The sound of the creaking of the wooden planks of a worn carriage belonging to the royal guard, added to the wobble of the wheels due to the uneven dirt road after the rain, made the unfortunate Julia be on the verge of screaming.
An hour had already passed on the road since she was handcuffed and taken captive inside the carriage cage. The feeling of pain in his body that until recently was bearable, now felt as if every muscle fiber and bone was broken one by one.
Thanks to the adrenaline that circulated through his bloodstream, due to the sum of emotions while he was going to save his father, he was able to resist the ravages of the road until he could reach him.
Thinking of that man who saw her grow up, Julia kept shedding her tears in deep regret for taking her life. Physical pain was nothing to her, compared to the affliction she felt in her heart.
"Stop yelling dammit! Not only does your appearance look effeminate, but also your screams sound like a woman giving birth. Shut the hell up!" – Firmly taking his rifle, the guard hit the young woman's skull with the butt, silencing her in an instant as if he had killed her with the force he used.
"Moron! What did you do? Prince Rafael ordered to take him alive. Do you want our heads to roll along with our families because of this queer? – Frightened by his partner's words, the guard hurriedly bowed, putting a mirror up to Julia's nose.
The light vapor he exhaled on his breath clouded the surface, giving the man relief to see that he had only passed out.
-" What do you think the prince will do with it?"
-" He is the son of a traitor. The only thing that saves him is that he was the one who took his own father's life, but I wouldn't want to be in his shoes when that prince uses him like the others" – Bringing his index finger hastily to his lips, he guard towards the gesture to his partner to be silent. Since it was known to all, that those unfortunates who came to mention the private life of the prince did not have a good end.
The carriage continued on its way without stopping, while the first rays of the sun slid over the tops of the snowy mountains that circled the horizon. The year was in spring and with it, the cold morning wind made the guards shiver due to their soaked clothes.
Julia? Julia, where are you? – A gentle and warm voice that emanated an almost angelic aura, called a little girl who was hiding cheerfully behind the trunk of a leafy oak, in the meadow in front of the summer house where the Dukes of Valera used to spend their vacations.
Approaching her giving the impression of not knowing where she was, the duchess humored her little daughter who barely covered her lips with her little hands trying to contain her laughter.
"Catch you!" – Picking up the little girl, barely two years old, the Duchess of Valera smiled happily in tune with the laughter of her little girl who protested at having been found.
Curly blond hair, which shone like wheat ready to be harvested, pearly skin that reddened at her cheekbones like a pair of Castilian roses that had just bloomed. Adela Augusta de Valera, the wife of Duke Rogelio, was considered one of the most beautiful women in the kingdom only after Queen Virginia herself.
Many nobles at social gatherings praised her beauty, sometimes causing some jealousy in her husband, who more than once thought about stopping attending events. Being dissuaded by his wife, who reminded him that he was a figure that represented the crown itself with his behavior.
"Julia, it's time to change your clothes" – Being such a small girl, young Julia barely kept the memories of that happy childhood with her mother. But what she always had in mind is that since her birth, pastel colors and lace were out of her wardrobe.
Men's clothing was what she always knew due to her condition. Due to the Duchess having a delicate health condition, the idea of having another baby was dismissed by the Duke without a second thought. The mere fact of losing her was a situation that he wished would never arise.
Being an only child, Julia had to take on the role of a man in society. Pushed by the shackles of the law and the constant threat of the duke's distant relatives. Knowing that Adela had delicate health, they insistently suggested to the Duke to adopt one of his offspring to decree him as successor.
Living in ostracism, Julia spent her first years in the company of her mother in that farm on the outskirts of the capital. While her father stood firm in his duty as a crown official, preventing malicious eyes from finding the secret of his beloved daughter.
"Tell me Julia? You like?" – Placing a mirror in front of her daughter, Duchess Adela smiled at her daughter, who did not take her eyes off the reflection that appeared before her.
A coordinated navy blue with silver buttons, olive leaf embroidery made with fine threads of a darker tone. Those clothes were something that was not comfortable for her, she felt that they were not her own as if they had been made for another child.
