章節 2: WHERE IS KHELAN?
[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: LOST CONTROL~ ALAN WALKER]
In the kingdom of Morado, the morning sun kept shining as if it had something to say, but Queen Almaria beat it to the punch. Her voice thundered outside the royal court.
"Where is Khelan!???" Her voice thundered as she glared at the royal servants, who looked pale as the loss of the crown prince had taken a toll on them. Standing before the Queen had sapped twenty years from their lives respectively.
"Your Royal Majesty, Queen of Morado, the one who radiates more than the sun with or without jewelry. My Queen, you should relax and breathe. These peasants want a wrinkle on your ageless face. The face that should be on the kingdom's Royal flag," the Queen's confidant, Man-uel, said in worship to the Queen.
Man-uel was the only one who dared to speak to the Queen during her angry moments. He had a repertoire of sweet praises to offer, and just a few words from him could turn the Queen's mood around. He moved closer to the Queen and offered her freshly brewed chrysanthemum tea.
"Man-uel... Man-uel, if only all these lowlifes had brains in their heads," the Queen said, using her left finger to point at her head.
"My Queen, you know if I could be replaced, I wouldn't serve you. I've lived in the palace for the past fifteen years, despite... everything I know," Man-uel whispered the last line and licked his upper lip.
The Queen rolled her eyes and waved her hand to dismiss the two palace servants, who thanked their stars for leaving the royal court with their lives and body parts intact.
"So, Man-uel, what do you suggest?" The Queen adjusted her position on her well-decorated golden throne. The throne had seen numerous rulers but had never hosted a female until Queen Almaria. She looked graceful and exuded power with her royal robe, jewelry, and crown.
The crown was the most prized piece among all the Queen wore.
"I suggest we take a walk outside the castle, grace the commoners with your presence, and I'm very sure that when they see you, they won't have the urge to eat for the next few days because they will be filled with your beauty," Man-uel said, showering the queen with more praises. If anyone deserved a kingdom for a job well done, it would be Man-uel. Nobody did it better, and his years of service in the castle spoke volumes.
"That is very correct! Well then, you there! Find out where Khelan is, come back this instant, and let me know," the Queen pointed at one of the lean-looking guards.
"I know you won't ever send this one on such an errand; he's your favorite. Sometimes I wonder who you choose first, me or the boulder guard!" Man-uel said, making a statement that sounded like a question.
"Are you seeing green now, Man-uel? We both know that the boulder guard has saved us more times than we can count. I just prefer him to stay closer," the Queen replied, pulling up her lips in a smile and taking a sip from her tea.
"If you say so, My Queen," Man-uel said, then turned to one of the waiting eunuchs who had his face down the whole time. "You, prepare the royal gamas, horses, and a few royal guards. Also, tell the maids to get her majesty something comfortable to change into. We will soon take a walk outside."
At the outer walls of the castle, a man in his mid-forties and a young girl of about twenty-three years were seen walking hurriedly.
"Clephas, I told you not to dress like the palace eunuch. Your attire will give us away," the young girl said, still walking briskly.
"My princess, the Queen, her majesty, your mother..." the stressed-looking eunuch was not allowed to complete his sentence as the princess stopped abruptly, making him lose balance and fall to the ground.
"I know all her titles. Forget to add mother to the title; just queen is fine. Unless you want to join Man-uel in the court singing her praises all day. Now, stand up and quicken your pace," the young lady said, moving forward.
Clephas sighed and swore under his breath due to the sharp pain he felt on his waist. Clephas came from the descendants of the Clipartos. Once a male was born in the family, they were raised as royal eunuchs, and the females became court ladies. Few were left behind to procreate. Clephas was born two decades before the princess, whom he now served as a servant and friend. As an eunuch in the palace, he was torn between the princess and the queen. Disrespecting the princess would lead to insubordination charges, while going against the Queen's wishes meant disloyalty.
Clephas sighed again, rubbing his back to soothe the pain. He continued to walk closely, not before or beside, but close enough to protect the royal seed. Clephas looked at his wrist and palm; age was already catching up with him. But the little princess had grown on him; he had watched her grow into a fine lady, maintaining a pure heart despite the odd activities in the palace. To Clephas, apart from his birth mother, whom he barely knew, the princess was his favorite being, even though she was the reason why he got gray hair faster and had his blood pressure rise. Clephas still saw her as his beloved daughter and friend, and most of all, a princess.
"Clephas, what do you think about my brother's actions?" The princess broke Clephas's deep thoughts.
"Oh... I think... I think... Crown Prince Khelan just wants to feel love and adventure. You know he is young, and the castle can be very stifling most times," Clephas replied.
"Hmmm... You're right, especially about the palace being airtight. But I think it's nobody's fault he's the heir. I mean, the stars chose him, so he should live up to it. The sooner he starts avoiding the village fair ladies, the sooner heads will stop rolling in the palace, because we both know the Queen is bloodthirsty, and only the heads of those maidens quench her thirst," the princess said without hesitation. She pulled a leaf and continued walking fast, increasing her pace with each step.
"My princess, please, I beseech you not to say such words about our beloved Queen. It's blasphemy. She doesn't kill for fun; she does it to protect the royal lineage," Clephas said, glancing sideways to see if anyone, or even an animal, had heard the princess's words. Fear was written all over his face. This little princess of his would be the death of him. His eyes glistened; was it tears or just the sun?
Clephas had no idea. All he wanted at this moment was to return to the palace, stand at the entrance of the princess's chamber, and announce visitors or run errands. He didn't want to talk to her because the young lady had no filter for her words, and she always attacked her own mother the Queen!.
"You know, Clephas, sometimes I wonder who you actually work for, me or the Queen?" The princess said, smilingi wckedly as she enjoyed taunting her eunuch, the only father figure she had ever known.
"I work for the Royal family, and I have been assigned to serve you personally, my princess," Clephas answered, dragging his feet from the mud he stepped on.
"Okay... age seems to be taking your sight but giving you wise words in return," the young lady laughed at her own jokes.
Clephas didn't make any further comment; he heard worse every day.
"Back to my lover boy or man brother, I think he is checking if he can make babies because what is he doing with different maidens... oh, I remember, they always die! Two seasons ago, when one of his loves was beheaded, he swore not to eat or fall in love again. Well, to know that we are on our way to a different maiden's crib means he lied."
"Hmmm..." Clephas hummed, walking steadily and keeping his eyes on the ground to avoid falling or stepping on something again. He didn't expect the next question from the princess, and it almost made him miss a step. Again.
"What?" He asked, making sure he heard correctly.
"I don't know; I'm asking you. You know, I heard from the court ladies that an eunuch cannot have babies. Does that mean you do not have...?" The princess said, turning to look at the poor man who had been living a life of misery ever since he met her.
"My princess, we are not having this conversation. It is improper for a lady to use such words, and it means your etiquette lady should be fired," Clephas said, struggling to maintain his usual complexion and keep the embarrassment at bay.
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