Helia had joined the princess and her handmaiden for tea for the past week. The blend of tea always changed, and the food would change as well. Helia was always so surprised when he would hear that Flora had been responsible for the various spread at tea. Most everything had been delicious and when it hadn't been, Helia knew that it was a result of his own tastebuds and not the skills of the young handmaiden.
Just as the food and tea would change every day, Flora would sit in the corner of the room and watch the princess and prince awkwardly navigate through the hour. Had it not been for the woman in the corner of the room, Helia would have not kept coming back. He was thankful that she was here, sitting in the corner and embroidering something because she provided the much-needed buffer between the prince and the princess.
Krystal would talk about her time in Linphea, and her smile would brighten. The stories would become more animated when she would turn to Flora and they would talk about what happened. Flora always accused the princess of exaggerating and insisted that the story did not happen in the way that the princess had told it.
This day had been no exception.
A long blue cloth sat across Flora's lap and she held a needle in her hand as she wove in and out of the cloth. Helia did his best not to admire the way that the blue fabric on her lap mixed in with the mint color of her gown. Every day she sat there, and every day she was just as beautiful.
"...and then Flora yelled at the duke and slapped him across the face."
"You know that is not what happened, Your Highness." Flora sighed as she set down her needle and looked towards the princess. "I simply told the duke that I would not put up with any of his drunken forwardness and I left for bed."
"Princess Diaspro said-"
"How many times have I told you not to listen to the rumors of Princess Diaspro, Your Highness?"
Krystal gave a soft and indignant humph as she turned her attention back to Helia.
"And you don't listen to her, Prince Helia. Flora always wants to downplay how brilliant she really is, but I will be the first to tell you that she is completely flawless. She really doesn't see the effect that she has on people and if you ask me," Krystal leaned towards Helia to whisper in his ear but still loud enough for Flora to hear from across the room, "it's kind of annoying. She could have the pick of any man that came into the palace and still…nothing."
"Once again, Your Highness," Flora's soft voice filled the room, "you know that is not true and I will not have you lying to the prince. Plus, all of those men were pompous know-it-alls with more ego than they knew what to do with."
Krystal rolled her eyes as she picked up her cup of tea and took a sip.
"See what I mean?" Krystal gave Helia a smirk, "There is no pleasing our Flora. She might not believe it is so, but I think that one day a man will come and sweep Flora off of her feet when she least expects it and I will be standing by her side at her wedding telling her 'I told you so'."
Helia snuck a glance back to the woman in green in the corner of the small study. But it appeared that he had not been so covert in his glance as he thought he had been.
"She is making me a dress." Krystal remarked as she set down her teacup, her eyes looking down at a sandwich that was on her plate as she answered Helia's unasked question. "For your Birthday Ball."
"Birthday Ball? Why the Hell would I have a...I mean," Helia barely caught himself, "I am not aware of any Birthday Ball, Princess."
"Well, there isn't one yet, but I was hoping that you would maybe talk to your father about having-"
"No." Helia quickly shut down the young princess, "There will be no ball and I think that you should tell your handmaiden to stop."
"I will do no such thing, Your Highness." Flora shook her head, bringing Helia's attention back to the corner, "Princess Krystal will have a new dress, ball or not. However, I would hope that she would be able to wear this gown to the ball. I have been working very hard on it and a gown such as this is just asking to be enjoyed by many at a ball. Especially one in your honor. Wouldn't you want to show off your bride-to-be, Your Highness?"
Helia glared at her, not wanting to give Flora a response. Well, at least not the response that he wanted to give. He didn't want to show off Krystal.
"Would it please you to have a ball?" Helia asked Flora. She closed her eyes and nodded.
"It would please my princess," Flora opened her eyes and made eye contact with Helia, "so it would please me."
The room fell into silence and the large wooden clock by one of the bookshelves sounded.
"Your Highness, it is time to prepare for dinner."
Krystal nodded as Flora gathered the fabric and sewing equipment in her hands. She turned to Helia and gave him a bright smile.
"Will you be joining us, Prince Helia?" Krystal asked, hoping that the quiet prince would say yes.
"No," Helia did his best to sound apologetic as he watched Krystal's face fall into an expression of disappointment, "I have a meeting with one of the members of the provincial council."
"Oh," Krystal sighed but then brought a smile back onto her face. At least he wasn't purposely blowing her off. It seemed that his excuse had been genuine. "Then will you join me for tea tomorrow, Prince Helia."
