Alyssa's room that needed to be cleaned.
Alyssa tossed a huge book on her bed with a thud. She lay on her bed---belly first---- and surveyed the book's cover. It was a black hard bound that faded with time, she scanned it to look for the title but found none, only runes were engraved at its spine.
The thick book was offered--- forcibly--- by Duchess Poppy. Duchess Poppy expressed her love for the book passionately to Alyssa, having recently finished the book herself, she highly recommended for Alyssa to read it.
Alyssa opened the first page, having no idea what the story was all about. She began to read the book, and as she had expected, it was not entertaining. Her eyes traveled to every word, but her mind was unfocused, and her thoughts traveled to other things.
But the book was enough to help the day go by.
"Princess, it's dinner time." Eli announced.
"I'm not hungry." Alyssa turned around at her back and touched her tummy as she pinched her fat. She ate too much dessert lately. "I'll skip dinner." She decided to lose a few pounds for her ceremony.
If she were to do the ceremony in front of the crowd, she might as well do it perfectly.
Alyssa tossed back to her belly and continued to read the book. From what she picked up, the story was about the life of two vampire siblings living in a human world, it was a type of story Kiva would prefer to read than Alyssa.
The chiming bell at the hallway announced the curfew of the attendants--- including Alyssa's.
Alyssa closed the book. She used Crim, the dagger, as a book tag and placed it at her nightstand.
Alyssa was being hopeful, another day had gone by, a day closer to her birthday.
"See you tomorrow, Princess." Elion bid him goodbye and left her alone.
Reading did not make her feel sleepy, Alyssa blinked, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts traveled to that conversation she and Kiva had earlier at the mess patio.
"He's hiding something." Alyssa observed Eli. While his fellow attendants chilled from the cold, he was standing straight, unaffected by the temperature. "Something's different with him."
"Yep," Kiva stared at Eli as she chewed her meal. "Imagine having muscles like that to keep you from getting cold."
"That's not what I mean." Alyssa's brow furrowed. "He's lying, keeping a secret."
"Oh, that's easy." Kiva's eyes lit up. "Let's follow him to his quarters, see what he is hiding."
"That's unnecessary. I can ask Barny to inspect his room."
"No, the best way to investigate is when you surprise him," Kiva ate another spoonful. "unnoticed, unannounced."
"Is that really necessary?"
"You won't know until you tried."
Alyssa is the Princess of this Kingdom. She would not be lied to without any consequences.
Alyssa cannot help but to conclude that Eli came to the palace with an ulterior motive due to his consistent incompetence. May the motive be for the money… or as a spy, she had to know.
Eli's silence did not make him invisible when his actions screamed for attention.
Alyssa jerked, sitting up as inspiration hit her.
Overwhelmed by her curiosity, Alyssa decided to follow Eli back to his quarters. She sprinted to her door as she saw Eli go down the stairs. She walked carefully and silently. She was a better stalker than Kiva, she made sure not to make a noise and to keep a distance. Other attendants were on their way to their quarters too, it helped Alyssa blend the crowd.
Eli was not suspicious at all.
Alyssa followed him to the royal attendant's quarters at the left wing, ground floor of the palace.
Few male attendants, who were rushing to their quarters, were stunned to see the Princess. But Alyssa pressed a finger to her lips, warning them not to say a word. The attendants nodded in understanding.
Eli's quarter was at the far end corner of the hall, he entered his room and closed the door behind him.
Alyssa slowly drew closer and peeked at the window. Fortunately for her, Eli proceeded straight to the bathroom. The sound of the gushing water signified that Eli was taking a shower. It was her que to proceed. Upon turning the doorknob clockwise, she found that it was not locked--- all the luck was at her side. She went inside the room and slowly closed the door behind her.
Confirming that she was alone in the room, Alyssa began to rummage through his belongings. She opened every nooks, drawers, and cabinets--- she even pressed herself on the floor to look under the beds. There were two beds in the small room. One bed was unmade, with pillows stripped from its covers. The other was in perfect order, as if no one used it before.
Alyssa sighted. She was disappointed, she found nothing suspicious. In fact, the room was so lacking of his belongings that the most interesting thing she found was seven set of uniforms.
Taking another chance, she began to tap onto the floors, the walls, and the drawers--- hoping to discover a secret compartment.
Too focused on investigating, it was too late when Alyssa noticed that the room was dead silent--- the flow of water in the bathroom stopped. She jerked her head to the bathroom's doorknob and saw it slowly turned. She scanned the room, panicking, thinking where to hide. She first thought of hiding in the cabinet, but she followed her instinct instead and hid under the bed.
This was unnecessary, Alyssa sighted, regretting that she listened to Kiva's suggestion.
From her peripheral view, mists escaped as the bathroom door opened and feet emerged. She followed the feet with her eyes as water dripped from where it traveled.
A towel fell on the floor.
Alyssa held her breath, tense that she might be seen--- show some sign of living and she would be discovered.
