Song of Crowns

Episode 4: Creep

I realized now when I woke up that I know where I heard the name Evos somewhere. He was part of the orphanage my mother was in charge of back in my country. He was one of the eldest that didn't have a chance to be adopted.

I didn't realize he survived the whole apocalypse because I was swifted away fast than I could remember to even be checking on the situation of my subjects. He probably is doing this out of duty of protecting me. His only hope of finding solace in a world underwater.

I wanted to see him again and thank him for his service. If only I wasn't monitored by Alfonzo's lackeys 24/7. I realize, I can wait for him. Days passed and he still hasn't visited my room. I checked outside and saw that no one is around to be guarding my room. They're probably on a break or playing together to pass time. Guarding the princess is not their top priority.

I sneaked out of the room and wandered the hallway of this house. It's a two-story house but large enough to house 10 families. My room proves the largeness of all the rooms in this building. The walls of the hallways are painted light blue with a hint of gray. I guess this was formerly the home of scientists who worked down here.

At the end of the hallway is an intersection leading to the second floor and the other side to another set of rooms. I went to the second floor instead and find myself standing closely in an ajar door. The noise from the door enticed me but I didn't dare to reveal myself. I hid by the wall and slowly peeked inside the door. There I see figures on top of the bed. They seemed to be doing something to me noises at this time of the day.

When I got a closer and clearer look, I realized what I saw. Adrian is topless with his back planted on the bed. A woman that I cannot recognize sits atop him, riding whatever it is that is keeping her attached to the body of the chiseled young man. Adrian whispers words to the lady and the lady giggles as she leaned closer to him, giving him soft kisses in the chest.

I felt my hand reach my gaping mouth in shock. This is what I'll have to endure if ever I was to marry this disgusting thing. I thought to myself. I can't believe I just saw Adrian doing whatever that is to someone else after asking my hand for marriage.

However, I also knew that our to-be marriage is not of love. Still, it stings to know that this loveless marriage comes with seeing that type of scenario. I hate that my guts are twisting in disgust by the thought of it.

Without a second, I leaped out of that area and quickly ran to the stairs. My eyes are starting to well up and I can feel my breakfast going up my throat. It's such a disgusting feeling that I have to hold whatever I ate in before I could reach my room.

By my door, I saw a figure waiting. I guess the guards have figured out my absence that they intend to give me a hard time once I come back. But I was greeted by a familiar face. Evos.

"Good afternoon, Princess." He greeted. "What are you doing outside your room?" I smoothed out my dress and wiped off the wet that settles on my cheeks. I can't have him see my state right now.

"I was feeling claustrophobic inside the room. I wanted to go for a walk and didn't know where to go." I told him, leaving out the details of what transpired in the second floor.

As if he knows what I've seen, he shook his head and held his temples with his right arm. "Princess, you have to tell me first if you're going to go up."

"How could I? You didn't visit me for a long time." I said, realizing after how needy my tone became. I quickly dismissed my lack of composure and straightened my back. "I just wanted to breathe."

He tilted his head towards me, enjoying this conversation. "Your highness, I'm sorry if I wasn't able to visit you in your room. I was helping out the rehabilitation of the heating systems of HiveBerg. You see, I'm an engineer."

"Oh." I felt my eyes make a curious look. "So you were gone?"

"I was. I have to go back here though. The senator insisted me being here. He knows I came from Sarkis. He wants me to convince you to marry his son." He says, putting his palm on my back. I think he meant we were going for a walk.

I walked beside him as we went to the opposite side of the hallway. "What made you work under him? I remember seeing you at the orphanage. I didn't think you were old enough to be leaving the place."

"I was still young, yes." He says. "My caretaker, Ms. Arnis, was very happy to see me adopted. When the senator's wife came to visit, I made it to a point that I'd be remembered."

"Oh. You sold yourself?"

"I did. I wanted a life outside the orphanage. After frequent visits, the senator's wife finally gave in and took me in. Ms. Arnis was delighted. I was fourteen when they took me in. They gave me shelter, food, and education."

We made a turn to an intersection and were leading to the door that I assume is the exit. I can make a run for it but it would be rude to leave Evos.

"But why are you working for him if it was his wife that was fond of you?" I asked, seemingly interested with the story of the only subject I have right now. If I can help one of the people just with talking, I'd be okay to be married off now.

"She was sick, you see. Adrian might be healthy in your eyes but it took everything for her to conceive him. I knew this because she told me before she died. After that, I had to work deliriously under her husband. I didn't want to be abandoned. At least with him, I can still work. I was useful because of my title." I nodded.

I wanted to hear more but we were stopped by the gushing of cold air when he opened the door for me. I can taste the air of the open street. It no longer feels damp. Surprisingly, I can even smell freshly cooked stew.

"When he ran for the senate, I finished my studies at such a young age of eighteen. His son, Adrian, is still in school. I think that hurt his pride more because the adopted one surpassed the legitimate one. That's why I was forced to become an errand boy so I would know my place not to outshine his son." He says all these while guiding me out of the house. We walk the open streets side by side.

"You conformed to this because you didn't want to feel useless?" I asked. "You could've gone the moment the apocalypse started. You could've left them and saved yourself."

He gulped. "I could. But I chose not to. I have promises I have to keep and one of them is stay with this family." He says, looking down. "Let's change the subject, shall we?"

I purse my lips. Maybe I said something to offend him. I choose not to press on it much.

"Why were you on the second floor?" He asked, giving me a smirk. "Looking for your future husband?" I shot him a look but this seemed to only make his smirk grew larger. "He is not my future husband. I didn't agree to whatever atrocious plan they're having."

"You have nowhere to go anyway. Why not accept it and lead the people here? I'm sure you want to help them." He says, gesturing the row of tents that are on the other side of the street. The tent we are across to have a mother cradling her baby to sleep.

I shrug. "I want to help but not by fooling them. I know that even if the Adrian boy has good intentions, the one pulling the strings will be Alfonzo."

"Believe me if I say that Adrian might be dumb but he has a good heart." He says pulling me out of the side-walk as soon as the children crossed us while playing ball.

"Yeah. Too big of a heart to have a girl on top of him." I sarcastically said while I slowly remove myself from him after being pulled away. I unconsciously tugged at my collar afterwards.

He chuckled. "You saw that, huh?" Evos looked up. "Adrian is what we would call a playboy. Back when I was with school with him, countless girls would line up for his attention."

"He doesn't seem to care, does he?" I asked, crossing my arms. I knew I did that to show him my disgust of Adrian but I think he thought of it of being cold that's why he wrapped his coat over my shoulders.

"Adrian is a good guy. He doesn't mind the attention because he knows he is good-looking. But if he knows he has to do something for the greater good, he will do it. Even if he has to marry someone else." I rolled my eyes.

"What a charitable guy." I choked and faced him. "You told me not to trust anyone, even you. So why should I trust your words now?"

"I guess I had to say those to keep you on your toes." Evos' face turned silent. Not a glimpse of ridicule. "I might do things for the family that might hurt you. You were my previous sovereign and I would hate for you to be hurt by the hands of greedy politicians. Still, I want you to feel reassured that you have an ally amongst the den of lions."

I didn't know I was smiling when I felt a creep forming in my face. Maybe it's alright to go with this.

Maybe it's okay to marry Adrian if Evos is right here supporting me.

- End –