King's Gamble

waking of disappearance

"My liege."

I woke up to the voice of my best servant on the day I knew I would disappear. Today was the day. The day every king for the past 300 years has had to go through. The day I had to find a wife.

"Come now, sir. No lamb for the lazy wolf." She says.
She'd always been so attentive and smiling. She seems to rather enjoy her work, at least as much as I enjoy her doing it.

"Come, out of bed. No time to frolic in your mind."

"This really is the day, huh?"

"Indeed it is. I'd thought you would be more joyous."

"And I thought I had more time."

I got up slowly. Thinking about how I was going to get out of this sick arrangement that I'm forced to do when Aliza, my servant interrupts my thought with a question.

"Sir may I be dismissed early today? The fair to celebrate the picking starts today."

"Yes, Aliza go."

I watched as she left and started to hatch my plan to get out of this picking arrangement.

"I could always sneak away, with Aliza busy, however that could cause a panic and I'd never make it with all the guards... But i have access to the servant's quarters."

I make my way to the hall, where the workhouse is located, and knock on the door. A polite invitation. Opening the door, the servants are lined in front of me.

"It is with great pleasure I tell you to celebrate, go on to the fair. Your accomplice, Aliza, is already on her way."

"Sir, the chores ar-"

"I will worry about that. Plenty of time before the ceremony starts and I would like a clear head. Now, off you go."

"Yessir."

After the servants left, I donned their clothes and joined behind them. The guard stopped me at the door.

"You, Serving boy. Where is the king and where are these servants going?"

"He says he will be cleaning castle, clearing his mind for the picking. We're to celebrate at the fair. King's order."

"... Very well. Off you are."

This is working better than I thought. I walked down the long hall and found out very quickly how others see servants. It became evident that if I ever come back, I'm going to change this elitist's mentalily. Right now though I'm working on my escape.

Through the halls, past the creepy painting of my long dead great grandfather, and into the study. The study was my favorite place to be all the maps and books almost made me stay, but I had to get out. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

"Yes, you may enter."

The door opens and a young lass, around my age, dressed too well to be a servant, appears in the frame. Her fair complexion and red hair fill my view. As she gets closer, I notice more detail, her bright green eyes catch my attention.

"Oh, forgive me. I'd thought the king would be here." She says, her voice was a calming, slightly higher pitch than the average here.

"Oh, no he is not. I am simply tidying up here."

"You didn't get the order?"

"Order?"

"Servants are to be at the fair, king wants to clean castle to clear his head for our picking."

"Our picking? You're one of the girls?"

"Yes, each of us gets two hours to understand him. Thus he does not go into this completely blind."

"I see..."