-Bastille
The midnight chill nipped at my bare chest that peaked out of my loosely draped collar, the laces dangled freely, and danced along with the wind.
I bought the cigar between my lips, taking a few puffs earnestly. It was almost as if with each puff, my worries were to leave me. However, much like the last two I depended on to carry me through the day, they didn't prove themselves much.
Havana Cigars.
Favoured by my father himself.
There would always be one pinched between his lips during the days to fight through.
During the time in which the climate refused to let up, causing the land to be barren. Crops simply wouldn't take to the soil, refusing to grow. This brought famine upon the land for 7 excruciating months that felt like 7 years to the people of Valtgard.
Father smoked one after every meal during those times.
There was even one in his hand the day of his demise. He probably knew that his brother would darken his doorstep, but this time he wouldn't be equipped with a warm smile and embrace for old times sake.
A burning sensation ripped me from my thoughts, the ember of the burn ring ambitiously burned through to my finger. Desperately, I stole a last drag from the nub that was left, hoping to salvage what I wasted lost in thought. I then pressed it into the stone rail of the balcony before tossing it into the dirt.
A swift shuffle was made known behind me, in the hall. No one should be awake at this time other than me, since wandering certainly wasn't encouraged.
The only people to wander intended on stealing things, sneaking it out of the palace grounds whilst everyone slept, but I caught them and needless to say they were sent home in a box rather than their own two feet.
I don't take well to thieves.
I stepped back into the palace hall to see a feminine figure, clad in almost ghostly white garments.
Beautiful glossy black waves that swayed around her waist.
It was either a ghost. Or a celestial being.
She got caught in the moonlight for what seemed like 2 minutes but the way it illuminated her made me unsure if I was lucid.
Or perhaps that cigar was working that magic I'd hoped for.
The woman pulled the shawl, that hung around her arms, over her shoulders as she reached for the door to the training yard.
I took the chance to close the distance before she opened the door but she froze up before I even got close to her.
"What could you be looking for, little bird," I questioned, with a low tone. I peaked over her shoulder by her neck, in an attempt to taunt or maybe scare her.
But, foolishly, I inhaled her scent, though I didn't know this woman.
But heavens, she smelled divine. I pulled back and cursed myself for such a shameless act.
Now I wasn't sure if she knew whom I was or she was just trying to think of an excuse but I was beginning to tire of the silence. And it was loud.
"You gonna turn around or am I going to have to make you turn around?" I picked a sterner tone, which usually does the trick. "It seems you're no stranger to who I am."
She slowly turned around, keeping her head down. I grabbed her face with my hand to look upon her face, of course to my surprise it was none other than Persephone. I yanked my hand back spitefully.
"Oh I see. It's a little pig, I mistook you for a bird." I took a step back, feeling irked that I had to run into her of all people. 70 something people work in the palace and it has to be her.
I could kill her.
Rather her behaviour could be seen as treasonous but despite that all I did to teach her a lesson was start a false narrative to bruise her reputation. That's a joke. A pathetic excuse for a punishment. Considering I've never shied away from violence. The lives of people who cross me and know no remorse are expendable to me.
I'm ashamed at the methods I picked for her but I'm also desperate to understand what about this woman is so damming that I can't end her life with a snap of my fingers. Rather I won't.
She stared up at me with her piecing blue eyes. I hated her eyes, their ability to entrap me filled me with rage. I'm not a man to be feeling shaken under the gaze of a simple peasant girl.
As if she could read my mind, she tore her gaze away from me and immediately moved them to the ground. "I was simply needing some fresh air, Your Highness." She spoke up, finally, her voice meeker than the way in which she'd spoken to me countless times. "I heard the other maids say that the woods are also beautiful at this time of night."
"You're not to be roaming at this time of night. The palace ground isn't a playground for the likes of you." I rebuked, earning a quick glance and a scowl before she immediately turned her face away as she muttered something under her breath.
It was as if she wanted me to get angry, but I let it go with a scoff. "There's wolves in the woods this time of night, no one's gonna save you should you encounter one." Upon these words from my mouth her eyebrows shifted up ever so slightly as if she was amused to hear those words from me. Not anger but intrigue.
It's painted in those eyes of hers, they envoke a very compelling sense of allure. One that drives me mad. My order for her to mind her gaze was necessary for my sanity but also for my ability to be able to think right without her nonsense rendering me brainless.
