Seeing through the lies
1155 Words
Liams POV
"You are so different today. You seem relaxed, and besides, you didn't look at me hatefully, nor did you resist me in any way. What's happening?" She raises her head, presumably to look at me skeptically and read every little secret on my face. So now she's noticed. I don't seem half as good an actor as her. Apparently she can read my face like an open book.
"Liam, what's going on?", she repeats and now the coldness of her voice is clearly audible. Goosebumps form on my skin. I breathe in and out deeply.
"I know who you are," I say then. Silence follows my words. For a very long time I just hear her breathing and feel her body at my side.
"I just heard you guys talking and thought about the context. I don't know how I missed it, even though you tried so hard. Lou is short for Louise, right?”
"Yes," she simply replies. She pulls away from me and stands up.
"Stay Lou, I'm not mad at you," I say quickly before she pulls away from me completely.
"How can you not be angry? I would feel terrible if I were you,” she replies angrily. Now I'm listening again to the Lou that used to come to me every night. The coldness of her voice has changed into the worried softness.
"I love you," I say without really thinking about it. But as soon as the words leave my mouth, I know they're true. I love Lou.
“How can you love such a cruel person like me. Not long ago your looks would have turned me to dust on the spot.”
"I didn't know then that you were one and the same person. I don't particularly like the cold side of you, but I know that you can actually be very different and I love that about you. You saved my life multiple times and helped me when nobody wanted to. You even overlooked the fact that I'm a rebel and actually despise royalty. You still took care of me. Please come back here.”
I hear her approach again and then feel her weight on me. She gently strokes my hair and my face.
"Lou, I can imagine it's very lonely having to pretend to be something you're not," I say empathetically, feeling my chest wet with her tears. How I would like to take her in my arms tightly and press her to me to give her the support she needs. I would love to stroke her cheeks and dry up the tears.
"I'm only doing this so that no one notices how unhappy I actually am," she replies, sniffling, "I'm just a decoration here. No one takes me seriously or really cares about what I have to say. I have no rights or any importance. I'm only there to bear the heir to the throne and I suppose if it doesn't turn out to be a boy I'll probably be expelled from the castle immediately."
"I'd like to hug you tight right now, but I understand why you're tying me up."
"How can you be so understanding?" she asks, snuggling closer to me.
"Because I love you Lou," I repeat the words, feeling the truth flood through me. It's right, even if she shouldn't return my feelings. Suddenly there is a knock at the door and it is opened without the Queen's consent. Again, I'm terribly embarrassed as I'm lying completely naked and exposed on the bed.
"Your Highness," says Eliv indignantly, "the king has just passed through the gate and will be here in a few minutes."
"Bullshit," Lou curses, scrambling to her feet.
"Um, what about him," Eliv whispers, as if I can't hear her.
"He knows," Lou replies matter-of-factly.
"He what?! Did you tell him?"
"No, he listened and figured it out himself."
"And now?"
"Yeah, what now?" I ask so they don't talk over me, although I'm still naked and tied to the bed.
"Now let's hope we don't all die," she says worriedly, "please release him, Eliv."
I feel how my bonds are released and the blindfold is removed from me. When I can see something again, Lou has already gotten dressed. Eliv hastily combs her hair and braids it. I also get dressed and then wait on the edge of the bed. In the mirror she throws me a few looks that catch up with mine. She kneads her fingers in her lap and quickly looks back down at them.
"I'm sorry Liam. I didn't mean to take advantage of you, so I kinda... oh forget it. What I'm really sorry about is that you have to go back to the dungeons so the king doesn't find out what happened while he was away. He must never know, or we're all dead."
"I understand that and won't say anything," I answer her reassuringly.
"Hurry up Louise, I'll take care of Liam," Eliv says, glancing around frantically as if the king is about to appear at any moment.
"Come with me," says Eliv as Louisa disappears with one last look at me.
"You should probably tie me up," I say, frowning, finding it a little odd myself. Startled, Eliv looks at me.
"I can't do that," she says shyly.
"But that will cause a stir if I walk freely through the aisles."
"I can't do this," she repeats, and suddenly the door opens again and Lou storms in again.
"I forgot my crown," she says hurriedly, and I almost laugh if the situation weren't so serious.
"What are you still standing here for?" she asks worried.
"He said I had to tie him up, but I can't," says Eliv, barely audible.
"I can't just walk through the castle here, they would probably kill me immediately if someone recognized me," I interject and stretch out my arms. Lou nods quickly and pulls out the iron chains. She quickly ties my wrists and hands the end of the chain to Eliv. In addition, she takes out a fabric bag and puts it over my head.
"Now no one can recognize him. You have to guide him, Eliv, he can't see now. Take care of him."
"I will, don't worry," Eliv replies hesitantly. I can only see a little bit when I tilt my head down.
"I'm terribly sorry Liam," says Eliv regretfully and somewhat embarrassed.
"That's fine. Let's go,” I answer to take away her nervousness. She pulls lightly at the chains that bind me and goes ahead. I follow her, watching the ground as best I can to avoid falling. There is a lot of activity in the hallways. Apparently everyone is on their feet to be there at the kings arrival and get everything in order. Eliv takes me down to my cell, unties the restraints and gives me one last apologetic look before leaving.
- Writer
