An Attic filled with Birds [Completed]

7. How can it not get to him?

Felix
Sunday evening means family dinner. I still have half an hour before I need to be there, but I'm bored of my own room. It's time to change it up. New wallpaper maybe. And different curtains.

Not right now, though. I get dressed appropriately, blazer and all, and leave my room early. It's an easier change up. I decide to make a detour to the dining room.

I walk around the hallways of the palace. The walls are tall. They're decorated with a white wallpaper with silver flower accents. My room is on the top floor. When I look down the windows on my left, I can see the entire garden at the back of the palace.

I turn the corner, and approach the stairs to take me down a floor. Next to the stairs stand piles of boxes, and a ladder goes up into the ceiling. I hear rummaging above me.

I approach the piles instead of going downstairs. When I am close enough, I see the nearest box contains books. I take one out. It's an old, dusty one about economics. I quickly put it back out of horror.

I pick up the box, and put it next to me. The next box also contains old books.

'Your majesty,' a voice says.

I look up from the books to see someone in uniform. He stands on the ladder leading to the ceiling.

'Hello,' I say.

'Good evening. Can I help you with something?'

'Oh, No. Not really.'

'Alright, sir.'

He extends one leg, and it touches the floor. With the other leg still on the ladder, he hold his arms up. A pair of arms come out of the hole in the ceiling with a box. He takes it, and puts in on the pile behind him.

'Actually,' I say.

'Yes, your majesty?'

'May I ask what you are doing?'

'Of course sir,' he smiles. 'We are cleaning the attic. First, we take everything out. Then we will dust, vacuum and mop. Afterwards everything will go back in.'

'I see.'

He smiles and nods. After I smile back he continues his work.

I turn back to the boxes and rummage through them a while. A lot of boxes with books belonging to my dad. Some even which belonged to his dad.

Then, I find a box with different contents. Sure, it had books. But not your ordinary books. Photo books.

I take out the one on the very top. It's quite heavy, and dusty, so I decide to sit down with it. The floor gets cleaned here twice a week anyway. I open it and admire the old pictures. They are literal centuries old, yet well preserved.

I keep flipping pages. I mainly see pictures of my dad with his parents. Then, a picture with my dad catches my eye.

On the picture he stands next to Edward Bailey. Apparently the latter was blond when he was younger. It's weird. They're not friends. Far from it. Bailey is the leader of the current biggest anti-royal party. So why are they on a picture together? Smiling? Looking like they're the best of friends?

I look at the date of the picture. After some quick math I figure out it was taken 257 years ago. Or 237. Whatever. It doesn't matter. A long time ago. I can't remember dad, or even mom, ever talking about his friendship with Bailey. Only about his dislike for the man and every wrong he has ever done.

I take the picture out of the book, and put in in the pocket of my blazer. I need to remember to ask him about it. I keep flipping, and my mother starts showing up on pictures. I take out a pretty one of her and dad. I put that one in my pocket as well. I plan on putting it in a frame for in my room, next to the pictures of me with my siblings.