The Elusive Prince

Chapter 33: Moonlight in the Gloomy Night

"Music is the moonlight in the gloomy night of life."

-John Paul Friedrich Richter

Merideth

The trip back to school went by quicker than normal. We arrived a little before dinner so instead of going back to the dorm, me and Hailey stayed on the garden near the mess hall where other students were at too. Since it was Saturday, some students were still out, enjoying their free day out of school while some were back from their trip like us, while some simply stayed in the school like the rest of my classmates. I don't actually know what they did during the time I was away because I didn't check my phone at all during my trip back to the palace. Not wanting to distract myself and the others from doing something productive instead of talking to me on the phone, I didn't turn on my phone. Hailey must've chatted with some of them though, seeing as I saw her check her phone mid-games but hey it could be anybody.

Although, I'm pretty sure that she sent a text about our location to the group because not five minutes after we arrived, the others were already in sight, striding to our place in the garden. I can clearly hear the sound of whispers coming from the other students as the whole class of Leontine comes bounding into the garden like no one's business.

Thankfully, they didn't shout anything embarrassing or make a fool of themselves (aka Kairo and Luna) and just settled down on respective spots all over the garden. They didn't swarm me too which was great. They were all acting so chill and unbothered that I almost burst out laughing because it looked a little ridiculous in my perspective. I'm sure they were only acting this way because there are other students around and we already have enough gossip worthy moments just this week alone so no need to add to that.

The only people who approached Hailey and I was Ava, Kairo, and Sumire who were considered my best friends out of all the class. The others were in different groups and unsurprisingly, Cassian was with Levine and Spie. They were looking at our direction (except Cassian), clearly waiting for Kairo to go there. Realizing this, I just nodded at Kairo and he raised his eyebrows before slinking back to his group. Finally it was just me and the girls chilling.

They didn't ask questions about my visit and just talked to me about what they did for today which is what they usually do so I was not surprised. Apparently, some of them went for a swim on the school's pool while some went to the library and some spent the rest of the day chatting with their loved ones online because they couldn't meet outside. I'm pretty sure that even if we did want to go outside today, we wouldn't be allowed to and could possibly only be allowed to go out with maximum security tailing us which is never a fun time. Thankfully in my case, I only went to the palace and I'm used to being tailed a lot all the time anyway so I wasn't at all bothered. The others though...not so much, so I can understand why they didn't want to go out. That and the fresh trauma lingering inside their hearts and mind.

We didn't spend that much time talking however because the bell rang for dinner and since we were in the garden beside the mess hall, we got there in record time. As per usual, Hailey went to get dinner for me which was today's special, Honey Roast Duck and a side of Chocolate Truffles for dessert. The others seemingly got the same dish because we had a row of plates of the same dish laid on the table. Laughing at the coincidence, we started eating while diving through mindless chatter as we go through dinner peacefully.

After dinner, they suggested we walk again but I was a little worn down from all the playing with Frida earlier so I passed. I walked back to the dorm by myself while they went the separate way. Hailey didn't go back with me since she said she needed to burn what she ate and I just told her I would text her if I needed anything.

Entering the empty dorm, I headed straight to my room to take a bath that I didn't get to take when we arrived. Changing into comfy clothes, I once again sat down on the porch in my room, journal in hand. I began writing what happened today and some days I missed when the wind got a little chilly suddenly so I went back inside to grab my light blue wooly cardigan with a sheep pattern on the hem. It was my favorite cardigan because it was knitted by Hailey as a gift for my birthday. I really like it so I always make sure to wear it to show Hailey my appreciation. She seems to beam brightly when she sees me wearing them and that makes me happy, seeing her so proud of her work like that.

Settling in to the warmth provided by the cardigan, I went back to writing before switching to the book series I borrowed from Yuma while setting my speaker on the side with some soothing songs to help set the mood. I throughly enjoyed the story and I can see why Yuma liked it.

Midway through my reading, I decided to go grab some snacks for maximum comfort. I could also whip out a cup of hot cocoa to pair with my secret cookie stash. The others still weren't back so I can definitely sneak in a snack before Hailey comes back and confiscate my snack. Hurrying into the kitchen, I grab the jar I use to hide the cookies from the fridge before checking if there was hot water. There wasn't but I could boil one real quick so I did just that before taking out the jar of hot cocoa powder from the pantry and upon further deliberation, grabbed the pack of mini marshmallows too.

While waiting for the water to boil, I transferred the cookies into a plate and sneaked in a few pages of the book in before the kettle boiled. Setting down my book, I poured the water that was just enough for one cup into my mug and began mixing my hot cocoa. Satisfied with the taste, I trudged back upstairs with the book and cup of hot cocoa in hand.

Sitting down on my place again, I began reading the book, immersing myself to the storyline. I read a few pages before reaching out to the side to dip the cookies into the hot cocoa only to grasp thin air. Then I remembered that I didn't bring it back up because my hands were full and I completely forgot to come get it since I was too invested in the book.

Thankfully, there was still no signs of the others back so I hurriedly went back to fetch the plate of cookies left on the countertop. I got there in record time and seeing the cookies still fine, I let out a relieved sigh before trudging back upstairs ready to go back to the comfy mood on the porch but then I stopped dead on my tracks when I hear something coming from the other side of the stairs. Did someone come back already?

I went back upstairs to set my cookie down because I will not go investigate the noise only for one of my classmates to see me carrying a plate of cookies with unknown origins. Going back down for the third time this night, I followed where the noise was coming from. It was very faint and almost unnoticeable that I almost thought I imagined it but since I was already downstairs, might as well check right?