Helia inhaled and did his best not to look back at the woman cleaning in the corner. She was the main reason that he entertained these daily teas with Krystal.
"I believe that I could spare some time. It would depend on how my dinner goes with..." Helia paused, "I will let you know."
"Very well, I look forward to your decision on the matter." Krystal replied.
"I had a lovely time as always, Princess." Helia gave Krystal a small bow. Krystal did her best not to frown, hoping that he would have shown a little more affection but if there is one thing that she knew about Helia, it was that he was not romantic. Krystal hoped for the day that he would leave without so much formality. Maybe a kiss on the hand or even the cheek. She supposed that a bow was better than nothing.
Krystal gave Helia a small nod before she turned away from the young prince and gave Flora a small smile. Flora smiled back at her and Helia could not help but to admire the young woman. It had been well over a month since the women had arrived from Linphea and Helia still could not shake the attraction that he had for the princess's handmaiden and the indifference that he held for the princess herself. It was not right to feel this way towards a future bride, even if the marriage was completely political. Perhaps some sort of attraction or amicableness would grow in the future, but for now, Helia was left with his head filled with images of the handmaiden.
"I will be there to help you after I clear away the tea, Your Highness." Flora gave Krystal a small bow.
Had she always stayed behind? Helia had always been the first to leave, usually being called to meet with government officials and once when it was announced to him that Perran had returned to his family home from the medical barracks.
Krystal walked out of the small study, her lavender hair swinging behind her with every step. Helia couldn't help but to notice the way that she might have been swinging her hips a little more intentionally than usual. But the curves on the princess were nothing compared to Flora's, and unfortunately, Helia was not the only one to share this same opinion.
"It seems that the princess has gotten more comfortable around you, Your Highness."
Helia's attention was pulled to Flora as she stepped towards the table. She had grabbed an apron that had been sitting on the chair beside her as the prince and princess had enjoyed their tea and she had tied it around her waist. Once again, emphasizing her curvy physique.
"What makes you say that?" Helia asked as he watched Flora start to consolidate the sandwiches and treats together.
"She has begun talking to you as she talks to me, Your Highness. I also see the way that she looks at you with warmth in her eyes. I think that she is starting to like you."
"Is she?" Helia folded his arms over his chest as he looked at the closed door that Krystal had just sauntered out of moments ago.
Flora stopped what she was doing and brought her eyes up to Helia, green meeting blue as she glanced over to the door and then back to him. She leaned forward in his direction and Helia did his best not to make it clear that he had been affected by her closer proximity. Had she become more comfortable with him as well?
"Please don't tell Her Highness that I am telling you this," Helia smirked, slightly comforted to know that Flora had felt at ease enough to share a secret, even if it was not her's, "Princess Krystal has expressed a growing affinity towards you, Your Highness. She looks forward to this time of day now. I think that she feels less lonely when she is with you."
Flora backed away from Helia and resumed her cleanup. Helia didn't really know what to say. What could he say? There was nothing to say as far as he was concerned. He felt almost guilty for not feeling the same way. Being with the princess felt like a chore and the only thing that made the hour fly by was Flora who dutifully sat in the corner, working on the blue gown for a ball that would not be.
"I suppose that she will not like me too much if this Birthday Ball, or whatever it is to be so named, does not happen."
"No, Your Highness," Flora sweetly smiled, "while Princess Krystal would love it if you were able to convince His Majesty to have a ball, she is much more than some flippant princess. A ball will not sway her opinion of you. However, I think that she would be overjoyed if you were to ask."
Helia frowned, there was no way that he was going to talk to his father about something so frivolous as a ball for his birthday. It's not like it was some special birthday anyways. He hoped to just spend it like he did every year, by himself with a bottle of whiskey and thanking God above that he had it in him to live another year while also lamenting that he still had more life to live. He loathed being the center of attention and he had wondered who had told the princess and Flora when his birthday was.
Saladin...
That sly, sneaky, meddling bastard.
"And how would you feel?" Helia looked at Flora as she began stacking the empty plates on top of each other.
"I told you, Your Highness. If the princess is happy, then I am happy."
"I don't care what the princess thinks, how would you feel?"
The sound of stacking porcelain stopped as Flora ceased her stacking of the plates. She rose upright and turned her head to look at the prince. Shaking her head, she spoke.
"It doesn't matter what I think, Your Highness. While I would be glad to see the dress that I make be admired by everyone in the Royal Court, I suppose the gown could be worn for another occasion."
"So you don't care?" Helia cocked his head to the side.
