I awoke the next morning to a clear blue sky above me and a knock at the door. Before I could climb out of bed, the door opened, and the servant girl from the previous afternoon entered the room with a food cart.
She glanced at me as I hurriedly got to my feet before she crossed the room and placed a new tray of food on the table by the hearth. When she was finished, she pushed the cart to the center of the room and turned to face me.
“His Highness, the First Prince Elantro de Vray, requests your presence after you’ve broken your fast, my Lord,” she said to me in a gentle tone. “I will return in one movement’s time to escort you into his glorious presence.”
Wide-eyed, I nodded my understanding.
Wouldn’t I get into trouble with the Second Prince if I left? I couldn’t say no to the First Prince’s request, yet I still feared the consequences of leaving without permission.
The servant waited while I had my internal struggle, her intelligent brown eyes fixed on me, watching my reactions carefully.
“Very well then. I shall bring you a change of clothes on my return as well, my Lord,” she added, eyeing my dirty travel outfit. I hadn't had a proper bath in quite some time either.
Yes, I certainly didn’t look the part of someone who was about to meet the future King. My travel outfit, while not of low quality, didn’t look like it belonged within the inner city walls at all. In fact, all the Palace servants I’d seen were better dressed than I.
“Please be at ease and enjoy your meal,” she said with a small bow and left the room, closing the door behind her.
I walked over to the table and sat down on the chair. Breakfast was a plate of sliced fruit, poached eggs in a rich and creamy sauce, and a small basket of crescent shaped pastries that tasted like butter. Like the day before, I ate with too much enthusiasm, stuffing my cheeks full with every bite.
I had never eaten food like this in my father’s house. Even if I discounted the times when I was left to starve, I was still only fed as well as the lowliest of servants. Even if that weren’t the case, I doubted that such delicious food was ever served on his table.
On the road here, I’d been able to eat as much as I wanted at every meal, but we ate nothing but travel rations and poorly seasoned stews. It was filling, but never delicious.
The food I’d eaten since arriving at the Palace was on a level akin to artistry that transcended mere cooking. Was this what food made by someone fit to cook for royalty tasted like? It was amazing.
After eating until I was full to bursting, I leaned back in my chair and carefully sipped a cup of hot milk tea. As if sensing I was done with my breakfast, I heard another knock on the door.
The door opened without waiting for me to answer, and the servant girl came in with her arms draped in fabric. She hurriedly shut the door behind her.
“My Lord,” she said, bowing once again, “I hope the meal was to your liking. I have brought you some clothing to choose from, but might this humble servant be so bold as to offer you some suggestions?”
I nodded gratefully. I had no knowledge of clothing or fashion, so I couldn’t help but feel that this was a decision best left to someone else. Almost anything would have been better than the clothes I was wearing.
She looked at me silently for a few moments, her expression similar to the one she wore the previous afternoon. I once again wondered what she might be thinking.
Before I had a chance to think too hard about it, she laid three suits on the couch for me to inspect. Except for the colors, they all looked the same to me.
“I would recommend the dark green suit. It should highlight your eyes quite nicely. It’s also one of the more popular styles in Luz Dorada right now,” she advised.
She sounded far too serious to be talking about something as simple as clothing, but I suppose that was to be expected in the Golden Palace.
“However, I dare say we should bathe you before we dress you. If you could follow me, my Lord?” she requested, gesturing for me to follow her.
I nodded again, surprised. Could I really leave the room? The Second Prince had said I couldn’t. I knew all too well that I was a prisoner, not a guest, and he wasn’t someone I wanted to make angry at me.
Seeing my hesitation, the servant smiled and said, “What you are worried about is not something you need concern yourself with.”
I was taken aback by her words. How did she know what I was thinking?
I’m not sure what expression I showed her, but it was enough to make her laugh out loud. Her melodious laughter was almost enough to bring a smile to my face.
