Luc knew that he was suddenly very quiet. Perhaps he was trying to hear what his heart already knew and wanted to tell him. He had fallen in love with that slave girl. He didn't understand how he could fall in love with her for a single glance that didn't turn into a minute. And he was really enchanted with the girl. It wasn't just her beauty, something about the way she sang the song was so... Sensitive. So sweet. And at the same time so sad that he felt like taking her in his arms and comforting her and not letting anything ever again disturb her peace.
On the other hand, he noticed that Dete was also silent and thoughtful. Nothing in his physiognomy, accused that he was having negative thoughts. Quite the contrary. His gaze was one of hope. Luc didn't wish to feel, but he felt jealous of him. He knew the girl, and from the way he spoke about her, they were friends and should talk often. He was afraid she owned his heart, for if she did, he could not court her. He loved Dete and cared what he would think of his prince and friend. It would be disloyalty to his friend, even more so with him being the prince who would one day ascend to the throne. That he expected to be distant. He still wanted to live with his father for many years to come, even though he was not his favorite son. He loved the presence of his father and king and could not imagine himself without it.
He needed to be sure before he lay down and let the sight and voice of the girl dominate his thoughts. He didn't know if it would be possible, but if his friend was already courting her, he would try to forget about her. Maybe he would accept Ale's invitation and start frequenting the village bar. Anything not to commit an injustice. He held Dete's arm, just in time for him to stop in the middle of the task that Luc was no longer paying attention to, and let go, looking him seriously in the eye. His mother always said that you could read the truth in a person's eyes. And he wanted to read it in his friend's eyes;
"Dete... I need you to be very honest with me. If I fail to be truthful I could commit an injustice and you know that would really shake me up."
"Of course Luc. What happened?"
"Do you love Pamela?"
Dete stared at him in surprise. Suddenly he didn't know how to answer. He could feel that the answer he would give would change the fate of many people. And he had a bad feeling. However, he couldn't lie to Luc, and he hoped it was the right thing to do.
"In a way yes... Like I said, she more like a younger sister. She's like blood of my blood."
"You have no interest in her as a woman?"
"Luc... She can't even be considered a woman yet. She's naive for certain things. I don't know what your sudden great interest in the young woman is, but if you want distraction, that's not the place. Forget you ever saw her. Even if you wanted to, you could never offer her what her mother dreams of and so does she. And as for me... You know I love another in that way..."
"And why can't I offer what they dream of?" Luc asked frowning curiously.
"Come on, Luc. You're a prince. Future king. And she's just a slave. She's going to marry someone else who has the same position as her. And I've also heard rumors that your father has already chosen you a wife. And Pamela is not a toy. She wants to keep herself for her husband. Something that you can't offer her. A house, children... A family and a marriage."
"I don't know what you are talking about regarding a bride chosen for me. But I know well what I do. I don't care if she is a slave, but I need to know if she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside. And if she is, and she so wishes, she will be your future queen."
Luc said so seriously that Dete softened his worried expression.
"I think you are rushing things. You just saw the young lady..."
"But it's as if I've been dreaming about her my whole life. I believe I even commented to Ale, when we were children..."
"Luc... I love you and wish all the good in life for you. But I'm not going to help you in this endeavor."
"Why not? I can't count on anyone else!"
"You'll have to count on yourself. Because I know it won't be good for her. I still believe she'll be happier marrying another slave or someone closer to her social class."
"How can it hurt her to be a queen?"
"It didn't end very well for your mother did it?"
Luc stared at him in irritation and Dete understood.
"You see, Luc... She won't get used to your way of life. She was raised to be queen of the home, not queen of a kingdom. And just the mention of that phrase gives me the creeps, and you know it's a bad omen. I advise you not to see her again, but if you go, don't count on me. May fate guide you." Dete said and started to move towards the area of the palace reserved for the guards and stopped when he heard Luc's words.
"It may not help me. But keep that a secret... And Dete. I'm going to call you to be the best man."
Dete looked back and seeing the determination in Luc's gaze, he couldn't resist and gave a smile before answering;
"I will be honored. Good luck."
After that day, Luc started watching her from afar, asking Dete to always give him information on how she was doing. Even though at first she had rejected the idea of helping him, with the prince's insistence, she eventually gave in. Luc was sometimes very persuasive. Luc started going to the kitchen on surprise visits in the hope of seeing her again and being alone with her. The kitchen was always crowded with servants, and Pamela never looked in his direction, not even when she curtsied to him. Dete found Luc's platonic interest in the girl amusing and believed that he would soon find something to do with his time, but she noticed that the kitchen servants were already becoming uncomfortable with the prince's constant presence in the kitchen. Dete laughed, finding everything amusing, not knowing what direction Luc's insistence would take in the very near future. Without knowing that the bad feeling he had felt some time ago was well-founded. And that his words were right.
