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“PLACES EVERYONE, PLACES.” Rowan claps excitedly. The sun has barely begun to rise, making the warm conservatory where the prince’s birthday brunch will be even more beautiful.
Tables are set up throughout the room in between the beautifully planted flowers and unique vegetation, all surrounding a magnificent babbling water fountain. Many of the viney plants creep across the glass walls and along the trees, and dangle from the ceiling like our silks. You can see the picturesque scenery of the surrounding plains and lush trees through the glass.
It’s breathtaking.
Judging by the chart that we received days ago, I’m supposed to be performing at a table behind the fountain. I start to make my way over to that side of the room when Rowan stops Scirocco, Veronica, and I.
“Nope nope nope, where do you three think you’re going?” He chastizes. We eye each other, then him.
“To our tables on the chart.”
“Plans have changed.” He smiles. “You three will be performing at the royal table.”
“With the king, queen, and prince?!” Veronica gushes excitedly.
“Yes, now hurry along. The guests will be arriving soon.” He ushers us towards the front of the conservatorium where a long, elaborately decorated table is placed for the royals and their esteemed guests. I look at Scirocco, questioning the change of plans. She shrugs her shoulders.
A change of tables wouldn’t be such a big deal if I wasn’t so nervous about my performance. Veronica and Scirocco have been practicing this routine for months, it’s like second nature to them by now. However, I’ve only been practicing this routine for a few weeks. It would have been fine if maybe I messed up a little at just a normal guests table, but not in front of the majesties!
Dante, Rowan, and Pierre make their way from aerialist to aerialist and harness them in. Most of the harness straps are underneath our clothes so they only needed to clip us in.
Rowan clips in all six of my safety harnesses and gives the thumbs up to Jabari, Jubilee, a couple other Lost Souls, and the servants who are assisting us with the technicalities of the performance.
“Don’t worry Zemi.” He whispers and pats me on the shoulder. “You’re gonna do great.” I nod and take a deep breath. The look on my face must have told him everything he needed to know about how I was feeling. He gives another thumbs up to the servants and Lost Souls and they disappear, not a minute later, all of the aerialists around the room are being lifted in the air by their harnesses to dangle over their designated tables.
I take a deep breath. I got this. In all honesty, I don’t have to do much. I just have to focus on the routine. It consists of a bunch of slow twirls, flips, and languid movements. It’s a routine of control, strength, and focus. The real work will be done by Pierre and Sol. That’s what most people will be looking at.
I try to tell myself these things to calm my nerves, but as the guests start filing in and filling up the tables, staring up at us casually dangling from the ceiling, my stomach twists into knots.
After minutes of everyone finding their seats and me doing some deep breathing, it’s announced that the king, queen, and prince have arrived.
The guests stand and applaud as they enter, a procession of nobles and servants accompanying them.
As the applause continues, they take their seats at the table below and everyone else follows suit. King Raphael and Queen Chiome look up at us excitedly and I try my best to look calm and avoid awkward eye contact. For now, I’m just supposed to pose and look pretty.
The chef announces the courses from one of the side entrances and the servants bring out the main dishes. It smells amazing as strings of servers with platters march around the room, setting down food and drinks. From the ooh’s and aah’s of the guests I can tell the presentation of the food must be magnificent. It doesn’t take long for everyone to dig in and chatter away. The clinks of cutlery and glass mix with the laughter and rambunctious stories of nobles who’ve experienced many luxuries, and want to let everyone know.
After what feels like hours, a servant off to the side finally announces our performance, his voice carrying over the noise.
The guests excitedly clap and look away from their food in anticipation of what we’re going to do up in the air in our flowing sparkly costumes. The outfits were actually one of Jubilee’s ideas, much like many of the Lost Souls costumes. Turns out she has a knack for fashion.
It makes me smile.
The excitement that she had the first time she presented this costume design to Scirocco reminded me a lot of Suri and how she obsessed over fashion.
Drums play from the side of the conservatorium, thrumming throughout the room as a hush drifts over the crowd below. I look to Scirocco on my left, who nods at me with a smile, then to Veronica on my right, who gives me a thumbs up.
