Chapter 3: 02.
I'd lost the man. But then again, I guess that's what I should've expected when I chased someone I didn't even know. I'd followed him out of the noisy ballroom and into the hallway leading to the palace exit. It was a straight hallway with no turns anywhere and I hadn't seen him leave through the exit so I had no idea why I lost him.
I decided to check the gardens just to be sure. As I neared the exit, I stepped on something fragile- if the crunch beneath the high heel of my shoe was anything to go by. I cringed before bending down to pick a long thin cuboid object. Instinctively, I knew that this strange object belonged to the man. It meant that he'd indeed gone through the exit. I stepped into the gardens to see if he'd still be there. He wasn't.
"Are you there?" I trailed off because I didn't even know his name. "You dropped this."
Silence was the only response I received. A chilly wind seemed to pass and goosebumps erupted across my skin. I'd forgotten how cold it was at this time of the year. The crunching of a twig behind one of the rose bushes had me stepping back into the house. I suddenly didn't want to be there anymore. It dawned on me how stupid I was. It could have been an assassin sent to kill me and I'd stupidly followed. Was I truly that stupid? It was no secret that people of other Kingdoms loathed her.
Footsteps seemed to come closer, and I didn't want to meet whoever was coming so I turned back and hurried back into the ballroom. Before I entered, I remembered the strange object I'd found, this secret that I'd just discovered. I didn't want anyone to know about it. I ran up to my room to hide the strange object in the safe I owned in my bedroom.
"Princess Althea!" I was startled by the frantic voice of Teagan, the twin sister of Reagan. "Her Highness has been searching for you. Please, Hurry. She is in a foul mood."
My mother would surely not be happy that I had left my own birthday ball to chase after a man who could have inflicted harm on me. I nodded before turning to the door and going into the ballroom. I had barely entered when my mother came to me hissing in my ear, "Where have you been? Do you have any idea how it looks for you to be missing at your own birthday ball?"
"I'm sorry." I muttered looking down at the floor.
"Sorry won't repair the damage that you've caused." she said looking me in the eye. She stepped back and assumed her cool attitude once more. "Althea, I would like you to meet Prince Otis of Aldera." Her hand brought my attention to the man who stood a few inches away from her. I wondered if he'd heard anything of our conversation seconds ago.
He smiled stepping forward with a bow. "Princess Althea." I curtsied too murmuring his name.
My mother cleared her throat bringing my attention back to her. "I'll be on my way. I've other important matters to attend to." And she turned around and left me with him.
Prince Otis, from what my history had told me was in fact supposed to be king. His parents had died when he was thirteen years old. They'd been murdered in their sleep and he'd been the one to find them. The mental image of my own mother lying dead brought me to tears. I couldn't even imagine the anguish it would've caused him to see his parents dead. Murdered. It would have been traumatizing. That coupled with the fact that he hadn't been of age led to the handing of his kingdom crown to his father's younger brother.
Looking at him now, one would never know what he'd experienced. Not from the smile that graced his thin lips. He smirked bringing forth his palm. "May I have this dance?"
That was when I noticed that the orchestra was playing a slow tune. I couldn't refuse him and so I smiled graciously placing my palm in his hand. He placed his other hand on my waist while I placed mine on his shoulder. I didn't like the fact that his hand was on my waist. Was this how contact with all men were?
I looked at him to distract myself from the strange feeling in me. He was taller than me by more than six inches. It made me glad that I'd been given heels to wear. I didn't need my short height to be added to my list of shortcomings. His red hair was slicked back emphasizing the chiseled features of his face. The grey suit he wore complemented his pale features. His blue eyes carried a hint of emotion.
"Are you done staring?" He asked raising a thin eyebrow.
I didn't answer. I wondered why my mother would leave me with this man when she'd yet to let the palace boys even come near me. What did she stand to gain from this?
"I'm sorry about Princess Arissa." I stared blankly at him. "For what she said."
"Why are you apologizing on her behalf?" I asked. "You didn't do anything."
"You seem distracted. I thought that's what's bothering you?" He made it sound like a question. He wanted to know what I was thinking. I merely shook my head.
"What business do you have with my mother?"
He laughed softly. "You'll find out soon, Princess." And with that he pulled back taking out a pocket watch from his breast pocket. "It's late. I'll be seeing you around, Princess."
I was about to ask me what he meant when a palace boy came to him meekly tapping him before whispering something after which he walked away. By then, most of the people had dispersed. The ballroom was gradually decreasing in population. Princess Afra came with her father, King Saleem of Idhab.
"Princess Althea," she curtsied. "We'd like to invite you to our launching of our kingdom's library." Then she stepped back placing her hand in her father's.
I nodded. "I will send my response later. Thank you." They nodded before walking away. Princess Afra was one of the few royals who didn't think of me as vain ice-princess. She wasn't rude to me. That was one of the reasons I hadn't outright declined her offer. I'd have to ask my mother and I could already feel the rejection.
I went upstairs to shower before changing into a night gown. Ketki had just come in along with two other maids who were bringing in the table of gifts which I'd received. They were already leaving the room when I remembered what I'd planned on doing that night.
"Ketki," she turned to me. "Could you please tell my mother that I'd like to see her?" She nodded closing the door behind her. I grabbed a coat shrugging it over my nightgown before moving to the queen's wing of the palace. I went to wait in the household meeting room. This was where anyone in the palace who had any cause to meet my mother came to see her after scheduling an appointment. That included me. Only Ketki was allowed into my mother's actual living quarters. So it was she who informed the Queen of those wishing to see her.
"Her Majesty shall be with you shortly." Ketki informed me and I stood up not wanting my mother to enter and think I sat without invitation. When she came, she took her seat in the soft, black leather chair across from me placing her folded hands on her mahogany desk.
"Yes, Althea. I haven't gotten all day." She said with a raised eyebrow in question.
I nodded clearing my throat before saying "Mother, Princess Afra has invited us to the launching of her kingdom's library."
She nodded. "I'll inform them that we shan't be coming." It shouldn't have pained me as much as it did. I'd been expecting that even if I hoped for something different. "Is that all?"
I shook my head quickly before she decided she was done with the conversation. I looked down at the grey rug used on the floor. The main reason I'd wanted to see her. "Mother, it's my birthday today." I looked up to see her reaction.
Her left eyebrow rose even higher in question. "Yes and...?"
"You haven't wished me a happy birthday." I mumbled looking at the floor once more.
"Tell me Althea, do you honestly think you deserve a happy birthday?" she asked. "Look at me. Did Princess Arissa not insult you tonight? Did she not disgrace you at your own ball? In your own home? And you still showed weakness by walking away. You gave her the satisfaction of knowing that she hurt you. And still, you come here to demand a birthday wish from me."
"I'm sorry." I felt incredibly stupid. "Good night, Mother." I received no acknowledgement from her as I left the room. I headed back to my wing of the palace blinking back the stupid tears that wanted to fall. I wouldn't cry. I'd be cool and collected. I just really regretted going to see her.
As soon as I entered my room, I knew someone had been there. I rushed to my safe to check for the strange object that I'd hidden there. It wasn't there. The evidence of my encounter with the cloaked man was gone. Now, I wondered if I'd imagined it all.
I crawled into bed thinking of what my mother had said. All that everyone had said, and I knew to be true. I was weak, it was true. My mother deserved a daughter better than me. Not someone weak, afraid, insecure and maybe even crazy. Not someone as little as me...
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone