Gifted tales from me to you

Every morning, Aurelia was well aware of where her knight, Tristan, disappeared, even though he never told her. She knew he had been having tea with the queen ever since her fiancé went missing. The queen was very fond of her guard and probably thought of him as her son or something like that. Aurelia usually waited for her knight to make his presence known to her after meeting with the queen, but she couldn’t today. Her parents were coming to visit her in her palace, and they would probably be more excited to see Tristan than her. She couldn’t understand it, but she couldn’t help but be jealous of her guard. Aurelia had just arrived in front of the Queen’s garden. It was a breathtaking sight, with meticulously arranged flower beds bursting with vibrant colors and the sweet scent of blossoms filling the air. Majestic marble statues stood at intervals, depicting various historical figures in graceful poses. The garden was surrounded by tall, neatly trimmed hedges, creating an oasis of tranquility and beauty. Guards stood watch at every entrance, their polished armor gleaming in the sunlight, confirming the queen’s presence. As Aurelia approached, the murmured conversations of the garden’s inhabitants drifted to her ears. Through the ornate wrought-iron gates, she spotted two figures seated at a table laden with delicate teacups and an assortment of snacks, arranged with almost artistic precision. Aurelia paused at the garden entrance, catching Tristan’s eye. His smile, which had been so full of warmth and sincerity as he conversed with the queen, vanished the moment he saw her. Despite knowing him her whole life, she had never seen him smile like that. He was usually as unreadable as a statue, but with the queen, he had a smile that made her heart skip a beat. Now, his stoic expression returned, confusing the queen. “Crown Princess Aurelia has arrived,” One of the knights at the entrance announced formally, their voice devoid of any warmth. The queen turned, her serene smile directed at Aurelia, fully understanding Tristan’s change in demeanor. Aurelia could really see the striking resemblance between them; their bleach blonde hair and silver-blue eyes could make one mistake them for siblings. Despite Tristan being a guard and the Queen’s her true age. “She may enter,” the queen said softly, her voice carrying a gentle authority that demanded respect. Aurelia curtsied and stepped into the garden, her heart pounding with a mix of jealousy and curiosity. “Are you here for Tristan, dear?” The queen’s voice was gentle, almost maternal. Aurelia nodded, feeling a pang of inadequacy as she did so. It was as if the queen’s presence diminished her own significance. “Well, you’re right on time. We just finished tea.” The queen stood and turned to Tristan, who bowed deeply in response. Aurelia noticed the subtle exchange of a knowing look between them, which only fueled her envy further. “See you tomorrow, Tristan,” the queen said with a soft smile. Tristan bowed once more, his movements fluid and graceful. As the queen walked away, her retinue of guards following closely behind, Tristan turned his attention back to Aurelia. “It’s not safe to be walking around without a guard,” he said, his voice firm but not unkind. “I only need you as a guard. I don’t trust any of the others around here,” Aurelia replied, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. She glanced at him before turning to walk away, her steps quick and determined. Tristan followed closely behind, his presence a silent reassurance. The path to Sunshine Palace, where Aurelia and her servants resided, was lined with ancient trees that cast dappled shadows on the ground. Birds sang sweetly in the branches, oblivious to the tension between the princess and her knight. As they neared the palace, Tristan leaned in and whispered, “Your Highness, you’re being followed by a woman of high status.” Aurelia stopped in her tracks, her heart skipping a beat. She looked around, her eyes scanning the surroundings for any sign of their pursuer. Tristan remained motionless, his eyes sharp and vigilant. “She’s hiding behind the fountain,” Tristan added when he saw Aurelia struggling to locate the follower. Aurelia made her way behind the fountain, her heart pounding with curiosity and a hint of apprehension. She gasped at the sight of the girl hiding there. The girl, crouching on the floor with her eyes closed, looked like any noblewoman, but there was something off about her—she was a replica of the queen. If it weren’t for her dress, the way her hair curled, and the way her eyes didn’t radiate the same warmth, one might think she was the queen herself. Her eyes, while innocent-looking, lacked the queen’s depth and kindness. Instead, they held a mysterious and unsettling quality. Aurelia gathered herself, her initial shock giving way to a stern demeanor. She glared down at the girl, who blinked up at her innocently as if she hadn’t been following them. Tristan, standing nearby, felt disturbed by the girl’s uncanny resemblance to the queen. “Following my knight? For what purpose?” she asked, her voice tinged with jealousy and frustration. Before the girl could respond, a booming voice spoke above them. “Vanessa, there you are.” Aurelia turned to see the king approaching. Despite his hair turning from dirty blonde to white, his presence was commanding. His brown eyes fixed on the girl, Vanessa, with loving eyes. Vanessa squealed with delight and ran to the king’s side, hugging his arm. Both Tristan and Aurelia felt a surge of disgust. The girl was a concubine,Vanessa was a concubine. “What are you doing outside your palace?” the king asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and authority. Aurelia wanted to ask the same question. How could someone so disgraceful be allowed to roam freely? She should be confined to her palace, just like all the other concubines. But Aurelia kept her thoughts to herself as the king glanced at her and Tristan. They paid their respects to him, bowing deeply. “It was boring and so stuffy,” Vanessa whined, her voice grating on Aurelia’s nerves. “But now that you’re here, can we go see Excalibur? Pleassse,” the concubine continued, her tone dripping with false sweetness. Aurelia’s disgust deepened. The audacity of this concubine, to request something so sacred. Excalibur was a symbol of their kingdom’s strength and honor. Even a queen wasn’t allowed to see the sword alone, and the current queen had never laid eyes on it. Yet here was a concubine, asking for such a privilege. Aurelia’s heart sank further when the king agreed. “Of course, Vanessa,” he said, his voice indulgent. “We can go see Excalibur.” “Would you like to see it too?” The king’s question broke through Aurelia’s swirling thoughts. She looked up, thinking he was addressing her, and instinctively replied, “Yes.” But then she realized, with a jolt of embarrassment, that the king wasn’t looking at her. He was looking past her, at Tristan. Aurelia’s cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and humiliation. The king had directed his invitation to Tristan, not her but a knight.