Flora wiped her hands on her apron, brown tea stains streaking the white cloth, "I'm just a servant, Your Highness. You have made that clear time and time again. Why do you care about what I think?"
"I don't," Helia lied, "just call it curiosity."
"Of course you don't." Flora sighed, "Besides, I wouldn't be able to attend the ball anyways."
"Who said that you wouldn't be able to attend?"
Flora looked up at Helia, "I didn't think that servants would be allowed to attend balls, Your Highness."
"Usually no," Helia walked behind Flora and picked up the plates that she had stacked, "but it would be my ball after all and I think that I could make an exception for you. You'll be like Cinderella."
"Who?" Flora turned around to face Helia, taking the dirty plates from his hands.
"Cinderella." Helia scoffed, "Evil stepmother and stepsisters, servant girl, royal ball, glass slipper..."
Flora still looked at Helia as if she had no idea what he was talking about. Helia stepped away from Flora and made his way over to one of the large bookshelves in the study and pulled down a small light blue book. Walking back over to Flora, he held out the book and she took it gently in her hands.
"Here. Cinderella." Helia pointed to the book.
"I...I..."
"You are free to read any book in this palace. It's not like they see the light of day that much anymore but Saladin makes sure to keep them well read. I am sure that they could use another set of eyes to look down at them."
"I can't, Your Highness." Flora held the book out to Helia.
"Last time I checked, I was the prince and while I don't have as much power as my father, I would like to think that I can control who reads the books that would otherwise collect dust. It's not as if my father cares for stories, not anymore at least."
"That's not it, Your Highness."
"If you are worried about time, it is a short book and I think that you would be able to get through it in no time."
"Your Highness, I can't read."
Helia's mouth snapped shut as Flora looked from below her long lashes. What did she mean that she couldn't read?
"Can't read? But you said you used to..."
Her words hit him from the journey over a month ago back to the palace.
"My father would tell me all the ancient tales of heroes from all over the world when I was a little girl before I came to the palace."
Then Krystal followed.
"Eldora, our librarian, would read aloud to the servants in the palace."
Flora had said nothing about knowing how to read. Helia placed his hand on the book but he did not take it from her, not just yet. He was surprised to find out this information from Flora.
"I see..." Helia took the book back and placed it on the table. "I suppose you won't be needing that then."
Flora cast her eyes down to the table and picked the stack of plates back up into her hands.
"I'm sure it was a lovely story."
Helia looked down at the book in his hands, the light blue book complimenting the pale of his hands. He looked from the book and his eyes followed Flora as she walked out of the study through the servant's door.
The fire roared in the small study as the King sat at a large wooden desk that had various maps scattered across the top. With his hand holding a glass of clear vodka, Azrael surveyed the maps. He assessed the terrain and planned for his next move, his next attack on his enemies. Azrael groaned as he traced the lands on the maps, tired of thinking about his next step and hoping that the war would be over. He was growing bored with Koria and hoped that they would finally just surrender, it was a wonder why they hadn't already. He had already destroyed almost everything that they had.
Azrael broke out into a silent chuckle to himself, thinking about who his next target would be. After the death of his wife, nothing brought him such joy as making sure that others had suffered in the way that he had. His father had tried to tell him that while the world was not fair, that the King should not grieve in this way. But what did that old man know of fair? He should have been on the throne, not him. He never asked for it but here he was, king and free to do whatever it was that he wanted to do. Nobody told him how to rule, how to treat his subjects, and how to handle the grief of losing his wife.
A knock on the door brought the king's attention back to the present and away from the maps sprawled across the large desk. Who could have been visiting him so late at night? Whoever it was, it had to be important. Everyone knew that the king did not like to be disturbed after he had retired for the night.
"Come in." King Azrael called from his desk. The large wooden door swung open with a loud creak and Azrael looked up to see Duncan standing in the doorway. "Ah, Captain, what is it?"
Duncan stepped inside of the room and took a bow before shutting the door behind him. Duncan looked at the king and cleared his throat.
"I do not mean to disturb you, Your Majesty," Duncan replied, "but I was hoping that I could ask you for help on a matter that I have been thinking about for quite some time."
Azrael set down his quilled pen and clasped his hands together after gesturing for Duncan to take a seat. Duncan sat in one of the large leather chairs in front of the desk.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Duncan gave the king a nod.
"So, what can I help you with, my boy?" King Azrael asked. "I thought that you would have retired for the night. I know that you lead the early morning training."