Let’s do this.
We begin our routine, and with each twirl, flip, and pose, my worries melt away. The crowd gasps at the aerialists in awe. Muttering words of appreciation from below.
While the guests are enthralled with the dancers above their tables, out of the corner of my eye, water rises from the giant fountain in the middle of the room and snake out towards the tables. The guests gasp and shift in their seats once they take notice. Some fearful, and some elated.
I smirk and look over at Pierre who’s in full concentration as he menuevers the ropes of water throughout the room without spilling a drop on any of the guests. The ropes split into tendrils that slowly rise and surround each dancer in an orb of beautiful designs.
I gaze in awe as the water snakes around me, creating a barrier between me and the guests that’s oddly comforting. Now I have even less worry on whether I’ll mess up or not now that there’s something else to hold their attention.
As I dance in my cocoon, my fingers gently graze the strips of water as they glide by and part of me can’t help but wonder if Pierre can feel that.
Suddenly, a burst of light refracts from the water, casting different colors all around the room. The guests “Ooh” and “ahh” at the display, clapping in wonder. I smile, knowing somewhere down on the ground Sol is working her magic.
I continue to dance and flip and dangle from my harness. It’s hard work, but the soothing nature allows me to slip into a meditative state.
After a while, I look down at the noble guests at my table to gauge how well they’re enjoying the show, only for my gaze to disobediently catch on to the prince’s.
His brown eyes pierce through the water and hold me in place, sending warmth through my stomach. I have to force myself to look away so I don’t miss the beats in my routine. It takes all of me to focus and not look back.
After a minute, I figure enough time has passed. I can’t help myself as I sneak a peek back at the prince, only to promptly kick myself in sheer embarrassment when our eyes meet again. My only saving grace is the ropes of water encasing me and forcefully distracting me from making a fool of myself.
The brunch comes to a close, and thank god for that. I’m exhausted. Dancing while suspended mid air takes a lot of strength and focus.
After everyone has finished their meals, and the excitement spreads for the next set of activities scheduled for the prince’s birthday, the guests slowly begin to rise from their seats and leave. First the royal family and high nobles, and the other guests waste no time in following closely behind them.
Enough of them clear the conservatorium to where Rowan can bring us down from our harnesses. Laughing and giggling, we hug each other.
“That was amazing! Though longer than I thought it would be.” Veronica exclaims. I nod linking my arm into hers as I catch my wits from being back on solid ground.
“Yeah it was.” Now I’m starving after spending all of that energy.
“Good work today team.” Rowan approaches us as the dancers gather off to the side of the conservatorium where we can take off our harnesses. “Go freshen up and relax for the day. We’ll reconvene at a later time in regards to our schedule,” he says as he helps to unharness some of the aerialists.
“Finally, a break.” Pierre huffs. Jabari pats his back with a smile.
“You deserve it my friend. That was some insane control you had.”
“Yeah Pierre, you were amazing!” I gush. Being in my own woven ball of water was crazy in and of itself, but the pattern he wove was even more magnificent up close. And when I looked over to Scirocco and Veronica, the patterns that were being weaved around them were completely different! Having that much control and focus to make different moving patterns across the room is extraordinary!
The older man blushes and he shoo’s us away bashfully.
“It was nothing.”
I wonder how long it took him to practice his magic like that.
When Jabari helps release me from my harness, I follow behind Scirocco with a giggle as we gather our equipment in the corner and prepare to take it back to our quarters.
“Excuse me.” Two elegant women dressed in expensive looking servants' clothes call, walking over to us. Scirocco gasps, stopping in her tracks.
“It’s the queen's head maid,” she whispers to me.
The head maid smiles with a slight bow of her head and the other servant does the same. We greet them in return.
I could easily set her apart from the other maids from how she carried herself. I don’t know if all head servants just have the same demeanor, but she carries herself with the same authority and humility as Balenda.
Rowan appears behind us with a deep bow of his own and addresses the woman.
“What can I do for you my lady?” He asks, turning up the charm and unleashing that dazzling smile.
“I came over because the Queen thought you all did a wonderful job, and she would like to speak with one of your performers.”
