Heir to the Throne of Roses
Trinity Blood
Ch.4 Not even a Mouse
At the Palace Gates
Esther sobbed uncontrollably into the priest's warm chest. His hand slipped through the gate as he embraced her back. She rubbed her face in his scent. It was impossible to put into words her emotion for him.
"Esther." He whispered knowingly. So much for not expecting a hello.
Mary didn't know what to make of the Princess. Not only was her dress a sad mess, but she was barefoot and splattered with mud. Ion stood defeated, watching as Abel got all of the attention he hoped to have. A glimmer of jealousy shone in his eyes. This was their moment, and he knew now that unless she hadn't seen him, he would not be greeted this way.
He deliberately cleared his throat. Mary glanced at him awkwardly. She was holding them back from entering at this hour and without confirmation from the Princess, but I guess this was all she needed.
Esther gave him one final squeeze and broke away from him after what seemed like forever to the onlookers.
"Ion" she breathed through her tears, "You're safe1" she ran across the gate to his side and held out her arms through the bars for him. He took them sadly, kissing her hand and holding her tightly. It didn't work right. She smelled like Abel now. He pulled away early, with Esther still leaning into him.
"I'm so happy both of you are safe." She cried a bit more. Mary rubbed her shoulder and flipped the combination of switched to unlock the gate. It was obvious she would not part with these visitors tonight.
"It's late Princess, you should be reading yourself for bed. And what have you done to your dress."
"Ohhh, it was old anyways. " Esther lied, too distracted to care that it was a personal favorite of hers.
The gate opened and Esther launched herself, this time a bit more civilized, at the silver – haired priest. She swung him side to side gently and finally pulled away holding both of the men's hands and leading them in through the gate.
"Please come in, you must stay the night." She pleaded with them.
The two nodded, Abel with a tender smile, an Ion with a sad one. Mary closed the gate behind them and quickly pulled Esther to her side, ripping their hands apart.
"Princess you must go clean and ready for the night. You have grown pale. I wouldn't want you to become sick suddenly." She deliberately dragged her alongside herself to the main entrance. Esther tried to put her feet down as a brake, but Mary pulled her stronger. The two puzzled men followed them up to the door. Once they were inside. They removed their jackets and hung them near the door. A short, white haired man came and took the two men's baggage, bringing it to a security room to e checked.
Mary undid the knot in Esther's dress to cover her ankles again. Smoothing out her corset and tucking in a bit of her chest that was slipping out of the top, she handed the Princess in to her personal servants to clean up. Abel stared in pain as he saw her being taken away against her will. He imagined that she was silenced a lot in the Palace. The young red-head kicked and struggled, but the maids carried her away with a smile. "Come now your highness, the rose bath is ready."
"But-But-But" she stammered, reaching out for her guests, particularly Abel. She knew it was past her curfew, she had to be in her bedroom at this hour. That meant no dinner, and more torturously, no Abel until the morning.
She couldn't take it, having him under her roof and being incapable to be with him.
"Good night!" yelled the Priest when the Maids pulled her around the corner. He thought he heard something yelled back, but didn't catch it.
"Gentlemen, my personal assistant will guild you to the showers and your bedrooms for the night as it is evident the Princess would like to have you here tonight." Mary recited coldly. She saw Esther's eyes for Able. If he was a prince, her troubles would end, but he wasn't. He was a man of the church that took a vow of poverty, and most importantly chastity. She would not allow Esther to be spoiled this way.
A strict looking woman in business attire walked with dignity to the two travelers and bowed lightly, leading them into the halls and to the opposite side of the palace from the Princess.
Abel had hardly gotten in two words with Esther. He tangled his fingers together as he walked, taking a painful side glance at a brooding Ion, obviously disappointed with his welcoming. Abel still had the fudge he brought for her as a humble gift in his pocket.
"Here is our room sir, the bath is within. If you need anything, a bell near the door summons a maid. Good night sir." The assistant of the she-witch Maria bowed and took the younger boy up a few doors and recited the same speech, letting him into his room and walking away into the silence of her office.
Later that night
Peeking one eye open, she checked the house-sized room for any maids. The coast was clear. Tip-toeing out of bed, she pulled away the blinds and checked outside the window, in the bathroom, closet, and even under her bed. She was finally alone. 'Not even a mouse' she thought to herself.
Still in her nightie, the small girl slid silently to her door, opened it a tiny crack and checked the hall. No maids or guards. Slipping through the smallest opening possible, she tip-toed, pressed flat against the walls, to where the hall opened into the back of the main entrance. Heart racing in her throat, she flattened herself on the floor and slipped under the elevated couches and tables. Sliding along on the marble floors, she saw the boots of a security officer sleeping in his post chair. Smiling, she stood and jogged on her toes to the opposite hall.
From there, she had to cover a lot of ground to get to the guest quarters, and any room could be Abel's. Biting her lip, she pressed her ear to the first guest door, no sound. She repeated this until she came to one room with the shower running. Gambling in her head, she thought about entering uninvited. If she waited until the shower stopped to knock, she could be discovered, or the knock could be heard.
Taking a leap of fate, she wrenched the door open and quickly closed it. She thanked the skies above for the oil in the hinges. Her own room door creaked almost on purpose. She mentally stuck her tongue out at Mary and her cages.
Seeing as she still wasn't sure who the room belonged to, she turned and looked around the room for any clothes or bags. 'Drats!' Esther cursed in her head. Their bags were still being checked. Unless they undressed in the bathroom, there was bound to be some sort of proof somewhere.
ON the nightstand she saw the Priest's circular glasses. Squealing in success she punched the air. 'Successfully infiltrated the base' she thought merrily to herself. A little tingle of panic bubbled as she threw herself into the large couch in front of the lit fireplace. She was in Abel's room. It was dark. She crossed her fingers that she would not be caught. It wasn't what it looked like. She just couldn't coldly send him off and not say anything. No, she wasn't done with him yet.
Her heart stopped when she heard the pipes whining when the water was turned off.
'Oh god, here he comes. What if he's naked? Oh no!' she panicked to herself.
Planning for the worst, the girl curled up in a ball and covered her eyes.
The large wooden door opened slowly, steam from the hot water slithering across the floors.
Esther squeaked in preparation and shut her eyes tighter.