Rose of Deception

Chapter 2

I sat up in my bed, awake from the nasty dream. Running my fingers though the creamy strands messing them more than they already were.

It was nothing new that after single knock a maid entered carrying my fresh clothes for the day.

“Malinda.” My voice raw from sleep. I couldn’t ignore the way she looked at me whenever I called her name. “How many time do I have to tell you don’t come in my chamber this early?”

“But, my prince his highness calls you for the royal meal.” She pulled away the curtains, allowing the sunlight seep through the large window. I rubbed my eyes and then falling back on the pillow. I didn’t want to get out of the bed, not now so I pulled the sheets upon myself once more and closed my eyes for a minute of relaxation.

“Uh,” I growled, getting out of the bed. “Why can’t I have days where I am allowed to sleep till the mid-day?”

Standing in front of the mirror as I observed my visual. I hated how my trouser was pulled up my leg. I lifted my foot to rest upon the arm of the chair as I pulled down the fabric. This part of me, irresponsible and a little clumsy I doubted anyone had seen though the serious and matured prince I was.

“The bath is all heated up.” The voice came from the bathing chamber. I saw her gathering the books I had been busy reading all night.

The water was just the perfect heat and the scent of mint always woke me up.

Once I was out I wore the tail coat aver the white cotton tunic and brushed the white strands away from the hairline, isn’t the sword girl too weird? I thought to myself. How can anyone so open with their speech.

Another knock and I knew exactly what it was for.

For the last time I took a deep breath before the guard pushed the door open to the dinning pavilion.

“Greetings, Queen Lydia.” I went to sit opposite to her, to my left sat the king, my brother.

“Good morning, King Arthur.”

“Keres, what is it with you?”

“I thought my presence for today’s breakfast was important.” Maid poured milk and chocolate sauce in the cup for me.

Lydia was about to speak when the king interjected. “Sade’s are pressing the matter of their daughter’s marriage with you.”

I could not believe what I heard. And tears blurred my vision. “How can you even talk about the topic I hate the most? Every time you have opened this up I declined the proposal yet still you manage to bring this up, brother.” My voice broke off and I swallowed back the tears. “I know she had been my only female friend since childhood but that never meant I wanted to get married with that lady. And you don’t know how it feels to marry someone you don’t like because you got to marry the person you adored.”

The royal couple looked at me like I was seconds before I burst open. But I did not. Because that was the only thing I was good at. Letting go of things thinking they could slide away. Running away was what I always did.

I dragged the chair back and like a rotten child left the chamber as I ran though the hallways and out in the open air. What did I ever do to deserve a life that was more miserable than a bare foot walking in the hell?

I had only wished for a happy family that consisted of parents alike. Not a brother who at a young age became a king and went heartless.

Adjusting the saddle on top of the horse’s back I mounted the mare ignoring a fine horse who stood at the very end cabinet. She was beautiful and with literal grace. The first ever stallion that had caught my eyes besides mine. I rode out of the fences to talk to Cora about this.

But will she agree with me?

I stopped a few feet away from her mansion and hooked the rein to a broken branch. Secretly getting in I stood still when I overheard a serious conversation.

“We can’t. The king asked my daughters' hand in marriage. As long as they show their loyalty, we can’t rebel against them.” The man who spoke must have been Cora’s dad. I knew because I had heard him before.

“But if we do good with the snakes, we will be a benefit,” The other said. I did not know about him but I was eager to see his face.

“The Sade’s family had been living a luxurious life. There is nothing we are not blessed with. Our generation is given the status of prince and princesses what else do we wish for?”

“But.” The man tried to argue back but the royal minister hushed him down.

I moved when I felt the movement in them and just when I thought I was going to slide away like I was never there, I bumped into the flower pot and it fell to the ground and it broke.

“Someone is there.” Cora’s dad shouted and I ran from there. I should not get caught.

I lifted off the reins and straddled the horse as it rode without a command.

What was I supposed to do? I could not let the family go against the royals. If they did, the royal army would no longer be ours. He had the seal that kept the forces to command him.

I rode out of there. I intended to meet Cora but I thought it was for the best if I accepted the proposal.