“Oh, why thank you! Well, I am the head of the Lost Souls, is it something she would like to discuss with me?” He asks. The maid shakes her head.
“No. She would like to talk to her.” She lifts her hand and gestures towards me and I freeze. Scirocco and some of the other performers nearby freeze too, looking from me to the maid.
“M-me?” The head maid nods.
“Yes, if you will please follow me.” I hesitantly look from Rowan to Scirocco for approval, then follow the head maid out of the conservatory. My heart begins beating out of my chest and my breath labors with each step that I take.
Why would the Queen of Zaphyre want to see me? They couldn’t have possibly found out who I am could they?! Has Queen Mother...no. No she couldn’t have. No one knows where I am. To just about everyone in Hivena, I’m dead.
I follow the maid down the long bright, afternoon halls, all the way up the stairs to the second floor. She walks quickly and with purpose. If my legs weren’t so long I’m not sure I would’ve been able to keep up with her.
We stop in front of a room with a set of guards posted out front and she briefly knocks.
“Enter.” A woman calls from within. The maid opens the door and I follow her inside. I didn’t know what to expect when we stepped inside, but the room is cozy. It’s some type of sitting room, with plush couches and a round table seated in the middle. A giant window to the right illuminates the entire space, making it feel more open and light. Two of the walls are lined with floor to ceiling book shelving and a giant desk sits in the corner of the room next to the window. Queen Chiome is standing over by the desk flipping through a book, when she looks up at us.
“Ahh...Zemira is it? Please, have a seat.” She motions towards the couches and I bow and have a seat, eyeing the spread of tea and food on the table. “Please help yourself to some food and drink. After all of your hard work during brunch I’m sure you're famished.”
I bow my head and take some fruit out of politeness. Even though I want to scarf down everything on the table, it wouldn’t be proper.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Of course dear, of course.” She studies me as she stalks over to the couch. I can feel her eyes roaming over me as she takes a seat. This isn’t an unfamiliar position for me to be in as a royal. I’m no stranger to the eyes of a queen stalking her prey. Upclose, Queen Chiome is more striking than described. From her sharp nose and full lips, all the way down to her stunning brown eyes. Her son is a spitting image of her. Her dark skin is flawless and glows like the night sky. If I wasn’t privy to the dangerous ways of a royal I’d be entranced by her beauty.
I haven’t caused any attention to myself other than performing with the Lost Souls. What could this be about? Did I do something wrong?
“Yes, you’re quite a beautiful young woman. And you’re very tall. Can't say I’ve seen a woman with your characteristics before.” She says thoughtfully as she analyzes my features. A flush creeps into my cheeks. Let’s hope she isn’t very familiar with Hivena to put two and two together. “No wonder my son has an eye for you. Though he’s always had...interesting taste.” I slightly choke on my fruit and tea.
“Y-your Highness?”
“I’ve been watching the way my son looks at you when you perform. You’ve caught his attention. A mother knows when her son wants something, but he’s shy. He’s always been a shy boy. So I wanted to take the liberty and hire you for a private performance for my son for his birthday.”
“A private performance?”
She lifts her tea cup and takes a sip, waiting for my reply expectantly. My brows scrunch in confusion. Then it hits me what it is she’s really asking from me.
“Oh...Your Highness–”
“Don’t worry dear, I’ll pay you generously of course. All the girls are. The better time he has, the more generous I'll pay. A mother spares no expense for her son. Especially on his birthday,” she shrugs. She says her statement so casually, but it makes my stomach tighten.
I think I’ve had enough food.
I swallow the bite of melon that’s turned to rubber in my mouth and put my plate back on the table. Annoyance and anger course through me. She wouldn’t have dared ask me this if she knew who I was. If she knew I was royalty...but she doesn’t. And I can never be royalty again. My title is long gone, and it must remain that way if I want to keep my life.
I scramble my brain to try to figure out the best way to handle this situation and word my decline so she’s not offended, when she reaches across the table and places her hand on top of mine.
