Bab 11: Ch 11: Being used does not feel good - Part 3
Elias hurried toward the servant quarters, his footsteps quick and purposeful. He couldn't afford to be late—not after everything that had already happened today.
The encounter with Fenrir still nagged at the back of his mind, but he pushed the thoughts aside. His priority now was to meet Prince Aedric and Lady Selene, who were likely already waiting for him.
He slipped into the small storage room where his prescribed medicine was kept, quickly taking the bitter concoction before dashing back out. The taste lingered unpleasantly in his mouth, but he didn't have time to dwell on it.
As he arrived at the designated meeting spot, Elias immediately spotted the two young nobles. Prince Aedric was standing with his arms crossed, a deep pout on his face as he stared off into the distance. Lady Selene, in contrast, looked calm and poised, though there was a mischievous glint in her eyes as she turned to Elias.
"There you are, Elias," she greeted with a soft smile. "We've been waiting. Prince Aedric insisted on your presence before we started."
Elias quickly bowed. "My apologies for the delay, Lady Selene, Your Highness."
Lady Selene waved his apology off gracefully, but Prince Aedric was less forgiving.
"Finally," the prince muttered, his tone sharp. "I thought you were going to make us wait all day."
Elias bit back a sigh. "I'm here now, Your Highness. What are your plans for today?"
Lady Selene's smile widened. "I was thinking we could visit the lake. I've heard it's quite beautiful this time of year."
Elias felt his stomach tighten. The lake, while picturesque, was also a potentially dangerous location for two children as young as them, especially if their curiosity got the better of them. He quickly cleared his throat, trying to think of a more suitable alternative.
"The lake is indeed beautiful," Elias began carefully, "but it might not be the safest option for today. Perhaps the park would be a better choice? There's plenty of space to explore, and it's much closer to the palace."
Lady Selene tilted her head thoughtfully. "The park, hmm? That does sound nice."
But before Elias could feel any relief, Prince Aedric's expression darkened.
"Are you giving orders now, Elias?" the prince demanded, his voice sharp. "Since when does a servant decide where we go?"
Elias immediately bowed his head. "I didn't mean to overstep, Your Highness. I was only thinking of your safety."
Prince Aedric's eyes narrowed. "I don't need you to think about my safety! I'm the crown prince! I can handle a simple trip to the lake!"
"Prince Aedric," Lady Selene interjected, her tone sweet but firm, "I think Elias is just trying to be helpful. And I actually like his idea. The park sounds like a nice change of pace."
The prince turned to her, his expression still stormy. "You'd rather listen to him than me?"
Lady Selene shrugged with a teasing smile. "I didn't say that, Your Highness. But sometimes, a servant can have good ideas too."
Elias winced inwardly, feeling the tension rise between the two. He was about to suggest that they follow Prince Aedric's original plan when the young prince suddenly stomped his foot.
"Fine!" Aedric snapped. "We'll go to the park. But only because I decided it!"
Elias and Lady Selene exchanged a glance, the latter hiding a small smile behind her hand.
"As you wish, Your Highness," Elias said with a bow, hoping to diffuse the situation further.
Prince Aedric huffed, his cheeks slightly red as he turned and began walking toward the park. Lady Selene followed with a light step, her amusement evident.
Elias trailed behind, silently hoping that the rest of the outing would go more smoothly than its start.
He allowed the Prince and Lady to go ahead of himself so he could take some time for himself and relax.
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Prince Aedric huffed, his cheeks slightly red as he turned and began walking toward the park. Lady Selene followed with a light step, her amusement evident.
Elias trailed behind, silently hoping that the rest of the outing would go more smoothly than its start.
Aedric scowled but didn't say anything, climbing out of the boat and stomping toward the shore.
Elias followed more slowly, his gaze lingering on the shadowy figures in the trees. Something about the entire outing felt off, but he couldn't put his finger on it.
As they made their way back to the palace, Aedric seemed quieter than usual, his earlier bravado replaced by a thoughtful silence.
Elias, however, couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much larger.
As the group reached the palace gates, the tension from the lake began to dissipate. Lady Selene walked ahead, her serene expression betraying no sign of the unease Elias still felt. Prince Aedric stomped forward, his earlier frustration now replaced with a brooding silence. Elias lingered behind them, his thoughts racing.
They had made it back safely, but Elias couldn't shake the sense that their outing had been more eventful than it appeared. The figures in the trees, the guards—or whoever they were—still occupied his mind. Why were they so close? And why had they stopped moving once the boat was on the water?
Before Elias could dwell on it further, Head Maid Sasha appeared at the entrance, her sharp eyes narrowing as she scanned the trio. She quickly stepped forward, bowing slightly to Prince Aedric and Lady Selene.
"Your Highnesses, I trust the outing went well?" she asked politely, her tone formal.
Aedric barely glanced at her. "It was fine," he muttered before stalking off toward his quarters. Lady Selene followed at a more measured pace, offering Sasha a small, knowing smile before disappearing into the halls.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Sasha turned to Elias. Her composed demeanor shifted into something more urgent as she grabbed his arm and pulled him aside.
"Elias," she began, her voice low but firm, "what happened at the lake? Did anything unusual occur?"
Elias blinked, startled by her intensity. "No, ma'am," he said quickly. "His Highness and Lady Selene were safe the entire time."
Sasha's eyes narrowed. "I saw the way you hesitated just now. Don't lie to me. Was anyone else there? Did you notice anything strange?"
Elias hesitated, debating whether to mention the figures in the trees. He didn't know their purpose, and without concrete evidence, he didn't want to alarm Sasha—or worse, implicate himself.
"No one approached us," he said carefully. "The guards might have been nearby, but they didn't interfere."
Sasha scrutinized him for a moment longer before releasing his arm. "Good. Keep it that way. If anything happens to the prince, you'll be the one answering for it."
Elias nodded, his heart pounding. As Sasha walked away, he couldn't shake the feeling that her concern wasn't just about the prince—it was about something much deeper.
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