Amina wanted to slap herself for being so rash, but what's done was done and all she could do now was try her best to serve the man who seemed to want to avoid her at all costs. Was she a plague? Did she smell? Why was he so determined to not even acknowledge her existence? Amina's head hung low as she followed after Prince Oro and Nero, her eyes wandering until she realized just how many people were staring at her as they walked past, so she lowered her gaze to her feet to try and focus on anything but the gossip that was sure to blossom from her new relationship with the Prince and his personal knight. Amina bit her lip to hold in the expletives she wanted to spit out to vent her frustration with her situation. Amina trudged on until she thought he had slammed into a brick wall.
"Ah!" She exclaimed, grasping at her throbbing nose as tears spring to her eyes. She looked up to see how she had already lost the two men when she realized the wall she had slammed into was Nero, who was now reaching for her with a slight concern etched on his face.
"I'm sorry, I was lost in thought, I didn't mean to hit you, forgive me, Sir Nero," Amina explained, still grasping her nose as she looked up at him. The top of her head barely reached his chest, so she practically had to crane her neck to look into the man's eyes.
"Just Nero," he replied as he removed her hand, gently grasping her face with his free hand to turn her head and check if she was injured. Amina's face flushed as she tried to reassure him she was fine. He dropped his hand before turning back to Prince Oro who was smiling ear to ear at their awkward exchange.
"Sir Nero!" Amina called, trying to catch up with his long strides. Nero stopped again, turning toward her and stiffly replied, "Please, just Nero. I am no Sir." She nodded agreement even though she wanted to explain to him he was since he was the highest-ranked knight in the kingdom but she thought it was wise to let the argument stop.
"Nero, I didn't hurt you when I ran into you, did I?" To this question, Prince Oro sputtered and began laughing so hard he almost cried as he clutched at his sides. Amina blushed, just now realizing how silly of a question that was.
"Oro," Nero warned. The prince stopped, clearing his throat and apologizing to Amina for laughing so hard.
"I apologize, Miss Amina, I didn't mean to laugh at you but not one soul has ever worried about hurting that mountain of a man in his entire life, and well—your—stature—is quite small in comparison. I doubt you could hurt him if you tried, so don't fret over running into him by accident."
"Yes, of course, it was silly. Please don't apologize, your highness, I would have laughed too if I were you."
"It wasn't silly. It was sweet. Thank you for checking, Miss Amina," Nero inserted, before turning back to follow Oro. Amina smiled at his back and said, "Just Amina, I am no miss." Amina swore she heard a slight rumbling chuckle from Nero as she followed him closely.
Finally, they arrived at Prince Oro's office, where Nero stood next to him and she followed suit by standing next to Nero.
"Miss Amina, please relax and have a seat, I would actually like to ask you a few questions, if I could impose," Oro stated, gesturing toward the chair in front of his desk. Amina hesitated but took a seat, feeling like she was about to be swallowed whole by the chair or the prince himself as her feet didn't quite reach the floor and his curiosity made her slightly nauseous. Oro smiled at her, trying to ease her fears.
"Not to worry, my dear. I just have questions about the forest." Amina let a sigh of relief escape before she realized and sat up straighter, attempting to look a bit more dignified and a little less terrified.
"You have lived there your entire life, correct?" Amina nodded.
"Your parents, also? Do I need to send a messenger to tell them you are safe?" Amina immediately crumpled as she shook her head, swallowing her sorrow before explaining how her parents died when she was still a young girl. Nero's face softened as he looked at the small woman looking so distraught explaining how alone she was in the world. He wanted to hug her, comfort her, as he knew how she felt, but he stood rigid at Oro's side instead as he continued his questioning.
"I apologize, Miss Amina. I didn't know and I didn't intend to drudge up your pain. Forgive me."
Amina smiled slightly, attempting to reassure the Prince, but it was awkward and obviously fake.
"No need to apologize, my prince. It was a long time ago and there is no way you could have known... What else would you like to know, your highness?"
"Please, just call me Oro when it is just Nero and me. He does as well. And if you don't mind me asking, have you noticed a change in the forest? Anything out of the ordinary? Anyone there who did not belong?" Oro's face became serious at the last question, his smile disappearing behind a stare that scared Amina to her core.
"Yes... Yes, I have. Usually, the forest is full of life, creatures who live there and thrive there. But as of late I have been seeing less. And yesterday when I returned, the air felt... heavy. Cold. Almost suffocating. I dare not impose my own opinions as fact, but I have felt this before. The night my parents died. And... that night... I remember seeing someone. I thought I had dreamed it but.. maybe I hadn't. I'm not sure, your high—Oro," Amina finished, correcting herself awkwardly. It felt wrong to call the prince by his name but she would not defy his orders, no matter how small. The royal family terrified her.
Oro folded his hands, pondering a bit before continuing.