“I’m sure there’s a price we can come to that would be most suitable. I am the queen after all dear. There’s no amount of riches that is out of my reach that you could use for yourself, or to perhaps help your family. But I must warn you, I am not asking.” She fixes me to my seat with her sharp eyes, flexing her power and authority through them.
When I continue to hesitate and sit in silence, she continues. This time a little less friendly.
“It would be wise for you not to make an enemy out of me.”
Coming from my upbringing, I know those aren’t empty threats.
I swallow hard.
What else is there for me to do? She’s not going to let me go easily, and any display of defiance will not bode well for me. Or worse, it won’t bode well for the Lost Souls either, and we still have the rest of the week to be here.
I swallow my pride and put on my best smile.
“Of course, Your Highness. When would you like this... performance to take place?”
She smirks and sits back in her seat satisfied. The rest of the meeting is short, and for the rest of the day, I feel like I’m in a daze walking through mud.
“Zemi...Zemi!” I startle out of my thoughts as Sol sits next to me on my bed, and Jubilee and Scirocco flop down onto the floor and chair. “Helloo, Earth to Zemi!” she giggles. “I asked what the queen wanted to talk to you about,” she squeals excitedly.
“Oh...” I shrug my shoulders. “Nothing.”
“Are you serious?” Jubilee sniffs. “The Queen of Zaphyre has a private conversation with you and she talks about nothing.” My jaw clenches and tears prick my eyes, but I swat them away quickly. My face burns uncontrollably.
What would they think if they knew the queen didn’t want to praise my efforts, but only wanted me as a toy for her son?
Clearing my throat I turn to them and try to force a smile.
“She wants me to do a private performance...for the prince.” Sol squeals jumping up and down.
“Really?! A private performance! She must have really loved your...” She trails off as she looks towards Jubilee and Scirocco who’ve gone stark quiet. Both looking at each other, and me, worriedly. “What?” Sol asks.
“This “private performance” sounds fishy.” Jubilee states. My face burns even more. Sol looks at her.
“What do you mean? It’s exciting!” It takes a moment for the situation to sink in and her excitement plummets. “Oh...”
Now I really want to die!
“Zemi, don't worry about it, okay.” Scirocco gets up from her seat and comes to sit next to me. “I’ll talk to Rowan and he can figure something out–”
“No no, it’s no use. You know just as well as I do that won’t work, Scirocco.” If anything it would only cause trouble for the Lost Souls in Zaphyre. I’ve seen plenty of angry royals during my lifetime. Queen Nasira would do something cruel to you if you just breathed wrong. That cruelty goes up when you don’t give a royal what they want. Plus, I don’t want to have to bring this situation up to Rowan. It’s mortifying enough without having more people know about it.
I sigh.
“I don’t want you guy’s to worry about it. I’ll figure it out.” I’m still a dwarf queen by blood. I’m stronger and faster than any average human being, and I’m well trained. What the queen doesn’t know is that I have the advantage of my royal upbringing to help me navigate this place. If worse comes to worse, I’ll take full responsibility and get out of here with the Lost Souls name and reputation still intact.
Scirocco shakes her head.
“No, there has to be something we can do. We won’t leave you to deal with something like this on your own.”
“Yeah!” Jubilee co-signs. “How about I start setting stuff on fire?” I hold up my hands and shake my head. God no! That would really put the Lost Souls at risk.
“If you really want to help, can you have an escape carriage and route ready for me to go?”
They go quiet.
“Zemi you don’t have to–”
“Please Scirocco. If you really want to help, I’ll need an escape carriage.” She swallows hard and looks from Jubilee to Sol before reluctantly nodding.
“What?!” Sol exclaims. “That’s the plan? We just have to let the queen run you off and let you leave us?!” She turns to me with hurt tears in her eyes. It sends a pang through my stomach. I don’t know what else to say.
“Well if you have a better plan Sol then let’s hear it.” Jubilee snaps. I look at her, feeling even more guilty with the tears forming in her eyes. I’m sure she doesn’t mean to be harsh towards Sol, it's just this situation is looking hopeless. And from what I know of Jubilee and Jabari’s story, she wouldn’t fault me for running away.
