Alexander sat on his favorite spot in the library, reading books about the royal bloodline of Crystalia. Upon reading the page about his parents, he is reminded of his sisters. Two souls who weren't given the chance to live their lives.
He felt anger towards no one, not even to Midas, but to himself. He didn't try to save them, even though he was only eight years old at the time they supposedly died.
Supposedly.
Some part of him believed they've escaped and they're still alive. Not taken away and killed.
But a bigger part of him told him to move on. To just go on without them. As if the miracle never happened at all.
His thoughts are interrupted when Charlene comes into the library. Alexander saw her and they met gazes, smiling at each other. Charlene searched for a book to read while Alexander continued reading a page about his father.
She approaches his spot near the window. "I hope you don't mind me sitting with you."
"Not at all, my Lady."
"Please, call me Charlene." She sits across him, placing her chosen book on the table.
"How do you like your stay yet?" Alexander asks her.
"It's been lovely. The queen is very kind to give us a tour of the palace."
Alexander chuckles. "I'm guessing you love the library."
"Oh, I do, Your Highness."
He shakes his head. "Oh, just call me Alexander."
Charlene smiles. "I love reading books. It's how I spend time when I'm not doing anything. But my mother thinks it's a waste of time."
"But they're not. You learn so much from it."
Charlene sighs and shakes her head. "My mother doesn't understand."
The two just stared out the window, watching the clouds in silence.
"I'm sorry about my mother. She has a way of being stern."
"It's alright."
Charlene caught a glimpse of an open page from Alexander's book. "Your father's a good king."
"He is, but he's changed ever since that incident."
Her voice softened. "I'm sorry about that."
He shook his head a little. "It's been 20 years since then.
~~~
Stephen greets the guards on the palace gates on his way out with his horse. Tomorrow is the start of their tutoring classes with Catherine, so he took the opportunity to go out one last time before they possibly hide his horse away from him, knowing how he loved to go out from time to time.
He reaches the Central, watching the busy streets and crowds of people walking here and there. He gets off his horse and walks to the stable, approaching Warren who watches his horse whenever he comes to walk around the city.
"Another day out of the palace, your Highness?"
"Possibly the last. I might get busy next week, so might as well explore everywhere I can."
"Have you checked out the library in the West Village yet?"
Stephen shook her head. "I haven't. Not so fond of books. And I haven't been to the West Village."
"West Village is quite an empty street. Just an orphanage, a few houses, and the library."
Stephen decided to go there, leaving his horse with Warren after bidding goodbye. He sees the library and walks in, looking around inside.
Alexa comes out after hearing the bell above the door and sees the prince gazing around him.
"Your Highness," Alexa greets Stephen with a bow, and only then he notices her presence.
Upon looking at her, he sensed familiarity with her. He felt as if he'd seen her, or someone he knows looked a lot like her. Kind of like his mother, the queen.
"Good afternoon. I'm just roaming around and I came in here. Have you got anything to recommend for me?"
"Certainly, your Highness." Alexa grabs a book from the shelves behind the counter and hands it to him. "Perhaps you haven't read this?"
"I don't usually read. But I think I've heard this from my brother." He scans few pages of the book. "I'll borrow it."
While Alexa stamped the book, Stephen took a careful look at her with furrowed eyebrows.
Why does she look so much like Mother? It's strange, he thought.
"I'm sorry, miss, but have we met? You look so much like my mother. Are you a relative?"
"Oh no, your Highness. You must have mistaken me for someone. I'm an orphan."
"You're an orphan?"
Alexa nods with a small, kind smile.
"You don't have a family?"
"I do. It's the orphanage. But I don't know my real parents, or even if I have brothers or sisters. I was found when I was a baby."
"No one has looked for you ever since?"
Alexa shook her head and pursed her lips.
"Where do you live?"
"I live at the orphanage nearby. It's my home, together with other orphans. They're my family."
Talking about the orphanage brought a genuine smile to Alexa, which she didn't notice, but Stephen did. She must love them so much, he thought.
"Here's your book, your Highness." Alexa hands Stephen the book.
"Thank you." There was a moment of silence before he spoke again, thinking about what he wanted to say. "What's your name?"
