The Conservatory
1445 Words
Warmth greeted Nyra the moment she stepped into the royal conservatory.
The heavy glass doors closed behind her with a gentle click, shutting out the endless chill of Eirenshade's winter. Sunlight filtered through the towering crystal panes overhead, bathing the room in a soft golden glow. Vines climbed white stone columns, their emerald leaves weaving between blooming orchids, jasmine, and roses from kingdoms far beyond the northern mountains.
It was one of the few places in the palace where winter held no power.
Nyra drew in a slow breath.
The sweet fragrance of flowers replaced the icy air that had filled her lungs all day.
"...I needed this."
She wandered along the winding stone paths, brushing her fingertips across petals as she passed. Every flower was carefully tended by the royal gardeners, each one flourishing beneath enchantments that mimicked the warmth of spring.
As a little girl, she'd often hide here after difficult lessons.
Whenever the palace became too loud...
Too lonely...
She always found herself returning.
A familiar bench rested beneath a flowering wisteria tree near the center of the conservatory. Nyra settled onto it, letting the silence embrace her.
She closed her eyes.
For just a moment...
She allowed herself to imagine a different life.
One where family dinners ended in laughter instead of silence.
One where her parents looked at her with pride.
One where her sisters smiled because they wanted to, not because they'd thought of another cruel joke.
"...There you are."
Nyra opened her eyes.
Ace stood a few steps away, his formal navy cloak draped over one arm.
A smile found its way onto her face.
"I wondered how long it would take you."
"I checked the library first."
"And?"
"Master Edwin informed me you'd escaped."
She laughed quietly.
"I didn't escape."
"No?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"You disappeared without dessert."
"I wasn't hungry."
"You rarely are after the twins start talking."
Nyra looked away.
"...I'm sorry."
Ace frowned.
"For what?"
"I made dinner awkward."
He crossed the remaining distance and sat beside her.
"No."
His voice was gentle.
"They did."
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Never uncomfortable.
The leaves overhead rustled softly as a breeze drifted through the open windows high above.
After a while, Nyra spoke.
"...What happened with the traveler?"
Ace rested his forearms on his knees.
"He was a merchant."
"What did he see?"
"He wouldn't say in front of everyone."
Nyra blinked.
"He asked for privacy?"
Ace nodded.
"Father dismissed the advisors."
"And then?"
A thoughtful expression crossed his face.
"When he finally spoke..."
He hesitated.
"I've never seen someone so frightened."
Nyra's curiosity grew.
"What did he say?"
Ace looked toward the distant mountains visible beyond the glass walls.
"He claims an entire lake vanished."
Nyra frowned.
"Vanished?"
"Overnight."
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"He must be mistaken."
"Perhaps."
Ace's voice remained calm.
"But he believed every word."
Nyra watched his expression carefully.
"You believe him."
Ace didn't answer immediately.
"I believe he experienced something he couldn't explain."
She considered his words.
"The northern border is weeks away."
"It is."
"So whatever happened..."
"...won't reach the capital anytime soon," Ace finished.
He smiled reassuringly.
"You don't need to worry about it."
Nyra nodded.
"I wasn't."
"Liar."
She nudged his shoulder.
"You know me too well."
"I've had twenty-six years of practice."
They both laughed.
For a little while, they weren't the Crown Prince and the forgotten princess.
They were simply brother and sister.
Ace reached into his pocket.
"I almost forgot."
He produced a small paper package tied with blue ribbon.
Nyra tilted her head.
"...What's this?"
"Dessert."
"You stole it from dinner."
"I rescued it."
She opened the package to reveal two honey pastries dusted with powdered sugar.
Her favorite.
"You really do think of everything."
"I try."
Nyra broke one in half and handed the larger piece back.
"I'm not eating both."
Ace accepted it with a grin.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
The two sat together in peaceful silence, enjoying the pastries while afternoon sunlight poured through the glass ceiling.
Eventually, palace bells echoed faintly through the conservatory.
Ace sighed.
"Duty."
Nyra nodded knowingly.
"It never ends."
"I'm afraid not."
He stood, fastening his cloak once more.