"Amina, my dear. Nero mentioned something and I must ask. Can you see anything unnatural? There are stories of old, passed down in the royal line, of those with unnatural powers. Some who can see things others can not. Do things others can not. Many have served the royal family line over the years. Including your parents." Amina's heart stopped. What did he say?
"M-my... my parents? My parents were normal people. They just.. they just gathered herbs and made elixirs, they never served the royal family, your highness, that must be a mistake..." Amina pleaded, he had to be wrong. Her parents wouldn't lie to her. They were normal. She was the weird one. The oddball, the witch.
"It's true, my dear. Your parents served my father. I thought they still did in secret, I had not heard of their deaths, though we did lose contact after they left," Oro explained.
"No... No, they would have told me. They wouldn't lie." Amina was near tears, her voice cracking as she begged for him to be mistaken.
"Mira and Ciro Amante, I am sure of it, Miss Amina. I remember them coming here regularly when I was a child all the way until after the war. The last time I saw you was when you were very young, though, I wondered why they had stopped bringing you but I remember thinking what a beautiful child you were. Like an angel. You look like her except for your hair. Hers was a brighter blond than mine, your father's a deep shade of red. You have her eyes," he affirmed. He knew what her parents looked like. It had to be true. But why... why would they lie? Why would they hide their ties with the royal family? Why wouldn't the prince know of their deaths even if they lost contact? Didn't they check on them? Didn't they care? Amina felt sick. She needed air. She couldn't breathe.
"I-I-I'm sorry. Please excuse me," she ground out the words, feeling the vomit burning a path up her throat. She hurriedly bowed and rushed out the door. She had no clue where she was or how to escape this maze, her legs shook as she pressed her hands firmly over her mouth to keep herself from spewing the small amount of food she had eaten this morning all over the marble floors. Suddenly, she felt a large, warm hand on her back. She froze, then felt light as air as those large hands picked her up with ease and cradled her against an even larger chest. She knew it was Nero. He was the only man that was this large.
"I'm taking her to her room. I'll return soon," Nero said coldly, not looking behind his shoulder to see the prince's hardened face, filled with regret and a tinge of guilt. Oro closed the door behind him, allowing Nero to leave freely and deposit the tiny, trembling woman in his arms to her room. Amina wanted to walk on her own but she knew she didn't know where to go and doubted she could stand. Her thoughts and heart were racing so fast, she felt dizzy. She hadn't realized it, but she had released one of her hands from covering her mouth to clutch Nero's tunic that peaked out from beneath his black leather armor. She felt his thumb stroking her arm as he held her silently, trying his best to comfort her. He truly was deserving of the title Sir, despite his brutal looks and cold demeanor.
"Oh my, Sir Nero, would you like me to take her back to her room?" Amina recognized the voice of the maid who had helped her this morning. Nero stopped and Amina desperately didn't want him to leave her. She didn't know why, but his presence comforted her despite her almost constant annoyance with him this entire morning and since they met. She tightened her grip on his tunic, her small fingers brushing against his neck as she did. He tightened his grip on her small body in return.
"No, I'll take her. But please bring her some cool water," he replied coolly, striding past her without even a glance backward. Nero felt protective of her. He wasn't sure why or how but this woman needed him right now and he couldn't leave her be. He carried her to her room, laying her down in bed and turning to leave so she could rest. Amina immediately reached out to grasp his hand, holding him there.
"Did you see them? Did you see my parents too?" Her voice didn't sound like her own. Nero turned back, squeezing her hand in his. His memory was hazy from that time. Everything was a blur before and during the war, but he had come to and from the palace even before he was appointed as Oro's knight.
"I don't recall... I'm sorry. But I know Oro would never lie. Not about something like that," he replied. Amina felt her heart ache a second time as he confirmed her fear once more. Her parents lived a secret life she never knew about. They had lied to her about who they were and what they could do. They weren't normal like she had always believed. Amina tried to hide her face as tears began to fall. She felt as if the entire foundation of her world was crumbling. She didn't know who she was anymore. She tried to pull away from Nero but his hand held onto hers. He didn't want to let go but the slight knock on the door had him releasing her as he strode to allow the maid in. Amina curled into herself, desiring to be alone.
"Please... leave me alone," she whispered. Nero must have heard her because he grabbed the water from the maid, quickly leaving it on her bedside table before making the maid leave. He hesitated in the doorway before finally closing the door on Amina's misery. He heard her sobs from outside the door and wished he had never told him about her strange behavior when she mentioned the soul of the panthera. He cursed himself before stalking away in a foul mood as he went to confront the prince.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Nero demanded as he walked back into the office, slamming the door behind him. Oro stopped writing, calmly placing his pen down before answering.
"I don't know what you mean," the prince replied smoothly.
