Even while his head kept yelling at him to not go, he couldn't help it and before he knew it, he was standing by his favourite pool, where so many carvings were made. The second time he met the redhead was here...on that cold stone. He looked at the stones placed around the pool. Of course, he knew she wouldn't be here anyways, not after what happened this morning unless she was courting death.
Sighing, he went to seat on the stone, letting his lower legs drop inside the pool. Even though he had been acting normal the whole time like these things had not taken place between him and the girl, it didn't mean they didn't affect him somehow.
He remembered the unnecessary amount of boldness she had shown the day he warned her not to come to this pool again or any unguarded parts of the palace at night.
'But what about you? What are you doing here at night?... Do you not know it is dangerous for you too?... You might not survive even before your reign starts...' Pieces of what she said that day he recollected, then shook his head...
She would not survive long as a servant truly if she didn't change. But most novices were like this until reality hit them.
About the uniform, he knew he would nonetheless discipline her for that. There was no way a servant would disrespect him to that degree and go scot-free. He would just wait for the right time to confront her for that.
Matthew's words hit him again.
He wasn't hiding anything though...he just didn't want to tell him about what transpired those nights he met her. And he didn't need anyone to tell him nothing could happen between him and the servant.
He had a betrothed, one he had given his assurance that he would marry...even though he didn't know how he would cope with the lousy human.
Prince Leon stayed there for a while longer, keeping watch around before finally choosing to retire for the night.
He was pondering deeply as he approached his villa.
King...
He would become King...
Now that he thought of it, it made sense why his father was always tyrannical with servants. They were stubborn and took things for granted. No King wanted to feel in less control of the people he presided over and now, it made Leon braze up for what he was going to become.
He was not going to be kind like he used to be. He would have to be fierce like his father. Strong-hearted and upholding the rule, not willing to bend it, even though deep down, he knew he was not the type. He wanted to be different...
King Lucas was empathetic, no doubt. But he was aware if he wasn't stringent, Vlamunda would fall and he would be seen as feeble.
Leon was still thinking as he crept to his villa. Questions bombarded his head as to the best way to rule his Kingdom. Especially now that there was a possibility of war.
...
Another morning came...
Melina did have a peaceful sleep unlike the previous night but she always had to wake up early. She dreaded this moment.
"Wake up!" her lifesaver came to save her for the day. Cinna was already dressed, and it drove Melina to wonder how she managed to be up early every time.
She had never seen her be punished by Ms Carlos for being late. With utmost speed, he jolted to the bathroom before coming back completely dressed. As usual, Nikita and Leanna had left her alone again. The both of them had been avoiding her like the plague, she didn't know if she should be afraid or glad that it was so.
"I wonder how your uniform seems so clean compared to before. When did you get the chance to wash it? Our duties had been restrained in the past few days," Cinna pointed out how Melina's dress looked so spotless and not soiled from their so many chores.
"I had washed it the night before the event. I was very diligent in doing so," she lied blatantly.
"Mmm. And you still have very pretty hands. You're indeed gifted." Cinna acknowledged and Melina smiled.
If only she knew...
They reached the quarters like they always did. It felt like a rehearsal.
"Melina and Cinna, you would be serving Princess A-" Ms Carlos paused and took a look at both of them as they stepped forward.
"No" she changed her mind. The last time she remembered, the redhead in front of her had been cancelled from attending to royals, because of what happened the day she went to serve the king.
"Cinna would go with Leanna to serve Lady Alice," she pointed and turned to Melina "You with Joan," she was talking about the petite maid who had been with Melina in the small room at the event.
"Hmmm..." the woman thought for a while before sternly gazing at them,
"You would follow Tynan to the market and get a list of items. I know it is your first time so you would be cautious and listen to everything Tynan tells you!" she looked at Tynan who nodded in approval.
Melina felt her heart skip a beat at the mention of Tynan...this servant. Oh, Lord...her head would erupt.
She was going to leave the palace?! She covered up her excitement before Ms Carlos would mistake it to be presumptuousness.
"Yes, Ms Carlos." they heeded in unison.
The guard, Tynan led them to the stable where the horse for the job was kept.
Compared to yesterday, the day was a lot brighter. The two followed the tall man who barely spoke a word to them before they entered the palace stable with different horses present, being attended to by servants.
Melina and Joan saw the variety of horses they had only heard of in their entire lives.
She saw a young white horse at the far end of the stable that mesmerized her. It was captivating...no that wasn't the word. Magnificent...yes, that would do. It had long and lustrous manes as well as a tail with a refined, pony-type head.
The two continued to walk towards it until they were snapped back to reality by Tynan.
"No one is allowed there," he informed and they both halted to notice there was a barricade to show the distinction between the beautiful horses at the end compared to the ones they stood in front of.
Tynan opened the stall for the regular-looking horse to step out before pulling it by the reins out of the stable and to the end gates.
"I am sure you know what all these are," he passed a scroll Ms Carlos gave him earlier to each of them, containing the list of items to buy. Then he threw some pouch bags on the horseback.
Melina nodded at him after glancing through the scroll and noticed the earlier smile he gave her yesterday again on his lips.
Her heart raced but she ignored it and tried to act normal. What was the smile for? He never acted like this.
The guardsmen opened the massive sized gate, enabling them to pass through and to Melina's surprise, it wasn't the only protection the palace had. She saw four big dogs at the front of the gate, held by some guards, to give the three people a path to exit the main gate. Her eyes widened at the sight.
When the dogs saw them, they barked, ready to lash out at them but were restrained by the guardsmen.
"Woof!! Woof!" Melina and Joan flinched, trying to maintain their sanity as they gaped at the animals that would most likely have devoured them to pieces if they weren't chained down.
It was no wonder they had never heard of servants escaping from the palace because how could one run past these thick gates?!
The two had now left the palace with Tynan pulling the horse by the reins.
They entered the marketplace behind Tynan. Everywhere was filled with women and children, hardly men around, Melina noticed
People gave them way without questioning as they passed while whispering among themselves and gazing at them in wonderment. It was the seal that Tynan put on the horse which belonged to the castle.
It was surprising for Melina because she couldn't believe the streets of the kingdom would be stirring and bustling with traders by this time of the morning.
"You can search for the items now," Tynan threw the pouch bags at both of them and without a minute to spare, Joan rushed to the other side of the street with her scroll handy, looking for the foodstuff written on the scroll and leaving her fellow maid behind. It was obvious she had done this many times before.
But Melina held hers, looking confused and uncertain about what exactly she was to do, a bit nervous at the way people gazed at her. She spun to look at Tynan clueless when she saw him smile at her knowingly.
What was his plan?
"Don't worry, I'll help you." The tall young man hovered above her as he walked closer to her before picking up the scroll and leading her.