The Queen's Handmaiden

Goodnight

“Your Highness, what are you-” Jane-Anne began confusedly, but the handsome prince clad in nothing but thin linen sleeping robes took a step in her direction, “I needed to talk to you.”

She took a step back cautiously, the queen’s words still ringing in her ears to ‘Stay away from Richard,’

She unconsciously bit her lip and looked around to see if anyone was around before asking, “And this couldn’t wait until tomorrow? I still have breakfast with your parents, if the three years of your absence have made you forget that.”

Richard smirked, “Your humor is back, I see. Does this mean everything went well with the King and Queen?”

Jane sighed. She was very annoyed by his antics in the ballroom. If it hadn’t been for the Queen’s kind heart, she would’ve been executed and all because of him, “They are your parents, shouldn’t you know the jury’s decision? After all, you are the one who put me in such a spot.”

She was about to cross her arms but reminded herself that she was conversing with the future king of the kingdom and not the same boy his mother used to make her play with.

He knew she was going to be upset, which was the reason he felt unable to rest. He had spent a good hour in his warm, scented bath to relax, but his mind would always wander to the way his father had looked. Even in the room before Jane-Anne had arrived, he had been trying to gauge his father's mood but the King had given nothing away. The Prince before the academy wouldn't have cared much. What was the sacrifice of a handmaiden in comparison to the decision of the Prince? But now, he didn't want Jane-Anne to take the burnt of his actions. It wasn't fair to her. Especially after the things she had told him about his mother.

This was why there he was in an area of the castle he had never gone to, only in his sleeping robes, alone, hoping to catch the girl and apologize. Yes, that was his intention, to apologize for putting her in a situation where she would probably be punished, even though it wasn’t her fault.

He took another step in her direction, the candlelight illuminating their features partially and casting sensual shadows around them. 'Best to get it over with quickly', he thought to himself, because he wasn't used to apologising. “Jane-Anne, I-I’m sorry!”

Jane raised a brow, ‘That was unexpected’ she thought.

He quickly elaborated, “Listen, I know I am expected to choose one of the princesses and get married, but I don’t want that and you know it. After the talk we had in the garden, I didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up by choosing them before the announcement, and not dancing at all seemed rude. I had to do something fast and then-”

“And then you saw me and thought, how about I make a handmaiden dance in a room full of high ladies and princesses because that wouldn’t be rude at all!” Jane sarcastically exclaimed.

Richard nodded and took another step in her direction, making her take a step back until her hips touched the wooden fencing around the path that led to the maids’ cottages.

“As I said, I apologize for putting you in such a position. I realized too late what I had done. Believe me, I had no intention of making you the scapegoat, but you tell me, what was I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. Anything that didn’t involve me getting the spotlight?” Jane spoke, feeling a bit flustered as he had removed most of the distance between them.

“You deserve some of the spotlight. Give yourself some credit for everything you have done for my family.” He everything but whispered.

“I will tell you the same thing I told your mother, tis was my duty, Your Highness.” She matched his tone.

“Richard.” He said, taking the final step and entrapping her with the fence. She looked at him confused and wide-eyed. He had never been this bold with her, to come so close twice in the same day. Who was this changed man?

He elaborated, “I told you to call me by my name when we are alone. We are alone!” He whispered the last part in her ear, as she whispered back to herself, “We are alone.”

“We. Are. Alone!” Her eyes went wide and round. She looked at him like she was seeing him for the first time since their conversation started.

“That’s what I said.” Richard smirked but Jane-Anne felt alarmed, “No, you don’t understand. We are alone!” Richard nodded, rolling his lips and holding back a smile, “Nice observation, my lady.”

She wriggled herself out of the position he had trapped her in and, putting a safe distance between them, she looked around, “This castle is full of guests. If anyone were to see us right now, we’d be scandalized! And your parents will not tolerate another incident and that too, so soon! Your mother specially ordered me to stay away from you and I am very happy to oblige. So, a very good night to you, Your Highness!”

Richard was about to retort but Jane had already bowed and was making her way quickly towards her cottage as the well-timed night guard’s whistle rang in the midnight air. The prince watched her go with a light heart.

He couldn’t understand why talking to her seemed to give him such emotion. It had never felt so intoxicating before. Now he just wanted their conversations to never end, but she seemed to be reluctant to spend time with him, just like before. Why would anyone not want to spend time with a prince, especially one like himself? He was at a loss for an answer.

‘Good night to you as well, Jane-Anne.’ He smiled to himself.

Before he had taken a couple of steps, he stopped when he heard Jane-Anne call, “Richard!”

He was about to turn around and reply with a smirk but was surprised to see her with her back to him and waving at a light around the corner of her cottage. From there emerged, to the prince’s surprise, a young man smiling at Jane-Anne, clad in the night guard’s uniform with a whistle around his neck.

And he realized it wasn't him she had called, but that guard. A new, strange feeling rose in his stomach. Involuntarily, his forehead turned into a frown as he watched the two converse. He couldn't see Jane's face, but the guard was smiling. The pit in his stomach grew. It was a very unpleasant feeling.

An intrusive thought made him want to go there and disrupt the conversation, but he wasn't even supposed to be where he was. If the news reached his parents, it could sign disaster. So, he did the next best thing.

Turning around and strutting back to his chambers, hoping to cleanse himself of the vaguely unpleasant emotions coursing through him for unknown reasons.