Rose Petals & Musk

Chapter One

Just before the rose blooms, 
One glances each day

In anticipation

Of seeing it

--

"Make way! Make way for the Princess!" shouted the announcer from the sidelines as I ran through the crowd.

I held my skirts up and tried to get to the center of the commotion as quickly as I could. Once I made it close enough, I pushed past as many people as quickly as I could and went to the side of my dear friend, Damien, who was laying on the floor.

"Damien, are you alright?" I quickly went down to his level and held his hand. "What on earth happened here!?" I demanded.

Damien slowly pushed himself to sit up, groaning as he did so. "It's fine, Asiya. There was a commotion in the tea house and one of the Lords—Lord Provien--grew violent against the server. When I stood up to him, he sent his armed guards after me."

I gasped and quickly put my hands behind his shoulders to help hold him up. "How dare he do this, Damien? Is he not aware that his actions have repercussions? What of the harassed server? Are they alright?"

Damien nodded, "Yes. She is alright. She moved to the back once things escalated and was safe."

I scrunched my face. "How could he do that? You are an honored guest here at the Palace. Surely he has the respect to extend his graciousness to you the same way His Majesty did."

Damien lurched forward and coughed up blood. "I—I can't"

I shushed him quickly, and called for a doctor. "We will take care of this injury and I will speak to my father immediately concerning this behaviour. The Kingdom of Astria,will not have it's honor ruined because of the actions of a renegade Lord." I looked up and saw the medics arriving to the scene. I stood up abruptly and addressed them. "Go, take him and make sure that he receives the care he needs."

The medics came and put him on a cloth stretcher and carried him to the carriage. As they began carrying him away, I noted that he had dropped his identity card on the ground and signalled one of my guards, who had arrived not too long ago, to deliver it to him before they took him away. I sighed to myself and turned to my other guard, "Make sure that they are bringing him to the palace and not to a hospital in the capital city."

He nodded, bowed and ran to catch up to the driver before he left.

Aila, one of my maids in waiting came up to me from my side, "Your highness, might I suggest we return to the carriage and make way for the palace so that this situation may be taken into account for as quickly as possible."

I kept my eyes trained on Damien. "Yes. Good idea. Let us go." I turned quickly and walked quickly to the carriage.

On the way, back to the palace I kept on thinking about the state of Damien. He was my dear friend, who I used to play with as a child. He was a prince of the neighbouring kingdom and was sent here last summer to study in one of our accredited universities. My father invited him to stay at the palace while he completes his studies to ensure he is well taken care of. He announced him as an honored guest—and such a statement in the Kingdom of Astria holds great weigh because we value graciousness and try to stay true to our words.

Damien was a hero. He was treated well all his life, and never let a chance pass by where he would not stand up for others, especially those who could not stand up for themselves. His mother loved him for this, as in her life she was never quite able to make the ideals she had become a reality. His father was ruthless, proud, and never allowed for his wife to do much that she believed in. But Damien always found a way to stand up to his father, and many of the times, his father listened.

It makes me think of what his father might do, if he hears of this. Damien is not his heir, but he is his blood. And in his father's eye, the shedding of the blood of blood, is the same as shedding your own blood. He may not take to it kindly.

As I arrived in the castle, I was awaited by several guards. As I approached, I called out. "One of you check immediately to the state of Prince Damien and report it to me immediately" One of the guards nodded and left as I quickly made my way to the throne room.

As I neared it, I heard voices, and one voice in particular. "How was I supposed to know he was Prince Damien of the kingdom of Masteria? He behaved like no prince I know! He did not even announce himself! And he was there on his own!" A voice shrieked.

"Oh no, what do I do..." it cried out in woe.

Then I heard my Fathers voice, "Lord Provein, although you did not know who this was, you have endangered his life. If the king of Masteria hears of this, we will be having a grave problem. He will demand vengeance. Blood for blood."

I sped up and marched into the throne room and spoke as I entered. "Blood for blood seems fitting; for he who devalues the blood of another, should surely learn its worth by losing his own."

Lord Provein turned to me and his face immediately changed into a look of despair. He then quickly faced my father, "Your Majesty! What will you do?!"