After the horrible sight that had presented itself to me in the hospital wing, I wandered restlessly in the corridors of the palace. I couldn't just sit still and wait for my shift tonight.
If Cain would do something that horrible to his innocent subjects, I really didn't want to know what he was going to do to me tonight.
I was scared.
I stopped abruptly pacing up and down when I suddenly saw the familiar black smoke wafting in front of me in the lonely hallway. I was almost relieved to see Isaya's pretty face shortly afterwards.
"Oh thank god you're finally here! When can I get out of here?" I whispered to her frantically.
"You saw it, didn't you? You saw what the prince did, didn't you?"
Apparently she could see the restlessness in my face. But I wasn't very good at hiding it either.
"We are lucky. You can probably get away from here quicker than I thought." She said quietly.
Suddenly I began to hope that I could even get away from here this day. That the nightmare would end today. But all those hopes were dashed in her next sentence:
"You can probably escape from here in two days. At that time a shipment of new supplies arrives and I happen to know the driver very well. He will secretly bring you away from here. Make sure you don't have a shift or training around lunchtime the day after tomorrow, then come to the second staff entrance. In the meantime, just pretend that everything is the same as always." She informed me.
Before I could say anything else, she dissolved into smoke again and disappeared as quickly as she had come. I just stood there speechless for a while.
T-that meant… I had to go to Cain's room tonight and stand watch. That I had to be in his presence.
There was no way out of this situation... or rather confrontation...
I tried to calm my racing pulse, but it was no use. I was way too nervous.
I was afraid…
Afraid of what will come.
…
The day progressed sluggishly. It was almost as if time was running slower than usual on purpose. And that only made me more nervous.
However, when it was time for my shift, I felt as if the time had passed rather quickly. I tried to take a deep breath and then made my way to Cain's room with somehow shaky legs.
The way to his room seemed endlessly long to me, but also far too short. As I walked the extravagant corridors, I was only vaguely aware of most of the staff passing me. I was almost in a trance. Deep in thoughts.
The first person who got my attention was George, who was still standing guard outside Cain's door. Strangely he had the shift before or after me quite often. Sometimes I wondered how it could be that George always had his shifts around mine when there were so many royal bodyguards for Cain. However, I tried not to rack my brains about it and simply blamed this fact on chance or fate. I didn't want to have to think about that too.
When George saw me, his expression brightened briefly, but then he seemed to remember something, and then his face suddenly went gloomy again.
"That you even dare to show up here." He greeted me, which intimidated me a little. He didn't sound angry or disappointed. He was more... surprised. Honestly surprised.
"You've probably heard it too..." I said, trying not to stare at the floor dejectedly.
"Chris… it's dangerous for you here. If I were you, I would have left by now."
"It's not as easy as it sounds, George. Besides... wouldn't it make... him... angrier?"
"He can't get any more angry than he is now..."
"Is … is it that bad?" I gulped.
"I'm afraid so. But he seems to have calmed down a bit from yesterday. Despite this, he's still irritable. It's better not to provoke him." Said George as he stepped aside to let me into Cain's door.
"Believe me, I didn't intend to do that with the best will in the world..." I said as I gripped the doorknob.
"Shall I wait here... in case something happens?" George asked, and my heart felt instantly warm. He really worried about me.
"No, thank you. I don't want any more bystanders to get hurt because of me. But it's really nice of you. Really." I answered with a soft smile.
Shortly thereafter, George nodded his goodbye and went slowly back to his room. Nevertheless, I had the feeling that George was reluctant to leave me alone like that. Meanwhile, I entered Cain's room. I clenched my fists to keep them from trembling so much. But it didn't help.
When I entered Cain's room, it was uncomfortably quiet.
It was almost as if the thick air was suffocating me.
Cain sat on the expansive sofa, showing me just his back and looked out the large Victorian window. His silhouette was edged all in orange because of the afterglow.
He didn't look at me. Not even once. It was almost as if he didn't care who just walked into his room. It didn't interest him in the least. His gestures made that clear from the start. He seemed absent and dull.
"I... I'm here for the changing of the guard..." I said softly, trying to suppress the tremor in my voice in vain.
When Cain recognized my voice, he immediately turned to me with a jerk, so that I jumped in shock. His piercing eyes had turned a dark, orange hue, indicating that Cain wasn't really back to normal. But at least they were no longer scarlet. It calmed me a bit.
"Ha? You have the nerve to just show up here after everything you've done." It sounded snotty. His condescending tone made my heart ache.