Duncan looked down at the map on the desk and picked up a small horse figurine and set it in front of a line of small male figurines, representing the Hademort military.
"You see, Your Majesty, I think that my talents would be better served on the battlefield." Duncan shrugged.
"You know that I cannot send you out there at this time. Your skills are needed here to better train the troops. What would happen if you were to fall out there on the battlefield?"
"I appreciate and understand your concern, Your Majesty, but you know that I have very little to worry about on the battlefield. I know that I could win this war for you in no time and then the glory would be yours, Your Highness."
Duncan reached forward across the desk and reached for an empty glass and the large crystal bottle of vodka. He poured himself and glass and took a hefty sip.
"Why so eager to get back out there? Koria is hundreds of miles away and I thought that you quite enjoyed being in the heart of the kingdom."
"I do, Your Majesty," Duncan swirled the vodka in his glass as he twisted his wrist, "I was just hoping that if I won this war for you then you would be able to help me win a prize of my own."
Azrael narrowed his eyes in suspicion as he took another drink, "And what kind of prize did you have in mind, Captain?"
Duncan chuckled as he set down his glass, "The girl from Linphea."
Azrael smirked, "I see. Though I don't know how I would be able to help."
"You are the king, Your Majesty. You have the power to make her do what you will. She is now under your control, and I would hope that when I come back victorious from Koria that you would persuade her to be my wife."
King Azrael smirked, "You never needed my help with gaining the attention of the women both in and out of the palace."
"I sense that this girl from Linphea requires much more than seduction for her to be mine. She seems so...pure...and while annoying, she hangs onto that vapid little princess, but that girl intrigues me more than the other women of the court and much more than the servants that I have had my fun with. I want her and I would win a war for you to make it so."
"How noble of you, Captain. Though you are right, she is quite the little prudish tease. I say, just stick your cock in her and move along to a woman more...your speed."
Duncan chuckled, "While I could easily do that, I find that she is dutiful and would make a most obedient wife. She would do what you say, Your Majesty. And she is the most beautiful woman that I have ever met, traipsing around the palace in those gowns that leave so little to the imagination. You just give the command, and she would be mine, Your Majesty. I win the war, I get Flora, and she will give you more soldiers...like me."
King Azrael scanned the young captain and took in the seriousness of his request. He never though that Duncan would want the young Linphean woman as anything more than someone to warm his bed from time to time, but she was beautiful, and he could understand why the captain would want the handmaiden on a more permanent basis.
"I will consider it." King Azrael said as he stood up from his chair, Duncan rising to his feet and giving the king a bow. "I will retire for the evening. I think that it would be best for you to return to your quarters."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you for your time."
Duncan bowed; his golden eyes trained on the king. He would get what he wanted, whether he had to take it for himself. He didn't need the king to give him Flora, but it would make things much easier. Plus, Duncan knew that the Linphean woman was the true object of the quiet prince. Everyone else may be too blind or dumb to see it but Duncan did not become the youngest captain in Hademort's history by being nonobservant. If she were to become his bride, he would have everything that prince could ever want and there was nothing that he wouldn't do to see the look of pure disappointment on the prince's face. He deserved everything that the prince had, and he would be sure that he had the two things that the prince wanted.
The acceptance of the king and the woman that he knew that the prince wanted most.
Taking his leave, Duncan walked down the hall where he ran into a young servant walking down the hall. She stopped him in his tracks.
"Will you be wanting me tonight, Captain?" the servant batted her eyelashes as she placed a hand on the captain's chest.
Duncan removed her hands from his body and held them in his, "Not tonight, Mitzi. I have a lot on my mind."
Helia sat on the edge of his bed as he held a glass of whiskey in his hand and stared into the fire that roared in the fireplace in his room. Beside him on the bed was the light blue book containing the story of the young servant woman who would soon gain the attention and the affections of the prince. How ridiculous! Hence the reason that it was only just that, a story. It would never happen in real life.
At least that is what he had always thought.
That was until the Linphean woman showed up on his shores with the princess and had gained his attraction, and maybe his affection. He had yet to find a fault with the handmaiden, other than her insubordination to those who held power over her. But who said that was a fault? She was unafraid to stand up to him, she had seen the worst of him, and yet, she had accepted his apology and talked to him with such kindness. He didn't deserve her. She didn't deserve any of this. She didn't deserve to be in the presence of her father and the perverted captain. Flora was beautiful both inside and out and Helia knew that if she knew how he felt, he would ruin her. Hademort always ruined everything that it touched.
