The Red Sword - Vol 1

Sweet dreams Ariela (1)

-Princess Ariela? -Are you ready? - Augustine asked, entering my room and dismissing the guard behind her.

-I'm here, I'm in the bathroom. - I answered back, "I've just had my bath. Please come in. - I said sweetly, and changed my clothes.

-I still don't understand the suspension of the guards at your door, did you know that their presence is of restricted importance, Princess? - Augustine asked curiously.

-I asked my father to reduce the number of guards, especially at night, after all, the last place anyone would want to enter is my room, isn't it? He found it very convincing. -I said, putting on my nightgown.

-I assume it's not wise, my dear, that anyone could come into your room and attack you. - she spoke with a defiant tone.

-No one will come in here, I assure you. Now.... - I opened the bathroom door and she bowed, "What will today's treatment be? - I raised my eyebrow, and she smiled broadly.

-Lie down. - She indicated my bed and I agreed and lay down.

Since I was a little girl, every night at the same time Augustine has come up to my room with a guard, she helps me with my anxiety, and my nightmares have diminished with absurd frequency. When I was little, she would tell me stories, which would make me sleep faster, but now that I am grown up, Augustine just gives the injections and leaves the room, leaving me in a deep sleep.

 It was like this, since I can remember, Augustine told me that it was due to my mother's death, that she was a rebel, and since her death I had panic attacks and strong nightmares, waking up the whole kingdom, and then, Augustine, the Royal Advisor, advised King Olavus to give me sessions of sleep injections, and he "kindly" recommended that she do so.I lay down on the bed, and she then opened her briefcase, there it contained only a single injection, she lined up my dress, covered me, and said:

-Good night Ariela. - And she applied the injection.-Good night....night.....Augus...... - and sleep overtook me in the middle of the sentence.I always wondered, when would this end, if someday, I would get rid of all this. The night passed like it was rushing by, as soon as I woke up I dawned nauseous, took my shower, and got dressed in a sky blue dress.

Breakfast was at 8:00, and now, it was 7:00 I opened the dresser drawer and took my notebook, that serene and wild look did not leave my mind, and using the little time I had, I drew in my notebook that look, it was the deepest I had ever known, as soon as I finished, I closed the notebook, and walked slowly to the dining room, Augustine then, was at the door, and she looked at me with a look of contempt and cleared her throat and announced:

-Your Majesty, Ariela Martina. - The voice echoed firmly and loudly.I nodded, and sat down at the table, a few chairs away from my father. My father was King Olavo Junior, a rude, stupid, and selfish man, a man who aimed at nothing but himself. He was short, beer-bellied, and he had a white mustache, his skin was black like mine, and his eyes were brown, and his hair was gray, but, sparse.

Olavo looked at me with a look worse than Augustine, utter contempt.He didn't stop serving himself, every breakfast was like this, my father didn't even look at me, he came and went without even noticing my presence, and always left the table in case I said something he didn't want to hear. I sat down, put the napkin on my lap and started to serve myself, quiet in the same way I always was, every day, every time. As soon as I finished serving myself, my father looked at me, staring at me, and said putting his fork in his mouth and chewing:

-I'll post guards at your door. - He ordered.I looked down at my plate, sighed, and looked straight at him:

-Why? - I spoke with a raised eyebrow.