What Lies Within Our Smiles

I slowly opened the door, it crackled as it swiftly moved, revealing the truths of what I least expected, he sat there, clenching his fist through pain, sweat dripping down his porcelain skin, his body shaking in fear, couldn't handle all the pain he took, All eyes gazed at him from top to bottom, judging each moves he took, all their smirks and mallivolous smiles that talked their personality. His eyebrows frowned as he looked beneath his table, hoping for them to flee away from the scene, he raised his head and gazed at me, as I peeked through the door, my hands trembling, I wasn't someone to stand up for anyone, I wanted to stop them, but my ego betrayed me, and everything went black. All I could remember was those pleasing eyes that asked for my help. 'Another dream' I mumbled to myself as I laid up from my bed, I lingered my toes hoping to touch the ground, I looked uo the ceiling, it's plain colour resembling hope, hope for the child to soon see his future come to light 'I can't get distracted.' I slapped my cheeks. My lady-in-waiting suddenly rushed with a bold dress filled with elegant strips and jewellery embedded alongside the neck of the dress and the ends of the arm strands 'You expected to meet Lord Curarld' I sighed as I looked at the dress, it's embroidered beauty warmed my body, comforting it, I never appreciated the elegance, but now, seeing hope in future made me wandered, could I lowered my pride? All this years I've been treated as someone who can't take of herself, someone who needed support and help, I could see thier faces filled with sympathy as they did not want to lose their own precious daughter But that grew my pride, seeing people only wanting to spoil their sacred daughter, not letting them make their own rights and choices, is what every princess wanted, but that wasn't me, being able to support those who need help and not taking advantage is a good pleasure, something worthy in life, if only I could have helped the child who needed my help at that very moment, maybe we could have been good partners. I rushed to meet my father, The duke Curarld My father in his early years, he became a knight and fought in many wars that brought victory to our empire as he brought the enemies head infront of the emperor without shame or fear, however, his loud pride brought fear to the commoners, it was impossible to get into their good side, as every little mistake could lead to them feeling betrayed by the great Knight, his emotionless expression was really hard to read. He gained his title as a duke due to his loyalty to the emperror, his only focus was shedding blood to as many enemies as he can to the emperor, his right hand, those who tries to kill the emperor must pass through my father, that's how threatening he was. 'You wanted to meet me, father?' 'Yes, please have a sit' I've never seen my fathers office before, it's something he always guarded, now that im having the chance to sit in this royal chairs, I knew this meeting was regardless very important, I gazed at his eyes, his crimson red eyes that stared through mine, I couldn't read him no matter how I tried, I clenched my fists, but did not removed my gaze of his eyes, it's as if it was a competition, a die or live game 'I wanted to discuss something important' He tapped the table in slow motion as he rubbed his head against his palm, not knowing simpler words to put his discussion 'Duke Arthor requests you to meet him at dawn by tomorrow in the garden of Lopez' 'huh...Why would he want to meet me, father?' 'I believe he can explain this to you more than me...' 'I still don't understand what you request, but I will not pursue this further' I slowly stood up, but he stopped me 'Please, have tea before you leave the office, let me treat you with special care' Such a caring father, like he has always been, behind those unfazed gestures, his gentle smile still remains the same, showing his good side. I sat down comfortably, taking slow sips of my tea. It all started awkward, but we began to talk till I left his office. 'Gather my papers,' I said to my maid 'I have somewhere to be'. The truth is, father only wanted my marriage ti be successful, he tried his best to win me by his side, to follow his orders, to be in his command, he cared about business and wealth, not about me, he's been fooling me all this years, I cam to realize as another dream came by past my memories ... I rushed towards the garden of my palace, finding a cozy time to be alone, reading books and learning etiquette at a young age, I hid behind the bushes when I heard father having a conversation with duke Arthor. 'When my daughter grows up, hopefully you'll help her get accepted into his family' 'I'll make sure not to disappoint you, duke Curarld' 'Look, I want this marriage to be successful, I want my daughter to marry offthe Empress's son, don't make any mistakes' 'Yes sir... but may I ask why you're rushing things?' '...it is important for me to gain more power from my daughter, I had to sent my wife away due to her miscarriages, not having to provide a son is useless for me to have a him inherited after me' After hearing those conversations, I finally found out the truth. Father always told me stories why my mother suddenly left "She no longer wanted to bear anything with me" or "she abandoned us and took all the wealth, so I had to provide for us both" He always made sure he made himself look like the victim, but he's truly the villianess in my story ... My maid brought my papers, information gathered with my amount of gold I owned, I could finally have the chance to leave and have my own castle provided by my own wealth, all I needed is to meet duke Arthor (even knowing what we'll discuss about) I need him to get on my side no matter what. Bullet tears stiked down from the clouds as I rushed in the muddy surface, not knowing what I was doing, where I was going, tears fell down from my eyes, I ran for help, but no one was there... I suddenly turned around and went to where I was, kneeling down and touching his face, he was thrown into the mud by upper class children, he was seen as an outcast, only because his father married off a commoner women, all made such fun of him, during practices, after academy, his father died of illness and he only has a mother taking care of his father's properties in her hands, he laid still on the muddy ground, his hair spreader across the floor as he did not dare to open his eyes, I laid my head on his chest 'Pleae...help him,' I cried and whispered in a low voice, I felt a par of hand brushing behind my hair, comforting me. I looked up and saw him staring straight at my soul, but with a nice smile spread across his face. 'How could you smile like nothing in this situation.. I couldn't help you, I stood there, I had to follow you because I cared, not knowing you were fooled by those ungrateful and unpleasant creatures, how dare they do this to you' I started crying out loud 'Shh... thanks for being angry for me, I didn't have the time to get mad at them, I just need to help myself first.' 'I'm trying.. I went everywhere but no one is there... I can't leave you,' i cried, hoping for someone to hear me. Suddenly, the coach began to rush over where we were, I closed my eyes in relief... '... another dream, ugh' I woke up miserably, the same person but different stories, why am I feeling this way?