Flora crouched in the bushes, the leaves tickling her nose. She had been waiting for almost a half hour. The leaves rustled as she moved to look toward the stone path leading to the training fields. Still no sign of Felix just yet.
Felix was taking longer than Flora expected. She was planning on hiding and jumping out to surprise him after he came back from morning training. After he was surprised, Flora was going to beg him to have breakfast with her. She had not seen her older brother in over a week, and she was bored out of her mind.
Felix was just about the only person that Flora spent any time with. She wasn't sure if it was some kind of rule because she was the princess, but the people around the palace always averted their eyes and avoided making any contact with her. The only other person that would speak to Flora was her hand maiden, Rose. Rose was an older woman that always had a "no fuss" attitude, so she was short spoken and wasn't much of a playmate. In the depths of her memories, she could remember having meals with her father and spending time in his study, but that must have been a long time ago. The king didn't seem to have time for Flora anymore.
Footsteps sounded down the path, and Flora sunk deeper back into the bushes. She slowly moved her head to get a better view of the person. Two servants approached her hiding spot, dressed in the plain brown garb of the cleaning staff. They walked slowly, gossiping loudly, without caring who was around.
"Did you notice that the princess has been absent as of late to the royal functions?" A brown-haired servant spoke. "She's young, but she hasn't been present for any of the events with foreign dignitaries."
The black-haired servant chuckled in response, "since when have you ever been invited to any royal parties?" She waved a woven basket to mock her partner. "Besides, why would they want her there?"
Flora shuffled her feet as she sat confused. What could they be talking about? There wasn't anything going on that she wouldn't be invited to, Felix would have told her. Besides, a ten-year-old had much more important things to do than sit around stuffy adult parties.
"Well..." the brown-haired girl started, "she is the princess, all things considered." She whipped her head around scanning the area. "But... I heard that there have been some," she paused, lowering her voice, "incidents concerning visitors to the king."
"Like what?" the other girl said, narrowing her eyes.
Again the brown-haired girl glanced around the path. "I heard that she is possessed." She shivered as she continued, "There were instances where nobles from other nations fled the castle without so much as looking back. Some think that she isn't harboring a demon, she IS a demon."
"What?" The black-haired girl stopped for a moment. "That's a little out there, don't cha think?" she continued as they passed Flora's hiding spot. "Like, I've heard my fair share of stories, but don't you think that she's at most creepy?"
The brown-haired servant shook her head. "No, I've heard that she has the power to curse people. There was a servant that had her family's farm burn down after the two spoke, nothing but ashes." The servant girl seemed as if she was very sure of herself. "I know that I'd avoid her at any cost. She is a terror that..."
There was a loud clang as a broomstick fell down onto the stones, causing the servants to jump back in surprise. Down the path strode Felix, the crown prince, coming towards the two girls. "It would seem that I dropped a broom while trying to clean the dirt off the ground." He stopped in front of the servants. "The palace may have too many servants, seeing as they have time to dawdle and chitter about."
The two girls lowered their heads as they did a deep curtsy, faces flushed a bright red. "Our apologies, your highness." The black-haired girl said quietly. "We ask for your forgiveness for our poor behavior."
Felix adjusted his sword strap across his waist as he considered. He was dressed in his training clothes, plain black pants and a plain white tunic. He ran his fingers through his sweaty blonde hair as he stared down at the servants, their gazes still downcast.
Flora held her breath as she didn't know what to make of the situation. She didn't understand half of what those servants said, let alone why they would be talking about her. She moved her head to look at Felix, who while calm, was obviously very angry.
Felix sighed dramatically as he said, "you two girls need to learn that while your face may be pretty, no man wants a woman with an ugly mouth." The two girls' faces blushed in embarrassment. "If I catch you spewing anymore shit..." Flora brushed against a branch, causing Felix to whip around, drawing his sword. "Who is hiding back there?" He turned his attention away from the servants as he surveyed the bushes.
Flora slowly stood up, sore from crouching for so long. She sheepishly smiled as she poked her head out of the foliage. "Um... it's me Felix." Flora stepped out of the bushes, the branches scratching her arms.
Sheathing his sword quickly, Felix spoke, "Flora? What the hell are you doing out here?" He furrowed his brows. "You know that aren't supposed to be out of your commons."
"Well..." Flora fiddled with her dress as she looked at the grass. "I wanted to surprise you." She looked up hopefully at her brother. "I thought that we could have breakfast."
Felix sighed, "Flora, you should know not to sneak up on a trained soldier like that. Princess or not, you could end up seriously hurt." His stern tone melted as he continued, "but, I guess we can work something out."
Flora beamed as she ran up to her brother, wrapping her arms around his waist. The servants flinched as Flora had come near to them. They tried to skulk away, unnoticed, but Felix addressed them harshly. "You're very lucky that my sister is here or..." He stopped as he looked down at Flora. "Just leave, and don't let us see you again." They curtsied again deeply and turned away to leave.
Before they took a step, Flora grabbed the brown-haired girl's skirt. The servant froze as Flora held still. Sweat began to trickle down the girl's face as Flora slowly lifted her gaze up. The servant paled as she beheld Flora's face; it held no emotion as she looked into the girl's eyes, slowly analyzing her. A golden glow radiated from her eyes as Flora spoke in a voice both old and young. "Your father will die soon." The servant gasped as she trembled in fear. "Look for the rain."
Tears began to stream down the servants face as Flora fell forward, Felix catching her. The two girls didn't even ask for permission as they hurriedly fled down the path. Felix hoisted an unconscious Flora onto his back as he cracked a small smile. "You really do have great timing."
When they had made it back to Flora's, dining room, Felix called for Rose. "Please have breakfast brought up for us." He laid her down on the loveseat, propping up her head. "She'll want something sweet."
Rose examined Flora as she nodded. "Did she see something again?" Felix nodded, as she turned to leave, not furthering the conversation.
When Flora woke up, the coffee table was full of food and steaming pot of tea. Felix was sitting on lounge chair chewing on a piece of bacon. He glanced over as Flora slowly got up. "Finally awake are you?"
Flora reached for a cup of tea and brought it up to her lips. She gently placed the cup back on the saucer. "I fell asleep again?" Felix nodded. "That's weird, I don't remember feeling tired." She tugged on a stray thread on a through pillow. " Did you carry me all the way here?"
Picking up a roll, Felix smirked, "yes, but I do have to say, you're starting to get too heavy for the Felix express." Flora threw the pillow at his head. Dodging it, he flexed his arm muscle. "Nothing I can't handle though."
Flora picked up a cinnamon roll and frowned. "Hey Felix," She didn't look up from her roll. "Is what those ladies were saying true? Am I really that bad?"
Felix scoffed, "I wouldn't pay attention to anything servants babble about." When Flora didn't look up, he threw what was left of his roll at her. "They don't know what they are talking about."
"But..." Flora stammered, "what if I curse people and that's why no one talks to me? You and Rose are the only people I see." She quieted. "Even father doesn't talk to me."
"Well," Felix scratched the stubble on his chin. "Father is a whole different situation. He doesn't have time for anyone other than his advisors." He had peeved look as he glanced towards his sister. "How do you think you would curse anybody?"
"Well..."
Felix cut her off. "There's no way you could do something like that." He picked up another slice of bacon. "The whole thing is ridiculous. You are perfectly fine the way you are." Felix chomped down on the meat in a way that said that the conversation was over.
Even after Felix's insisting that the servants were wrong, Flora still had a weird feeling in her gut, but she trusted Felix and decided that she was going to try to be better.