"Mom, why do I always wear ugly clothes?" - That innocent question devoid of all malice, penetrated deep into the heart of the duchess. Who couldn't even explain to her beloved daughter the complexity of her situation, forcing herself to think about the subject using any resource that came to her mind.
Adela's beautiful green eyes dimmed as a lump formed in her throat, unable to give her daughter full happiness. Sitting up in bed, she brought her hands to her lap and tried to hide her sadness by lowering her face while letting out a sigh.
"Please do not cry. Did I say something mom shouldn't say?" - A pair of small chubby hands rested on hers, who when looking up could contemplate that expressive face of the innocent creature that did not hide her concern.
"It's nothing my little girl . I was just feeling a little tired and that's why I came to sit on the bed. You shouldn't worry about mom, my pretty treasure" – Hugging him gently against her chest, the duchess placed a tender kiss on Julia's hair. Who listened to the slow beating of his mother's heart; which had some months of not feeling well, avoiding leaving the limits of the farm.
Like a wind-up clock that stops its mechanism little by little, Adela's heart slowed down over the years. The fateful outcome came one gloomy winter morning, bedridden in that same room where she shared so many moments with her beloved daughter.
The white snow that covered the greenery of the valley seemed like a carpet that welcomed the worthy lady to the tomb. That day few friends close to the duke attended the funeral, many of them arguing that they were traveling and it was impossible for them to meet him, but they accompanied him in his pain.
Rogelio knew that he had earned a lot of dislike for his honest character, but he never gave up on him, being what his late wife adored most about his personality.
Holding hands wearing black suits, Julia and her father stood near the coffin contemplating for the last time who took part of their hearts. With a serene countenance as if she were asleep, resting on white roses with which the coffin had been filled, Adela's body was seen through Julia's eyes with a wish that all this was a dream.
That as soon as he put his head on the pillow he would get up the next day and run as usual down the hall of the house and open the door of his mother's room, to find her in front of her dresser combing her long golden hair.
"It's a shame that he died so young, in the full flower of his life and with only one child to his credit" - Rogelio's malicious words from a relative reached the ears of Julia, who, being shocked by that harsh reality , he burst into tears inconsolably in the presence of the assistants and the sacristan.
-" Andrew! This is not the time or the place."
-" If this is not a time to cry for the one you have lost, when is it my dear Rogelio?" – Those present made way and prostrated their knee before the arrival of an assistant who was not expected at that time. King Edward II, upon learning of Adela's death, paused in all royal activities in order to accompany his most faithful collaborator in his sorrow.
Behind him, two children came walking with the proper solemnity that characterized the members of the crown. A girl with jet black hair and turquoise eyes, who was hugging a small rag rabbit that looked a little worn at the seams. To his right, a brown-haired boy with a plump complexion and a frown from the look that gave the impression of always being annoyed.
They were Elena and Rafael, the princes who accompanied their father as a sign of respect for the ducal house of Valera.
-" Please forgive the rudeness of my words my lord"
-" I know that as nobility they live under a constant disguise of appearances. Some to show off, others like you, to protect what is important. But let Andrés cry for his mother without caring about the vultures that prowl around here" – The strong words of the king made more than one feel a sting in the conscience, causing the ladies who until a moment ago were whispering viperously to restrain the impetus of their language.
Giving a signal to the priest, the king asked him to continue with the funeral rite to see off the noble Adela until her last rest. After the liturgy, the minister gave peace to those present and concluded the funeral.
The gravediggers taking their shovels began to pour earth on the lid of the coffin, while Julia restrained herself a little so as not to cause more problems for her father. At nine years old, the girl's innocence was marked by the departure of her beloved mother. Who would no longer be with her, leaving her alone in the farm where only the servants were present.
Abandoning formalities and protocol, that same afternoon King Edward and his sons accompanied the remnant of the Valera family; which were astonished, since it was not a common behavior that would be expected from the crown.
Seeking the opportunity to speak alone with Roger, the king asked his sons to accompany Andrew while they discussed some personal matters. Elena accepted without making any protest, but Rafael showed his displeasure by considering the young man as someone unmanly to play with.
