"He almost succeeded Vienna. His actions are becoming brasher and brasher; he doesn't even try to keep up appearances anymore. It used to be just telling me that 'I would be lucky to be the future king's mistress' or 'how dare a lowly commoner deny my advances.' He will take my maidenhood if I don't get away from him. What am I going to do?"
"Lilia, maybe you should leave the castle; being a maid for the royal family pays well, but it isn't worth this. Getting away from here might be your only choice."
"I can't do that. I have nowhere else to go; my family barely gets by without this money. So he targets me because he knows I'm desperate to keep my position."
Rainer, hearing this conversation, was visibly upset. Coming from a society without royals, he never felt that sense of superiority that made his eldest brother so toxic.
"Have you thought about reaching out to the Queen? I doubt she will tolerate behavior like this."
"I have, but it's my word against his. If she doesn't believe me, not only will it not get worse, the consequences of slandering the prince will not be light. Banishment would be the lightest punishment, even potentially death."
Hearing about his mother, who was his whole world, irritated Rainer, but at the same time, he wasn't sure whose side she would take. It was time for him to act, literally. Since he was a baby, he decided to play innocent. Coming out of the bushes, he startled the two ladies, but seeing who it was, they relaxed. Seeing that she was crying, he walked over and hugged Lilia.
"Why are you sad?"
Seeing that this innocent child was concerned warmed Lillia up inside, but how could she tell him what was happening. So she decided to omit the worst parts.
"I hurt myself and ripped my clothes; it's not a big deal."
Rainer got the drift he was a baby. They weren't going to open up to him.
"When I am sad, I like to play. Would you play with me?"
Lilia looked at her clothes and was about to decline.
"Don't worry about your clothes will go ask my mother to see if she has some to spare."
Not knowing what to do, she gave in and was led by the prince to the Queen's study, and Vienna returned to work. Rainer knocked several times on the door until his mother beckoned to enter. Entering the study, Lilia avoided her gaze. The Queen looked at the duo, confused.
"Mother Lily has agreed to play with me, but she fell and ruined her clothes. Can you help her get some new ones?"
Taken aback by request, the Queen hesitated for a moment. She knew the damage to the young maid's clothes wasn't from a fall, but Rainer was just a child, but he didn't understand. She couldn't deny her sweet young boy, summoned her maid, and instructed her to take the young girl to get a new uniform. When the maids returned, Lilia and Rainer went off to play. After they left, the Queen turned to her maid and asked for details.
"Do you know what happened, Martha?"
"She wouldn't talk about it, your majesty, but she seemed scared. I believe she was assaulted sexually, but it didn't get further than ripping her clothes. Considering how scared she was to talk about it and recent rumors, I might know who it is."
"Who?"
"Prince Ekrick, your majesty..."