It's been months since I seen the hooded man. Well Oziel, I should say. The sound of him saying his name rings throughout my head every time I think about him. Maybe this is love I'm feeling. That has to be it!
I've been in such a daze since that day, just waiting to see him again.
"Hey did you hear the news?" A maid whispered.
"Yes! I can't believe it's come to this." Another maid sighed.
"What's do you think the king is going to do?"
"Well, he can't just sit around right now."
"I heard that he called the council in for a meeting today."
"What are you guys talking about?" I jumped in.
"Oh! Princess Salaeli. We didn't see you there." One maid said.
"That's fine, but what we're you guys just talking about?" I asked again.
"It seems like we are being dragged in the neighboring kingdoms war." Prince Azar said.
"Your highness!" The maids bowed.
"It's nothing for you to worry about. Father will probably do everything in his power to avoid any violent confrontations." He assured.
"How did we get dragged in?" I asked.
"Well we just so happened to be allied with nations on the brink of war. So by association." He explained.
"I see." I said.
He looked at me for a second.
"I heard my sister was looking for you."
"One of the princesses?" I asked.
"Yes, Runa." He said walking away.
What could she want? We hardly see each other let alone talk to each other.
"Do you guys know where I could find her?" I asked the maids.
"Of course! Lady Runa spends most of her time in the drawing room in the west wing."
"Why does she go there?" I asked.
"Nobody really knows. It's just where she spends the most of her time."
"Hmm…. I see."
I walked away to find Runa.
The west wing drawing room? That's a very specific place and it's out of the way. Her room is located in the east wing near my own, so why would she go all the way to the opposite end?
Upon reaching the room I knocked on the door.
"Runa? It's me. I heard you wanted to see me." I said.
"Come in." She said gracefully.
I walked into the room. It was huge and covered in maps and paintings of nature. There were random painting and drawing tools scattered about the room.
"I called you here because I had a question I wanted answered." She said.
"Well right to the point aren't you." I said sarcastically.
She was drawing on a map, she would look at a book or a document and then add something to her map. As if she were filling in gaps.
"Your father." She paused. "Do you happen to know where he is?"
"My father? Why are you asking about him?" I was shocked. I hadn't even thought of the man since I came here. I almost forgot he existed.
"Just answer." She demanded, still focused on her work.
"I haven't seen him or heard from him since Ieven before I came here." I said.
"And you have no idea where he is or why he left?" She kept going.
"None at all. But why is that important?" I asked.
She sighed, I could tell she was annoyed.
"If you can't answer my questions then you're useless to me. Get out." She said.
I felt disrespected, and like I had a right to know why she was asking.
"No." I said.
"No?" She said looking up in disbelief.
"That's right. I think I have a right to know why you're asking. If you know something about my father you need to tell me." I said.
She stood up furiously.
"How dare you talk back to me. Don't forget your place. You may be related to the royal family but you very do not have the same authority. You are still a no name peasant from a run down village that nobody bats and eye at." She said walking towards me.
"You are not better than me." I said firmly.
"Yes I am, after all I'm a full blooded princess. That in itself proves that I am better than you." She said.
"No, all that proves is that you're a spoiled brat who can't maintain composure at the slightest remarks from a nobody. If you're so much better why are my words irritating you? If what you're saying is true you would t be getting upset." I ridiculed her.
She wasn't expecting that response and it seemed like I had got her. Her face turned bright right and I could swear I seen smoke come out of her head.
"You little-" she said slapping me across the face.
I was stunned, never did I think I would be slapped. It was as if all of my feelings of rage that I had bottle up just exploded. I saw red. Before even thinking I slapped her back.
She was as surprised as I was, but she immediately began to attack me. Naturally I responded in kind and attacked her back. Both objects and punches were thrown back to back. Hair was pulled, skin was scratched. At one point we ended up in the ground. I don't remember when but Princess Soraya ended up coming in with Crown Prince Soren and they had to pull us off of each other.
"What in the world are you two doing?" Soren yelled.
"Aren't you guys too old to be fighting like this?" Soraya added.
"It's not my fault. She started it." Runa said bitterly.
"Huh?! You called me here!" I interjected.
"Okay let's not play the blame game now." Soren said. "I just need to know what happened."
"Well, Runa called me here so I came to see what she wanted. Then she asked me about my father to which i answered honestly. I felt it was only fair that I know why she was asking, I mean it's my father we were talking about." I explained.
Runa didn't say anything.
"Is this true Runa?" Soraya asked.
"Yes. I was asking for my own benefit . I was just trying to piece things together." She said.
"And what benefit is that?" Soren asked.
"It's nothing brother." She said.
He sighed.
"Okay we will talk later about this." He directed to Runa.
"As for you… I'm not surprised you got into a fight. Considering where you come from." Soraya said.
I scoffed.
"Both of you should go get cleaned up." Soren instructed. "It's unbefitting of members of the royal family."
"Okay." Runa and I said together.
We glared at each other once more before going our separate ways.