Giving her a vigorous rebuke, the king slammed the tip of his cane on the wooden floor of the room, causing even Julia to widen her eyes as expressive at the imposing presence of the monarch.
"It's okay, father" - Clenching his fists in a huff, Rafael walked through the middle of the children, pushing Julia with her shoulder, who could barely stand up before the corpulent figure of the first prince.
"Don't pay attention to him, he's always like that" – Holding the worn rag rabbit against her chest, Elena gazed at Andrés's eyes, slightly captivated by the ease with which he could express his emotions.
Taking him by the hand, she gently pulled his arm to guide her to her bedroom to play for a while until the grown-ups finished discussing their business. When they got to the room, Rafael was already inside rummaging through the toy chest that was at the foot of the bed.
"What is all this? Here there are only simple toys, there are no soldiers or horses, only board games and to top it off only two people" – Julia watched shocked as Rafael did not have the slightest delicacy with all the things he took out of the trunk. Throwing them on the floor at the risk of breaking more than one.
Pursing her lips as if she wanted to contain herself since it was the first prince, Julia tried to remain calm in the face of Rafael's haughty attitude.
The games that he enjoyed in the company of his mother were treated as if they were mere trinkets in the hands of that imprudent boy. Elena, who noticed the expression in Andres's eyes, wanted to yell at her brother to stop. When at that very moment, an object appeared before Julia's look of anguish.
Holding it with both hands, Rafael vigorously shook a musical snowy sphere inside which rested the figure of an angel embracing a baby. That object among all those that were in the trunk, was the most significant for Julia. Since it was the last birthday present that her mother had given her before she died.
"I beg you, please don't break it?" – Falling to her knees unable to hold back her tears, Julia vehemently begged Rafael to stop at that moment, feeling her heart break in two at the possibility of losing that valuable memory.
"Oh I see. So this is important to you right?" - With a malevolent smile that was not typical of a child, Rafael was gloating to have Julia at his mercy. For him during all these years, his sister was more an object of his games than his blood. But before him now a new toy seemed ready to entertain him.
"Get on all fours and bark like a dog, beg as if you were your master" – Elena was about to pounce on Rafael, when Andrés stopped her by grabbing the hem of her dress arm.
Downcast gaze shaking her head in disapproval, Julia did as the prince had ordered. Walking on all fours, he approached him barking like a dog. Like a poodle, Julia lowered her dignity at that moment in order to preserve the memory of her beloved mother.
Laughing uncontrollably, Rafael watched Andrés make a fool of himself to his morbid delight. But in a brief moment, when she got down on two legs begging, Rafael looked into her eyes and contemplated those green gems like emeralds drowned in tears.
At twelve years old, the first prince had never before experienced that sensation in his chest like the one he had felt when meeting Julia's eyes. Which made him confused, since for him it was another man just like him.
"Enough!" – Raising his voice for a moment, Rafael kicked Julia in the stomach, throwing her against the base of the bed. Elena, who until a few moments ago had remained on the sidelines at Andres' request, came to his defense by putting herself between the two of them.
-" Get out of my way sister, do not get in the way of these men's affairs!"
-" Rafael, is it that you did not suffer for the death of your mother? Or do you not have the heart to understand how Andres feels? – Snorting air through her small and sharp nose, Elena glared at the prince while she stood firm before his imposing presence.
Julia, on the other hand, was still on the floor coughing as if she felt that something was preventing her from breathing easily.
"I'll keep this!" Keeping the small sphere inside his jacket, Rafael left the room without another word, leaving behind Julia who was desperately trying to say a word as she extended her arm begging for the object to be returned.
Feeling suffocated, her vision blurred until she was plunged into complete darkness.
"We have already arrived!" – When the carriage stopped suddenly, Julia opened her eyes from her deep sleep after having brought back those memories of her past.
Confused that she was still in a daze from the blow to her head, she was taken by the arms by the guards escorting her to one of the palace's first-floor rooms. Laying him down on a bed and then drawing a curtain and leaving to make way for the royal doctor.
Coming to her senses, aware of the situation she was in, Julia tried to get out of bed to get out of there. But he quickly realized that his hands had been tied to the rails of the stretcher.