I didn’t know why, but I felt strangely at ease with this gentle and kind servant girl.
The servant girl produced a key and freed me from the shackles I'd grown accustomed to wearing. I rubbed my wrists, which had previously been covered in chains, and savored the absence of the added weight.
As I exited the room with her, I noticed that the knights who had previously guarded the door were strangely absent from their posts. I looked around the empty hallway, half expecting them to jump out from behind one of the closed doors to punish me for leaving the room, but they were nowhere to be found.
My confusion must have shown on my face, because the servant quickly explained to me, “You will no longer be under the purview of His Highness, the Second Prince. His Highness, the First Prince, has decided to look after the situation personally and he does not believe the guards to be necessary for you.”
I stood frozen for a moment, trying to process what she was saying. The First Prince was looking after the situation? Had I done something wrong already? Doubt and anxiety began to creep their way into my thoughts.
“Forgive me, my Lord,” the servant girl said, bowing her head in apology. “I did not mean to trouble you with what I said. His Highness the First Prince is very concerned with the matter of the treaty and your marriage with General Rastari. He only wishes to meet with you to ensure that you are acting in accordance with your own will and that we can look forward to a fruitful union between our two nations.”
Her words did nothing to alleviate the anxiety that gripped me. How could a servant girl know all this? Something about the situation didn't feel right. I finally thought to wonder about who she was and felt frustrated with myself for being so trusting.
Why had I just blindly followed her? Was it because of what she’d said to me the day before? What if those seemingly comforting words were meant to trick me into trusting her? Panic welled up in my chest, as I realized, Ah! I’m an idiot. How could I be so-
“Before you get overly upset, perhaps I should introduce myself,” she interrupted my thoughts as if she could hear them. “My name is Amelie, I am the personal maid of His Highness, the First Prince, Elantro de Vray, heir to the Golden Throne. I assure you that you needn’t doubt my intentions.”
Though her words didn’t alleviate my doubts entirely, I realized I had no real choice but to accept them for now. My options were limited, so I needed to stay calm until I could get a better understanding of the situation.
I gestured to say ‘after you’ and continued following her through the labyrinthine Golden Palace. The halls were surprisingly empty of servants, considering how many I had encountered the day before. It seemed odd that there was no one around. The incongruity was unnerving.
“They’re busy preparing for the banquet,” she suddenly explained, “the beastmen contingent arrived last night, and tonight’s banquet will mark the beginning of our peace treaty, as well as serving as your own engagement party. All hands are required to ensure the success of the event, and the banquet hall is located on the other side of the Palace.”
Again, she answered my thoughts as if I had spoken aloud. Her ability to understand my expressions and body language was simply incredible.
We continued walking for another minute before she stopped and opened a set of double doors in the middle of an ocean themed hallway.
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We were surrounded by velvety dark blue carpets and a blue and white wallpaper that evoked the image of waves crashing against the shore. On one side, there was a large window with sheer green curtain strips that looked like the weeds of the sea.
The silver painted double doors sparkled in the natural light from the window. When Amelia opened those silver doors I saw a small room that was covered from floor to ceiling in blue and green tiles.
In the center of that small tiled room was a large bathtub filled with steaming water, with a dark wooden table next to it. On the table were a set of neatly folded towels and a robe.
“I will leave you to wash yourself, my Lord,” she said, indicating that I could go in alone. “When you are finished, I will bring you to a dressing room where you can finish preparing yourself.” With that said, she ushered me inside, then left, closing the doors behind her.
I couldn’t recall ever having a steaming hot tub of water that I could climb into and enjoy. For most of my life, I had washed in either lukewarm or cold water. No one had ever filled a giant tub with hot water just for me to bathe in.
I quickly stripped off my travel worn clothes and carefully climbed into the steaming tub. The feeling of slowly submerging myself in the water immediately relaxed me, and I leaned back to soak my shoulders in the warmth.
