I watched the small boy leave with the prince. He was probably around 16, since Elena told me he was nearly my age. He was far too small to believe such words, but I suppose I was small at that age as well.
"A year..." Baren murmuered beside me. "They might as well give him a death sentence."
"It's awful. I don't have anything to defend him with, though," I sighed, running a hand through my hair. It had grown too long over the years. "Nobody knew him. Besides... the prince."
Baren exhaled a laugh. "How would the kid even have a chance to steal from a noble he doesn't serve?"
"I know. Why do they think it's him?"
"I don't know." The dining hall was loud, and Baren's voice was quiet. Defeated. The two of us had hung around the kid, but nobody else tried speaking to him. People were angry because servants were always framed for nobles losing their precious treasures. They didn't care who it was that was mistreated. I was glad, yet my heart clenched. Worse, nobodies anger would change anything. Especially if it was a noble who simply lost something. That means there's nobody to properly take the blame.
Baren patted my shoulder, his aged hands wrapping around comfortingly. "Go rest. I'll figure something out, so don't stress yourself out over this, okay? I think it's the guy I work for, so I've got an idea."
I smiled with relief. If that's the case, Baren could find the item and everything would be fixed. I thanked him and left the hall, my stomach still empty and angry from hunger. I barely knew the kid, so I put my worries aside.
"He'll be alright," I whispered in the dark. I lit a candle, casking the small bedroom in a warm glow. Fresh clothes were laid on my bed. I raised my eyebrow curiously. They were good quality, unlike my usual outfit, which was only off on wash days.
"Rey."
I jumped, dropping the candle. "Shit!" I gasped as it rolled to the floor. A black boot quickly snuffed the flame, quickly stopping a tragedy. I snapped my head up. "Vukasin- I mean- Your Highness, what are you doing in here?"
I placed a hand on my racing heart. Vukasin's face was covered in a cold sweat and his eyes were fearful. "What's wrong?" I asked. I'd never seen a person make such a frightened expression. As if they saw the end of the world.
"Rey, I know I told you that you can try to defend the kid. But please, trust me. Stay out of this."
"What are you saying? Your Highness, why are you telling me this?"
Why on earth was the prince in my room, hiding like a trapped mouse? Why did he look so afraid? The situation was unsettling, and Vukasin's actions were unnatural. We only spoke formaly, like a servant and master should. Even so, I served his sister, making this all the more strange.
"You have to listen to me. I have no power to help if you get involved. My sister cares about you, and...and if you-" he broke off, running hands through his white hair.
"Okay, okay. I won't get involved, Your Highness. It's okay."
I held my hands up, as if calming an alert animal. My eyebrows were deeply furrowed, but his fear couldn't be a show. Something was wrong, but it wasn't my business. "It's okay," I said again.
"Okay," the prince said. "Okay, I'll be going, then."
He regained his composure, but the cold sweat gleamed on his forehead, and his hands shook at his sides. He left without another word.
I fell onto my bed. My hands grabbed my face, like I could pull out the memory of the events that occurred. I wish I could forget this whole day. Why did he look at me like that? Like he was scared of me? I rolled onto my side, facing the blank, dark wall. He said it was for his sister, but that didn't sit right with me. She cared for me, but not enough to mourn my death. It wasn't a relationship he should sacrifice his life to save. Yet, he seemed like being in my room was a step closer to death.
Why?
I wondered, and I wondered. The morning sun shone through the window, and I continued to wonder as I left my room.
"Princess, are you awake?" I knocked on the door. Engraved with symbols of history. Magic, too, but I'm certain nobody knew that. I knocked again when no response came. "Princess, are you in there?"
Did something happen? I thought of Vukasin's dread filled face and opened the door. "Your Highness, pardon my intrusion-"
Elena sat at her desk, staring at the surface. The window in front of her cast a dull light due to the gloomy weather. However, the dreary sky was overcome by Elena's face. I almost hadn't noticed her. She curled in on herself, and her mind was clearly elsewhere. "Elena," I said quietly. "Elena, what happened?"
I walked quietly and placed my hand on her shoulder. Her eyes were red and puffy from tears. My voice triggered more, her face clenching every muscle to squeeze out every drop of tears she was capable of. "Rey," she whispered, her voice rough, "My father, Rey."
"Your father...?" I muttered. The king, who had been sick on his deathbed for years, It couldn't be, could it? Vukasin was only 17.
"He...he-" she stuttered. I gripped her shoulder.
I wrapped my arm around her, then my other. I tried to conceal her from this reality. "What about the Prince?" I asked quietly.
She hiccuped and her voice broke as she spoke, "He has to take- the throne. He- he's the same age- as you."