But rather than fear of being discovered, Alyssa was dreading the embarrassment it would entail if she were to be seen in her current state.
A muscular hand picked it up, but no head was visible on Alyssa's view.
Alyssa exhaled in relief.
A creek on the door signified someone entering the room--- maybe his roommate.
"Hey,"
Alyssa blinked in surprise--- the voice belonged to a woman.
'A woman as his roommate?'
"Were you followed?" Eli opened the cabinet.
Alyssa was right for not hiding there, or she would have been discovered.
"Of course not." Feet smaller and slender than Elion walked closer to him. "You're lucky working for the Princess."
Alyssa listened attentively from the voice, maybe following Kiva's advice would be fruitful after all.
"Was it not you?" Eli lifted a foot to wear a cotton pants.
"No, all credits to you." The woman's feet drew closer to Eli. "I can't stay that long. My roommate might wake up any minute."
Alyssa concluded based on their conversation that the woman was not his roommate.
'Why is she here then?'
Eli was busted, this was the secret Alyssa was trying to find.
Alyssa never heard Eli to converse this actively before.
"Wait, just answer a few questions."
Alyssa's eyes widened as the woman's feet walked in front of her. "Shoot it."
Alyssa was alarmed from the close distance. The woman was so close that Alyssa could grab the woman's ankle if she wanted to.
The woman sat at the edge of the bed.
Particles of dust fell onto Alyssa, she felt a sneeze was about to come out, but she covered her nose and managed to prevent it.
But then, Elion sat beside the woman. "First, we have to set a meeting place, we can't meet in here every time."
"At the back of the palace there's…" The woman was cut by a sound.
More dust flew Alyssa's way, she covered her nose in an attempt to prevent a sneeze but failed. "Achew."
"Wait." The woman paused for a few seconds. "Did you hear that?"
"Achew!" Alyssa sneezed, louder this time.
A few seconds stilled.
Eli bowed and peeked under the bed, with violence in his eyes. The woman followed and peeked under the bed too.
"Princess." Eli's gaze turned into confusion upon recognizing the Princess.
"Uhm," Alyssa waved awkwardly. "hi." Her face heated from embarrassment.
Eli offered a hand, Alyssa accepted as he pulled her outside. "What are you doing?"
"Princess," Maya stood up and bowed.
"Taking a night stroll." Alyssa's back was hunched from shame.
"Under my bed." Eli raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, under your bed."
'Why is he the one questioning me? It should be me that is questioning him.'
"It's none of your concern."
Eli raised another eyebrow.
"You, you are suspicious, and I needed to investigate." Alyssa stood uptight. "What is this secret meeting all about? Is there something at the back of the palace?"
"…no?" Eli stiffened.
"Care to explain?" Alyssa crossed her hand on her chest. "Or should I call the guards?"
"No, no, please Princess." The woman knelt in front to her. "There was a misunderstanding."
"Maya!" Eli helped the woman to stand up.
"What misunderstanding?" Alyssa lifted her chin, getting her confidence back.
"Eli…and I are…" There were tears forming on Maya's eyes. "we are in love!"
Alyssa shook her head, not following.
"We love each other, but our parents do not approve." Maya continued. "He's from a merchant's family, a rich one. And I'm…" Tears fell down Maya's cheeks. "...my family's poor. They will never agree for us to get married."
Alyssa loosened her hand at her side.
"They sent me here, working in the palace, away from Eli." Maya covered her face with her hands. "But… Eli…" Maya bawled. "He cut his ties from his family and decided to follow me to be an attendant just to be with me! He never worked all his life before…but, but, now… he's struggling because of me!"
"Are you telling me that you two…" Alyssa guided Maya to seat back on the bed. "are lovers?"
Maya nodded.
"I did not know." Alyssa finally understood Eli's lack of skill. "Eli, how could you not tell me?"
Eli was stuck, stiffened at Maya's side.
"It's okay, loving someone is not a crime." Alyssa patted Maya's back to comfort her. "But hiding it does not make sense."
"Princess, you don't understand," Maya sniffed. "The Queen will kill us if she finds out."
"Mother will not do that." Alyssa defended.
Maya revealed her face, her eyes swollen. "No," She shook her head. "Attendants are not allowed to have a relationship with each other." She wiped her cheeks. "It's in the rules. We have no choice but to hide."
"What?" Alyssa eyed Maya in doubt. "That's…absurd."
"It's the truth, Princess." Maya began to cry again. "We will be beheaded tomorrow…if the Queen will be informed."
"Don't worry," Alyssa was determined. "I won't tell anyone."
"Would you do that for us, Princess?"
"Yes, I promise." Alyssa assured Maya. "A princess never breaks her promise."
"Thank you, princess."
Alyssa looked at Elion as she comforted Maya. "Shhhh, it's okay."
A thief, yes. A spy, maybe. But a lover? Alyssa did no saw that coming.
Who would have thought that Eli was a romantic?
Eli stood straight, unblinking, frozen.