"Alexa, your Highness."
"You must know your street very well. I would like to invite you to walk with me around West Village and have a chat."
It was rude not to accept an invitation from a prince, so Alexa shyly accepted it. Emily walks in and had a look of surprise on her face upon seeing Prince Stephen.
"Your Highness," she bows with a smile.
"I hope you don't mind me taking your friend Alexa out for a walk today. It won't be long, I assure you."
"Of course, Prince Stephen."
Stephen smiles with a nod and opens the door for Alexa. Emily watches the two from the window, still shocked about the prince's visit.
"You mentioned you're an orphan," Stephen spoke, the sound of concrete under their feet.
"I did. The orphanage found me when I was a baby. They told me I survived an accident." Alexa's hands were on her back, intimidated and shy around royalty.
"Really?" Stephen asked with amusement.
Alexa nodded. "I guess I must be lucky."
Stephen agreed with a nod.
"May I tell you something, your Highness?"
"Of course."
"All these years, I've been wondering where my family would be, or if they would be looking for me. No one has ever been as kind as you to help me find my family."
"I've always believed in helping others. It may be my duty as a prince, but for me, it's more than just a duty."
Alexa couldn't help but admire Stephen. Not romantically, but as a friend. She wished she had a friend as kind as him out of the orphanage other than Emily.
"Do you have friends?" Stephen asked.
"Other than everyone in the orphanage, it's just Emily. I'm an outcast, and I don't understand why. Maybe because I don't have a family, or I look different from everyone."
Stephen noticed Alexa's curly hair, which was tied into a low ponytail. It was just at this moment that he noticed most villagers have straight hair. It was very rare for a villager to have curly hair, from what he observed whenever he visits the Central.
"I'm sure they don't intend to be mean to you."
"I hope so. Sometimes I can't help but feel alone whenever I go out. They would look at me differently and would whisper things. At least that's what I've observed."
Alexa felt comfortable around Stephen, which was strange considering he's a prince and she's a commoner. She felt a sense of security around him as if he's there to assure her that everything will be alright. It's as if...they are best friends.
Looking at Alexa, he really felt like helping her out. He may not understand what it feels like to be an outcast or an orphan, but he wanted to help. After all, his family, especially his father, always believed in helping the needy.
They arrive in front of the orphanage, and Alexa points it to him. "That's the orphanage. That's where I live."
Stephen looked at the building. "That must be an old orphanage, huh?"
"I don't know how old it is, but I know it's quite old. They told me long before I was orphaned, it had lived its life long enough."
"Do you know your neighbors?"
"I know a few of them. Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Sharon, Mr. Denver, Mrs. Johnson, and her four children."
Stephen nods along while Alexa points to those houses.
She stares at the houses, at the back of her mind wishing she had one, too. "Not a busy village, I'd say. But it's peaceful. We know each other."
"Have you ever thought of looking for your family?"
Alexa frowned. "I'm not so sure if they would look for me."
"But you won't know if you don't try. You kind of look like my mother, and perhaps she has a relative who could be looking for you. Perhaps I could help you--you can even stay at the palace while we search for them."
Alexa, with wide eyes, shook her head no. "You're too kind, your Highness. But I can't accept it."
"I insist, Alexa. You must miss your family."
I do, Alexa thought to herself.
The more seconds passed by, her longing grew. Her questions every night about her family came back to where she is standing. Who are my parents? How did I get lost? Where is my family? Are they looking for me?
"I'll think about it."
Stephen felt himself smile, for no reason, or whatever reason he doesn't understand.
"I'll be back in a few days. Until then, thank you for the book."
"It was nice talking to you, Prince Stephen."
"Likewise. Let me walk you back to the library."
The walk back to the library was silent, but neither did mind. When they arrived, a few people were inside the library. Upon seeing the prince, they greeted him with a bow, which he greeted back with a bow as well.
"I'll come back soon. I'll come by to the orphanage as well."
"That would be lovely, your Highness."
Stephen smiles. "Until then, Alexa."
Alexa bowed to Stephen and smiled back.
Stephen walks out of the library, leaving Alexa feeling happy, hopeful for finding her family.