DOMINIC

EPISODE 2 : The Prince Cast Into the Sea (2)

Old stories could sometimes be a source of entertainment, and some of them were believed by people as charms for their daily lives. Long ago, this land followed the beliefs of the gods. They defined everything, connecting it to the gods, thus satisfying people’s curiosity about the world. Of course, as knowledge advanced, these teachings began to fade, replaced by more ‘logical’ religions from distant lands. But that didn’t stop them from remembering the old tales of gods and goddesses that mothers would tell their children every night, or the paintings and statues scattered in every home as family heirlooms, and the grand temples that were still maintained as part of history.

The Graham family wasn’t very different. They still had a temple of the Goddess in the eastern part of their main house, beautifully surrounded by lush greenery, well-maintained. Rebecca brought Aiden to the temple as a way of respect. Aiden felt like he was entering another world—the architecture and paintings adorning the walls and pillars inside were breathtaking. It was hard to believe this building had stood for nearly two centuries.

Rebecca briefly explained the family’s protective goddess and showed him some paintings passed down through generations, the highlight being a nearly five-meter-tall statue of Artemis, the Goddess of the Hunt. Aiden knew a little about ancient mythology because he found it interesting, and his heart raced with excitement as he explored the temple. For a moment, he thought of spending more time there, but he decided against it.

"You can come back tomorrow. I’ll show you your room."

Aiden nodded and followed Rebecca, walking through the garden toward the front door of the main house. Madam was already waiting for them, accompanied by several servants. That night was cold, so Madam offered them both a cup of hot chocolate. They sat by the fireplace, wrapped in thick blankets. Madam commented on how adorable they looked, followed by a sarcastic glance from Rebecca. It seemed to bother her slightly.

“How old are you?” Rebecca suddenly asked. Aiden used his fingers to show nine, then ten. “Almost ten. Do you usually go to bed early?” Aiden shook his head. Rebecca quickly removed her blanket and folded it. She also removed Aiden’s blanket. “Your clothes are thick enough.” She grabbed his hand and led him to the side of the stairs. “I’m also not used to going to bed early.” Aiden smiled, agreeing to accompany her on a walk.

They walked slowly through the long, dark hallway. Rebecca handed him a candelabra from the nightstand. During their walk, Aiden busied himself illuminating the paintings in the hallway, while Rebecca used her candle to light the path ahead, guiding them. Occasionally, they passed statues of children of the gods, causing him to stop and inspect every detail and curve of the statues. Rebecca also paused and occasionally explained the names of the statues.

After a while, Aiden smelled something unfamiliar but also familiar. Rebecca pointed to a large cabinet containing oak barrels at the end of the hallway. “We haven’t had a chance to move them yet.” There were also empty glass bottles next to them. “Do you know what this is?” Aiden nodded. The dark red liquid was usually poured into his father’s glass at dinner. The aroma was familiar, but this one was different. It had the scent of flowers in it. Normally, Aiden would feel sick at the smell, as it reminded him of his father’s habit of hitting him when drunk. “Smells good, doesn’t it? Mother loves it. We have a large collection of them.” No matter how much Aiden might like it, he still couldn’t bring himself to drink it.

They moved on to a large, tall, and heavy door. Aiden helped Rebecca push the door open on both sides until it finally opened wide. The white moonlight streamed in, growing brighter as they pushed the door further. “It’s bright enough now.” Rebecca took the candle from his hand and extinguished it. “It’ll be much brighter in the building across from here.” Aiden looked at the trees outside, swaying in the breeze. He took off his cloak and draped it over Rebecca’s shoulders, struggling to get the words out of his throat, “C-cold.” She quickly responded, “You aren’t cold?” Aiden shook his head and smiled as he saw her cheeks, beginning to flush from receiving his modest cloak. Rebecca tried not to react too much.

It was indeed brighter from the windows. Many oil lamps hung from every side of the pillar. They walked through the garden, along the path without walls, crossing over to the main door of the building across from them. The moonlight touching the leaves’ tips was mesmerizing. “It’s cold here,” she said, urging Aiden to follow her inside quickly before another gust of wind blew in.

Walking here with her the next morning would be so delightful, Aiden thought, letting his mind wander.

“Your room isn’t far from the main door. You can come for breakfast, passing through the garden and hallway from earlier. I’ve made it easy for you.” Rebecca placed the cloak he had given her on the sofa. She showed him the wardrobe, the bookshelf, and the desk, all of which seemed too luxurious for him. Aiden thanked her with the most sincere smile he could offer. She pointed toward the curtains. Aiden opened them and gazed in awe at the view of the garden from earlier. “From here, you won’t feel cold,” she said, bidding him goodnight before leaving him alone to gaze out the window.

***

It had been a long time since Aiden last sat in peace, without worrying about misspeaking or breaking etiquette during a meal. It was just the two of them—Madam Graham had asked him to get comfortable with her daughter and not to worry about what to do on his first day of work, she said, before passing through the row of pillars and disappearing behind the door. Rebecca gave Aiden a quick glance before turning to the chef to inquire about her opinion on the breakfast. “Don’t be so tense.” Aiden shook his head and continued to spoon warm soup. They ate breakfast in silence. Then the servants rushed around the table, serving dessert and pouring tea. “Your task...” Rebecca began, occasionally moving the biscuits from the edge of the plate to the honey bowl.

***

Reflecting on those tumultuous days always filled him with regret. With each nod and watchful eye, she would always say, “You’re talented.” A compliment she often repeated. The memory of who Aiden used to be had been lost at sea. “I will bring you back to life,” she had said, sculpting Aiden’s body to perfection, organizing his mind, and straightening his shoulders so he could stand beside her.

Was Aiden her shadow? He was wrong. His role was to become another version of Rebecca Graham, her clear reflection.

***

His body was scorched under the blazing sun. Again, his foot stumbled, hitting the sandy ground of the one-kilometer circular track. Aiden was sure he could see his bones sticking out clearly. Sweat covered him like olive oil, dripping down to his ankles. His ribs were always visible, so much so that Madam asked the servants to feed him more carbohydrates. "One more lap, and you're done." His soles had peeled so much that he didn’t recognize them anymore. If Aiden hadn't tripped so often, his pants would have been fine, and his knees wouldn’t be this red. Aiden watched as Rebecca left the training area. He lifted his feet again, following her orders, running his twentieth lap that afternoon, despite half of it being spent face-first on the ground. Rebecca returned with a medical tray in hand. Aiden finished the lap and approached her like a loyal dog. "Your hands," she ordered. Aiden winced as the cold water touched his skin. She asked him to roll up his pants, and his knees were also drenched. "Change your pants and come back here."

That day’s training was no different from the others—an entire week had passed. But there didn’t seem to be much improvement: the holes in his knees were the same, and his shoulders slumped every time he looked in the mirror. His eyes were hollow, but his smile had changed the most. Each night, they would walk past the temple and the garden at the center of the estate, waiting for a shooting star. They would sip fragrant drinks while gazing at the beautiful paintings and statues. She would share stories about the gods and answer his endless questions about them.

***