"Are you serious?" laughed Inera, her cheeks aching from the constant grin she had been wearing for what felt like hours. Time seemed to lose all meaning in Catherine's company.
At first, Inera had been intimidated by the Princess' presence. But now, here they were, sharing laughter and stories.
"Yes, I'm serious. When I was young, I was quite rebellious. Once, I even stole the Headmage's weapon," Catherine revealed with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Inera's eyes widened in disbelief. "You did what to a mage? How did you even manage that?"
Catherine's laughter was warm and genuine. "I was a bit of a favorite of his. So, I made up a story about my lost pet, and he dropped everything to help me look for it. In that moment, I took his enchanted axe."
Inera's laughter echoed in the room, a mix of astonishment and incredulity. The tales of Catherine's escapades in the royal palace were nothing short of captivating.
"What happened after your little theft? Did you face any consequences?" Inera asked, her curiosity piqued.
Catherine's mischievous grin turned into a slightly guilty smile, a hint of remorse shading her adventurous past.
"Well, without a mage's magic, it was just an ordinary axe, so nothing disastrous happened. But my parents were not thrilled to see me swinging it around clumsily. Ironically, the Headmage remained clueless and kept searching for my nonexistent pet."
"You," Inera began, shaking her head, "are truly a handful."
Their laughter blended, filling the room with the joy they shared in that moment. The initial awkwardness Inera had felt in Catherine's presence had completely vanished. What remained was a newfound bond, as if old friends had reunited and were sharing tales of days gone by. It was clear that Catherine felt the same, as her next words took Inera completely by surprise.
"Inera, how would you feel about joining us at the palace?" Catherine suggested, her tone sincere yet casual.
Inera's jaw nearly dropped. Was this a real job offer from the princess herself?
"Why this sudden offer?" she managed to ask.
"I enjoy your company and think we would work well together. Why not make it official? Of course, I don't want a work relationship to affect the wonderful dynamic we've built. And I assure you, working at the palace has its perks," Catherine added with a tempting wink.
For a moment, Inera was enchanted by the prospect. A position in the royal palace was a career leap most people could only dream of. It would also allow her to repay her parents for all their sacrifices.
But as the allure of the offer settled, Inera's thoughts drifted to what truly made this place her second home.
"I am speechless, Catherine," Inera admitted, her initial excitement waning.
Catherine observed her thoughtfully. "Are they here?" she asked.
Inera was confused by what the princess meant. "Who is here?"
Catherine smiled. "Your special someone." She seemed to instinctively understand Inera's hesitation.
Inera nodded, her gaze wandering as she considered her attachments to this place. "I don't think I'm ready to leave just yet. I would be letting someone down."
Understanding flashed in Catherine's eyes. "Then I must withdraw my offer. No one should ever feel forced to leave those who hold a special place in their heart."
Inera exhaled in relief at Catherine's empathetic response to her decision. Just as she settled into this comfort, the room's door was flung open, causing her to turn sharply.
Diana stood in the doorway, her gaze shifting from Catherine's satisfied smile to Inera, and nodded slowly in acknowledgment, conveying volumes without words.
Behind Diana, the king entered the room. Seeing his daughter's joyful expression, his brow lifted in curiosity, his penetrating gaze lingering briefly on Inera. However, any thoughts he had were quickly masked by his return to a commanding demeanor.
"Catherine," the king's voice carried a note of urgency. Inera could only imagine that the discussion he had been having was not a pleasant one. "Please say your farewells. We must depart."
Catherine turned to Inera, her expression softening. "Thanks to you, an otherwise dull visit became truly delightful. I hope our paths cross again, Inera."
***
"And so, we talked for hours!" Inera exclaimed, her face beaming with a wide grin as she recounted the day's events to Arthur. Despite the pleasant conversation with Catherine, Inera felt compelled to share her experience with Arthur, yearning to spend time with him.
During the visit, Arthur had remained in his dark room. His illness continued to prevent him from going outside. Nevertheless, Inera was determined to include him by recounting every detail of her day.
However, Arthur's reaction to her lively narration was not what she had expected.
"Great, it sounds like you really had fun," he remarked, but his words were tinged with an unmistakable tone of dissatisfaction. Inera watched him closely and noticed his somber mood.
Sympathetically, she approached him. "Oh, Arthur, I understand. One day, you'll surely have the chance to leave these walls again." She assumed Arthur's melancholy stemmed from missing out on the day and wanted to offer comfort.
Arthur's response was silence, prompting Inera to move a bit closer to him.
"Did the princess mention anything else? Or did you mostly share stories?" Arthur asked suddenly.