Walking through the castle building, I found my brother in the garden with his wife.

“Arthur, I am expecting it.” Lydia spoke. I froze in my steps but then I decided to break in.

“I am ready for the engagement with Cora.” And I saw the emotions flicker on their faces. I did not stay there for further questioning. Rather, I went back in.

Slamming the door of my chamber, I let myself fall on the mattress. Did I make the right choice?

Tears escaped my eyes, staining my temples and staining me. I was tired of doing what people had decided for me.

I tossed in the bed, head resting on my arms as I exhaled all the air I could. I closed my eyes and found harmony in the darkness. I wished to stay like this for a little longer.

As I silently cried in the arc of my arm wishing there was someone beside me to tell me it was okay to cry.

The door opened and the voice of heels ticking on the floor told me she was Cora.

“You were supposed to welcome me.” Her sound pinched me deep in the core. Before she could notice I cleared any traces of my weakness.

“You are early.” I excused.

“No I am not. Its lunch time and Arthur sent me to call you.”

I looked out of the window and in few hours before the sun would go down the horizon.

“After lunch, the craftsman will be here.” She added.

“You go. I’ll be down.” I averted eye contact with her. “Quick, I promise.” I tried to give her a smile but out of act.

I closed the door of the bathing chamber and stood against it. I knew Cora was still there. When I turned to see the reflection of myself, my eyes were red but not puffy I was hurt but there was no pain on my face. And that is how I had let go of the things.

Always.

I opened the buttons of my tunic, taking it off and dumped it in the basket.

The water ran down the sink before I took it in my hands. The liquid dripped down my face wetting the neck.

“Keres.” Cora knocked at the door. “Are you alright?” she sounded worried.

“Yes.” I cleared my throat for a strong sound.

“I’m waiting for you.”

I pulled open the door exposing myself to the minister’s daughter.

Her hands laid on my chest and I shuddered beneath her hold, I was never touched. Moving back I turned to grab a fresh clothing from the closet.

I did not like how I felt under her touch. It was like I did not deserve her. A person so broken was not even worthy of her love.

I kept the distance afterwards but she insisted on holding my hand.

“Greeting’s your majesty. Greetings Queen Lydia.” Cora curtsied. I let go off her hand and made myself comfortable on the chair to the left of the king. Despite the comfort of the chair the atmosphere did not match my mood and so I wanted to be somewhere with someone who might try to understand me and care for me. Unlike my family who was only hungry for their happiness.

Moments of seeing my family eat while I had no appetite I decide to leave.

I dragged the chair behind me, standing from my position. “I’ll be moving.” I said.

“Won’t you eat?”

“I don’t feel hungry.” Saying this I walked out.

On my way down I met Asena. Her leg was drawn out of the split in her dress. The dark green silk dress was beautiful on her. And the golden chains that settled on her body underneath the fabric around her breasts made her look like a princess from a far land.

I hesitated before speaking to her but she beat me to it.

“Prince Keres.” She spoke with such liveliness in her voice that I naturally put on a smile on my face. She would not be understandable but she could be good accompany at times when I was low or to mention that I always was.

“Good afternoon, Lady Eloise.” It was a matter of time that Cora walked towards us and she chained my arm in hers the time we stood there.

“Princess Cora Aphelion, Keres fiancé.” Cora introduced herself.

It was weird how she always added my status. Was she jealous with the girl standing with me? Cora knew that I had never talked with a girl except for the greetings.

I undid the bond and walked in the room. The craft man was already there waiting for the suitor. I stood on the podium ready to give the measurements while observing the ladies.

Cora seemed curious of Eloise while she did all her effort to ignore the princess. There was no doubting the flames in Eloise eyes.

It was like there was more to her than she was showing. But I hadn’t met many people to judge them.

I watched Eloise walk to the clothing racks and slide down each dress she didn’t find per her taste. She landed on a black backless dress that resembled the one she was wearing.

I smiled when her gaze stopped at me for a second.

“Keres, which smile do you prefer?” Cora asked him.

“You have to wear it so it should follow your comfort zone.” I excused.

I was done quickly but Cora insisted I stayed with her till she was done. And just to mention she took a lot of time.