Opening the doors on east hall, which comprises of different rooms for different lessons, I check for the source of the noise. I was on the last room, which is the music room and I opened it gently not expecting anything when soft and melodious sound came tumbling out the door and into my ears. It was the rythmic sounds of the piano filling the air with music. Ahh, so that's why I couldn't hear it as much. It was from the music room which was soundproofed for our sanity and Sir Hexford's when someone practices here (Amity and Luna, most of the time).

The music room was dark so I couldn't really see anything. Makes me wonder how someone could play in the dark like this but then remembering that Yuma and Kairo could play from muscle memory alone so sight was not a problem. Although I want to see who was playing in this hour (must be Yuma or maybe Kairo but I didn't her them come back) and was about to enter the room to turn on the lights only to jump in surprise when I heard the loud bang coming from the piano, which resulted with me opening the door further and ended with the light from the hall to enter the dark room. The sudden loud bang was the sound of someone hitting the keys too hard and probably face-planting on it because with the way it sounded, it was not intentional at all.

Thankfully the person inside must not have noticed someone opening the door because there were no signs of activity in there. Relieved about not getting caught but scared of eavesdropping on someone's moment (frustration really), I quietly tried to close the door again so I wouldn't disturb the player but then a soft but very sad melody filled the air as the player decided to play again. Earlier, the melody was definitely calm and seemingly just someone mindlessly pressing the keys to make a soothing tune but this one, this one screams emotions.

Freezing in place, I listened as the unknown pianist pour their hearts out to the piece they were playing. It took me several seconds to realize that the piece they were playing was Debussy's "Claire De Lune." It was already a sad piece but listening to this renditon almost broke my heart. I don't know where the feeling came from, but my heart feels like it was being gripped, hard, as I listen to the notes filling the air. The piece feels like a cry for someone which was lost but also a remembrance of the person they lost in a sort of melancholic way. I didn't notice that I was crying already and halfway through the piece, I accidentally let out a choked sob escape my lips, completely forgetting that I was not supposed to be there. I only realized my mistake when I hear the abrupt stop of the notes and I let out a gasp before sprinting away from the music room as fast as I could and into my room, never looking back at least once. If I had the mind to look back, I probably would've seen the look of horror etched on the pianist's face upon seeing me run away from the scene but I didn't so it would remain as a mystery forever.

Reaching my room in record time, I locked myself into my room, I took a few calming breaths, both from running and sobbing. Letting out one last choke of tears, I straightened up on the bed and went to wash my face which had tear tracks on it. Rubbing it softly, I glanced at the mirror only to be surprised when I saw how broken my eyes looked. Quickly shaking my head to get rid of that emotion in my eyes, I began to wonder why it affected me so much. I have heard that piece so many times before and have even played it more than once before, both on the piano and violin but this one, this one hits different and I don't know why it wrecked me so much inside. It might be because the pianist played it with so much feeling, like they were breaking inside but at the same time calm while remembering what was lost. It was such a strong feeling that it affected me by this much.

Letting out a shaky breath, I went out the porch again to calm myself down. I can't let Hailey, or anyone really, see me like this. They wouldn't know that the reason for my tears was because of a piece and not because I remembered something tragic again. Although, I don't know why but that rendition made me remember stuff I don't even know I had the memory of but upon thinking what those memories were, it was as if they vanished. It was if those memories were only unlocked when I heard that song then quickly vanished when I couldn't hear it anymore.

It was confusing me to no end and I couldn't even get to why I felt this way because I don't even know who was playing. Frustrated, I let out a sigh before sinking into the chair. I stayed like that for a while before glancing at my forgotten mug of hot cocoa which I think is cool now and soggy cookies that I left too long out here in the cold. Sighing, once again, this time by the loss of perfectly good cookies and hot cocoa, I contemplated on whether or not I should go down after that escape. The pianist must still be down there right? They were probably waiting for me to get down so if I went down now, what's the point of my escape earlier?

Thankfully, the answer to my dilemma arrived in the form of my shivering classmates. Knowing that the pianist won't notice that I was the one eavesdropping, I waited for the other to come back up and come down again for the log in. I inserted myself with the rest of them and was greeted by Hailey looking at the empty plate and mug on my hands.

"Your Highness what is that?" if I didn't already know that she would ask that, I would've panicked but I already came up with a perfect excuse to get me out of this (the one I usually use anyway.)

"Oh this? I wanted to drink hot cocoa while reading but completely forgot about it when I was reading so now its cold and I can't drink it anymore."

She eyed the mug warily, clearly not convinced, before telling me that she would make a new one for me and for herself. If you're wondering where the cookie went to, I diluted it into the hot cocoa and ate the rest that way she wouldn't know.

After successfully dodging Hailey's questions and checking in for the night, we went back upstairs for bed. We weren't allowed any slumber parties anymore (at least until exams were finished) so we had to go back to our rooms tonight. Throughout the entirety of waiting to clock in, I was sneakily checking if someone was eyeing me suspiciously but was relieved when I found out that there was none. Maybe the pianist didn't really see me run away or maybe they didn't mind at all but I was more inclined to believe the first one.

Lying down on my bed, I let my thoughts wander into earlier. That pianist certainly was skilled but there was more than just skill there. It was filled with repressed deep emotions that I feel like they could only convey in that piece. It was gripping but at the same time beautiful that you can't help but listen even if it was breaking you down slowly. There was just something about it that hooked me and I don't know what it was but nonetheless, that pianist would probably play again and until then, I will try to figure out why I felt that way.