Even with such indifference from the young woman, Luc felt that his love had taken on too much proportions after a few months in the kitchen. He couldn't stand the agony any longer and, having made a decision that would change his life forever, he returned to the kitchen and ordered all the servants to leave. They all did so quietly, leaving one by one in line, except the cook, who began to protest that dinner would be late, but one of the guards accompanying the prince took her by the arm and led her away, finding her audacity amusing. Dete was worried by Luc's sudden attitude, but knew for sure that he would not hurt the girl, so she left, leaving them and did not see when Pamela, also passing by Luc to leave, took her by the arm.
"Miss stays." His tone was not a request.
Pamela stared at him for the first time, and Luc could see, in amazement, the look of defiance that came over her beautiful emerald green eyes as she silently acquiesced.
Once everyone had left and Luc finally found himself alone with his beloved, he made his way to the table and sat down in a chair.
"Sit here." He said pulling another chair to his side.
"I dare not, your highness." She tried to say with humility, but Luc felt the defiance in her refusal.
"That's an order!" He tried to say with authority, but he knew that if she was a little smart, she would realize that his tone was not one of command.
Pamela cast that same rebellious, defiant look, and he could have sworn he saw sparks, yet once again, she resignedly obeyed and sat down in the chair he offered her, keeping her head down.
"Are you shy? We are alone now and I would like to know more about you."
"What could be interesting about the life of a slave girl?"
"I don't care about the slave girl. I want to know about the woman."
"Then you are not looking in the right place. I know of no life other than that of a slave."
"But... Your social position does not prevent you from having your own personality and desires for the future."
She stared at him suspiciously.
"What, exactly, do you want from me?"
"Just you."
Pamela stood up. Luc realized, from the difficulty she was finding in controlling her anger and disguising what she felt, that she was unlike any woman he had ever lived with, knowing for certain, that his last words had offended her. Which only served to make him love her even more and revel in the insubordination she exuded.
"Your Highness... I am one of the many slaves you have, and like them, I recognize that I owe you obedience and serve you in your wildest whims, however I believe I must appeal to your sense of justice now."
"Are you crazy woman? We both know that you belong to my father's house and owe me obedience, but what does that have to do with justice?" Luc wanted to tease her even more.
"I know you want me in your bed."
"How...?" Luc could not disguise his surprise.
"Wait sir! Please listen to me first, then take whatever action you think is right. I know you desire me, because I am like all women and I know when a man puts the look of lust on my body. I had the opportunity to observe you the times you were here. At no time did you look away from me. I beg you, sir, to look around you. You have everything. And you can have everything. I am a poor woman, who the only thing I could have to offer a future husband would be my purity. If you take this away from me too, you will condemn me to a lonely life. I appeal to you, sir, because I know that the money you are accustomed to paying plebeian women will be of no use to me, for it is not in my plans to become one of your prostitutes, and if you force me to become one, I will do so for one night only, for I would end my own life as soon as I had finished satisfying your Needs."
Luc was flabbergasted as he stood up.
"You are very brave to challenge me like that, so openly. I could also tell that you are very well informed of your obligations. That being the case, you know very well that this would be a useless appeal if you were actually talking to the people you think.... By the way, I am insulted that you have confused me with him, even though he is my twin brother, who, by the way, I believe I should explain to you, would now be laughing at your pleas and already raping you without caring what you would do with your life after you had your pleasures satisfied? That is, if he deigned to listen to what you have to say."
Pamela, belatedly understanding her mistake, regretted it and became more and more awestruck as she listened to everything he said. She tried to interrupt him to ask his forgiveness for his boldness, however, he with a simple raise of his hand indicated that he was not finished yet.
"However, I will grant you my pardon, for one reason only; Pamela, I didn't want to speak to you alone for the reasons you wisely assumed were really Ale. I do want you in my bed. But as the owner of my life and of my home. I want you as future queen, as wife and mother of my heirs. I want you to think about my proposal, remembering that you have no obligation to accept it. I assure you that everything I am proposing to you is in the purest form of the feelings I have nurtured for some time now for you. Pamela, I love you. You are the reason I spend more time in this kitchen than anywhere else in the palace. Sometimes I come here in the middle of the night, hoping that you will be thirsty and we will meet... You don't know how many times I imagined what our first conversation would be like, and although they all took place in the kitchen, it wasn't quite like that... " He said and frowned thoughtfully.
Pamela was now scared and looked at that tall, athletic man with golden hair and gray eyes, as if she was seeing him for the first time. She needed to take advantage of that moment when he seemed to reflect on what he said to speak to her.
"Your Highness... I must confess that I am flattered and obviously very surprised by your conduct and your proposal, but... Have you realized that I am nothing but a servant?! Why did you choose me? There are so many well-born, well-dressed, perfumed ladies of rare beauty who would welcome your request without hesitation and... Are you attracted to a poor girl like me? You know well that you have the means to make me your mistress without having to make a marriage proposal!"
"No lady in the kingdom, exudes the perfume that intoxicates me with love as you do. You have the rarest beauty in the world and I love your simplicity, you are so... sincere. How can I want you only as a lover, when I know that I will only be satiated by you when I die? I want you for life Pamela, not just for a few nights."
"Why me?"
