Some Feelings Only Lead To Doom

"So you're telling me that you've been in love with the crowned prince since childhood, but he's never and when I say never, like actually never even looked at you kindly?"

The two of us have been strolling around the garden for almost an hour by now. Although a bit stuck-up and defensive at first, the princess makes for good company. Hearing a portion of her backstory helped me sympathize with her, but it was her witty insults towards the other nobles that made me truly like her. I mean, she is no exception when it comes to rudeness and superiority complexes, but it was refreshing to see even the slightest bit of self-awareness in this fanatical world.

"Is that not what I just said?" I glance over to the princess in surprise. She seems like a smart person; sharp, incredibly articulate, and well-informed in the culture and tradition of the kingdom of Cait. She carries herself well, not only in beauty, but in brains as well. However, the universe seems to compensate by making her a fool to love. A love held towards the second most powerful man in the country as well, the crowned prince, a bit typical in these kinds of stories if you ask me.

I've only seen people be so blinded by delusion and infatuation in telenovelas, never expecting to encounter it in real life. Especially not expecting it from someone like Princess Hera who has proven to be logical and practical, the exact opposite of me.

"Have you ever once considered that maybe, possibly you're being used by the prince, your highness?" Her reaction surprises me even more than anything, it seems like she's never even considered the possibility. It's written so clearly on her face.

"Hmm. It does seem possible, but we should not be jumping to such silly conclusions." She nods in agreement and my eyes only widen when I realize that there is no hint of sarcasm in her words.

I place my body in front of her before she can walk any further down the gorgeous rose garden, "Possible? It's exactly what's happening, your highness! The prince does not have a hint of love for you! He's only taking you for granted!"

That must've struck a nerve because I'm met with the same cold golden glare from earlier that day. This time though, Hera seems genuinely offended by my words and my body is stuck frozen in unease. Now I truly think I've really earned myself a place on the death row.

"What would you know about love?" Is the only thing she says before resuming her steps further into the garden. I release a hefty sigh of relief before following after her.

"I happen to know quite a lot about love, your highness! And whatever this is, it is not love."

"Not love, you say? Then what of the fluttering in my stomach? The sweat on my palms? The tingle I feel whenever I'm around him? Are those not the signs of love as the novels say?"

"Well, if you ask me, it's more like infatuation than love."

She looks at me questioningly, as if I were stupid, "Are those not the same things?" She asks me.

"I don't believe so. Those feelings, they are just feelings of attraction. Contrary to what romance books may tell you, those feelings don't last forever, they don't even last a few years if you ask the average person. Love is more of a choice to value a person's happiness regardless of whether the butterflies you feel in your stomach are still there or not."

"But my love for the prince is a choice! I have followed him around all these years, have I not? And you are wrong, I have never lived a day in which my feelings for the prince has faded. It's been the same since day one." The longer the conversation goes, the angrier Hera seems to get. Now we have completely forgotten about strolling the gardens and her stance towards me is rather confrontational.

I take a while to process her words, speechless from her dedication to the prince. Is he that handsome to make such an incredibly competent lady such as Hera ignore all his red flags?

"You are correct, yes. Perhaps you do love him, perhaps you don't, I wouldn't know and perhaps I never will. But if you do truly love him then you are placing your love in the wrong place. A person who does not appreciate, or even acknowledge such efforts made by a loved one is not a person deserving of those efforts in the first place. True love is supposed to be mutual, it is supposed to be happy and secure, do not waste your time on such a fool when you clearly deserve better... your highness."

It's Princess Hera's turn to remain silent for a few seconds and for a moment, I think I've finally convinced her to drop her self-hurting obsession. But then, she speaks up,

"Who could be better than the crowned prince?"

"Well, I'm sure there are thousands of people who would be happy to treat you better, my Princess. You are not only fair in looks, but fairly smart as well and your personality is.. fair-ish."

She shakes her head at my suggestion, "No. The crowned prince does exceedingly well in battle, he is outstanding in swordsmanship, and has entered many life-threatening battles and has come out victorious everytime. Even more than that, he is well-educated in mannerisms, linguistics, politics, and all kinds of sciences. He is talented in all kinds of arts, painting, the piano, the harp, and much more. Who could be better than that?"

I shake my head at her in return, "The prince may be talented in all kinds of things, but from what I've heard so far, he cannot see you for who you truly are, your highness. He cannot seem to be grateful for anything you've done for him. And he sounds like an ungrateful, insensitive prick. I am but a lowly maid and I have only known you for one day, but I promise you this, I admire you more in one day than the prince ever will in ten years. Do you really want to keep pining for a person who has hurt you remorselessly? Even if he had a change of heart, it does not change that at some point in time, no matter how much you loved him, he only grew to despise you."

"You talk too much for a maid." She finally snaps, stomping aggressively away from me. I'm left walking in giant steps to catch up to the angry princess.

The sun has risen to its full peak by the time Hera finally stops trying to speed walk in frustration. The sweat against my skin has become irritatingly unbearable. The gaudy maid dress I'm made to wear only serving to add some itchy patches all over my body. How cruel of the universe.

Princess Hera stops in front of a water fountain, she sits on the ledges while I dip my head into the water, desperate for hydration after being cooked well done under the sun.

"You know that water isn't clean."

My original reaction is to be disgusted and panic, but after realizing that I'd rather die of illness than of dehydration, I only grin at the princess. "That's alright, your highness! Bacteria are my bestfriends."

"Strange. Truly strange."

"Says the lovestruck princess." I shoot back at her with just as much sarcasm.

"Shut up." She rolls her eyes at me. So rude. Losing all my resolve to the heat, I stick out my tongue to her in offense. Gosh, I've wanted to do that since the beginning of the day. The princess however only responds with a disgusted face.

"I will consider your words, maid. Perhaps you are just trying to look out for me which is strange because we've only known each other for a few hours, but I.. appreciate it."

I smile genuinely that day, my heart strangely warm from her words.