Her eyes lit up as she prepared to share more details, pleased that Arthur was interested in the day's events.
"Well, we mostly shared stories, but she did say something quite unexpected," Inera began. Arthur narrowed his eyes at her response. Noticing Arthur's sudden intense focus, she hesitated, sensing his unease.
"She... offered me a position at the royal court," Inera revealed hesitantly.
Arthur's attention sharpened, his reaction almost frightening Inera with its intensity. "What did you say to that?" he urged, his eagerness palpable.
Recoiling slightly from his intimidating presence, Inera replied, "I declined. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving you here alone."
The room fell silent as Arthur processed her words. His intimidating gaze softened, though a lingering intensity remained.
"You stayed... because of me?" he asked, moving closer to Inera. A smile slowly formed on his face, illuminated only by the candle beside them.
"Yes, I did. You mean a lot to me," Inera confirmed. These were her sincere thoughts, but Arthur seemed to take them a bit too earnestly.
His smile transformed into something unsettling, a quality Inera had never seen before. "You mean a lot to me too... But that witch wanted to take you away from me," he suddenly exclaimed.
Inera recoiled in shock. "Arthur, what are you saying?" she asked, completely taken aback.
"Exactly that. She wanted to take you away from me," he insisted, his conviction unshakeable.
"That's not the case at all. She even showed regret when she realized why I stayed," Inera argued, her frustration growing over Arthur's unfair portrayal of Catherine. He had never met her, yet he spoke so harshly about her.
"But did she imply that she wants to see you again?" Arthur pressed, his piercing gaze boring into Inera's eyes.
Inera hesitated, worried about his possible reaction, but decided to be honest. "Yes, she did, but..."
"Then she hasn't given up on her plan. She will return and try to take you away," Arthur interrupted, his tone laced with an unfamiliar bitterness. This was not the gentle and loving Arthur she knew. Was he... jealous?
Still, that was no reason to speak like this.
Inera's anger rose, matching Arthur's intensity. "Arthur, I am not an object for you to claim or reject! I decide where I want to go!" she asserted vehemently.
It wasn't even about the words themselves—it was the attitude Arthur was displaying that fueled her anger.
But Arthur shook his head, a hint of resignation in his voice. "That's not true, Inera, and you know it. We are all bound to something, slaves to someone. I am a slave to my body, your role as a maid was chosen by others, and we are all under the influence of greater powers, like the royal family. Or the demons."
Inera was deeply affected by his words. "I belong to no one!" she declared firmly, stunned by Arthur's comparison, as if she were merely a commodity.
Arthur ignored her protests and grabbed her wrist, pulling her closer.
"Please, don't go," he pleaded, his voice suddenly soft and reflecting deep sadness mixed with frustration. Inera's resolve wavered briefly at his plea.
She held him too dearly in her heart to see him begging like this.
"I'm not going anywhere, Arthur," she tried to reassure both him and herself.
But it seemed Arthur was lost in his own thoughts, not hearing a word of her reassurance.
"You will go... You will leave me, like everyone else," he murmured, his voice tinged with a ghostly despair.
Inera was painfully aware of the loneliness that plagued Arthur's days, isolated in his room, unable to go anywhere. But this desperation was something she had never seen in him before.
The compassion she once felt was now overshadowed by worry and discomfort. "Arthur, I am not your possession. I do not belong to you," she protested with growing panic. Despite his dire situation, she had to draw a boundary while she still could.
"No," he replied, his grip on her wrist tightening, "we belong together." The pressure increased, causing her pain.
"Arthur, you're hurting me!" Inera cried, trying to free herself from his grip but failing.
"Arthur!"
In a sudden turn, Arthur's demeanor changed as he looked into Inera's eyes and saw the fear and anger within them. With a sharp breath, he released her wrist.
Inera quickly stood up, rubbing her aching wrist, her emotions on the verge of collapse. The Arthur before her was a stranger, his actions incomprehensible.
"Inera, I..." Arthur stammered as the consequences of his actions dawned on him.
But Inera was beyond words, her gaze piercing him with an intensity that conveyed her shock and disappointment. He looked desperate, but at that moment, Inera didn't care.
She ran out of his room, not caring who might see her as her heart raced in her chest.
Arthur's jealousy and the intensity of his actions were unfathomable. They were supposed to support and understand each other, not claim ownership! Inera struggled with her thoughts as she hurried through the mansion's corridors, the walls seeming to close in with every step. She felt tears welling up.
She knew he had strong feelings for her, but he should have known she didn't feel the same! How could someone be so insensitive?
The heart was indeed capable of great cruelty.