A few days passed, and I met The Prince again. I was out in the garden tending to the Heartsease and Violets. They are The Queen's favorite flowers so I keep them as nice as I can. Using my talent to make a few more bloom, I hear someone come up behind me. Immediately I stop and turn to find The Prince. "Good evening, My Prince". I bow my head briefly before turning to pick a few Heartsease. "Good evening, Rosie. I was wondering if I could give you some company?" I turn and smile, "Company would be wonderful".
The rest of the evening went by smoothly, The Prince and I talked of many things, him speaking mainly of his teachings and the stress of filling his father's shoes. I listened, providing input whenever I saw fit. We said our goodbyes and left for our respective rooms. The next few days went by in a similar fashion, the only difference was we dropped formalities. The Prince asked me to call him Orsik, and I have. We talk about our day. I taught him how to pull weeds from around the flowers. It isn't until around midday that a servant rushes out the palace doors, "Miss Rosie! The Queen requests your presence in her chambers immediately".
I say my goodbyes to Orsik and make my way to Ellanora. I knock once before I hear her voice, "Come in". I entered her room, closing the door behind me, noticing the woman who seemed angry at me during my introduction, "You wished to see me, My Queen". Ellanora smiles, pleased I remembered my formalities. "Yes, Pricilla states that you have pulled my son from his teachings and that you have been destroying my garden. Is this true, Rosie?" I turn to look at the woman, Pricilla, then back to Ellanora, "No, My Queen, it is not true." Pricilla scoffs, "If it's not true then why is The Prince so far up your bum that you have him destroy the royal garden with you?!" she yells. "That is enough!" The Queen exclaims, "I will call my son in, we shall hear his side of the story". It does not take long for The Prince to come, but the whole time Pricilla sneers at me. The Queen notices but says nothing. When Orsik enters, Pricilla stops looking at me completely. Her attention was fully on him with a smile, fluttering her eyelashes, and pushing her chest up. She's jealous, that's what this is over? The Queen nods to her son, who ignores Pricilla. "You asked for me, mother?' The Queen nods. "Pricilla says that Rosie has been pulling you from your teachings, and has convinced you to ruin my garden, is this true?." The Prince turns to Pricilla who smiles even bigger, then turns to me. "Mother, that could not be farther from the truth". Pricilla's smile drops. The Queen looks to her son, "I have been informed by your teachers that you have not been present in your teachings. So, would you care to explain that?"
The Prince sighs and faces his mother, "I have been avoiding my teachings, it is only repetitive Mother. I have learned everything. I believe I should be assisting Father. I've studied every book in our library, memorized every map of our surrounding lands, including our own, I've sat in on meetings unable to discuss my thoughts and ideas to make this kingdom a better place for the future." The Queen signs, "I understand it can be repetitive, but you must understand. It is highly important to finish your teachings, your Father had to sit through the same teachings, as did his Father. This kingdom cannot thrive on a half-taught King! I understand that you think it is useless to learn the same thing again and again, but have you even attempted to ask for something different to study? Our libraries are filled with the knowledge of Rulers before us, going back hundreds of years. You may do well to learn from their lives." The Queen sits in the chair near her desk, and begins to write, "I will inform your tutors to find you some more challenging works. Now tell me, why has Pricilla told me that you and Rosie have been destroying my garden? The one place in this palace that I hold dearest to me."
The Prince turns towards his mother, and I catch Pricilla scowling at me. Presumably unhappy that she was caught in her lie. I decide to speak up, "My Queen, The Prince asked to keep me company while I was tending your flowers. He offered to help, I was showing him how to pull the weeds from around the Heartsease." At my words, The Queen holds my gaze, "Is this true, Orsik? You, The Prince, offered to help a handmaiden in my garden?". The Prince nods his head, "Yes Mother, it was calming. I needed a way to destress and I saw Rosie as I was walking the yards. I had been watching her for some time. She was very careful as she tended the soil. I have hardly spoken to her since her arrival, and I don't like not knowing the people staying in our home. I spoke with her, and the next few days after I came back to talk more. I offered to help, and she informed me how. She listened to my complaints and offered advice. She told me to read of the past as well, Mother. She did not know I was evading my teachings."
"I see" The Queen states, with a smile on her face. "Please excuse yourselves, I must talk with Pricilla."
YOU ARE READING
Heartsease
FantasíaI came to get revenge on the man who ruined my life. The one I called a friend, my only friend, the one who cast me out over a rumor, a lie, a false murder. As we fight, our weapons clashing, I stumble back. He grabs my arm with me hovering over the...