"Because I love you so much. And because I feel so much love, I can't explain it. It's as if I've been waiting for you. My heart has never beat faster for any woman... I know you must be thinking that I am jumping the gun, but from the first time I saw you, I knew that you are the woman who will forever be in my heart, even if you don't accept me? If you accept my proposal, I promise to make you very happy! I will teach you to love me. Or should I... Should I forget you? Do you already have someone in your heart?" Luc asked aware that he was sounding very anxious, but unable to avoid the thrill of talking to his beloved for the first time.
"No. There isn't. But since you have graced me with some time to think, I wish to make use of it, for I must get my bearings with my mother. I am confused. I cannot give you an answer without counseling and without thinking.... Do you have any idea how unprecedented this is?"
"I am going to give you three days to think and get advice from your mother three. At the end of those days, you must appear, whatever your answer is, with your parents before me in the courtroom. But do not be afraid. For if your answer is no, I will never do you any harm, I will only give your parents a small farm and some gold bars so that they can live elsewhere. I love you so much that if you are not mine, I prefer to keep you far away, so as not to envy or attempt anything against the one whose heart I give you...".
"I have no father, Your Majesty. But my mother will know how to guide me in this matter.... I beg leave to withdraw now."
"You may go." Luc said doubly sad because she left and sad because he could feel her sadness when she revealed to him that she had no father. Martha was probably abused by some cretinous nobleman. When he ascended the throne he would decree that rape would no longer be tolerated in his reign. He would condemn to death anyone who dared to touch a woman without her permission. Even if she was a slave. Such a law would have protected Martha. I imagined that she must still see the nobleman who had wronged her strolling through the halls of the palace. He could imagine her pain and anger as well. Pamela always seemed like someone to him. When she saw him again, she would know who her father is and settle the score with him.
And while Luc was thinking these things with a distant and distracted look, he didn't notice the shadow that sneaked in the door and overheard the whole conversation. And that shadow would change Luc's plans, turning the destiny he dreamed of into a nightmare.
Leaving the room, Luc looked for his father and was informed that he was in his quarters. He had felt chills, and after consulting the palace doctor, he was advised to lie down and rest. Luc went there immediately. As soon as he entered the room, he noticed his father looking very pale.
"What is it my father?" He asked approaching worriedly. It was the first time since his father had caught him arguing with Ale, that he had spoken to him, other than to talk matters of the kingdom.
"I'm fine... It was just a passing malaise, the doctor assured me. But, what brought you here? Concern for your old father?" Dartan replied glad that his son was speaking to him again as if he loved him.
"Of course! But there is also another reason." Luc said sincerely and put his hand on his father's forehead to see if it wasn't too hot. "However, maybe this is not the best time..." He said when he felt he was hotter than he should be.
"Trouble, I imagine." Dartan interrupted Luc as he was curious. He could see a different gleam in his son's eyes. A gleam that he had seen before in the mirror reflected in his own eyes.
"I hope you don't see what I'm about to tell you that way. As a problem..."
Luc took a deep breath as if to gather courage and continued.
"I have come to ask your blessing, my father. I intend to get married soon."
"If the girl in question is not Delina, daughter of the Duke of Limo, I think we will have a problem.... Who is the young lady?" Dartan asked with a half smile.
Luc remained silent. He feared his father's reaction when he learned that he was in love with a slave girl. He would have to approach the matter very tactfully.
"She's not from our midst, is she?" Dartan ventured after his son's silence.
"No, she's not..." Luc replied in astonishment at his father's cunning.
"Plebeian?"
"No, my father... It is about someone who works here, in the palace."
"A maid or... A slave..."
"Yes, my father. A slave, really. But she has the beauty of a queen and the gentleness of a lady. If she accepts me, I will marry her.... Even if she deserts me. Although, I would be happier with what I came here in her presence to seek. I wish you would agree to meet her..."
"Did you know that Delina had been promised to my heir?" Dartan asked as if he had not heard his son's last words and was considering how he would act next.
"It does not consist of a problem. Give her to Ale, for he is also your heir. Ale will enjoy marrying someone of the nobility. And we have different views on what true nobility is. You solved that problem when you told him you would be king too.
Dartan let out a laugh. Now he knew what it was to be in love. In his mind came the memory of his sweet Lea. When he first saw her and fell madly in love. He was not wrong when he realized that he had already seen the same gleam in Luc's eyes in his own. He could never oppose the love of his beloved son, even though he knew that from that day on, Luc would become a slave to the woman he chose, and it had been that way with himself as well.
"You have my blessing."
For the first time in his adult life, Luc smiled at him and hugged him without caring that his father was lying down. Dartan felt his eyes water. How good that smile and that hug felt! What was he doing that he had never realized that?
"Thank you, my father. You have made your son today, the happiest man in the world. Your blessing was very important to me."
Luc, without knowing it, also gladdened his heart. It was as if they were reconciling after years of separation. It was with pride that Dartan received the smile of the son he had never seen smile and received the hug that conveyed joy that he didn't know either. Not from Luc. He had always been more reserved.
Once again, the shadow that kept peeking over Luc, overheard every conversation. And ideas to put an end to that joy, began to form and plans would be made for that wedding not to take place. The shadow went into hiding, when it realized that Luc was about to leave the king's chambers.