“Fine.” Sol says before getting up and storming out of the room. I keep my mouth shut. I hate that I have to hurt them in this way, and I’m tired of having to run away from the people I care about. This won’t be my first time having to escape powerful royals. But hopefully, I can make this my last.
*****
THAT EVENING, I FIND a shimmery silver dress waiting in my room, along with a servant.
“This is a gift from the Queen for your private performance for His Majesty,” she says with a bow. I look from the outfit on my bed, then back to her with a tight lipped smile.
“Her Majesty shouldn’t have...please tell her I said thank you.”
“Of course, would you like me to help you put it on?” I shake my head no.
“I can handle it just fine.”
“Alright, I will be just outside the door to escort you to His Majesty's studies.” She takes her leave and my jaw clenches. Seems like Queen Chiome is really doing her due diligence and making sure I arrive at her son’s doorstep.
I look back at the dress lying on my bed and pick it up between my fingers. It’s sheer and silky in a lot of areas, definitely not something a woman of my station would wear to see a man she barely knows. Even if he is a prince.
While the servant is waiting outside I quietly pack my bag, making sure I have everything I need to just grab and go. Then I put on the outfit. It feels nice against my skin, expensive. I’m sure the queen was hoping this gift would make the circumstances a little more enticing. Traveling with the Lost Souls, I’m sure she thought I couldn’t have possibly owned anything as expensive before.
I look at myself in the mirror. It looks nice, albeit it hugs my figure quite a bit, and the neckline plunges more than I’m used to or comfortable with. It’s also very short, but I imagine that’s because dressing a woman of my height isn’t the norm for them. Despite all of that, it’s a beautiful dress.
A knock sounds at the door.
“Lady Zemira? Are you ready.” I roll my eyes at the persistent maid. One thing is for sure, she’s good at her job.
I grab a robe to wear through the halls and hide my escape bag under the bed before taking a deep breath to open the door.
“Ready.”
She makes me open my robe and looks me up and down in approval before guiding me down the halls to the other side of the palace. We avoid any main halls along the way that guests and nobles may be roaming down, which is more than fine with me.
My stomach twists into knots with each step that I take. The butterflies that I felt when first learning the prince enjoyed my performances feel tainted. They’ve morphed into worms, and now I wish I could just curl into a ball and hide away.
“Here we are,'' the servant says, stopping us right in front of a room with two guards standing out front. My heart beats into my throat.
We got here too fast.
“You can wait in here for His Majesty. I’m sure when he’s done with his meeting he’ll enjoy your performance.” She opens the door and looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to enter. I give her a tight lipped smile before slowly walking in, eyeing the guards on either side of the door.
I should be able to take them on.
The door clunks shut behind me, making me jump. I swallow hard, turning back to the room. It’s more of a small study. A fireplace sits to the left, already lit to fill the room with warmth and light. A medium sized wooden desk sits on the other side of the room with books lining the walls. A seating area complete with two cozy couches full of cozy red, teal, and gold pillows and a low round table are in the middle. The room is nice, but my jaw ticks in alarm as I realize it has no other doors or windows.
I wonder if there’s a secret passage somewhere like we have in the Hivena castle.
I make my way over to the bookshelves and run my finger along the grooves, looking for any type of opening or unusual hinge, but I don’t see one. With a huff I turn towards the desk and run my fingers across it as I gaze at the documents on display. Some type of land agreements and policies for Zaphyre.
Is this the Prince’s working office?
I take a harder look at one document detailing changes to provide more jobs for the commoners and agricultural programs for children when the door opens. I whirl around, startled.
Prince Kuruk stops in the doorway upon seeing me. My face heats up as I become extremely self conscious of the thin dress I’m wearing underneath my robe.
“Lady Zemira?” A smile pulls at his eyes and lips. “What are you...what are you doing here?”
“I-I was requested to give you a private performance, Your Highness.” My whole body stiffens as I bow and look at the ground. Moments stretch by.
He’s so quiet that I have to peek back up to make sure he’s still there.
His face has fallen in confusion as he takes in my demeanor and appearance, then his face hardens in a scary way I didn’t think he was capable of.
