Royal Blood

Cinderella Pt. I

HOW DOES IT feel when the person you love the most on earth was gone forever and no one seem to mourn?

Well, that was precisely the feeling that had been consuming Raymund the whole night long. His eleven-year-old eyes had not stopped shedding tears in his private chamber for a single moment. Just a few hours ago, his beloved mother, Queen Geva of Odradal Court, died. And Raymund's heart could not be more broken.

He could not stop his head from chanting those words over and over again, the words that her mother used to whisper every night before he went to bed,

"You are never too young to do anything on your own will."

So he pledged himself to always remember that oath no matter what.

The only problem though, was his father, Theobald. Because he, with such boorishness, thought that the best way to react to his wife's death was to swagger proudly in the halls of the castle as if nothing had happened. Sure, he sent his men to spread this grief news throughout the lengths and breaths of the kingdom so that the commoners can join in lamenting this wretched day, but himself?

He acted as if the queen never existed. He almost seemed... joyful, even.

Oh, forgive me, he did not seem joyful, he was. And he did not try to hide it.

That was the reason why Raymund could not ever hate his father more for being such a dreadful king, husband, nor father. Because he never was one. He was never part of Raymund's or his mother's life and he hated him because of it. He loathed him, he despised him, he...

Knock, knock.

Raymund jumped and stopped sobbing at the sudden noise. He was taken aback, for who would want to see him in such a miserable and humiliating state? With swollen, red eyes, messy hair, and wrinkled attire? But alas, he uncurled himself, rose uo, and opened his chamber door anyway.

He was startled to see who were standing at his doorstep.

"Thames, Sarra," Raymund croaked, staring at the two people who both had worry drawn on their faces. "What are you doing here, in the middle of the night?"

Thames and Sarra were a pair of late husband and wife who both served the royal family. They were casted out by the other maids and servants, which made them pretty lonely. Even the royal family avoided them for their shabby work.

But nevertheless, Thames and Sarra had been taking care of young Raymund for as long as he could remember. And in a way to repay them, he kept them company as time drew them close to each other. Almost as close as the queen was to the prince.

"May we come in, Your Majesty?" said Sarra, doing a curtsy.

Raymund chuckled. He thought she would never ask. He let the two servants enter his chamber as he closed the heavy door behind him.

"So, we heard about the grave news," Thames started with an old, breathy, and creaky voice. "We are so very sorry, dear."

Raymund's face immediately turned into a darker shade. "Yes, I know. Thank you very much."

And so, Raymund could not remember what happened for the rest of the night. All he knew was that his two best friends took his small figure in their crooked and disheveled embrace, as though they were shielding him from the pain and wounds the dark world threw all the time.

It almost felt like Raymund would remain a child forever. As pure as gold and as innocent as a little boy can be. Nothing will ever change and everything will be all right.

❇️

"Ugh," groaned Raymund. But then, he immediately slapped his mouth with his hand, for he knew better than to groan at this state.