Aaaahhhh. This is amazing. I could lay in here for days and not grow tired of this feeling. It was hard to recall, but I thought that this might be what a hug felt like.
However, knowing that the First Prince was waiting for my arrival, I didn’t let myself get too carried away, and focused on scrubbing away the grime and grit that had seeped into my pores.
Washed, dried, and wrapped tightly in a robe, I opened the doors of the bathing room and found Amelie waiting patiently for me in the hallway.
Seeing that I was finished with my bath, she led me down another hallway to an ordinary looking brown door with an ornate frame that looked like mahogany and gold waves.
On the other side of the door was the largest walk-in closet I’d ever seen. Rows of pants, shirts, and jackets were lined up near one wall, and an equal number of rows on the opposite wall were dedicated to dresses and other women's finery.
Along the far wall was a series of curtains that looked like they led to private dressing rooms. At the center of the room was a circular platform, brightly lit and surrounded by mirrors.
Amelie gestured to a set of open curtains on the back wall. “Your clothes are in there, my Lord. I will await you here to assist if you have trouble with anything.”
Obediently I entered the dressing room and found the suit she'd chosen for me earlier, which consisted of a deep emerald colored jacket and pants, and a high collared violet shirt. The suit had a velvety feel to it and the shirt was a soft cotton with no buttons.
I pulled the shirt over my head and discovered that it clung to my form nicely without feeling too tight, and the high necked collar was soft, not stifling. I put on the pants and the jacket as well, pleased to discover that all of it fit perfectly. The jacket had an asymmetrical design, with one side of the fabric draped across my chest and a single button to hold it in place.
When I looked in the mirror, something I rarely did, I was shocked by the reflection that looked back at me. Despite my overgrown hair, I truly looked the part of a beautiful young noble.
The green of the dark emerald suit, accented by subtle violet embroidery, suited the green of my eyes perfectly. The muted color of the shirt was the perfect, gentle contrast to the reddish blond of my hair.
The First Prince’s maid Amelie was indeed quite adept at choosing clothes.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I truly looked like the son of a Duke. My face, for once free of bruises, reminded me of the mother from my memories. I looked so much more like her than I did my father. I wished I had her eyes as well, instead of his.
My heart ached when I thought about her. I missed her so much. Fighting off the wave of melancholy that crashed over me, I re-opened the curtains and walked back out.
Amelie made quite a fuss about how much better I looked before affixing a matching violet and green embroidered handkerchief in the pocket of the jacket, which balanced the unbalanced suit quite nicely.
Amelie also provided me with a set of what she called suitable shoes. They were simple in style compared to the suit and they were surprisingly comfortable.
It seemed that I now had Amelie’s seal of approval, and she continued guiding me through the Palace to find the First Prince.
Once we were moving again, I became certain we were taking a different route than the one I had taken with the Second Prince the day before. I saw color schemes, staircases, and a large open common area that I was certain I hadn't seen prior.
We seemed to be moving through the central area of the Palace, and heading toward a wing on the exact opposite side of the Palace from where my room was. As we passed through the more populated areas, I could feel a stark difference from the day before.
The vast majority of people didn’t even notice our passing, and I no longer felt like everyone’s eyes were on me. I suppose it helped that I was no longer dirty, bedraggled, or in chains. I wasn’t being accompanied by a member of the Royal Family this time either.
I followed Amelie and she started leading me away from the populated areas to a more secluded section. We’ve been walking for half of a movement already. How large is this place?
“It takes a movement to walk from one end of the Palace to the other, due to the complicated layout of the hallways,” Amelie answered my thoughts. “But where we are going is not much further from here.”
True to her words, after leading me down a few more themed hallways, we stopped in front of a set of plain white doors. There were no adornments or framework to mark them, it was just a set of white doors with shiny gold handles.
Amelie reached up and knocked twice, then three times, then once, and we waited for a response from the other side.
