New Rome

55. Little Princess

Arly was running through the palace gardens with music playing in her ears. After requesting a place to run, she'd been allowed to make use of a looped garden walk. During the day, it was too busy with people, so Arly chose the early hours when it was just her and the gardeners. They tended to the exotic plants and flowers that spilled out onto the pathway and she weaved out of their way. But she felt their eyes follow her as she ran and knew that she was always being watched.

Loud noises from up ahead made her slow and she rounded the corner to see the Emperor chasing the noble he'd called 'Wise Frog'. He was threatening to kick him and both men were laughing. Arly stopped her music, gawping in surprise. Perhaps they were friends? The Wise Frog sprinted past Arly without seeming to see her.

"Cheat! Cheat!" The Emperor cried out, before almost colliding into Arly. "Apologies, little princess." The emperor addressed her, giving up on chasing his friend and smiling down at her.

"Err..." Arly bowed, unknowingly giving him an excellent view down her cleavage. She was lost on how to behave.

Breathless courtiers staggered into view and the foppish gentry were drenched in sweat. Dressed in their finery, they'd been forced to chase after their dashing Emperor. Arly inclined her head and they did likewise, their expressions varying in contempt and irritation.

"You're not at study?" The emperor asked. Don't stare at the antlers, don't stare – she desperately internalised.

"The call of outdoors is hard to ignore." She stepped aside, thinking he'd want to carry on past her. But the emperor lingered.

"I forget that you are less acquainted with the suns. Having known only a life below ground. When possible, your lessons here should be conducted outdoors."

"Thank you." She replied, surprised. Where was the terrifying tyrant she was expecting to meet? Was Rube wrong about the emperor?

"You're lucky to have me as emperor." He remarked. "As for me, I'm pleased to have you as my guest."

Arly bowed her head, feeling a little awkward as the courtiers stared boredly at them.

"I thank you, my Great and Powerful Emperor," she replied – titling him correctly this time. He smiled and waved his hand.

"Bye, bye little princess." He chimed before turning and heading back the way he'd come.

The courtiers trotted obediently after him and Arly cocked her head to the side, watching their retreat in puzzlement. Life in Amen was certainly strange.

Not wanting to have to run past so large a crowd of people, Arly turned also and jogged back up the way she'd come. Her pace was slower now though, her mind too occupied to focus on the run. The man nick-named, 'Wise Frog' was on the pathway ahead of her. She slowed further, unsure if she should tell him that the Emperor seemed to have forgotten their game. But as she slowly approached him, she saw that he was doing something odd.

A gardener was crouched down, weeding. As she watched, she saw the gardener slip Wise Frog a note that the man quickly hid up his sleeve. Arly frowned. Both men were behaving suspiciously, being careful not to look at one another. The Wise Frog made a mime of fixing his shoe. It was the gardener who spotted Arly first.

"Morning," he growled – tilting his head to her. Arly nodded her head in return. The gardener's face was badly scared and he was younger looking than the other gardeners Arly had seen.