Helia sighed as he looked into his glass, the crystal glimmering in the light of the fire. He remembered the way that she had seemed to glow in the firelight as she stood by the fireplace in the dining room.
There was a knock on his door and Helia groaned as his mind had been pulled away from the images of Flora.
"Come in."
No point in turning whoever it was away. Though he had a feeling he knew who it was. Only one person would seek him out at night.
The door opened and in walked the person that Helia had expected.
"What do you want?" Helia asked the old man as he walked inside of the bedroom.
"I just wanted to see how you were doing this evening, Your Highness."
Helia groaned, "I am fine. You don't need to check up on me every night."
"No, I do not, but I find myself unable to sleep not knowing if you are doing well. You know I worry."
Helia glanced at the old man, "You don't need to."
Saladin looked down and towards the small blue book on Helia's bed, "Your mother read that book to you all the time when you were a baby. I am sure that you don't remember but I remember the look on your face as she would read to you before bed. Your father would sit in the corner, smiling, as her voice filled your nursery and-"
"Is there anything else that you might need?" Helia cut off the old man, wanting to hear no more of talks of the past.
"No, Your Highness." Saladin gave Helia a shallow bow before turning and making his way to the door.
"Wait," Helia called out, stopping Saladin in his tracks.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
Helia placed his hand on the blue book at his side and ran his fingers over the title, the grooves of the engraving rough against his fingers.
"You told me to find out what it is that I wanted. The problem is, there are only two things that I want, and it seems that if I choose one, I cannot have the other."
"What do you mean by that, Your Highness?" Saladin asked, urging Helia to elaborate.
"All my life, all I wanted was my father's attention and acceptance. I wanted him to be proud of me and I still want that, but I also find that I want something else...someone else. My father demands a sort of ruthlessness and aggression. He hasn't even said a word to me since the night I..." Helia didn't want to think of that night and the day that he had nearly killed a man because of her, "but if I were to do everything that my father wants, I fear that I would lose all hope there is for gaining the affection of someone else. Someone who is too kind for anyone here in Hademort."
"Helia, my boy," Saladin walked back over to Helia and sat next to the prince, "I do suppose that you are at an impasse."
"What do I do?"
Saladin sighed and tapped the top of Helia's hands, "I think that you need to decide what kind of prince, person, that you want to be."
Helia pulled his hand away and rolled his eyes, "Why must I make all of the decisions?"
"Nobody said that being a prince would be easy."
"But what..." Helia took a deep breath, "what if it isn't enough? Who I decide to be? Who I am?"
Saladin gave Helia a sympathetic look, "Be yourself. Do what you know is right and I believe that you will find happiness. You are a good child...a good man, and the goodness that I know is deep down inside of you will help you make that decision."
"I think that you know which path that would lead me down," Helia gave a small smirk to his grandfather, "but I fear that even the best parts of me aren't worthy of the worst parts of her. She is...is...is perfect. And I...I would only destroy all that is good in her."
"She is quite something, isn't she?"
Helia smiled, a rare sight for the prince, "Oh she is, and I don't deserve her. Besides, I am engaged to Krystal and this marriage has been planned for nearly my entire life."
"I do suppose that presents quite the problem."
"Ugh!" Helia ran his hands through his hair and pulled at the strands, "It seems that no matter what I decide, I cannot win."
"Flora is not something or someone to be won." Helia shook his head, "She is not a game or one of my son's wars. And your father's affections are not to be won either. You do not win or lose in life, you simply live it and take everything that comes your way, good or bad, in stride."
Helia fell back on his bed as Saladin gave the top of Helia's knee a pat, "Just be yourself, Helia. You know who you are."
Saladin stood up and walked back over to the door.
"Good night, Your Highness."
The door opened and Saladin walked out of the bedroom, Helia was still on the bed and still struggling on what to do. Be the man that his father wanted him to be or be the man that Flora deserved? Helia sat up and scoffed, why was he even thinking of Flora as if she was an option? She wasn't. He was to marry the princess and Flora would serve them for the rest of her life.
Helia looked at the book that still sat on his bed.
"I think that you need to decide what kind of prince, person, that you want to be."
Saladin's voice rang in his head.
"Be yourself. Do what you know is right and I believe that you will find happiness. You are a good child...a good man, and the goodness that I know is deep down inside of you will help you make that decision."