Before we left, the craftsman talked with Eloise about her dress fitting while the engagement couple would receive them later.

Back in my room, I twirled the gold wire around the elven gem as I went for the plyers to cut the long end.

“Lady Eloise is here to see you sire.” The guard informed me. I wandered what she was here for.

“Let her in.”

I felt her steps following, my gaze embedded in the details of the ring I sculptured.

“I was wondering if you could talk to the king about me leaving the castle urgently today.”

My head shot up, confusion displayed on his face.

“Why is that you need to ask me to do something?”

“Can’t I?” she asked.

“You can, but I never thought you’d come to me for this.” I stood up, hesitant. “Can I ask why it is?”

“Oh, he is with his wife. So I really don’t want to interfere in the family time. I know how important that is beside the job he does.”

For seconds I thought she and I shared the same sorrow but her expression lit up too soon. Like it was an old wish that she knew could not be fulfilled.

“Okay.”

“Why don’t you allow me, after all you are the prince? Son of King Arnold.” She spoke of my father as if she knew him well enough. There was no respect but equality.

I couldn’t help but wonder how at some point her maturity seemed higher than King Arthur.

“Where are you heading to?” I asked.

“To my aunt.” She kept her expression straight.

“When will you be back?”

“When you need me.”

“That is tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, my prince.” And with that she exited the room.

I admired my creation as I put the ring in the box and just before I was about to call for the guard to personally give it to the Elf minister Blaze broke in.

“Hi man.” He snatched it from my hand without a notice.

“Blaze.” I gave him a boy’s hug. My childhood friend and kings assassin who just returned from the demon land.

“I almost lost hope that you’d return.” I claimed.

“Man you are the worst nightmare for a girl.” Blaze cracked one of his stupid jokes.

“How was it?”

“The black market was a total nightmare. One of the lord almost figured out my identity.” He did a fake sigh. He reached for the apple in the fruit basket and took a bite from it.

“The time there works so slowly. I started to imagine that it was almost a year since I was there.”

“Now who’s acting like a wife here?” I asked him.

“Obviously me. You ask me every time I return from a mission and I explain all to you as if we are really engaged. Believe me your wife will get jealous of me.” He sat on my worktable where I sketched a hairpin.

“And I am.” Cora interrupted.

“How long have you been standing here?” I asked annoyed. And blaze looked between us as if he was about to be killed.

“I should excuse myself out of here.”

“No.” I intruded.

“You should better.” Cora showed her killer gaze.

Blaze fingers ran though his black hairs, blonde streak falling over his forehead as he pleaded apology from his prince and ran from the room.

“What is it Cora?” I asked frustrated.

“I came here to ask if we should visit some place tomorrow before our engagement day.” She went on to look at the sketch I had scribbled. She did not say anything about it. Instead she stared at it for a brief moment.

“See you at the dinner.” She left me alone. The candles had almost worn out by the time I went over to blow them for the sleep. My gaze fled outside the window, few hours before the sun would rise again.

I went to the study section in my room where candles were lit as I went through the books to choose for the night and it was hopeless how I had read all of those manuscripts for million times that I could tell what writer wrote in the sixty five page of all of those books.

***

In the morning I woke up to Miss Eloise instead of my made Malinda. I got self-conscious with myself what I woke up with messy hairs that would make me look maniac and the bright sunlight that seeped through the window irritated my just opened eyes.

“What brings you here so early in the morning.” I tried to sound clear.

“Because I think morning practices are the best. I talked to the king about this and he said you wake up a little late so I decided why not wake you up myself.” She beamed at me. The beautiful thing I saw that morning.

“OKAY.” I rubbed my eyes as I groaned, annoyed.

“Don’t do it?”

“What?”

“Don’t rub your eyes.”

“Yes, miss.” Her orders did not feel odd or out of her personality it was like she was just this what was in her mind was on her tongue.

Once I was out of the bed she told me the maid put my clothes on the rack and that the water was just the right temperature to take a bath.

When I walked out of the bath I found Eloise with a dagger in her hand, blade dripping with blood and before her was a fallen body of a wolf.

What did she do?