The Princess's Servant

64. The First Meeting

Off to the corner of the ballroom was a small curtained alcove that was sectioned off from the rest of the party. It seemed to be a sort of lounge room, as two drunk women were sprawled across the room's red couch when the pair entered. They both scrammed as they saw their prince.

From beyond the curtain, the sounds of harp and tambourine could still be heard, though it was much quieter here. As the curtains settled in the candlelight, the two of them found themselves truly alone. For a moment, the prince seemed tense, although it was difficult to read him under the mask, Sybil thought. She let out a breath and closed her eyes for a brief moment, relived to be away from the stress of the party. She took a deep breath in.

When they had entered the room, Holden had felt rather unsafe. The last time Sybil had taken him to a secluded area, she had very nearly killed him. But seeing her again... Holden realized this wasn't the same woman who had almost ended him. This was someone else. This was someone more... afraid.

"Hey," she smiled. Holden didn't move. "I know you don't know me," the princess said, and Holden almost felt that was true. "But I need your help."

The prince stared at this woman in front of him. He really didn't know her. Who was this person who seemed so earnest — so innocent? Where had she been the last week?

"Your brother— He's called off our wedding," the princess continued. "Without our marriage, my people are vulnerable. I am vulnerable. I need you to help me sort things out so I can rest assured that my kingdom is safe."

Holden blinked at her. Did Sybil have a secret twin? Could she have swapped places in order to get away?

"Can I count on you for your aid?"

A gentle voice like the first rays of sunlight in the morning. An elegant demeanor like the motions of the swan. This woman was otherworldly; almost ethereal. She seemed to Holden to be the type of person he was meant to love; cherish. Protect. And here she was asking for his help.

Holden became jarringly aware that he'd been silent for too long. He cleared his throat and straightened his posture. "I would love to help you, princess," he said.

A happy surprise graced the princess's face as her sky-blue eyes alighted and her blossom pink lips parted just a bit.

"But sadly, military affairs are not in my domain," Holden completed. "Those are controlled by my brother."

Sybil's joyful countenance dimmed as though a dark cloud had passed over her sunny face. "Your brother hates me," she said, her tone rightfully matter-of-fact.

"Right..." The prince agreed. "Well maybe if you apologized, he'd be willing to hear your side of things."

The princess gave Holden a disbelieving look. "You know your brother better than I do. Do you really think an apology would be enough to save my kingdom?"

Holden took in breath but stopped himself. He could not answer that truthfully. 

Sybil exhaled. "Let me speak to the emperor," she said. "The true emperor. He must still have some power over his son. Mustn't he?"

Holden tossed his head, though he nearly scraped the ceiling with his antlers. "My father invaded Draconia and slaughtered everyone there. If he learns the wedding's off, Lailoy is almost certainly finished."

"Then your mother—" Sybil brought a hand to her lips.

Holden stared at her.

"Is someone I shouldn't have mentioned..." The princess completed. "I'm sorry..."

Holden said nothing.

"Listen, is your servant around?" Sybil asked. "If I could speak to him, I'm sure I could clear things up."

The prince crossed his arms. "I'm not sure that he is around," he said. "And if he were, I don't know that he'd have much to say to you."

"If he could just explain things to your brother..."

"'Explain?'" Holden shook his head.

"Explain." Sybil nodded.

"What is there to 'explain?'"

"I don't know." The princess shrugged and kicked the tiled floor. "He could tell Thomas things weren't that bad between us. That my servant might have... exaggerated the details of his extended stay. That the two of us have made up, and that all is well."

"You mean he could lie."

"Yes, lie."

Holden couldn't help but laugh a little. "And why would he do that?"

Sybil's eyes turned sly and she gave the prince a chiding look. "You must know your own servant," she said.

"Must I?"

The princess sighed. "He'd do it because he cares," she said.

Holden's mood darkened now. "I can't say he cares for you, Sybil."

Sybil scoffed. "Rude," she said, "but I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about the lives of every innocent Lailoyan. Knowing the Wardian, he'd gladly tell a fib to save a kingdom. Trust me. Give me five minutes with the scamp, and I'll have him singing to your brother that 'his enslavement was all his idea,' and that the 'real victim was the poor princess who was forced to go along with his sick fantasies.'"

Holden stared at the woman before him. Unbelievable. Unbelievable that after all this time she could still shock him with her depravity. He felt the creeping urge to say something terrible, but instead he just lowered his shoulders and said: "You know, they tried to tell me you were different. That you weren't like the other princesses. I wouldn't listen."

Sybil rolled her eyes. "Yes, well," she shook her head. "'Different' in my experience almost always means 'deranged.'"

"You really want to speak to my servant?" Holden asked.

"I do."

"And you're certain you're ready to face him after all you've done to him?"

"I was never not ready," Sybil said.

Holden sighed and bowed his head. "If that's the case, then... Look behind you."

Sybil glanced over her shoulder. And in the dim light she saw... No one. Nothing except a curtained entrance and an oil lamp. Sybil looked back to the prince. But he, too, was gone.

"Damn it," Sybil cursed. "The oldest trick in the book."

A/N:

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