The Honor of Beasts

I jerk awake from my nightmares by the knocking on the door, head aching and heart pounding. I blink a few times to get the sleep from my eyes, then sit up slowly clutching my head. More knocking reminds me of why I’ve woken up. So I smooth out my hair, then call out -hoping my voice doesn’t tremble. “Come in.”   Deliliah walks in smiling with my breakfast tray, it’s delicious smell already wafting through my bedchamber. Closing the door behind her she says, “Good morning, your highness!”  “Good morning,” I mumble, rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands.   Fortunately, mother isn’t here to scold me for mumbling. “It is unseemingly for a princess to mumble. Utterly drastic,” she would say, shaking her head. “Did you sleep well?” Deliliah asks as she places the tray on my bedside table, glancing at the dark shadows under my eyes that never seem to go away.  No, I want to say, I never sleep well these days. Monsters always lay waiting for me when I close my eyes. Instead I just reply, “Yes.” It’s obvious she doesn’t believe me as she sits in the loveseat besides my bed eyeing me dubiously, but thankfully she says no more. Even so, maybe I want her to, maybe I want her to ask about my nightmares, to reassure me they aren’t real, just in my head.   Grabbing my tray I place it on my lap -eyeing the blueberry tarts greedly- and start eating, leaving them for last. Always the best for last. “Today’s court day, don’t forget.” I moan, leaning back on the headboard and munching on some warm bread. My mother would scold me for that too but I don’t care. Court day. Oh how I hate it! It’s the absolute definition of boredom.  Deliliah laughs at my expression, “You’re lucky it’s only twice a month now.”  She’s right, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. It used to be once every week, but fortunately for me -and unfortunately for the people- my father changed it to once every two weeks. Apparently, he too disliked them, maybe one of the only things we have in common. Stuffing my mouth with some fresh fruit, I shudder as I remember those horrid times. However, we disliked court day for very different reasons. He just didn’t like listening to the people, while I didn’t like listening to him condemning those poor people to horrible fates over measly crimes.   “I think I’m feeling ill,” I let out a fake cough as I glance at my maid pleadingly.  She just laughs some more while walking to my wardrobe to pick out something for me to wear. “You’re not fooling anyone.” I sigh and finish the rest of my breakfast, moaning in delight as I take a huge bite out of the warm blueberry tarts. Deliliah turns around and leans on my tall wooden wardrobe, smiling devilishly she asks, “How’s Caleb?”  I roll my eyes at her, the question she never seems to forget. “Sometimes I feel like your sole purpose in life is to annoy me.”  “What? I’m just asking about the well doing of a friend,” she blinks innocently at me.  Something flashes in the corner of my eye making me glance at the window. I stare at it for a moment, narrowing my eyes then place my mostly empty tray back at my bedside table and stand up. A spark of irritation and playfulness spreads through me as I walk to the window, trying to hide my smile. Unlike Deliliah who’s now staring with full eagerness at the open window.  I reach it and look down, nothing. I look above me, and all around but still find nothing. Strange, I’m sure I saw something.  “We know you’re here Caleb,” I call out. Maybe it was just a bird- “Mmm...this is really good,” I swivel around to find a smirking Caleb sitting at the edge of my bed munching on the last blueberry tart. My surprise for how he got inside quickly turns to annoyance.  “Don’t you dare finish that,” I walk quickly towards him and snatch the tart from his hands. Or at least attempt to, for he swiftly moved it away before I could.  “But it’s so very good.” He takes another bite as he darts away from under me. “Hello Caleb!” Delilah waves cheerfully at him, to which he waves back with a wink. I glare at her and she just shrugs innocently.  Turning to Caleb, I place my hand out palm up. “Caleb, will you please give me back my blueberry tart.”  He rubs his chin, eyeing the half eaten tart, as if pondering a hard question. “Well, since you asked so nicely,” He slowly brings the tart closer, watching me as a smile slowly spreads across my face, then abruptly pulls back, “But I’m also nice, your Highness, and I like to share.” He divides the tart in half and hands one to me. And before I can say anything, he’s already stuffed his half in his mouth, chewing happily.  I snarl at him as I chew on the remains of my blueberry tart. You’ll take your revenge on him today during training, he’ll know not to mess with your dessert next time, I tell myself. Yes, yes. I take a deep breath. “Caleb, get out,” I say calmly, pointing to the door.  He gives a fake pout which makes me want to slap him. “But Rosa, I just got here. See, I heard Delilah was asking about me.” He turns to Delilah, giving her a beaming grin, “I’m doing very well, thanks for asking. Unlike you I assume, being Rosa’s handmaiden and all. Oh, how you must tire!” He places a hand on his forehead and leans on the wall behind him. “Oh, the pain, the agony to be in the presence of such a monster.” If anyone else talked to me like that they would be thrown in the dungeons before they could blink, but this is Caleb and I’m used to his obnoxiousness by now. So I just grab him, sighing, pull him to the door, open it and shove him out. “That’s enough fun for you, now bye.”  “Goodbye Delil-” I shut the door before he can finish.  When I turn around I see Delilah grinning, her hand still raised in a wave, which she immediately lowers after I shoot her a glare. “You could have let him stay a while longer.” “Shouldn’t I be dressing? It’s court day, remember.” I say as I walk to the privy chamber to wash my face and hands.  “I would have just turned around Rosalia dear!” Caleb calls out from behind my door.  Delilah laughs as she finally opens my wardrobe to pick something. That girl will literally laugh at anything Caleb says.  “Just go to court Caleb before all the ladies come knocking on my door,” I call back with a huff.