"I'll retire then, Your Grace." She curtsied and walked away from me. I watched her walk further away until her figure disappeared around the corridor.
A sigh left my chest, I don't feel as thought I believed her excuse of wanting to venture on a walk in the woods but I couldn't stand another second with that brazenness of hers.
There were wolves outside, yes, it wasn't entirely a lie. However, the one thing more dangerous than the wolves is whatever stirs in me when she looks at me with those eyes of hers.
I finally yearned to retire to my room for a good nights rest, though my nights never meant much since every night I close my eyes I relived that day.
I walked to the end of the palace where my chambers was located and pushed the door open to find it ready and lit for my arrival. The candles had been lit well in advance since they were nearing their end. So I put them out of their misery.
Tonight was going to be a long night, as usual.
-
I tapped my foot against the flooring of the quiet room, glancing up from the letter in front of me to see 4 sets of eyes on me. It was as if they were anticipating some kind of reaction from me, though I had none to give since I, myself, was attempting to understand what I was reading.
General Smith cleared his throat, cutting clean through the silence. "Your Highness, what should we do about this," he gestured to the letter.
But that was an excellent question, what should we do about it? A rogue posse threatens my kingdom, but we've yet to even discover who they are.
I glance up at him to show my acknowledgement but redirect my attention to the letter again to make sense of it, ignoring the lack of education in the words.
"They're demanding obscene amounts of gold and our resources. Weapons, food, and such things," I sighed, tossing the letter on the table and crossing my arms over my chest. "And if we do not meet these requirements, they eradicate a home the east village for every day we take."
My blood boiled knowing that these barbarians think that they've bested me. But it made me question their credibility considering that they've demanded our weapons and food. That tells us that they're unprepared.
"They're obviously bluffing." General Godfrey scoffed, stroking his mustache pridefully. "We've never even heard of such a rebellion!" His hand went up as if it was a no-brainer.
"But they're threatening our people, shouldn't we heed their warning for the sake of the people in the village who could fall victim to such treacherous acts?" The oldest man out of the Generals, General Archer, leaned into the table, shifting to the edge of his seat. He was certainly the wisest among us but his one weakness is that he will do anything for the people, much like my father.
However, the rampage of vengeance I embarked in during my first year on the throne, really changed my outlook on everything and might I say, I believe it to have been for the better.
"We're being too hasty." I resting my back into the chair.
"I mean no offense, my Lord… But do you mean to simply put their lives at stake??" Archer clenched his fist against the surface of the table.
"What I mean," I paused as I moved to the edge of my seat, irritated by his insinuation. "Is that what they're asking for, puts us and the people at a potential disadvantage. Who's to say they will not take over the village anyway with this much ammunition and this much of our resources. We're already experiencing difficult times as is with these weather conditions." Archer's expression softened as he pulled his unclenched hand back.
"They've threatened to take out a family for every day we take. So we need to figure out who they are and take them out before that happens." Godfrey chimed in, to which Archer nodded reluctantly.
"General Archer, send your troops out to the village but we need to make sure that they don't see through us." I rubbed my forehead in frustration. "Report back on what's happening."
-Persephone
My heart tickled upon seeing a reply in the book below my response.
I didn't expect one at all. My words of encouragement were about to be the start of a unique relationship I build with an anonymous person.
'Since it seems you'd rather remain anonymous, perhaps out of concern that knowing who you are might influence my judgment, we can keep it that way. But whoever you are, I'm sure that, like every human being, you deserve love, kindness, and compassion.
I'd like to help you see yourself in a more positive light. I'm fortunate to have family who often remind me that I'm loved, and someone in my life who cares for me and looks out for me. Even though a part of me knows that nothing lasts forever, I try to appreciate the love and goodness that exist in the present and focus on the brighter side of things.'
I partially felt stupid for showing such bare emotion for this person, but like Bastille said, I tend to think that I'm a white knight.
Walking back into the palace, I could hear murmurs full the halls. This time it wasn't about me and my crimson mark.
Whatever it was, piqued my interest, but only because the entire palace was rattled from it.
"Persi!!" Ella's shrilled voice cut through the whispers as she ran up to me. I grabbed her by the shoulders and breathed in and out to gesture for her to take one as well.
Her petite chest rose and fell before she returned to her frenzy. "Your village, Persi, they've fallen victim to a rebellious group that threatened to take out a home for every day that the King fails to meet their demands."
My heart dropped.
"My parents.."