I've read and heard the phrase repeatedly, yet nothing comes to mind. 'A heart of gold,' it says.
If it existed, it would be sold the moment it's found. Profit, of course, succeeds the question of morality. Does that mean I'll never know? I watched the child in front of me, who was glued to the prince's side every hour of the day. Not a word ever spoken and never an expression of discontent. Beside me: the princess.
Four people here, and I believe each worthy of even a speck of gold in their heart. Perhaps it's arrogant to say that of myself, though, and so I'll reduce it to three.
"Oh, I just can't imagine it. Him? Me? Marry each other? I understand father's intentions, but..." Elena sighed.
"I tried to suggest anyone else, but father was persistent. He's a powerful duke-- he outshines all the other candidates by much more than a mile," Vukasin said.
"I know, but hasn't he considered...reputation? It might as well be confirmed that Duke Vale is involved in the drug market."
I was surprised. Duke Vale, my previous master, never seemed to be involved in such business. Elena glanced up at me. "Didn't you serve the Duke, Rey?"
"Yes, Your Highness," I said.
"Did you ever notice anything? Do you think the rumors are true?"
"No," I say, "The Duke never interacted with others while I served him."
"Really?" Vukasin perked up. "What about letters?"
"No, Your Highness."
"Hm..." Vukasin hummed. He looked at Elena inquiringly.
"Unless he did in secret?" She proposed.
I shook my head. "No, I never left his side."
"Never?" she asked. "What about bathing or sleeping?"
"Never."
The autumn trees shook in the wind, their leaves falling onto the table we surrounded. The boy in front of me seemed to shake under the wind, as well. However, the one closest did not notice, and he continued the interview ignorantly.
"Why would the Duke want that? Did he have no sense of privacy?"
I hesitated. "He raised me since I was young, Your Highness. We were close, like... teacher and student. He enjoyed teaching me things."
Unspeakable things, I'm sure. I'm a personal servant, not a guard. Elena spoke up. "If you were close, why did he sell you to the palace?"
"I don't know, Your Highness."
A question I ask everyday. Why train me so ardently only to sell me off? Why raise me as if I'm your own son, only to abandon me without warning? The wind blew stronger, bringing the dark rain clouds with it. The chill came, and the Princess shivered. Vukasin decided to go inside and left, with the young boy following closely behind; as always.
"Why do you watch so intently?" Elena wondered.
"What do you mean?"
"Vukasin's servant. When you aren't daydreaming, you seem to be thinking so deeply about him. Do you know him?"
"No, Your Highness. I just feel he is quite young."
"Not much younger than you, Rey. And that's the way it is, isn't it? Many work in the palace since birth."
My heart raced, and I forced my stiff mouth open. A trembling voice speaks, "And do you think that's right?"
"I don't know how else it would be, so I suppose I do. Do you not?"
My heart continues to race, dropping in the process. "No. No, I don't think so," I lie.
A free person being shown prison will know what they have lost. Those who have only known prison will not. Unfortunately, the blood seems to run deep, with only few knowing what the world has to offer.
"You don't want to serve, do you, Rey?" Elena asks me. Her eyes never fail to see.
"No, but I don't hate it. I'm grateful to serve you, Princess."
She smiles. "I'll let you go, someday. When Vik takes the throne, and everything settles down."
I grin. "Promise?"
We lock pinkies, like children, and yet my heart sours with hope.
The servants quarters were small, and yet considerably large. Large to fit the numbers, but small to fit the individual. However, they were singles. A room to myself was a blessing. I bent down to the floor and searched under my bed. Having found the object, I collapsed onto my bed.
The book was given to me by Duke Vale. The old thing was tearing, the pages falling out and lazily stuck back in. A nameless and anonymous book. The contents revealed enough, though.
Magic. A forgotten thing, a forbidden term, and the only other thing Vale ever spoke to me about. His old wrinkled eyes would sparkle with an unnatural passion, especially for the usually indifferent man. His passion ignited my own, but I was left with nothing but a singular book. I read it over and over again.
A heart of gold.
A heart containing magic.