"I have a council meeting."
She rose beside him.
"I'll head back to the library."
"I knew you were going to say that."
"You always do."
Ace smiled before gently placing a hand atop her head, ruffling her violet hair just enough to make her groan.
"Hey!"
"There."
He stepped back, admiring his handiwork.
"Perfect."
"You made it worse."
"I think it gives you character."
She tried to smooth it back into place.
"I had character before."
"I know."
His smile softened.
"You've always had more than anyone gives you credit for."
Nyra's hands stilled.
"...Thanks."
Ace nodded once.
"Try to get some rest tonight."
"I will."
"And eat something that isn't tea."
She laughed.
"I'll do my best."
"I'll hold you to it."
With one last wave, the Crown Prince disappeared through the conservatory doors.
Silence returned.
Nyra remained where she was, watching the flowers sway gently in the warm breeze.
A quiet trickle drew her attention.
Near the center of the conservatory stood an old marble fountain, its crystal-clear water spilling gracefully from one basin into the next.
She walked toward it absentmindedly.
The fountain had been there for as long as she could remember.
As a child, she'd spent hours watching the water dance over the stone.
She knelt beside it.
The surface reflected her ember-colored eyes and violet hair like polished glass.
Without thinking, she reached out.
Her fingertips barely grazed the water.
Tiny ripples spread outward.
Then...
They stopped.
The water became perfectly still.
Nyra frowned.
"...That's odd."
Before she could pull her hand away, new ripples appeared.
Only this time...
They didn't move away from her.
They traveled toward her fingertips, circling them in delicate rings as though drawn by an invisible current.
Her breath caught.
She jerked her hand back.
The fountain instantly returned to normal.
Water splashed peacefully from basin to basin as if nothing had happened.
Nyra stared at the surface.
For several long moments...
She said nothing.
Finally, she let out a quiet laugh.
"...I must be imagining things."
Yet as she stood to leave...
She couldn't shake the strange feeling that the water had recognized her.
Nyra let out a quiet breath and stepped away from the fountain.
"You've been reading too many old legends," she murmured to herself with a small, embarrassed smile.
The explanation was simple enough.
She was tired.
The exhibition.
Dinner.
The argument with the twins.
The strange conversation about the traveler.
It had simply been a long day.
With one last glance at the fountain, she turned and made her way along the winding stone path toward the conservatory's entrance.
As she passed, her fingertips brushed absentmindedly against the leaves of a climbing rose vine. A few lavender blossoms swayed gently in her wake, releasing their sweet fragrance into the warm air.
She didn't notice.
She rarely noticed the little things anymore.
The heavy glass doors opened with a soft creak.
One of the royal gardeners looked up from trimming a bed of winter lilies.
"Good evening, Princess Nyra."
Nyra offered him the same gentle smile she gave everyone.
"Good evening."
The gardener bowed respectfully as she disappeared into the palace corridor.
For a few moments, he continued working in silence.
Then...
Something caught his eye.
The pale blue roses nearest the path slowly unfurled another layer of petals.
He blinked.
"...That's odd."
Only minutes ago, those blossoms had been tightly closed, waiting for another week before reaching full bloom.
Now they stood proudly open, their color richer than he'd ever seen.
The gardener set down his shears and knelt beside them.
He examined the stems carefully.
No disease.
No damage.
No sign of enchantment.
"...Strange."
A cool breeze drifted through the conservatory, causing the flowers to sway together in perfect rhythm.
Behind him, the marble fountain continued its quiet song.
Its waters shimmered beneath the afternoon light, sending delicate ripples dancing across the surface.
The gardener smiled to himself.
"Must be the warmer weather."
He returned to his work, never giving it another thought.
Beyond the conservatory doors, Nyra wandered the quiet palace halls, completely unaware of what she had left behind.
She never saw the fountain settle into perfect stillness.
Nor did she see a single droplet of water rise from its surface...
Hover for the briefest heartbeat...
And gently fall back into the basin.
As if saying goodbye.
The palace remained silent.
But somewhere within its ancient walls...
Something had begun to awaken.
- Writer