Grabbing the book in his hand, he shot up from his bed. He took the glass of whiskey and threw the rest of it down his throat. He walked out of his room and stormed out of his room, down the hall, and to the door to the servants' quarters. Helia held the book tight in his hands as he made his way down the stairs to the cold basement of the palace. Servants bowed to him as he passed them. He ignored them as he walked through the damp hallways until he came to her door.
Helia took a deep breath and stilled himself in front of the small, wooden door. Well, he was already down here. Raising his fist, Helia knocked on the door, hoping that maybe she was already asleep or that she hadn't returned from Krystal's room. But he would not be so lucky.
The door gently swung open, and Flora stood there in front of him. No longer in the mint green gown that she had worn all day but back in the robe that fit her a little too loosely. Did she not wear anything underneath? Was she not cold? Did she not realize...no, he was the one that came to her room?
"Your Highness," Flora's eyes widened as she gripped her robe and pulled it close and tight to her body, "what are you doing here?"
Helia banished the thoughts of what he wanted to do to her in that moment and remembered what it was that he came down here to do.
"I can teach you." Helia exhaled, the nervousness of asking her that he once felt moments ago beginning to wash away. However, it was quickly replaced with the anticipation of her answer. He didn't really think past if she said no.
"Pardon, Your Highness?" Flora's green eyes narrowed from their shocked expression into one of deep confusion. What did he mean?
Helia held the light blue book in front of him, "I can teach you how to read."
Flora's face relaxed into a soft smile, "Don't waste your time on me, Your Highness. There is no reason for me to learn how to read. What use is reading to a servant, Your Highness?"
Helia's mouth formed into a tight line across his face, but he slowly breathed out through his nose, "Because it would make you happy."
"Why-"
"I have been nothing but terrible to you since you have arrived here, and I wanted to do something that would bring you joy."
"My joy comes from knowing that the princess is happy, and you have more than pleased her when you decided to join her for tea every afternoon, Your Highness."
Helia scoffed and shook his head, "While I admire your devotion and dedication to the princess, I want to make you happy."
Flora smiled and took the book from Helia and ran her slender fingers down the velvety spine of the book, "While I am thankful for the offer, Your Highness, when would either of us have the time?"
"You will live here for the rest of your life; we have plenty of time." Helia sarcastically replied, "But, I suppose that I could teach you after the princess retires to bed. That is, if you are not too tired."
Flora looked at the book and then back up to Helia, "You're serious, Your Highness? You would teach me?"
"I would."
Flora sighed before handing the book back to Helia, "I am far too busy to start now though, I have to make the princess's gown. Even if there is no ball, Your Highness."
"Then I will read to you while you work on Krystal's dress. That way you can hear the story and get your task done at the same time."
Helia didn't mean to sound desperate, but he was. He was desperate to spend time with the handmaiden alone, even if it meant that he sat and read to her while she worked. It would do for now. He just wanted to be with her and be some source of happiness for her in a place that had only brought her misery.
"Your Highness-"
"Yes or no?" Helia cut Flora off, using one of her tactics when she would pester him about meeting with the princess. "Will you allow me the opportunity to apologize to you? Really apologize to you for the way that I have behaved and the way that I have treated you?"
Flora bit down on her bottom lip and her eyes were downcast as she thought. Helia stared at her, hoping that she would say yes. Hoping that she would allow him to make some effort in bringing her some form of joy and making amends for all that he did to make her miserable.
"I would like that very much, Your Highness." Flora lifted her head and gave Helia a bright smile that sent his heart racing. "Thank you."
"I will read you any story that you would like as long as it is on our shelves." Helia offered but Flora placed a hand on the blue book between the two of them.
"I think that I would really like to hear the story of this Cinderella, Your Highness."
"Yes, of course." Helia gave Flora a nod. "I will see you then tomorrow night, in the kitchens."
"I can't wait, Your Highness."
Helia took a step back from the doorway and into the hall, clutching the book tight as he yearned for the warmth that had radiated from his close proximity to Flora. She had agreed to let him teach her and to spend time with him. Once again showing that she was far nicer than what he could ever hope to be and nicer than what he deserved.
"Good night." Helia silently said as he gave the servant a small bow. Flora smiled and returned the gesture as she grabbed the door.
"Good night, Your Highness. Sleep well."
The door closed and Helia was left in the cold and damp hall, the book in hand and his heart racing at a million miles a minute. Had he just offered to read to Flora? To a servant? Is this what Saladin meant by being himself?
Helia would think about that later but for now, he would return to his room and head to bed, eager for what the next night would bring.