“You may enter,” a voice informed us from the other side of the door. Amelie gave me a quick reassuring smile and opened the door, gesturing for me to enter first.
I stepped through the door and was greeted by a surprisingly simple looking room. It was elegant and luxurious, yes, but it lacked the garish overdecoration that the rest of the Palace boasted.
The walls were a simple unpatterned white, the floors were a dark gray marble, and the room had no ornate artwork or sculptures housed within.
In the middle of the simple sitting room was a large beige rug with a short and wide wooden table at its center. Around the table were six dark brown armchairs, two of which were already occupied.
In one chair sat an elderly man, with long white hair, wearing a long bronze colored robe. In the other chair sat his Highness, the First Prince, Elantro de Vray, Crown Prince of Vrayna.
He had the same silvery sheened blond hair as his brother, but that was where the similarities ended. He was a beautiful man, with a warm smile that easily reached his golden colored eyes.
Those sparkling golden eyes were the mark of the one who was destined to be King of Vrayna.
In every generation, a child with gold eyes would be born to the Royal Family, and that child was said to be marked by the Gods as the one destined to rule humanity. Sometimes it was the King’s own child, sometimes a younger cousin or nephew.
Whoever they were, from the moment they opened their golden eyes, their lives were no longer their own.
First Prince Elantro was the eldest son of the current King, and had been raised to rule from birth. Standing before him, I felt a sense of awe and reverence that I never felt when I was near his brother, the Second Prince.
“Julien de Ramport,” he greeted me, “Please be seated. We have much to discuss and very little time before my brother realizes I’ve taken you away and comes to chaste me.”
Realizing that I was just standing dumbly before the Crown Prince of Vrayna, I hurriedly bowed to him and cursed at myself in my mind. Idiot! What are you doing just staring at the First Prince like a hapless moron? Pull yourself together!
Amelie stepped forward and motioned me to one of the empty chairs at the table, indicating I should sit. I hesitated for a moment, overwhelmed by the thought of sitting at the same table as the future King. A light smile danced across her lips, as if she were amused by my inner struggle.
Not wanting to appear rude, I quickly sat down in the proffered chair. To my surprise, Amelie, a lowly Palace maid, sat down in one of the other vacant chairs without waiting for an invitation.
“Lord Erris,” the First Prince said to the elderly man seated next to him, "if you please?”
“Of course, your Highness,” Lord Erris promptly replied, then he began to mutter what sounded like words from an ancient foreign language under his breath.
The unfamiliar syllables sent shivers down my spine as he spoke them, and I saw what looked like a sparkling white mist shimmer into existence around where we sat.
When Lord Erris finished chanting, the mist around us glowed a bright white for a split second, then vanished.
Magic! I thought in amazement, I’ve never seen someone use it before! That was incredible!
Smiling indulgently at my enraptured expression, the First Prince explained, “Lord Erris comes from a long line of magic users, one of only two families in the entire Kingdom who have retained the knowledge. The spell he just cast for me is a sound barrier; a spell that will allow us to converse without fear of being heard by outsiders. I’m certain there is much you wish to know, and I assure you I will do my best to address all of your concerns in due time. But first, I have a question that I must ask you.”
Without thinking, I looked up and accidentally made eye contact with the First Prince. Nervously, I lowered my eyes, worried I might have offended him. I couldn’t imagine he would consider me, an unwanted bastard sent to ruin his peace treaty, worthy of meeting his golden gaze.
“Julien,” he continued, seemingly unbothered by my lack of manners. “I must ask you to be completely honest with me in this. I sent one of my men disguised as a regular knight to follow my brother to Ramport, so I have a fairly good idea of what occurred there. My dear brother assumes that, simply because I choose to be kind, that I must also be gullible and naive, but I can assure you I am neither. From what was reported to me, you were taken from Ramport as a prisoner, yet I have been repeatedly assured that you volunteered for this. So tell me now, did you truly choose this?”