"Raymond! What have you done!" Raymond grimaced at Henry's loud voice. The kid is only seventeen but everything about him screams "Adult". He closed the book and poured a glass of wine, waiting for the tall young hot-blooded prince to storm into the Royal Library. Just before he can take a sip, Henry, the crown Prince of the Kingdom of Rynia, walked in, his face contorted with anger barely escaped from great self-control. He might kill me if he were a little more angry, he thought, but of course, he couldn't.
"Henry. Manners." Raymond cooly tilted the glass draining the wine in one shot. The crown Prince just watched him drink and recap the wine bottle, the anger on his face slowly faded away. The young man crossed his arms over his broad chest, "You cannot get rid of me like that, Raymond. That's not fair."
"I am not getting rid of you. I am just giving back your birthright. Hell! Henry. You are the heir of this.." Raymond gestured with his hand, indicating the whole kingdom. "I am tired, Henry. I know that you are already a king at heart and you are now ready for your duty. Your role."
"I am not!" The young prince yelled to his acting-King. "I still had a lot to learn. If I take the role of the King, or get married right now, I won't have much free time to learn what need to be learned, for the sake of future!" The last sentence, emphasized with much determination and stubbornness, Raymond decided to not respond. He just looked at the future King with eyes that understand everything. Henry softened. Raymond had been his parent more than his really ones. The late King and Queen loved him all right. But they failed to carry out the basic duty of parents, attention. Raymond had been the only one who always watched over him, raising him into the good person.
"Fine. I agree. But only when I find someone who really really touches my heart." The Prince grinned, widely, no trace of anger he had when he first heard about the ball for finding the suitor. "You can find someone you like, too. I won't let go of you, just to see you living alone."
Raymond snorted. His hands automatically reached for the wine bottle, only to have the Prince grasped it first. "I understand that you have a lot of stress and a lot of worries. But right now, I need you to be strong. This Kingdom needs you now. So. please don't crumble, all right. Just hang on till I am ready."
Raymond nodded, without looking at his godson's face. His left hand grasping his right one, as if stopping it from reaching at the wine bottle again. He was not an alcoholic, never been one. And he didn't like drinking. But stress and responsibility he never wanted, pushed him to find release in wine. Although he was doing fine carrying out his duties, the battle was slowly turning to the losing side. He was almost at his limit. That's why he wanted to give the throne to the Crown Prince so badly, although both his heart and brain knew it was too early. I cannot destroy myself, he thought. Oh, brother. Why did you have to leave the throne to me, a bastard who is never meant to rule? He looked upon the portraits of the late King and Queen, silently praying them to look after the Kingdom. they love so much.
.
On the day of the Ball
"Ohh. You mother and daughter. Can't you two just stay separately for one minute?" Harrietta exclaimed. In the carriage to the ball, I sat in my purple gown with Rosalind beside me, in her rose white dress. Harrietta sat against us. Although she complained of me taking Rosalind along, I could feel that she loved to have both of us with her.
"The invitation says that the ladies can bring along another lady companion or a family member as an escort. So, I choose Rosalind." I explained to her, then, I smiled down at my little devil. "Will you take care of Mommy at the ball?"
"Of course!" She screamed with enthusiasm that both of us, adults couldn't help but laughed.
"Woww!" Rosalind couldn't close her mouth, which was wide open with wonder. The palace was so impressive and so beautiful. Adding jam to the icing, the ladies of various classes wearing the most impressive collections of gowns of different designs wondered around the palace, making it the liveliest place in the world. Harrietta nudged my side with her elbow, then she whispered. "Whoever marries the Prince, sure will be the luckiest bitch in the world." I stepped on her shoes, on purpose.
"Rosalind. Don't let go of Mommy's hand. Will you?" Losing my daughter is the thing I am afraid most and now, I am regretting the decision to take her along.
"No. I won't. " She looked up me and gave an angelic smile.
In the Ballroom, I could see so many women, not only teens but also old women, chatting with each other. What strange was all the males, guests, servants and even guards were wearing masks. There's no way we can know who's the Prince is since every man looked almost identical with their black half-masks, black capes covering their whole body. I have caught a glimpse of glittering brass epaulets from some careless souls'shoulders. But that's all. Nothing indicates who is who, no rank and no class. Even a duchess could fall in love with a foot soldier under a situation like this. Not that I care of knowing who the Prince is.
"I didn't expect the situation to be like this," Harrietta said in an annoyed voice. "This is like a blind date. I could chat with a cute man and he could be a servant." She sighed. But she's not the only one. Almost all the females seemed to be disappointed at the unexpected. As I mentioned before, I don't care.
" ." Rosalind tagged my skirt. "What is it Honey?"
"Mommy. I am thirsty."
I searched for the counters and saw some just a little far we were standing. "Let's go. There may be juices." I grabbed her hand and we walked there, with Rosalind beaming like a sun. I could sense a thousand eyes focusing on us. and I could almost hear their thoughts, 'Who's that plain woman with a child?' or 'Does she think this is a nursery?' or 'Is she a nanny of some Duke or Duchess?'. I ignored them. What really matter most is my daughter is with me, safe and proud.
The castle servant handed a cup of grape juice to Rosalind. She was immediately enchanted by my daughter. But Rosalind is more like a beautiful devil, often mistaken with a gentle angel. Believe me. I am her mother.
"Miss. What would you like?" The servant girl asked me. I released my holding to Rosalind for a moment to receive the wine glass and avert my eyes for a second to say 'Thank you' like a decent human-being. But when I looked back to my side, Rosalind was nowhere to be found.
I felt like a thousand thunder bolts struck both my head and my heart. I couldn't think rationally. Frantically, I searched for her. I called out her name but only annoyed glances from many people answered. Harrietta was by my side immediately.
"Iris! What happened? Where is the girl?" She asked in a worried tone. I couldn't stop my tears any longer. They fell down like waterfall. I told Harrietta everything. When I finished, she shook her head.
"That's just like her. wondering alone herself, making her mother worried to dead." She grabbed my hands and comfort me. "Don't cry, Iris. We'll find her. Where do you think she could go off to?"
I thought for a while. "The servant at the juice counter said that she walked toward the crowd. But now you mentioned it. She was nagging me of going to the garden and the palace's bell tower. I think she went off alone." With each word coming out from my mouth, my worries slowly recede to controllable level.
"Then. I'll go to the garden and you go to the Bell tower." Then she went off to where the garden is.
I asked one of the guard where the Bell Tower is and if he had seen a girl of six. He showed me the direction of Bell tower and , to my great relief, he had seen a little girl in white dress trotted toward there about 15 minutes ago.
I have never run that much fast. People watching may think that I may be crazy because I ran like that. Grabbing my skirt front with both my hands and ran like a sprinter. Yes. Nothing matters for a mother in a time like that.
Prince Henry saw a glimpse of a woman sprinting across the corridors toward the Bell tower. Although it was just a few second, the beauty struck him like a thousand arrows to his heart. She was beautiful, with firey red hair and so white skin. Her face was angelic. The colour purple suited her well and the dress hugged her great curves beautifully. The activity did a great thing showing of her beautiful legs and strong body, nothing like the usual frail and delicate ladies of the court. He was dumbstruck for a while, unable to think anything but her.
"Your Highness." His personal assistant's whisper made him regain his senses. "The King is not where he is supposed to be."
"What!" All his blood rushed to his head. "He promised to go to the ball together." He silently cursed his godfather and headed off to the Ballroom, alone. He made a mental note to search for the beautiful red head. Later. First, he had to carry out his role.