Memory in the End

Chapter 24: Juliette

I kept my head down for the majority of the time and the tavern was pretty busy that no one really paid much attention to me. There were many workers serving drinks to the patrons, the majority of them were males, but there was one female worker who took care of me. She was pretty with wavy blonde hair down her back which had flowers embedded in it. She had these crystal blue eyes that looked like the lake when the sun shines on it, and she had a smile on that could make even the coldest person warm up. She wore a brown dress with a white apron tied around it and carried an empty tray to me. She took the seat across from me.

"Listen," she tells me softly, "If you want to keep your identity a secret, Princess, then you'll follow me. Don't speak, nod if you understand.",

I'm shocked but I nod. She smiles, taking my hand and taking me towards the back. We exit through the back and she takes a bunch of turns back to a small cottage. The inside is rather plain, with only a small couch and a fire going. There's a small table with an even smaller kitchen and a bed in the far corner. She smiles.

"Welcome to my home. It's not the castle but I would like to think it's much cozier."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Juliette, I'm the server who just saved your arse."

"How did you know who I was?"

She chuckles, "When you're in the heart of the kingsom, of course everyone will know who Arrabella is. Trust me, if you stayed there any longer a bounty hunter was going to make a move. I got you out so you can enjoy a nice ale in peace."

She slides a cup my way. I guess maybe I'm feeling exhilarated but the ale doesn't interest me anymore. Besides, if a bounty hunter tries something, I need to be at my one hundred percent. I shake my head, "No thanks."

"So you just came in the tavern to sit and hope for a fight?"

"No...but it's complicated and I don't feel like getting into it."

She smiles, "How about I tell you something about me, and you tell me about you?"

I shrug, "Sure."

"Well, I'm a Capricorn, I love the night time, spring is my favorite season, and I work at the tavern part time to help make ends meet."

"Do you live alone?"

She shakes her head, "No. I have an older brother, my parents died a while ago. It's just us two."

"I'm sorry," I tell her, squeezing her hand.

She shrugs with a smile, "Don't worry about it, it's been a while, it gets easier with time."

I really hope this is true. I don't think I can deal with this aching feeling my heart much longer.

"Now how about you? What's wrong with the perfect princess?" She asks, kind of harshly but I shrug it off.

"Can I ask for your opinion?"

"Sure."

"What would you do if the people you thought you could trust kept something from you, something major, for a long time?"

"Did these people tell you eventually?"

"Yeah..."

"Well they were probably looking for a good time. If it's major news than they can't just spew that out. They need to be careful how they say it."

She had a point. I mean they couldn't have just told me out of the blue that I had a brother who died. It would've confused matters more, especially since I cannot remember it. But then again, they still should've told me. I shouldn't have found out from Victor. Maybe that's what is bugging me so much. The fact that Victor told me, but not only that, also the way he said it. The original heir to the throne; if my brother was alive then there is no doubt that he would've been the king now instead of me. It seems I'm just the second choice that they're stuck with. Especially with the praises that Michael gave my brother, it really doesn't help me think that I'll be a great leader when I find out I wasn't even the person originally wanted for the job.