"Damn, damn! It can't be, no please no!" – Completely lost, the young woman realized that it was a matter of minutes for the royal doctor to realize that it was a woman. If that happened, all his efforts and his father's sacrifice would be in vain.
Pleading with a god she no longer believed in, Julia was terrified when she heard the creak of the door hinges opening as a couple of steps approached the curtain that covered her.
"Nurse, remove the gentleman's garments without untying the ropes. We have orders from the captain of the royal guard to treat you like a prisoner" – Taking a pair of scissors from the instrument tray, the nurse followed the doctor's order by proceeding to cut the fabric of Julia's jacket.
The young woman begged him to stop, giving the false impression of being in a lot of pain. But far from dissuading the nurse, she hastily removed the jacket and continued with the shirt.
-" Doctor, come see this!"
-" What is happening? Is it that serious? – The eyelids of the doctor who was still sleepy opened due to surprise. Under Julia's clothes, the bandage with which she compressed her chest was exposed, not being able to hide the delicate contour of the waist and part that protruded from the edge of the fabric.
"Summon the captain of the guard immediately! We must report this" – Julia felt her blood freeze to the point that her heart almost stopped. His secret, the secret he had managed to keep in the dark for so many years, was coming out at the worst possible time of his life.
When the captain entered and looked at the situation, he ordered the doctor to treat his wounds and cover him again so that no one else would know about the situation. Threatening him and the nurse that, if they divulged anything that happened in the room, they would be executed on the spot.
With their lives at stake, they proceeded as the captain ordered and left the room. By the time he and Julia were left alone, the captain's gaze changed to a mocking tone as he stroked his beard, making a smug grin.
"Who'd say! Andrés, the worthy son of the traitor Valera, turned out to be a delicate flower not only in form but also in essence" – Approaching the head of the bed, the captain furiously grabbed the young woman's hair, tilting his face until their gazes locked. facing.
-" What is your real name? Answer you filthy bitch! Or I'll beat that pretty face until it can't be recognized."
-" Julia, my name is Julia!" – Desperate, feeling that she was on the edge of a precipice, her voice was broken, drowned in a helpless cry due to the pain she felt in her body. Although as knights they had undergone strenuous training to increase their resistance to pain, at the moment the condition he was in was beyond the ability of any human being.
"Sir, the prince has ordered that you take her to his rooms" - A soldier knocked on the door of the clinic reporting the situation to his superior, who as soon as he heard the order, took the young woman tightly, wrapping her in the sheets of the bed. Scaring her under threats to keep her quiet until told to do so by the crown prince.
With her face completely covered, Julia was carried like a bundle on the shoulder of the captain, who went up the stairs to the corridor of the prince's chambers.
Every step that man took echoed on the marble floor like a heavy hammer hitting rock. Each second that passed seemed like an eternity for Julia, who, keeping her lips closed, murmured pleas for the miracle of not falling into Rafael's clutches.
- " Sir, I have come as you have ordered"
-" Go in quickly and close the door, Miguel. Don't let anyone else see you"- That unmistakable voice was the sign of the end of the road for Julia. Any hope or miracle had vanished as soon as they heard the bolt on the door close behind them.
Placing her on the carpet in the room, Miguel violently removed the sheet from Julia. Who could barely put his hands on the floor in order to avoid hitting his face.
"Remember this?" – A melody that evoked a distant past, where happiness had been buried by the cruel passage of time. It was the musical sphere that had been taken from him ten years ago by Rafael. That valuable memory played its melody resting on the table near the fireplace.
"Leave us alone Miguel, but stay near the door" – When the captain left the room, Rafael walked slowly until he reached where the unfortunate Julia was prostrated on her knees.
– " You have been a very bad dog. I was a good owner with you to the point that I spared nothing to have you by my side, but you only dared to bite your master's hand. Cheating on me all these years
-" I'm sorry" – With a soft voice as if the air was insufficient for her to breathe, Julia tried to appeal to Rafael's sympathy. Who, taking her by the chin, raised her face to look at him in front while holding the incisive gaze on the teary eyes of the young woman.
In that instant, the melody of the musical sphere stopped completely. Only silence remains between the prey and the hunter.