The effect of the rain last night was still evident in the nature. The wind smelt moist and the grasses were still wet.
Very early this morning, the Prince had returned but he had only done that, so that they could both bid her Father goodbye before he and his warriors would ride back to Rikajra.
The Princess felt conflicted about everything that was happening. She deliberated on whether she should tell her Father what had happened the night before or not. He was, after all, the only parent she had ever known. Also, it was no question, that he loved her very much.
Yet it felt strange to discussed such matters with anyone, even him. Somehow, she felt that this was something she would have to deal with on her own.
So she smiled, hugged him tightly and bid him farewell.
Then Bihishma left her side to go and train, leaving her alone with the Prince while they walked up the stairs and down to her room surrounded with a tension filled silence.
Throughout the walk, she thought and thought about the words to say and how to say them, a couple of times she had concluded on what it would be but not a single word made it out of her mouth.
Till they got to the room and he pushed the door open for her, just as he had done last night.
"For the sake of both our Kingdoms, I hope that you would enjoy your stay here," he said from where he was standing, all the way there by the wall, opposite where she was seated on the bed.
The Princess smiled, a pained one.
He had said it like as if she was only here for a short visit, like as if they hadn't gotten married just yesterday, like as if she wasn't his wife.
"Did I do something wrong?" She finally mustered up the courage and asked.
He stared back at her blankly, his face showing not a single emotion she could hold onto not infer anything from.
"My Mother will send a maid to help you with your tour of the palace, it will make your stay here easier for us all," with that said, he left.
She stared at where he had been standing for a while.
For how long? She didn't know.
But the next time she looked away, there was a person by the door.
She hadn't even heard her knock or come in.
Her face lit up with a grateful smile upon realizing who it was.
"You!" She cried out in happiness as she stood up from the bed and ran to Elyesa, who was standing by the door.
In no time, she wrapped her arms around her in an embrace.
"Bihishma told me you are fine," then she paused. "You are the maid sent to help me?"
"Yes, Princess." Elyesa replied, a smile on her face.
Earlier, Elyesa had received an order that she would be the one to give the Princess the palace tour. Normally, it should have been the Prince, the person she was married too, but Elyesa knew that if she was the one doing this, it only meant that he had made it clear that he didn't want to be with her in anyway.
While that made Elyesa happy, their complicated situation still remained.
Very early this morning, she had told the Prince about how she had actually met the Princess but that wasn't the problem. The problem was the Queen. Seeing how the Princess had stood up for her and realizing how well she could punish her with this opportunity that had presented itself, the Queen was certainly exploiting all her chances.
She had made her decorate the room along with some other maids yesterday and today, ordered to give the Princess a tour.
She didn't hate the Princess, she could not. She had done nothing and was absolutely blameless. Yet knowing this didn't stop it all from hurting.
"Oh," she giggled. "This is even better. A tour around the palace with my friend, I couldn't ask for more."
Elyesa bowed lightly, "thank you for standing up for me."
"That is what friends do."
She held her hand, pulling her further into the room and making her seat on the edge of the bed.
"Tell me everything!"
"About what, Princess?" Elyesa stood, feeling uncomfortable, but the Princess pushed her gently back, bombarding her quickly with questions.
"About the man you were crying by the river for. Are you together yet? What about the other woman? Have you been able to get ride of her?" Then she gasped and clapped her hands, stopping her pacing to look right at Elyesa. "Maybe I can even help you?! What do you day, do you want me to interfere?"
Elyesa's heart twisted with hurt, she looked down at her fingers that she pinching against one another.
"Princess, I really appreciate that but that would not..." She paused, her eyes catching something.
"You are injured," she stood up immediately, holding the Princess's hand in hers. There was cut on her right palm. The cut looked a little pale and it seemed quiet deep.
"This hadn't been treated yet," she turned towards the door. "I'll get the Physician immediately."
"Don't worry about me," the princess held her wrist, stopping her. "Tell me about you, about your man."
"I worry about you," she looked down at the injured palm again. "What happened?"
"I was crying yesterday."
"Why?" Her voice raised with panic.
"It was nothing," the Princess chuckles, touched by how much she cared. "I was missing my father already. I've grown so used to him, this is all a big change. Blurry sight, the vase slipped right out my hand, somehow, I got this," she ended in a dismissive tone.
Elyesa stared intently at the cut while the Princess stared back at her, wondering if she had seen right through her lie.
"I'll be back."
This time around, the Princess wasn't fast enough and Elyesa bolted right out of the door.