“Did my mother put you up to this?” I clear my throat.
“Her Majesty thought that you would enjoy a performance after–”
“No. No I wouldn’t. I’m really sorry Lady Zemira. Please forgive me and my mother for this misunderstanding. I’ll have someone escort you back to your quarters so you can enjoy the rest of your evening. ” He looks away as he speaks, his face flushing at the cheeks. “Again, I apologize for my mother bothering you. I’ll take care of this situation. And you’ll be compensated for your time, I’ll make sure of it.”
“If you’re sure, Y-Your Highness,” I bow in relief. He didn’t have to tell me twice, formalities be damned.
I hurriedly make my way to the door and he gives me a wide enough berth to do so.
That was easier to take care of than I thought it would be. It would have been a shame if I had to hurt him and his guards.
I stop when I reach the threshold and look back at him walking to his desk and sitting with a huff.
I feel much more at ease that I'm free to go. Lord knows all I want to do is get back to my room so I can get out of this dress before anyone else sees me. But Prince Kuruk has been nothing but kind since I’ve been here, and seeing him look so tired during his birth celebration tugs at my heartstrings. My sisters’ and I birth celebrations weren’t always the best time of year for us either.
“Are you okay, Your Highness?” He looks up at me and straightens a bit.
“Yes, yes...a-are you okay, Lady Zemira?” I nod.
“Yes, I’m fine.” I clear my throat. “Then...good night.” I turn to leave.
“Actually, Lady Zemira. There was... if you’re free this evening, there was something that I wanted to show you...if you were free.”
“Really?” Me specifically?
“Yes...it’s just a place that I thought you would enjoy since you liked the pool room so much. I thought you would enjoy this as well during your stay here. If that’s alright with you. Please consider it an apology for the antics of my mother, which I am the utmost ashamed about.” He says bashfully, it makes him look boyish.
I chuckle and nod my head. I’ve had my fair share of out of control mothers.
“Of course, Your Majesty. I would be honored.” I look down at my robe. “However, I would like to stop by my quarters first.”
He nods emphatically.
“Of course, of course. Take your time. I’ll have my servants escort you and I’ll come pick you up in a bit.” I smile and nod.
“I would like that. Thank you.”
He calls in one of his servants and has her escort me back to my quarters. Each step I take away from the office makes me feel as light as air, like I’m walking on clouds. It’s like a huge weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can breathe easier.
I almost run back to my room in relief, and when I get there, the other women are there waiting for me, worried.
“Zemi! What happened?!” Scirocco jumps up from my bed to grab onto my shoulders and look me over for injuries or marks.
“That was quick. You took the guards out already? Are you ready to go? Do we have to fight our way out of here?” Jubilee adds with fire in her eyes, and dancing along her fingertips. Sol pulls the bag I packed out from under my bed where I told her it would be.
“Come on, let’s hurry. The carriage is waiting for us downstairs.”
Us?!
I chuckle. Why do I have the feeling that if I went down to that carriage their stuff would be packed in it too.
“I’m fine. It was a misunderstanding with the prince. He sent me back to my room unharmed.” There’s a collective sigh of relief from the three women.
“So, I don’t have to set anyone on fire?” I chuckle and shake my head.
“No Jubilee, everythings fine.” I’m not entirely sure what will go down once the queen hear’s of this, or if she even will, but hopefully the fact that the prince sent me back of his own accord gives her a clear message. “But...the Prince is stopping by to take me somewhere as an apology.”
Sol stomps her foot.
“Well good. It’s the least he can do for the trouble him and the Queen have put you through. What kind of people do that to their guests?” I look at her sympathetically. She’s clearly not used to the twisted antics of royals. It makes me love her even more.
“Are you sure you don't want us to go with you?” Scirocco asks worriedly. I think about it for a moment, then nod.
“I’m sure. But if worse comes to worse, keep that carriage on standby.” I’m not exactly scared of the prince. I’m sure I can handle myself and a few of his guards through the element of surprise. None of them would be expecting me to be well trained in multiple fighting styles. But if I do have to cross that point, the whole castle army would be on the hunt for me, and I need to be able to disappear fast.