"I... I'm still a royal bodyguard. I cannot neglect my duties for personal matters..." I tried to explain. Even so, my voice sounded pathetic and weak.
"Tch, personal matters," he said, giving a cold laugh, "just tell me if you hate me. That makes it easier for both of us."
"I... I don't hate you! I never meant to-"
"Shut up!" He cut me off in that harsh, cold voice, "Get out of my room right now and just do your fucking duty. I don't want to see you right now." He snarled.
I felt big tears pool in my eyes as I bowed and left the room to stand guard.
In the hallway I fought back the tears for a long time until I had them somewhat under control. I looked up and blinked multiple times.
Now nobody should ask me if everything is okay. Otherwise I would probably burst into tears. But I was lucky. Most of the workers in the palace didn't care about another worker's tears. The staff who walked past me eyed me at most from the side. But they said nothing. It was probably nothing new either that one of the prince's bodyguards was crying outside his door.
…
A few hours passed and I had successfully fought back the tears. Now my eyes burned terribly. But that was better than crying like a little kid in front of Cain's room.
Cain hadn't called me back in, even though he knew I was in front of the door. I didn't know if I should be relieved or if I should be scared.
I continued to ponder about this in my thoughts when suddenly a loud, barking voice snapped me out of my train of thought.
"Hey you! All palace guards are to report to the courtyard immediately." In front of me stood a man I had never seen before. He wore the uniform of the senior commanders of the Palace Guard. However… something felt wrong.
I didn't know all the faces of the senior commanders, of course, since the castle was much too big for it, but... none of the commanders ever looked so... neglected. The man in front of me had greasy, long hair and an unkempt beard. And he stank like he hadn't washed properly in years. I could just about refrain from grimacing in disgust when he came closer and closer to me with his foul breath.
Here in the military they actually paid attention to the appearance of the soldiers. The rules were: short hair, well-groomed appearance, no stench. It was actually quite easy and doable, since you got the opportunity for body care every day in the palace. But this commander did not seem to abide by these rules.
"Are you deaf, soldier? I said you should go to the courtyard right away!" the strange man yelled at me with his sickening breath.
"On whose orders?" I asked back instead. All of a sudden it all seemed pretty fishy to me.
"What?"
"I asked on whose orders this should be done."
"Er, the chief commander arranged it. It's supposed to be an emergency rehearsal."
I tried not to look confused as much as possible.
It didn't make any sense. If there was an exercise, we would have been told beforehand. In a real emergency, it would have been different. But even then I would have had to follow my own personal protocol, which does not apply to all palace guards.
But since I was also told that this was just an exercise, I couldn't help but be suspicious.
Something was wrong here. I could feel that.
"I am under the direct command of His Highness the Prince. And I was assigned by him to guard this room here. The only persons above His Highness' command are the King and Queen themselves. Therefore, I will refrain from leaving my post here without cause."
"Didn't you not hear you idiot? You're supposed to go to the fucking yard!"
"I cannot and will not do that."
"Why not?!" He seemed both aggressive and somehow harried. A typical reaction for a liar who has been exposed.
"As I said, I am under the direct orders of his-"
"Yes, Yes. I know. Shut up." The stranger interrupted me.
"Don't you know that the instructions for practice came from the king himself?"
Strange that he just suddenly replaced the main commander with the king.
But of course only after I had explained on whose orders I am acting here.
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes, if I tell you so."
"Then I'll probably have no choice but to turn up in the yard." I rattled down monotonously.
I saw relief flash across his face.
"Good, then go there too!" The supposed commander ordered me and then hurried further along the corridor.
As he disappeared around the next corner, I knocked cautiously on the prince's door.
"Come in." Sounded his deep, rough voice, which immediately sent a little shiver down my spine. I quickly opened the door, bowed briefly and then entered.
"What is it?" Cain sounded less irritated than before. However, he still didn't seem entirely pleased to see me. But I didn't care. Because he was in danger. This was an emergency.
"Your Highness, I fear the castle is under attack."
"What? Just now?"
"I guess so. The rebels probably stole the palace guards' uniforms and mingled with the staff here. Apparently they want to gather all the guards in the yard."
"Then we must report this to my father immediately." He seemed surprisingly calm and composed. I, however, was shaking nervously.
I was about to lead the way out the door when Cain caught my elbow. His touch sent a thousand tiny electric shocks down my body. I got goosebumps. Even though he hadn't even touched my skin directly.
"Wait. There is a secret passage. That way we can probably get to the throne room unseen." He said then and let me go just as quickly. Somehow I was a little disappointed, but there were much more important things to do right now…