The Lazy Princess

Chapter Two: The Kingdom

“Humanity doesn’t exist in this country anymore. We are just waiting for this kingdom to crumble. The princess was our only hope, but she was no longer found yet. Even the people inside the castle don’t know where she ran off to. This country will fall apart.” The bar lady said while she was wiping off the glass when I asked about this place I went to.

“Why’s that?”

“We don’t know. The castle doesn’t speak to us anymore. So we were just waiting for them to tell us to leave. Well, some of the townspeople were starting to leave.”

“No offense, but why are you still here? Why didn’t you leave with the others?”

“My whole family has lived here for so many years already, so I’m not going to leave until I die. This is in my home. I will never leave.”

“Even if the kingdom falls apart?” She nodded.

“Even if the kingdom falls apart, even if this place becomes a desert; I will still live here.”

“I see.” It must be really sad to tell me that they were abandoned by their rulers. Just what kind of monarchy is this? Why don’t they make this kingdom a republic?

“And you know, maybe someday the Princess may return and make this kingdom a better place for us.” I heard her sigh as she was looking in some random direction.

“I want to see her.” This made me confused.

“You haven’t seen the face of the Princess?” She shook her head. I looked around her bar and noticed that some people were starting to fill up her place. It is still morning.

“No. Ever since she became five years old, we have never seen her again. And then we were told last week that the Princess had been missing.” I looked up at her, starting to take down the customer’s orders.

“Gabriel! Here’s the order of Mrs. Rave and her children.” She told the person inside the kitchen.

“I got it.” said the voice behind the window steel.

“Just how old is she now?” I asked after she finished her work. She then stopped and put her hand below her chin, thinking.

“Hmm, let’s see. Probably she’s already a year before she succeeds her throne. Seventeen I guess.” Just around my age. I’m eighteen, by the way.

“Umm, when can I start working?” I suddenly asked her. She then turned to me, smiled, and gave me a tray of the ordered food.

“Here, kindly give these to table number four. It will be your first errand.” I just nodded and did what she told me to do.

“Hello, good day! Here’s your order.” I smiled at the lady and her children.

“Hello to you too, young lady. Looks like Charlotte has adopted another child.” She said as she smiled at me. I smiled back at her and noticed that her children were fussing about their food.

“Hey, slow down or else you’re going to choke your food. You don’t want that to happen, right?” And then they stopped fussing and looked at me. I smiled brightly at them and they did too.

“What’s your name sister?” Mrs. Rave’s daughter asked me as she beamed in delight. I chuckled and leveled myself to properly face her.

“My name is Danah, and you?” I introduced myself. She smiled brightly at me.

“My name is Mavie! Can I call you Princess? You have the same name as Princess Danaiah, right Mother?” she said, making her mother smile and pat her head.

“No darling, they have different names.” Mrs. Rave said, making Mavie pout.

“No, they have the same name,” Mavie pointed out. I awkwardly smiled at them as I saw Mrs. Rave’s sigh at her fussy daughter. Her two sons were just eating silently in their world. I smiled.

“Well then, I have to go. Happy eating”, I started as I stood up from sitting. Mavie turned to me and held my apron. I looked down at her.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Will I meet you again?” she asked. I looked at her mother. Mrs. Rave just smiled at me and nodded.

“Well, maybe or maybe not.” I smiled and winked at her. I heard Mrs. Rave chuckle. Mavie just pouted.

“We will be darling, don’t worry.” Mrs. Rave said, making her daughter beam in delight. I smiled and turned back at them. I went back to the counter and let them eat in peace.

“The people are happy,” I muttered as I roamed around.

“It’s the mask that they are wearing.” I turned to see Gabriel leaning on the window of the kitchen. His eyes were the stunning color of the sky, bright and blue. He was wearing a smile that could catch the ladies’ hearts. Well, that’s just my exaggeration, but he has the aura of a happy-go-lucky guy.

“I see. Does this kingdom have a nocturnal business?” I asked, masking my words as he did. It was just my first time meeting him and I can see that we understand each other.

“It has. But just keep it. You never know when you will pay for being nosy.” He said and winked at me. I gave him a wide smile.

I turned back to the people eating at the bar. There are merchants, wives and children, soldiers on break, men's storytelling, small families, women talking about someone, and any other type of people living in the capital. Despite being ignored and unnoticed by their rulers, they were just fine having what they have right now. And I find that peaceful.

“Excuse me. Where is the owner of this pub?” I turned to see a uniformed person. He seemed like a noble to me. He's wearing a blue-colored tuxedo with a pair of white slacks. He was a bit taller than me and older than 30 years old.

"Anastacio." I turned and saw Charlotte crossing her arms on her chest as she glared at the man in front of me. I just kept quiet and went to her side, curious about what was happening.

"Charlotte, I have come here to have a follow-through on my offer to you."

"And I had already said no," Charlotte muttered as she was still glaring at the man named Anastacio. The man just sighed and took off his hat.

"Charlotte, this place is already abandoned, and the businessmen wanted to buy this land from the royalty so that we can go use the resources to further enrich this land. This land has many natural resources that we can export to other kingdoms and, if we can, other countries too.”

“You only say that because you yourself have abandoned this place where you were born,” Charlotte muttered as she kept on looking at him with such conviction. I never realized that this kingdom really faces such problems.

“The Princess can no longer be seen anywhere and the Royalties have abandoned this kingdom. Why can’t you understand what I’m trying to say, Charlotte? And you also need to abandon this place. Just look around you; can’t you see that your business already has enough of your dishes? You always had fewer customers and now you adopted another one.” He said and looked at me from head to toe.

“Well, I never really looked at you properly because you were wearing such dirty clothes but you have a pretty face. You can become a man pleaser and they will pay you more than what Charlotte can pay you. Come with me, girl. I’ll make you rich.” He said as he flashed his unnerving smile. I felt nauseous and wanted to puke in front of him. He disgusts me.

“Don’t pull her into your mess, Anastacio,” Charlotte said as she pulled me behind her back.

“Hey Charlotte, you have a very pretty girl here. Let me take care of her.” He said again as he got hold of my other arm.

“Hey! Get off her!”

“Stop!” I mustered up the courage to voice out as his hand was tightly holding my arm and was starting to be painful. They kept on pulling me towards them and it started to really hurt me.

“I said get off me!” I burst out as I stepped on his foot and kicked him in his shin.

“Ow! You b***h! Get her!” Anastacio – the old man commanded his two guards to take hold of me.

“Not! Stop! Get off me!” I kept on squirming out of their grip, but because I’m a woman, I can’t. It hurts. It really hurts.

“You’re coming us whether you or Charlotte like it or not.” He threatened. No, please. Charlotte. Steppy. Mom. Help.