The Princess's Servant

48. The Letters

Paper washed at Holden's feet as Sybil opened the door. Inside the closet she'd unlocked was nothing but letters. Thousands of them. All of their seals broken.

Holden felt his stomach sink.

"This proves nothing," he lied.

The princess dipped her head towards the pile. "Go on," she smiled.

Prince Holden gave her an odd glance and he picked a letter from the mountain. As he opened it up he was confronted with the blackish brown ink of his own slanted handwriting.

"Read it to me," Sybil said, leaning against the cobbled wall. "I want to hear his words."

Holden blinked at the page a few times. "I... uh..." He cleared his throat and straightened out.

"Go on," she smiled.

"'My dearest Sybil,'" he began. "'I write to you from my garden under the happiest of circumstances. That badger I found wounded last week has made a full recovery. He rests now warmly in my lap, his little bandaged paw twitching with his dreams. I think you'd like him if you were here. He's soft, like a mink, and rolls over to show you his stomach when content...'"

The prince trailed off as he began to wonder if this is really what the princess wanted. She nodded for him to continue.

"'Are you a fan of animals?'" Holden read. "'There are so many here in my garden. I should like to teach you all their names some day. Would it please you to learn them? Signed, Prince Holden.'" Holden lowered the letter. "It's as I said. This proves nothing."

Sybil waved her hand and shifted her weight away from the wall. "Oh that one was a weak example," she said. "Find another."

Holden exhaled and folded the parchment. He added it back to the pile and drew another with a flourish. Opening it up, he read:

"'My shining star...'"

"Louder!"

Holden took a beat. "'My shining star! Every moment without you is...'" Holden's eyes scanned the rest of the letter. "Torment..." He dragged as he searched the rest of the letter for anything else embarrassing. "'The time I met you face-to-face, I felt as though I had greeted the rising sun. I have been stranded in eternal darkness ever since I left your gaze.

"'Visit me, dearest one. That my skin might be warmed by the light of your love.

"'Holden.'"

Sybil brought her arms to her elbows and she twisted her lips. "Mmm... Getting warmer," she said. "But it doesn't quite capture the sheer depth of his obsession with me. Try another."

Holden sighed and fought the mounting fear that he'd pick up something he'd regret. He dug around the pile and prayed he'd pick one that recounted what he'd had for lunch or his weekend plans.

He drew one and opened it. His heart went still.

The princess tilted her head as she watched him freeze.

He closed the letter and went to put it back in the pile.

"Stop!" Sybil said. "What do you think you're doing?"

"This one seems kind of personal..." He said. "I don't know if I should read it."

"You've already read it, haven't you? Read it to me. Personal is what I'm looking for."

Holden drew in a shaking breath. He unfolded the letter, opened his mouth to read, and then closed it when he found no words. He dipped his chin and tried again.

"'Sybil,'" he said. "'I write to you in my darkest hour. My darling mother...'" Holden felt a lump rising in his throat.

The princess watched him with wide eyes and waited for him to continue.