According to the book, there were studies of these hearts. Real studies. Proof that magic existed at some point. Cutting open one's chest, of course, could reveal this fact. In the past, the general population had this heart, but the countless wars wiped them out. Weapons and defenses were developed against these beings, and they became the targets of wrath. They were the ones who killed the most, meaning they made the most enemies. They became the villains of the war, rather than the ones who invoked it.
- "So why are you trying to find it, sir?"
- "The world was never meant to live without it, Rey."
The confusing, almost prophetic words, were forgotten by my young self through the years.
-"Why, Vale? Why are you getting rid of me? I- I didn't do anything wrong. Right? Right?"
- "You have to find magic, Rey. You have to. Or you'll die. I can't do anything more for you, Rey."
I laughed at the memory. His hands gripping my shoulders as if he didn't want to let me go, and the other hands pulling me away. I couldn't forget this time. Not when I saw the world die around me. Food shortages, dismissed by weather problems. The colder weather that slowly wiped out the lower class. The plants that never seemed to awaken from the winter.
Ding-a-ring!
My stomach growled at the sound. Dinner! Oh, Universe have mercy, I hadn't eaten all day. I hid the book beneath my bed and hurried to the dining hall, where all the servants gathered.
"Haha, you look like a mess, Rey!"
"Do I?" I mumbled, brushing down my hair.
"Your clothes, I meant," Baren smiled, buttoning up my shirt. "Prince Vukasin is joining today, so look decent."
"Hm? That's sudden."
Baren shrugged. "I saw the cooks' lives flash before their eyes."
"Someone must've stolen again," I sighed.
Royalty having dinner with the servants wasn't uncommon. In the past, the servants were treated so terribly that their revolt was unavoidable. Maintaining a friendly relationship is law, now. Not that false pretenses make anything better.
I sat beside Baren and the young boy who serves Vukasin. The food in front of us smelt heavenly, making my mouth water. Most of it was potatoes, but they were quite good potatoes. I smiled at the boy, "Eat up. We don't get meals like this often."
I piled food onto his plate along with my own. Baren added extra to both of ours. "Don't be greedy," I told him.
"You both lost a lot of weight, recently," he frowned.
"That's because the Princess decided to go on morning runs," I grumbled.
The boy remained silent, as usual. His dark curly hair covered his face, making him look rather gloomy in the dim lighting. "Eat," I told him again, my heart worried. He did. Albeit a bit begrudgingly.
"His Highness The Crown Prince, Vukasin, has arrived."
The hall instantly ceased all chatter as the prince entered. He took a seat at the front of the table, which was furtherest from where I sat.
"Good evening, everyone," he smiled. Unlike when having tea with his sister, his face was cold and distant. Those near him shifted awkwardly, giving a stiff nod. "I hope you enjoy the meal that has been prepared for you."
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness," some said in unison.
"Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that someone here has stolen jewelry from one of the nobles."
The room was deathly silent. Even the steam of the food seemed to still, ever so slightly. I couldn't help but wonder what moron would steal from a noble.
"I'm willing to hear defense in private, but only if it can be supported with evidence. Since the suspect is young, the punishment will only be a year in prison."
"A year?!" I mumbled. Vukasin glared at me, but I wasn't loud enough to be worthy of reprimand.
"Calli, please exit the room."
"What?" I said, a bit louder this time. I grabbed the boys shoulder. Calli looked up at me in surprise, which was perhaps the first time he looked me in the eye. "You can't put a kid this young in that prison for a year."
I wasn't a brave, righteous soul. Many people had slammed their forks down, voicing words of protest. The prison was notoriously famous for it's terrible conditions. A room so small one could barely walk in it. Such a small amount of food that most people died after leaving the prison because their body collapses from overexertion.
"Let go of the boy's arm, Rey, unless you want to join him."
"He won't survive!" I shouted, but I was barely heard above the racket in the room.
"If you believe him to be innocent, then you can come to my office this evening."
My heart raced familiarly. My hands were shaking and clammy. He was right here. Calli was right in my grasp. But let him go with Vukasin, because I had no power to save either of us.