So far I have no reason to suspect the prince of bad intentions. He didn’t have to send me back to my room if that were the case.
“So, where is he taking you?” Sol asks, jumping onto my bed. Everyone’s a bit more at ease now that the threat of me having to run away is currently neutralized.
“I’m not sure, but I have to get out of this thing.” I open my robe to show them the silver dress Queen Chiome had left for me and the girls’ eyes go wide in shock.
“Woah, she wanted you to walk around the castle like that?” Jubilee tsks. “That woman really has no shame.”
Scirocco walks up to me and puts a hand on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. If she knew who you really were she wouldn’t have dared ask this of you.”
“Yeah, but I’m not. I’m not who I used to be anymore.” They all go silent, getting the message in my tone to squash it. It feels pathetic to keep bringing up power that I no longer have.
Sol looks between us and hops off the bed to break the tension.
“Well, I think I’ve got something a bit more simple that would be perfect for an evening stroll with the prince. You can save this little number for your honeymoon.” She wiggles her brows as her fingers graze my dress, then she zooms out the door to go to her room.
“Or you can wear it tonight for a cute servant boy. Just try not to walk the halls in it or rumors may start circulating about you.” Jubilee adds with a wink. I roll my eyes, ignoring them both.
Not a few minutes later, Sol comes back with a comfortable pale, flowy pink dress. On an average sized woman it would be considered a long dress that drags across the floor, on me it at least goes to my calves.
“It’s beautiful, Sol. Are you sure?”
“Oh absolutely! Try it on.” I smile at how generous and bubbly she is and change into the dress. I do a little twirl in the mirror and it’s a much more appropriate dress to wear around others.
“Thanks Sol, I owe you one.”
Minutes later a knock sounds on the door and I answer to Prince Kuruk standing in the threshold. He looks down at the dress, then smiles up at me. I can feel the girls’ giddiness radiating from behind me.
“As promised Lady Zemira, I’m here to escort you.” I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips. Just being near him makes me feel warm in an unexpected way. I turn to the girls and wave before they can say anything stupid, and shut the door behind me. I grab hold of the prince’s offered arm and he leads the way down the hall at a slow pace.
We walk for a few minutes in silence before he clears his throat.
“Again, I want to profusely apologize for my mothers actions. I really do.” I give his arm a light squeeze.
“I accept your apology, Your Highness. No worries.” Then a thought occurs to me and I couldn’t help myself. “Do you take all the young women your mother sends your way on an evening walk?” I ask playfully. His face flushes.
“No, of course not!” He rubs the back of his neck. “She’s just protective. You know how mothers are.” My mind sinks back to Queen Mother and my smile drops.
“Yeah...protective.”
He leads me down a series of halls, nodding and greeting guests and servants as they pass. He seems to be very well loved and admired, even by the staff.
We walk in silence as we come to the first floor and head out a set of double doors that lead outside into a beautiful private garden.
My eyes widen in wonder.
Lucious hedges line the stone walkways with colorful blue and purple flowers peeking out through the leaves. The evening sky glints off the water sitting in bird baths scattered around the garden and spewing from fountains of various sizes. Uniquely shaped trellises spiral towards the sky, allowing vines and flowers that would usually creep across the ground to reach new heights.
I’ve never seen anything like it!
“Do you like it?” The prince chuckles at my gaping mouth.
“It’s beautiful, Your Highness. I’ve never seen a garden like this before.” He nods as we walk the paths and the foliage branches off towards secret nooks and intimate seating areas.
“This garden once belonged to my grandmother. It was her passion, considering her grandfather was a farmer. Agriculture was in her blood, and she’d sketch these amazing structures made of flowers and bring them to life. Allowing her to grow different plants the way she wanted.” He gestures towards the structure we’re approaching. It looks like a giant hand made of vines with different flowers blooming out of the palm. The butterflies making themselves at home around the fingers makes the scene all the more majestic.
“Wow. Your grandmother was really talented!” He grins, his dimple peeking out from his cheek.
