Savior of the Realms

Chapter 4

One afternoon, I was out in the garden, reading. I had to read a book by Monday to discuss with my tutor, so I decided to study outside for change instead of my usual desk in the room.

The garden almost looked like a heaven, with richly colored flowers with iridescent colors, neatly pruned thickets of bushes and shrubs, and clumps of willows that circle this great expanse. I drank in the smell of the freshly mowed lawn that perfumed the summer air around me. At the edge of the garden, there was a pond as large as a small lake with a wooden bridge that crossed the middle. Amid this breathtaking beauty, birds chirp, squirrels dart around, and insects of different types and shapes surround this space.

Drinking in the smell of nature that perfumed the air, I wondered if the mystery going on in the palace is too important for me because I will be future queen. I wonder if that's the life I want. Millions of people out there wish they were me. I always had everything I wanted presented before me. My whole life was planned for me even before I was born. I wonder if that's really what I want. My life was too predictable and it always will be. It's ironic how my life as a crown princess is just too simple.

I closed my book, making my way to my room to prepare for the luncheon with Mr. Prince Venustus, when I saw a shadow a few meters from where I'm sitting. I looked up to see a young man so elegantly dressed, his hair is jet black and combed to the side, I couldn't make out his eye color from here but his features are arranged in a way that makes him look so handsome and put together.

"I see you finally left your beloved doll", he said with a bright smile.

"What?" What a way to make an introduction.

"You must have forgotten, but I bet a little boy and a few hours of fun are no longer in your memory."

What?

"Excuse me?"

"Prince Venustus of Rhondane." He said, bowing.

"Oh you're here already." Wait, wasn't I supposed to see him at five? If I had misunderstood my mom, she'd kill me.

I quickly remembered my manners. I stood up and curtsied.

"Princess Scarlett of Traxiva. Surely you know who I am," I said.

"Yes. We weren't supposed to meet until five but I thought I'd take a tour around this beautiful garden." He said.

We stood there awkwardly. Or I felt awkward. He was looking around absentmindedly until his eyes fell on me again.

"Walk with me?" He said cheerfully, extending his arm.

I was supposed to say no. I'm busy. I was supposed to say that my mom gave me strict orders about taking care of my behavior. I wasn't sure whether she'd be happy to know that I met the prince before our official meeting. I was supposed to say that we will meet for lunch anyway and that I have to get going. But I can't say no to a walk around the garden. So I take his arm.

"So, what were you saying before the introductions?" I asked, remembering dimly that he was speaking about a doll or something.

"Nothing of great importance. Tell me about yourself. I saw you reading, is that a hobby or just studying?" He asked.

"Both. I love reading, it keeps me company."

"That's a reason for lonely people. I mean you have an entire country where you can have company and you choose a book?" He asked, incredulously.

"First of all, books are my most royal friends, and I believe that they're better than many fake people out there. And second, I'm not lonely, I have friends here." I answered defiantly, yet with enough respect. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to the palace." I curtsied and strode away.

I was in my room getting ready, but I was having a headache already and felt in need of a nap. I was contemplating whether it's worth it to just dump the luncheon when I heard a soft knock on the door. I thought maybe it's the new guard stationed at my door.

"Enter," I answered before Anne came in.

"Hey, sorry but Mom was a bit sick yesterday so I had to do her duties instead, and it was really late when I was done," Anne said.

"Is she ok?" I said.

"Oh yeah, just some cold." Anne said. "It's almost five, are you ready?"

"For what?"

"The Prince.., you have a luncheon now, right?" Anne said, doubtfully.

"Wait, how did you know that?" I exclaimed.

"Everyone knows." Anne laughed. "I even knew a bit late because, you know, I'm responsible for cleaning rooms and stuff. The other maids and I received orders yesterday to clean the guest rooms. Anyway, aren't you excited?"

"I don't know, I just don't feel ready, even with the knowledge that if I liked him, we'll get married in like three years or something," I said dimly.

Deep down, I knew so well that that's not the reason. I always wanted to have a normal, free life. Maybe fall in love too. Everything is planned for me from the start, and that wasn't the life I wanted. It's not that I'm ungrateful for my life, it's just that this monotony can do bad things to people. An expected life, one that is planned from A to Z becomes so boring and unbearable to extent of hurting. That was never what I wanted. I wanted my life to have a rising action and a climax, but I'm just as well as stuck in the exposition.

"I'm pretty sure that when you get to know him, you'll want to get married as quickly as possible," said Anne cheerfully.

"I hope so."

"So, what did you come to tell me yesterday?" Anne asked.

"Nothing. I just wanted to talk," I said.

"I never had a chance to ask you about the study room. What happened?"

"Oh, I was just looking for an old notebook."

"Come on, Scarlett. Don't I know you? You went there for a reason and that wasn't it."

I sighed, "I'm not sure I should tell you this. I believe I must have been hallucinating or something." Of course I wasn't.

Anne raised her eyebrows.

"Ok, fine. I was on my way to my bedroom when I felt a flicker of movement beside me. The hall was completely empty and there was no chance I was imagining it. Then, I just kept walking, and when I found the study room I just entered and closed the room to see if someone was really following me," I said.

"Wait, how could someone have followed you but you couldn't see them."

"I don't know," I said, "but I felt pretty sure I was being watched. So, when I closed the study room door, the desk under the window broke and I saw a flutter of fabric before it broke the window. At that moment I screamed."

Anne fell quiet for a moment before speaking again: "How did you explain this to your mom?"

"I told her that I was standing on the desk to bring something from the shelf pile of boxes beside it." I said.

"And the window?" Anne asked.

"What?"

"The window was broken right?"

"Yes, yes, that thing escaped from there, but.. I don't know, my mom mentioned nothing about a window." I said, confused, "But this only means that the guards must've missed that detail when they reported back to her."

"Or maybe whoever jumped out that window repaired it. God, this all sounds stupid," said Anne, covering her face with her hands.

"Ugh, now I can't go back without a guard. And Mom told me not wander. But maybe you could go. You're a maid, so no one will even suspect anything of you going there." I said hopefully.

"But where would that get us anyway? If it was broken or if it wasn't, that only proves a point. It doesn't solve it." she said.

Before I could think about what she said, someone knocked at the door.

"Yes?"

"Your Highness, it's time."