As I entered the dining hall, I found no one. Was I late? Or early, I guessed. I still turned the lights on and jumped when I saw Marcus sitting there.
"What-"
"Don't question my presence, peasant." He said, nonchalant, not letting me finish my sentence.
I sighed, "Isn't this place to low for the fake prince?"
"I'm a duke's son."
"With the attitude and arrogance of the King himself."
"You can't blame me, I don't have to steal invites to enter the palace." He returned, a taunting grin spreading on his face.
"You're arrogant, and an imbecile," I muttered and left.
I decided to sleep with an empty stomach, filled with annoyance Marcus had left in me. Just as I was dozing off I heard a rasp.
Tynan, I thought but the sound came from the door. Standing outside were two guards, muttering something about me being summoned to the Prince's room.
"Asra," Myer said as I stepped in his chambers. "Please have a seat."
I sat down on the corner of a chair. Myer's room was vast and filled with bright colours. His bed could fit me and my twin friends all comfortably. Thinking of them, I felt a pang of guilt; I didn't even think of writing to them in the chaos that followed after I left home. Neither did they write. Swallowing, I looked at the prince, who observed me with keen eyes. His next words felt like music to me.
"You're going home." He continued. "I have decided that you can't be able to attack the king while at the marketplace. So the assassin is someone else. Someone far more able and experienced. Unless, perhaps you have allies. And you were just a distraction."
"You seriously think, I was able to plan all these unholy schemes?" I said pointed at myself in disbelief.
This garnered a laugh from him, followed by a shake of head.
"So, I'm going home?"
He nodded. "A caravan will wait for you outside tomorrow. Pack your things. I'm also regretful we couldn't be good hosts, but I hope you understand. The mistake in sending invites, I'll look into that."
Instead of going back to my room, I made my way to the great hall. The prince's generosity had left me happily speechless. When I entered the hall, I saw it was empty.
"Tynan?" I called.
A sleepy Tynan appeared from one of the doors, his face breaking into a smile when he saw me, then concern. "Is everything okay?"
"I'm going home! Prince Myer told me himself."
"What?" He said coming closer.
Only then did I realize I'd probably never see Tynan again. I felt an uneasy feeling grip me. After a minute of silence, he put his hand on my shoulder and gave it a tight squeeze, "I'm happy for you. I had fun." Saying that he went back to his rooms. That was it. Our friendship meant nothing to him. I let out a sad scoff and made my way back.
𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘯. What stupid and shallow words. I suddenly felt glad I was leaving.
Only when I bumped against something was when I realized I had made my way to the garden. "I don't suppose you need lessons that often." It was Cozbi.
"It wasn't a lesson-"
Her eyebrows almost met her scalp. "Then what was it?"
A disappointment, I thought.
"Just a... farewell?" I started. "The prince said I could go back."
"Myer?"
I nodded.
Cozbi became quiet, looking at me severely.
What if she wanted me to stay and serve her?
𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, a voice in my head spoke.
Just then I realized the weight of Cozbi's stare, "If you really want to go, I cannot stop you. However, we would have made an amazing force." She said and left.
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥.
In the morning, I woke up to maids carrying my very little amount of stuff outside. In my bag, I had put in the dress I wore to the ball, which wasn't at all in a good condition anymore, yet it was still some memory I shared with Layla and Luna. With surprising tears in my eyes, I snuck in the dagger Tynan had given me. I showered one last time in the warm water and stepped out. I felt sad about leaving the luxuries behind but at the same time, happy I'd get to see Layla and Luna. They were probably fretting like crazy right now. Cozbi once hinted how she'd taken care of my absence from town. I hadn't even asked her more.
"What's the other bag for?" I asked one of the maids.
"Some gifts from the princess," She replied.
I glanced once at the palace and all the memories came flashing back. Just a few weeks and I had grown used to the luxuries. However, I was returning to people who loved me, not suspect me. I entered the caravan, feeling nausea. Had I seen a shadow back in the gardens or was that my mind? My thoughts drifted back to Tynan and I instantly felt angry. I didn't want to see him again. He probably didn't even care.
𝘞𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰? No, not all.
The caravan drove through the busy streets back to the barren village area and eventually to my town. Fresh tears gathered in my eyes as I recognized the houses and shops. I realized I hadn't felt this happy at the palace. The caravan stopped a small distance from my house. With a heavy heart, I reached into my bag and took out the dagger, placing it neatly between the cushions of the seat. 𝘐𝘵'𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦, I thought. Ironically, I ran towards Layla and Luna's house first. I saw them sitting in front of the door, tittering about a book in Luna's hand. As they spotted me approaching, their smiles dropped and they exchanged glances.
"Guys, I'm back," I said between sobs.
All I got back were alien stares. None of them said a word and got up to leave.
Did they think I was murderer, too? Had the news spread in the whole town? Fear settled in me.
"Where are you guys going?"
"Prioritizing the stuff we need to. Just like you did. Did you have fun serving your princess? Refusing to go back? And here we were worrying about you. We hated the gifts you sent." Luna said, pointing at a trash bin filled with expensive looking clothes.
What the hell?
"Do you guys even know what happened?" I started but Layla interrupted me, holding up her hand.
"Go rest, your guards are waiting at the back. Did you really think we'd be impressed if you chose to leave us behind? Do you know how worried we were?" She yelled.
I lost my patience, "Yeah? Fine! If you had really worried about me, you would listen to me. But look at your jealous faces-"
Luna slapped me then. "If you knew about the trouble we got in, you wouldn't show your face to us."
I stormed away from them, my cheek stinging. Why were we fighting? I thought with a breaking heart but my anger didn't rest until I reached home.
No one was home.
I sat on my bed and cried until my aunt came and I told her everything.
They told me word had come from the palace about my volunteering to serve the princess, which meant I could never come back.
"Did you really think of leaving us behind?" My aunt said as I hugged her.
"No, never," I whispered and could say nothing else.
A few moments later, I asked my aunt about Layla and Luna.
"They'll come around, do not worry. Everyone thought you had run away with a farmer's son and that they had helped you with it. I'm glad we stayed out of town for long, but their parents couldn't come out of their house out of shame. The girls even skipped school until two days ago when the royal message arrived, calming the rumours."
I stood there, stunned. My own town people circulated this? A pang of betrayal hit me.
"I'm sorry", was all I could say. I couldn't risk telling anyone about the charge of murder on me now.
A few days later I went to Layla and Luna with home baked cookies. Their mom opened the door with a stiff expression. I could see her struggle of trying not to shut the door in my face. She let me in silently. By the time I reached their room, I was sobbing uncontrollably.
Thankfully, it was Layla who opened the door. "Please, please let me explain," I whispered before she could shut the door.
I told them everything about the looks of the palace and how everyone saw me there, I hated the look of pity on their face. To hide my embarrassment, I mentioned Tynan, skipping anything related to spying. I blushed as they gave me funny looks and just like that, we were back at laughing. Eventually, we sat hugging each other.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled, trying to not to cry.
"I'm sorry, too," Luna whispered, pulling away and rubbing my reddened cheek.
That night as I made my way back to my house, I jumped seeing two heavy figures at my door. Royal guards, I recognized them.
"You have to come with us," One of them said in a husky voice.
"What? Why?"
Without a word I was lifted off the ground as I protested.
"Hey, leave her alone," Layla and Luna came running towards us, trying to set me free.
"No mercy for the thief," Said one of the guards.
Thief?
"She's not a thief! Leave her," Layla tried to take me but was plummeted to the ground.
I looked in my friends' eyes as the guards took me, trying to tell them of my innocence. I wonder what they saw there.