“She was. She was the one who always encouraged me to follow my passions. Even though she was a queen, she never let her duties squash her passions. She would tell me never to abandon the things that make you feel alive. You’re not supposed to fit into the box of being a ruler, rather, let who you are influence the kind of ruler you’ll be.” I gaze at the side of his face as he stares wistfully at his grandmother’s sculpture.
“Have you been able to do that? Maintain your passions?” His face falters a bit and he bites his bottom lip.
“Not exactly. It turns out my passions are a little harder to do as the prince and heir of Zaphyre.” I debate on if I should ask him what that is, but I stay quiet, not wanting to pry or overstep. I know what it’s like having a calling that contradicts your station. It’s a sensitive subject for anyone.
I turn back towards the sculpture and we continue to gaze at the lazy butterflies. After a few beats he continues.
“I wanted to be an adventurer. When I was younger, my dad would show me the maps of all the realms. He mostly wanted me to sit in on the meetings to see where our biggest exports and allies were, but my eyes always drifted all over the maps. To uncharted territories and cultures. Mix that with the books on pirates I’d often find in my grandfather's library collection, and I gained an unquenchable thirst to set sail and ride wherever the wind would take me.”
With each word he speaks a fire grows in the pit of my stomach. His passion for life mimics my own. I’ve never heard another royal talk about such an uninhibited sense of exploration in this way. It’s such a breath of fresh air. I feel like I already know the answer he’d give to my question, but I wanted to ask it anyway.
“But you’re the prince, you have the resources to travel and do whatever you want.” He nods solemnly.
“Yes, you would think that. But as the prince, it’s not that I don’t have the means to do it. It’s not what my parents want for me as the prince. I guess with some things, duty and personal fulfillment can’t coexist like my grandmother once thought.”
My heart aches at his statement. I’ve spent countless nights in my room in Hivena yearning to be free and follow what calls to me, only to cry my eyes out every night because I knew as a dwarf queen it would never be possible.
I turn my body to discreetly wipe a tear that’s managed to escape from my eyes. I don’t know what was making me so sad. Maybe it’s the overwhelming feeling of standing next to a fellow caged bird.
“That’s why I admire you, Zemira. And the Lost Souls.” I turn to him stunned.
“Really?”
“Of course. How talented you are, the way you’re able to express yourself.” A fierce blush creeps up my neck to my cheeks. “There are many moments where I wish I could do the same.”
I wring my hands and hold my tongue. If only he knew being a Lost Soul is new for me too, and I’ve only been living like this for a couple of months. If only he knew that I knew his pain tenfold. The weight of a dominion is no joke.
“I’m sorry you feel this way. The immense pressure and responsibility must feel suffocating. It must be hard to balance your own needs and wants with so many people’s livelihoods depending on you.”
Flashes of my life in Hivena play in my head. It feels like a nightmare that has lasted for years. A whole other lifetime ago.
I realize how quiet it’s gotten and look over towards Prince Kuruk to find him gazing at me with curious eyes.
“That’s exactly how I feel.” He rasps. “You’re quite intuitive Zemira.”
I shrug my shoulders. Then an idea occurs to me.
“You know, when I was younger, and me and my sisters felt under pressure, we would make up silly songs to lighten the mood.” He raises his eyebrows and smiles.
“By all means.” He says as he takes a seat on a nearby bench and glances up at me in amusement. My cheeks warm at his sudden attention. Does he want me to sing a song for him?
“N-no, I meant that...we’d make silly songs about each other. And it was just a silly thing that we did as children.”
“Yes, and I would like you to sing a silly song for me.” He smiles humorously.
I clear my throat in embarrassment and immediately regret opening my big mouth about the stupid silly songs.
He’s watching me so patiently and expectantly, I don’t think there’s any talking myself out of this one.
I nervously search for things to start the song off with. I sing about his grandmother’s garden and compare her to an artistic goddess who loves using plants as her medium and makes her sculptures come to life. He chuckles at the part where I reference his feathers in his hair and how he’s able to grow wings out of his head and fly wherever he pleases.
By the glint in his eye and how he hasn’t looked away from me once, he seems to like it, and my nervousness ebbs away as I continue to sing a song made just for him.
