The Royal Witch

Chapter 4A- The Stablehand: The Maze

Soraya pulled back so quickly that it stunned Killian. He was still dazed and flushed. The princess could tell that he was partly angry and partly disappointed. She did not know if she should be sorry or relieved that she had let herself out of that passionate embrace.

She heard someone. Princess Soraya was not sure whether she would like to thank or throttle whoever that was. She knew there was someone.

"Someone was running just outside the maze," whispered Soraya.

Suddenly, Killian's face completely changed. It was softer and worried. He wordlessly went to the entrance of the maze, looking back at her with his palm up as if to ask her to stay where she was. His other hand had its pointer finger up, signaling her to hush. The prince was very nimble that there was barely a rustle on the grass. Soraya wondered how some parts had overgrown ones, mingling with the well-manicured parts. She had never really noticed how the grass was because she was always running on it. It was the first time that the seconds seem to tick by slowly – but in a pleasant way.

"There is nobody there. If there was someone, he had probably already run off."

His voice was matter-of-fact, typical of a young man who was in danger of being caught kissing a young woman. It would not be his shame if they would be seen – it would be solely hers.

"Aren’t you a little worried, Killian?”

Before she could stop herself from saying his name, there it was. Her fingers rose to her lips, and she could see that Killian looked pleased.

He made long strides to get to her as quickly as he could, and he kissed her again. This time, Soraya felt like she could be in control, but she also wanted to savor a little more of this secret moment. If someone had seen them, her reputation would have already been tarnished. Why not enjoy it and give in to the engagement?

Then, her mind took over.

Soraya gently but firmly pushed Killian on his chest.

“This is not right, Prince Killian.”

He hugged her, then and kissed the top of her head. It was his reassurance that he understood.

“I will come out of the maze on my own. Then, you can come out a few minutes later.”

She nodded gratefully, trying her best to smoothen her gown and her hair. He turned and left. Soraya sat down on the grass and sighed. It was too easy to just give on to the prince. He was handsome and seemed kind and witty enough.

But the whole thing was not right. She knew somehow. She did not know him that well yet and was not sure if she loved him. How could you love someone that you did not know? Shouldn’t it be the knowledge that fuels the love? Soraya knew then that she had her first brush with lust. From a logical standpoint, there was nothing wrong with it. Lust was needed for reproduction, but even that she was not ready for.

She was only sixteen, though her birthday was merely days away. She remembered how disappointed her father was during her last birthday. It was as if he was waiting for something to happen – and it did not.

Now, he was more than eager to give her away.

Then, she heard the rustling again. This time, she was ready for whoever it was. She got up in a rush, grimaced at her wrinkled dress, and walked towards the sound. She listened carefully and heard that the sound was coming from the side of the maze and not its entrance. The princess followed the sound and made one, two, three, four, and five turns. Then, the rustling stopped. In front of her was what looked like a dead end. But there was something different about it. There was an indentation on the hedge.

She went to inspect the hedge more closely. She kept on moving forward until she realized that she could easily pass through. Whoever passed through must have been taller than her, even a little taller than Killian.

The princess was able to pass through completely.

On the other side of the hedge seemed like a different world. Soraya thought it would still be part of the palace’s courtyard, and perhaps it still was. However, this side had a little hut to the right of her. There were also graves, and seemingly randomly, some plots that made up a little garden.

She shuddered, but she had gone far enough. She would not quit just because she was a little scared. The princess wished that Killian was with her at that moment, her reputation be damned.

Soraya walked gingerly towards the hut. She could smell something cooking. It was pleasant, but it was not food – or at least not something she would be enthused to eat.

“Hello…Is anyone there?”

The little hut was more like a tiny log cabin. The princess wondered if she had managed to end up in the peasants’ village. But that could not be. Kingspell’s palace was heavily protected. It could not have an easily penetrable space through the edge. This area was a part of the palace grounds that she had not yet explored despite the fact she was an “uncontrollable wench.” Those were her father’s words, not hers.

She pushed at the door and found it open. Having convinced herself that this was part of Kingspell’s palace grounds, she felt she had the right to come in.

Soraya was surprised that when she opened the door, she found herself inside a cozy living room. It had a fireplace and a few wooden chairs with well-worn clothes draped over them. A dusty wooden table was the centerpiece. She did not stop there, though. The princess followed the scent of herbs and something else. Spices? She had to turn left to find a kitchen of sorts.

