Parallel

Chapter V: Royal Blood

Leopold

The maid in my arms had just collapsed in my chambers. Auralea. Her features were even beautiful when she lay unconscious. I shook myself out of my thoughts and quickly made my way down the halls to the physician. Maybe the news of my bloodline was enough to knock her out. How could that be though? She had been addressing me as your highness and your majesty since our first encounter.

As I pushed past the nobles in the halls, I reached down and pressed my index and middle finger against her neck. She still had a pulse, a rather slow pulse, but a pulse nonetheless. Her brown skin was flushed with tones of red and sweat lined her forehead. She looked very unwell and it was quite unsettling. I kicked the door to the physician's room open and laid her down on the dingy looking bed. Knox looked at me with wide eyes as he bowed.

"She fainted in my room as she was cleaning. Do something to help her." I barked out the order and he immediately got to work in helping her. He grabbed a cold rag and placed it on her forehead. I stood there as he examined her. It felt like hours, partially due to my impatience and partially because of the weight of the situation. Something in me was protective over this particular maid. When she hadn't shown up the day before to clean my chambers, I began to worry and seeing her in this state makes me worry even more.

Knox finally faces me and speaks on her condition. "She seems to be malnourished and overworked. This is nothing that food and fluids can't fix, your highness." I let out a breath of relief I didn't even realize I was holding and nod. "Have her taken to my quarters to rest in proper conditions." I leave the room and make my way to the throne room where I will likely find my uncle. As the regent, he handles all matters until I am prepared to take over the crown. At this very moment, he doesn't think I am ready and is happy to take on the duties himself. After my parents were murdered, he's looked after me as if I was his own son. I love him dearly and respect his opinion on any subject as it is in my best interest.

In the throne room, Uncle Auden's body was draped across the throne in an idle manner as he listened to a farmer's complaints about the conditions of the people outside of the castle. I pity the poor man even though my uncle doesn't. He dismisses the man right after the completion of the story, telling him generically that the royal family is doing all they can to help. As I walk past the guards at the door, I whisper for them to reward the farmer with a fair amount of silver. At least enough to keep his family alive through the drought. With a muttered, "Yes, your majesty.", the task is carried out and the farmer is content.

I sit down on the throne beside my uncle and he shakes his head in disapproval at me. "Your compassion will be the reason you get overthrown. When I say you are not ready for the throne, this is what I mean. You think that you can help everyone who walks through those doors? What about your family? What about your wealth? That should be considered before that of a farmer. You have royal blood coursing through your veins. Remember that nephew." I try to absorb what he is saying even though it feels wrong. I want to be a good king when I get the chance. I want to make my uncle proud.

"Yes, Uncle Auden. I will take your words into consideration next time." He nods in acknowledgement and finally looks over at me. "Is there something that you needed, nephew?" I contemplated telling him the true reason I approached him but after the incident with the farmer, I decided against it. Nothing good could come of me wasting my breath on him disapproving my every action. "No, I just came to observe the responsibilities of a king so I can prepare for when I take the crown." Something about his expression is unsettling as I speak. He adjusts his position so that he is sitting upright and holds his head high.

"Of course, you are always welcome to observe." We fall into an uncomfortable silence before he sends for the next unhappy townsperson. With every dissatisfied person, Uncle Auden gives them the same generic response without offering any help at all. It makes me wonder if I even want the crown. What is the purpose of having a king if his only job is to smile, lie and put his needs above those of his people? By quarter to 9, Uncle Auden has had enough of the disputes and retires to his chambers. He tells me to do the same.

There is so much uncertainty in youth and I wonder if everyone feels this way when they are young. As I am walking back to my quarters, I am so caught up in my thoughts that I am almost startled when I see the chambermaid, Auralea, laying in my bed. She looks peaceful when she is asleep. Much less frightened than when she is cleaning my chambers. I sit down on the chair closest to my bed and take in her features. Her curls are fanned out around her head and her long eyelashes are brushing against her cheeks.

Her full lips were almost inviting. I looked away from her and sighed. I had never had any interest in a chambermaid before. I am almost 100 percent sure my uncle would disapprove. There was something about her though. Something strangely enticing. The sheets began to rustle and I turned my attention back to her. Our eyes met as hers fluttered open. The panic in her brown orbs was an immediate response, almost like a reflex. She made a move to get out of bed and I stopped her. "Auralea, lay back down. You are unwell. You need to rest." She frowns and looks down at my satin sheets. "Can't I rest in my own bed? Where will you sleep, your highness?" I almost roll my eyes at how nervous she seems.

"You can call me Leopold. Prince Leopold if you prefer formalities." She nods meekly and I smile at the progress we are making. "Prince Leopold...where will you sleep?" I sit down at the edge of the bed and engrave how good she looks in my bed permanently into my memory. "There are plenty of rooms in this wing, Auralea. Do not fret over such miniscule things. I will have food and water sent up for you. Do not attempt to work tomorrow. Your only priority is getting better. That is an order from the prince."

She humbly bows her head and mutters, "Yes Prince Leopold." as I stand and make my way to the door. "Rest well."