Sage in the Sea

Something is Wrong

Piers cleared his throat and stood up, putting his hands into his pocket and turning his back towards me. I stood up and pulled his jacket tighter to myself. He ran a hand over his face, his breath escaping his mouth in white puffs.

"I do apologize if I have overstepped, but you asked me what memory caused me to react in such a way," I told him as I put a hand on his arm. "I have witnessed dozens of hangings in the last ten years just of girls who tried to escape the Bycgan. I was nearly drowned each time I reacted in mercy to seeing their deaths. Do you realize how terrible that is?"

He closed his eyes and looked at me. "I am sorry you had to endure that. I can only imagine how painful it must have been. I have very little control over the facility, though, Adelaide. What I support is a better education at the facility, not a better punishment system. I do agree that some of the punishments are unnecessary, but, again, I have no power. If I am to speak against my father, I would be punished the same as a dissenter, as would you."

I nodded, looking down at my feet. "I assumed that was so. I feel, though, that we could find a way to make a change, to find a way around the law."

"I cannot, Adelaide," he said, the agitation clear in his voice. "I just cannot right now. My father is already angry with me for choosing you and this is the type of behavior that he expected to come from you. Right now I need you to be the image of the perfect girl from the facility, at least until my father sees what I saw in you."

"And what was that, exactly?" I asked, my head snapping up to look at him.

"A girl who is going to make a fantastic queen one day," he replied. "A girl who will make changes to the kingdom, changes that he may not be aware of or approve, but changes that she believes will better the lives of the people who reside here."

I looked away, fighting to hold back a smile. "I am not perfect."

"I'm sure you can pretend to be when in the presence of those who matter," Piers replied, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I truly am sorry for what I have to do to you. If it were not Fergus who had reported you, then I would not have reacted. However, he is one of my father's moles in my household. My father is not aware that I know, but I am aware of all the moles within my home."

"Are you willing to share the list with me?" I asked, looking up at him.

He smiled softly and nodded. "I will. Soon. Just always remember that we are never truly alone. That is why I must say some of the things I do say or write the things I write. We all have to protect ourselves in this world. It is difficult to find someone that we are able to trust."

"I can understand that," I replied as I took his hand in mine. "You have amazed me, Prince Piers Delafontaine."

"How so?"

"I just believed the rumors that you were a younger version of your father. From the way you've treated me for the last two days, you have made it difficult for me to believe otherwise."

He nodded and looked away, casting his eyes up towards the sky. "That is one thing I strive not to be."

In just two days, I had made immense progress with Piers. I was surprised at how easy it was for him to tell me the truth. I had been expecting to fight to have him see my side, but it had been the complete opposite.

Of course, he could have just been saying those things to please me, but I honestly believed that he was telling the truth. I had to believe that he was telling the truth. What would it mean if he wasn't? That I would soon face my demise? I had not been willing to run away, to risk death, but if that was the consequence for standing my ground, then I was willing to accept it.