The stolen soul

Chapter Four

The court maid was quite mature, much more than she thought. Much more than the other maids who looked like they were all in their teens. Kaliya stood, head to the ground. Lady Luarine looked at her, sipped her tea and dropped the cup before turning to her again.

"You look quite young." She finally looked up. "Pardon?" Lady Luarine crossed her fingers and sighed. "You, how did you get here? Did the prince really bring you in himself?" Kaliya nodded. Lady Luarine didn't want to act surprised as she'd already heard from the other maids. But she was truly surprised. She looked the girl from head to toe. Was there something he wasn't telling her? She'd ask him later. For now, one more thing was important.

"Here are some books. They are everything the crown prince and the king like. You have to study them hard. As you can see I may leave the palace very soon as I am sick. I want to see to it that they are both served well." "Yes court lady Luarine. But, do I really have to serve the king too? I am serving you and the prince." "Quiet! What do you know to argue with me?" "Ehm, I'm not arguing. I just... Isn't it too much?" "I said quiet! Now I see what the prince is talking about. You have the guts to argue with an instruction given to you in the palace. Do you know what the ways of the palace are?"

Kaliya apologized. Lady Luarine sighed. The girl was so innocent and naive to be in the palace. Was it a good thing that the crown prince had her back or was the worst still yet to come? But either way, she didn't want anything to happen to the child. "You don't know anything Kaliya. And because you don't, you shouldn't act like you do. You don't even fear anything. You exchange words with anyone anytime."

"You may not like it here. But it's your fate. No one gets out once they get into the palace." Laurine pretended to not see the devastated look on her face and continued. "You will serve the king and prince alike. The king likes tea at midnight whenever he cannot sleep. The prince prefers it before he goes to bed. While the king likes green grass tea, the prince prefers lemon grass tea."

She picked up a book and opened it. This are the ingredients to make the spices for the king's meals. And the prince, because he's sick, he does not eat so much spicy food." Kaliya just kept nodding her head wondering how to go about everything. Laurine didn't fail to notice her uneasiness. She closed the book and sighed.

"We'll take it slowly. You should come with me when I serve the king. For now, I need my drugs." "Of course." She watched Kaliya leave. She was about the same age as she when she first came to the palace. She was perhaps even more naive then than Kaliya was now. And that was the more reason why she didn't want anything to happen to her.

But Kaliya? This was unbearable torture for her and she couldn't take it anymore. Was the prince expecting her to live there all her life? Ridiculous! She couldn't do that. She'd find a way to leave. But how when she was stuck up here because of the things she'd broken? She had to work to compensate for them since she couldn't pay. It wasn't like she'd thought earlier. It was harder. Having to follow every instruction and not complain,then run errands like she never got tired.

It was more miserable than she imagined.

Damien sat cross legged, facing the assembly. There was dead silence in the room. Then the chief prime minister spoke. "Your highness,we still do not understand you. Do you really not intend to take the throne?" "That is what I said." "But your highness, there is no one else to do that. How can you just leave it vacant?" The financial minister asked politely.

Damien dropped his leg and stood up. "I have made my decision. I do not have any reason to answer to you. If you're are still disturbed you can go take the throne yourselves. I don't want it." He walked to the door and stopped. "Why do you all fight for that seat anyway? Something that gives only misery and regrets. I pity the one sits in it. I really do." Then he walked out.

Dila was just outside and almost bumped into him when he walked out. She looked at him. "You... Do you really mean it? You don't want to be king?" Her voice trembled as she spoke and the tears in her eyes were about to fall. Damien wanted to be moved by them, but he wasn't. Instead he turned and started to walk away.

"Our wedding is tonight. You should be prepared." He said. He walked a distance from her before Dila yelled. "I don't want to get married to you!" Damien stopped and looked at her. "Should I be happy?" He asked bluntly. Dila finally let her tears fall. She rushed up to him and grabbed his robe.

"Why?" She screamed. "Why do you do this to me? Why do you keep torturing me like this? Why? Why? Why?" Damien didn't answer. He grabbed her hand jerked it away. "When I loved you what did you do? You broke me, again and again. You made a fool of me. What did I not do for you? I did all I could. But because you're born power drunk, you didn't even care how many times you hurt me. I'm done being stupid for you. Do you hear me? You should go get ready for our wedding."

Dila wasn't giving up just yet. "Is it because of her? Kaliya?" Damien didn't answer. "You don't have to get worked up about me." He made to walk away. "If you take one more step, I'll use every power I have to ruin that girl. Believe me. I would." Damien frowned. "Do you really think I have feelings for that child?" "It doesn't matter. I know you want her safe which is something I can't assure you if you dare to..." "Dare to! That is a strong threat to make to the crown prince don't you think? I'll forget what we had Dila. I won't remember."

"What exactly did I even do Damien? What makes you hate me so much?" "Did you just call my first name? Not even when we were friends,or when I loved you. Do you think I can not punish you?" "Who would let you punish me?" "I don't..." "Your highness." They both turned. Kaliya stood a little distance from them. She bowed when they looked at her.

"What is it?" Dila asked angrily. Kaliya looked up. "I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the prince." Dila wanted to explode. "How dare you..." "I'll come with you Kaliya. What is the matter?" "It is time for your rest. Lady Luarine asked me to serve you in her place." "Then let us go." He threw an eye on Dila before walking away. Kaliya did the same.