She could not call it a kitchen exactly. There were so many herbs hanging from lines of thread over her head – over their head. A young man was looking at her right now. He was very tall, with curly reddish-blonde hair. As if it was not that important, the princess also noticed that he was also grimy.

“Good afternoon, princess, “he bowed at her, a wooden spoon in one hand. He only stopped stirring whatever it was when she came in.

“Good afternoon. How do you know who I am?”

“Your royal highness, everyone knows who you are,” the young man looked amused.

“Yes, in theory. But has everyone seen me, I highly doubt?”

“I have seen you around the grounds. I have lived here all my life. I am your stablehand – or rather assistant stablehand, Adrian.”

“Nice meeting you, Adrian,” Soraya reached her hand out, wondering how she had not noticed the handsome servant around. He had the face of an angel but the muscles of the Dying Gaul from Rome - a land she was not sure how to get to from Mogochislenia. She had only seen the sculpture on one of her library books. 

“I am sorry, princess. My hands are dirty and smelly.”

“Oh, you think I have never been dirty and smelly? Then, you have probably never really seen me on the grounds.”

Adrian laughed. He was younger than Soraya thought, perhaps a year older than she was but a foot taller certainly. She also could not ignore the fact that he was handsome, even through all that dust and grime. 

He reached out and shook his hand. It was so different from Killian’s smooth fair ones. However, Soraya was surprised that she liked his rough, grimy, and tanned hands. He seemed like a nice chap, she reasoned to herself, but she knew that she would not be tittering in her head if she was only a nice chap. She admonished herself in her head. 

“Are you alright, princess? You looked like you want to kick at the spiders on the floor. Now, you are marked with my herbs forever, princess!”

She laughed then. Then, she got serious and remembered why she was there in the first place.

“Did you pass by the maze a few minutes ago?”

He blanched. That paleness on his otherwise tanned skin told the princess everything.

“Did you see me and – did you see me there inside the maze?”

Soraya did not know why she did not mention the prince. More likely, this servant had seen everything, anyway.

“Princess, you do not have to worry about me. I will not tell a soul!”

Aha! For some reason, Soraya was a little disappointed that Adrian gave in too easily. It was not even good detective work on her part. He just confessed. But she was also embarrassed. This young man had seen her and Killian in a compromising situation.

“Adrian, nothing else happened. It was just a kiss!”

She knew that a kiss was enough to ruin her, but she wanted to assure Adrian that she was not a scarlet woman.

“Your highness, you don’t have to explain to a commoner like me. I will not say anything.”

“But you don’t understand – I had not planned on going in there. I am not a fallen woman.”

“Not even a woman yet,” he muttered.

“What did you say?”

Soraya’s tone was sharper than she intended.

“What I mean, princess, is that I do understand. You are very young. The prince knew better. He should not have brought you to the maze.”

The princess mentally agreed to what was just said, but she tried to shrug that thought off.

The prince knew better. Of course, he did.

“Why were you there?”

“I use the maze to get around without being seen.”

“Why would you hide?”

“It's a long story."

"You can try me."

Adrian looked at the princess and smiled through all the grime and dirt. Soraya was surprised to see straight, lovely teeth. For some reason, she expected peasants to have scraggly, rotten ones. And Adrian – Adrian was very handsome, especially when he smiled. The princess was trying to shake it off her head because he was a peasant, and she was a princess who was promised to a prince. How her thoughts even went that way, she was not sure.

She just had her first kiss – nay, her first two kisses. Soraya could still feel the heat of Killian's passion, but she was already ogling another young man. There was something about Adrian that made her feel more comfortable, even when she was there alone with him on his turf. Princesses should not be hanging out with servant boys, especially when alone. 

"Come back another day, princess. It is getting late."

His voice was soft and kind. The princess could only obediently comply but was disappointed to be sent off. She did not even mind that it was not her decision to leave. She could have told him that he did not get to decide. Who was he, anyway?

"Farewell, for now, Adrian. I will come back."

"Farewell, princess. Beware of Prince Killian. Do not go with him alone again."

That made the princess' head snap back at the young stablehand. She was indignant. He did not have the right to talk to her that way. However, the way Adrian said the words chilled her bones. She hurriedly and wordlessly left the tiny log cabin.