I brushed my fingers through her hair. I used to do so when she was a bit younger and liked someone else doing her hair. For the first time, I wished to go back to those times. "Okay, okay. It's okay, Elena. It'll be okay. We'll help him. I'll help you."
Her hand gripped my arm, and I placed my head on hers. We hid, with no space between us, from the reality that had just come. Selfishly, I wondered about the promise she made me.
Would I mean anything when she had nothing to hold me to her? Does she trust me, or does she trust her servant?
But her sobs were louder than my thoughts, and I held her tighter.
The day passed slower than I'd expect. News of the dead king spread rapidly, but not many considered the soon-to-be king. Vukasin, supposedly, had not risen out of bed. The morning had started roughly for his new servant, as he was assumed to be dead. However, it was revealed that Vukasin had been caring for his father when he soon realized the man was dead.
I looked outside the windows that went from floor to ceiling in the corrider. Inside, the grand painting, sculptures, and intricate carvings was all overshadowed by the dark sky. The rain poured down, befitting the feels of the day. I thought: even the Universe mourned for these children.
At lunch, all servants were dismissed. All those who held power in the palace would have a meal together to remember the king before the offical funeral.
"It's a miracle, isn't it?" someone said in the dining hall. "The king was terrible. He didn't do anything, either, once he got sick."
"I know. When I heard the news, I almost cried tears of joy."
"Prince Vukasin always seemed like a better ruler than his father," another laughed.
It was true. The dead king was as terrible a ruler as he was a person. The world had entered the highest poverty rates, leaving nearly half the population living on the brink of death. The king didn't care, though. Most the people here had come from old middle class families that had fallen. It was better here, with food and shelter, than dying on the streets.
Baren snorted beside me. "Inconsiderate punks. The Prince's father just died."
"They only think for themselves," I said.
A grim nod of agreement. Then, Baren paused. "Won't Duke Vale come to the funeral?"
I paused, my fork floating slightly in the air. "Yeah, I guess he would."
"Talk to him, Rey. Even just small talk," Baren patted my back. He always said the right things.
"I will," I smiled. I was too afraid to ask questions of 'why,' but I wasn't too afraid to ask how things are going.
Baren laughed. "I'm sure he'll be surprised to see these locks of yours," he said as he grabbed raised a strand of my hair.
"I think I've grown attached to it," I snorted. My hair went down to my waist. I hadn't cut it since I arrived at the palace. "Maybe I'll cut it when I leave."
"Hm? What're you mumbling about? Don't cut it, yeah? You've got such a boring face, but your hair distracts people from that."
"You only make me want to cut it more..."
I ended lunch with a brighter mood and spent the rest of the day in my room reading the book. The only thing I learned is that the funeral was announced to be tomorrow. I thought it was fast, but I suppose the throne can only be empty for so long. The Prince had no time to mourn, which was the curse of royal blood.
My pity was ruled by excitement. Duke Vale. I hadn't seen him for 6 years, yet my memory never seemed to fade.
- "Oh, poor thing. Look at you, all bloodied up. Come, I'll help you."
The solitary man took a random stray off the streets. Of all people, it was me. I don't believe my life could ever be named a tragedy when I received such a chance. Even if I live to see the end of the world, I will appreciate him. I won't ask him why he sold me off. It won't change anything. But I hope he is alive and well, and I hope that the rumors aren't true. Drugs? No, the old man would never approach such a thing.
Well, even if he did, he would have a good reason to do so. Somehow, he never managed to make me lose faith in him. So I won't do so now, either.
Knock, knock!
I placed the book under my bed and quickly opened the door. A servant stood outside respectfully. "Rey, the Princess requests your presence."
"Okay, thank you, Virae."
I knocked on the familarly extravagent door, calling out: "Princess?"
"Come in," a voice answered.
The door opened heavily, and I spotted Elena at her desk. The room was bright with candles and lamps, the warm light creating a welcoming atmosphere. Her desk was messy with clothes and cloths, and she was brushing her long, white hair. "Could you help me pick out an outfit for tomorrow? The funeral will be in the morning, and Vukasin's crowning in the evening."
"Yes, of course, Your Highness." Her eyes were still red and puffy, but they were focused and clear. The grief remained, but it was pushed into the depths of her emotions. I looked through the options before deciding. "How about this one?"
It was a dark dress. Funerals were generally bright, as people wanted to appreciate the life that once was, rather than what was gone. But I felt the deep purple fit the grief in her eyes, just as the sparkling rhinestones matched the tears that never seemed to fade.
"You've always had good taste," she smiled softly.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"Sorry to call you so late. You're free to go, now."
"Thank you, Your Highness."