A knock was heard on the door. Helene opened her eyes to the sound of the knock that started small but soon grew more and more impatient. She sighed and crawled herself out of bed to open the door. Her eyes met directly the ice blue eyes of the princess.
"Princess-"
"Is it true that you can see the future?" The princess interrupted her. Helene sighed and nodded, opened the door to let the girl in and closed it. Helene tried to read the princess' thought but it was just a chaotic mess with words overlapping each other that Helene couldn't understand anything.
"Are you just going to stand there? Dress up then look into my future." Helene stared at her before moving towards her wardrobe slowly.
"Ehem, if you could be so kind?" The princess then added then soon looked down, placing her head in her own palm as her whole face reddened which she seemed to hide. Helene looked away and couldn't help but smile as she went to her wardrobe. A shy princess with barely any social skills. How this kingdom is doomed…
Helene then sat down in front of the princess, dressed in her usual dark purple dress but without all the golden jewelry. She began to shuffle the tarot cards and closed her eyes as she focused her energy on the cards and tried to find the princess's.
"Think of a question. And only that question" Helene then began to read her mind. But this time she was prepared to hear chaos. She had lots of questions in her mind until it focused on one.
"Will I ever be free?"
Helene was slightly surprised but continued to shuffle the cards.
"Close your eyes and draw three cards that feels right to you"
She pulls out three cards, places them down on the surface of the bed and places them in a line. One by one I turn them up. The first one is the devil card, the second is the page of pentacles and the last one is the death card. The princess' eyes widened and seemed extremely worried. The cards however were all reversed.
"You aren't the devil and you are not going to die. Not yet at least." Helene gave a small smile before beginning to explain what the cards meant.
"Looking at the cards, they tell me that in the past you have been able to overcome temptations such as wealth, power and lust. However, recently you have been failing. There is a large obstacle in your way, some sort of truth that cannot be solved by money nor status. A problem you might not be able to solve at all. You won't be seeing any change in the near future if you follow your current path." The princess' shoulders sank in disappointment when she heard what Helene described to her.
In other words… The princess will never be able to be free.
"However… The future is never set in stone, your highness. It's just the path you are following now. If you change it, your future will too." Helene moved away the cards from the bed and quickly packed them away. Usually it was rather fun to see how the cards show a doomed future. Usually for people who were spoiled, arrogant and took things for granted. But the princess wished for freedom, rather for marriage or power like royalty should. Helene glanced at the princess who seemed to hide a small smile.
"I've heard the two of you get introduced as the chosen one of Theelia and Onyx. I've heard about the goddess a lot of course, my father being a believer as well and saying we are blessed because of his snow powers and our hair color…" The princess paused for a second, looking at her white hair and then sighed before looking at Helene curiously.
"I haven't heard much about Onyx… How does it feel to actually be CHOSEN by a god? Have you ever spoken to him?" Helene bit her lip as she slowly sat down beside the princess again.
"Well… I think you could call it that way. He has given me messages through the stars mostly and visits me in my dreams. One morning I discovered a book gifted by him as well. However… All the pages are blank. They never directly tell you what's right or wrong. They simply guide you vaguely… I think we are supposed to be special but… I still feel as human as I always have been. I'm still mortal, Onyx won't save me if I am close to dying. They can just replace us for their quest…" Helene sighed and made a small laugh when she noticed the worry in the princess' eyes.
"Sorry… It sounded very dark and horrible. But I am the chosen one now and will do my best!" The princess still seemed unsure before she nodded. Her hand slowly crept towards Helene's and their fingers touched. She felt how a shiver ran through her spine to the light touch.
"As a princess, I am currently the only heir. But even then I have to marry… A prince. I can't rule it myself as Queen." She sighed and her hand was placed above Helene's while a smile began to spread across her lips.
"So I kind of wish I could have been replaced, not having the kingdom on my shoulders or forced to marry. It's not a grand wish or duty I have like yours. But I think I can understand you in a way…" Helene frowned then nodded though not entirely agreeing with her. How could a royal like her understand this? When her only concern is not to marry thus wishing for freedom. She slowly moved her hand away.
"I should get more dressed. Cashimir and I are supposed to talk to the king." The smile on the princess' face slowly faded as she slowly stood up. The air around them was almost suffocating. She made her way towards the door.
"I'll let him know then… The servants will come and get you when my father is ready." Then she closed the door after her, a chilly feeling was left in the room. Helene ran her hands through her hair and sighed. She didn't know what to think of the princess. But she didn't want to be around her too often…