"Why would you bring that up? Especially after learning her parents were dead? You just destroyed that poor woman for nothing!" Nero's anger boiled over to a breaking point as he slammed his hand down on Oro's desk, glaring down at him, waiting for his explanation.
"I need to know if that woman is special like her parents and if we can use her."
"Use her! Use her for what? What the fuck are you scheming?"
"Nero. I've never seen you this angry before. Why do you care? I apologized, did I not? I didn't mean to hurt the poor girl, but I'm not going to hesitate to use someone with potential." Nero thought he might grind his teeth to dust before this day was over. Listening to this man he thought was his friend was beginning to make him sick.
"You've never felt guilt for any of the others we have used, so why now?" The prince asked, leaning back in his chair nonchalantly.
"I didn't save her for you to use her and abuse her. She's an innocent woman. The others were far from innocent men, they deserved to be dead, much less used for your purposes."
"You like her, don't you? I knew from the moment you set eyes on her. You do remember her, don't you?"
"Remember her? Why would I remember her, we just met last night," Nero replied, his anger rising with every word.
"Yesterday was not the first time you two met, I'm surprised you don't remember."
"Well then, remind me, your royal highness," Nero mocked.
"No need, you'll remember on your own. You'll also remember to watch yourself with me. We are friends but I will not tolerate such harsh words or judgement again, my friend." Nero straightened, silent and full of rage.
"And you will help me to figure out if she was blessed with a gift like her parents. That's an order." Nero wanted to curse him, punch him, or worse. But he knew he couldn't, so he merely balled his hands into such tight fists, blood began to trickle from his palms as his nails bit into his flesh.
"Yes, your highness," he replied coolly, "if you would excuse me, I need to go train the black knights." Oro waved him away, resuming his work, trying to distract himself from the guilt he felt toward the tiny woman whose horrified face would not leave his mind. Nero stalked away, slamming the door behind him and Oro threw his papers to the ground as he laid his face in his hands.
Nero drilled the knights until night fell, then continued to train on his own, working out his anger until he could be assured he wouldn't grind his prince's face into his damned marble floors. He sheathed his sword, strolling back into the castle through the kitchens, grabbing a quick meal before he retired to his chambers. On his way back, he passed Amina's room and hesitated. He wanted to check on her but it was fairly late, would she still be awake? He turned on his heel, quickly rapping against her door. He waited but no answer. He knocked slightly louder, waited. Nothing. He bounced from foot to foot, debating whether or not to enter when the maid that had helped earlier passed by.
"S-sir Nero?" she quivered, wringing her hands as she paused for his answer.
"What?"
"Um... I'm worried for Miss Amina. She didn't come out since you left and wouldn't answer the door. She didn't even come out for lunch or dinner. C-could you check on her please? We couldn't dare go in without approval." The maid looked like she wanted to flee but stood there and faced him for Amina's sake. He liked this maid. He tried to soften as to not terrify her more before answering, "I'll check on her. Thank you for letting me know, you may go," he answered with a slight smile. The maid rubbed her eyes, thinking she had imagined it. She had never seen this man crack a smile or laugh or do anything pleasant. She thanked him before skittering away.
Nero tried the door, releasing a sigh of relief when he found it unlocked. He didn't feel like breaking down the door and scaring her further than he already had. He walked into a dark room, squinting in the moonlight streaming through the window, trying to see if Amina was inside. His heart sank, had she run away? He crept closer, holding his breath as he approached the bed to see if she was there. He released his breath when he finally saw her small form curled up on the bed. She looked like a small child on such a large bed, it made him smile.
"Amina?" She stirred slightly but seemed to be asleep. At least she was still there. He leaned down to brush the hair from her face without thinking and froze when her eyelids fluttered slightly. What was he doing? He pulled his hand back but found it caught by Amina's small, cold fingers. He looked down to find her light blue eyes glowing in the dim light, his heart picking up as he looked down at their hands.
"Amina..?"
"Don't leave. Please, don't leave me alone again," she cried, clutching at his hand, tugging him down but too weak to make him move. His heart squeezed painfully at her words and he found himself sitting beside her. She released a small sigh before her eyes closed again, her small hand still grasping a few of his fingers. He cursed under his breath, scrubbing a hand through his hair. He swore he would leave once he was sure she was fast asleep and he could get his fingers released without waking her. He yawned as he listened to her slight, even breaths as she slept. He took off his chest piece very carefully and quietly with his free hand. The damn leather was making him hot and uncomfortable. Nero sighed, weary and tired, and decided to get more comfortable and slid his legs up on the bed, resting his back and head against the ridiculous mounds of decorative, frilly pillows behind him. He was sure he wouldn't fall asleep, he never could sleep if someone was near him. Amina still clutched at his hand as she slept and before he knew it, he was snoring beside her, his intentions to leave dashed as the exhaustion from the day sank into his body, pulling him into a deep sleep.