Chronicles: Silent Breath

Chapter 6

"Wait! We can't be here ... that's for staff only," I said, hesitating.

"Don't worry, no one will recognize you in that beautiful princess dress," he laughed. "They'll just think you're a young woman who got lost."

"That's not helping!" I whispered, feeling a mix of annoyance and anxiety.

"Come on, let's see what the cook has for leftovers," he said, pointing to a column near the large table at the center of the kitchen where some staff were chatting.

"Did you see the new maid they hired? She's so thin. How does she have the strength to carry the sheets to the laundry?" one of the women said, laughing.

"Why would they hire more staff? It's not like we have a lot of royalty to assist," another woman replied.

"Maybe we will have more royals in the next few days. Perhaps they're planning the young royals' weddings?" the first woman suggested.

"Oh no! Not the wedding talk again!" I whispered to myself.

"And I thought you handled the shiny hair so well," Helies whispered near my ear. His warm breath sent shivers down my spine, and I suddenly realized how close we were standing.

"Or maybe...," a man said, joining the conversation, "the queen needs more help because of her condition."

What condition? Is she not well? She seemed fine at the dinner.

"Yeah, right! I pray to the old magic mages to make her stay with us for more time, at least until the prince becomes the new king," one of the woman's said sadly.

"Speaking of which, I was just delivering clothes to the prince. I knocked, and he let me into his room while he was in the tub," the woman said, drawing closer to the others and adding in a whisper, "I saw everything... Wow, I wish he would ask me to help him. I'd gladly do it."

The women burst into laughter, covering their faces and biting their bottom lips.

"Oh! I can't listen to this..." I rolled my eyes and started to walk away from the kitchen.

"Where are you going?" Helies asked.

"To find the queen!" I said firmly.

"Good idea. Just say, 'Hi, I heard from the kitchen staff that you have a condition. How are you?'" Helies shot back sarcastically.

"You know what this means, right? If the queen is somehow sick, your coronation will be sooner," I said, my eyes wide with realization. "And I'll be married off for political reasons even sooner. Are you really that excited to be king? Because kings also have to get married..."

I didn't wait for his response as I flew off toward the queen's chamber. Or at least, that was the plan, but I didn't exactly know where it was. The palace was enormous, and I hadn't explored much of it.

"Maybe I can ask a guard," I thought to myself.

I went up the stairs to my bedroom floor, believing the queen's chambers weren't far away. I followed the corridor until I found a guard passing by.

"Sorry to interrupt your work, but could you point me in the direction of the queen's chambers?" I asked. The guard looked very surprised to see me talking to him. His eyes hovered over me, and when he realized I was in a nightgown, he looked down, trying to be respectful.

"My...my...princess! The queen's chambers are in the high tower on the north side of the palace. It's late; you should be in your room," the guard said.

"Which way is the north side?" I asked, straightening my back to show confidence.

"Just head to the grand hall, and you will find a passage to the tower. Then follow the staircases to the right. Would you like me to escort you, princess?" he asked, trying to gauge my expression.

"That would be—"

"Not necessary, I can take my sister to the queen," Helies said, approaching us.

"Of course, my prince." The guard bowed and continued his patrol, leaving me alone with Helies.