"You look stunning, My Lady," said Greta, complimenting the Princess's looks. She smiled at her through the mirror but the princess's face remained stoic. Her eyes trained on her exposed collarbone, quick to avert her eyes when the princess caught her staring across the mirror.
Aria forced a smile before she stood. "That will do for now. I'll have some time alone now, thank you."
"And your breakfast, my lady?" Asked a concerned Greta.
"I'm okay," she replied. Why wouldn't everyone leave her alone?
Greta, was however persistent. "I'm sorry to disobey your order my lady but your health has been of concern lately, and as your personal maid, it's my duty to keep you healthy."
"Can we not talk about this again?" Aria was growing tired of this conversation.
"I've been keeping silent about it but at this rate, I'm afraid His Majesty, your father might be concerned. I'll be held accountable!" The dread in her voice was unmistakable.
Aria let out a sigh. The maid had done her best to help her 'starve' but she was clearly risking her profession, and life too! If word of it could be breathed, the poor maid would be hanged, and that was the last thing Aria wished.
Greta was the only person who had seen her through her childhood. She was the motherly figure in her life especially after the sudden disappearance of her mother. And now that she had discovered she possessed elemental powers, her fear escalated to greater heights.
The council had set the rules. No one possessing magical powers in the kingdom of Avon could be spared. Those who were unlucky to be caught faced the cruelest of deaths anyone could imagine.
On one scenario, Aria had witnessed a woman get burnt on the public square, tied on a post as her screams filled the air. The citizens in the capital had watched with content until all that was left of her was dying embers and a pulp of ashes.
The most recent experience she had witnessed was in the dungeons of the palace. Poor soul had been skinned alive, and his flesh burnt on the same bare spots before his body was tossed in the forest, certainly a meal for the beasts!
It alarmed her how inhuman people could be. And when she tried to bring the matter to her father, the king, he had ended up actionless against the council. No one, not even the king could stand against the council's powers. So powerful it was that it could remove a sitting king from the throne if need be.
"I'm sorry I had you worried," Aria said staring at her hands in despair.
"If there's anything bothering you, you can tell me," Greta urged, her hands on Aria's shoulders.
Aria gazed at her, her blue eyes settling on the maid's face. Could she be trusted?
"You are like a daughter to me," Greta added, flashing the warmest of smiles at Aria.
"I... am..." For some odd reason, it felt all wrong to reveal the truth. Not that she didn't trust Greta but her gut feeling told her otherwise. And as if to save the damsel, a knight knocked on the door just in time.
"I'll get that," Greta said, letting go of the princess's shoulders. The simple touch made her feel as if a lot of weight had been placed on her, all thanks to her fasting. She felt weak but she was determined. But what exactly was she determined to do? To die?
After Greta had talked with the knight, she walked in with a sullen face. "Your presence is required in the dining hall, my lady."
That didn't come as a surprise to Aria. Maybe her father had noticed her absence after all.
"It's a royal visit!" Greta added, with it, crushing all her hopes. In place of the smile that had lighted her face earlier, now was a look of disappointment. What did she expect from her father anyways?
"I'm not going!" She announced lazily, sitting on the edge of her bed. Greta was quick to sit beside her, worry etched on her face.
"Your presence is of ultimate importance in such matters my lady. It'll be a disgrace to the royal visitor if the princess is absent in such an occasion."
"I don't want to see my father," she admitted.
Greta knew the weight of her words as she ended up nodding in understanding. The princess's relationship with the king was not one to be admired, especially after the disappearance of her mother in her life. And though he had tried his best as a father, explaining the whereabouts of the queen was the most challenging thing he had to do in parenthood.
Greta held her hands, slightly squeezing them. "If you want to challenge your father, don't give him the satisfaction he wants."
Aria's eyes glowed in surprise.
"He won't like it seeing you becoming the better version of yourself. In fact, he'd hate it!"
Greta's words were now making some sense.
"You need to go out there and show him what you got. Promise me that you'll have your meal this time."
Aria nodded exaggeratingly like a little child. "I will," she affirmed.
"Good!" Greta helped her on her feet. Her cold hands caressed Aria's cheeks, but with it came the comfort she desired. If only her mother was here instead of Greta!
"Make me proud!" Greta whispered, loud enough for Aria to hear.
The princess held her head high, her princess aura replacing the child in her. She walked in a prideful gait as she excited the room, with Greta smiling all the while.
Halting at the door to her room, Aria stared at the maid one last time, the warm smile doubling her determination to unseen heights.
Greta's smile dropped the moment Aria was out of sight. Instead, she was filled with guilt. The news she had received from the knight was a complete contrast to what she had told the princess. She could only hope the princess would understand she did it for her own good and that of the kingdom.