2: The Hyacinth Flower

“Yamabe-sama, it’s time for your speech,” Hanako said while handing me the script.

“Do I have to speak out there?” I asked.

Hanako is my personal servant, she’s an aristocrat that my parent’s personally picked to guide me on becoming a great emperor someday. Even the servants have a hierarchy, Hanako, is one of the highest ranking servants for she is educated. She is already 50 years old, and has been serving my father since the very day he became the emperor.

“Yes, Yamabe-sama. You are going to be the next emperor. Everyone’s looking forward to your coronation,” she said while smiling at me.

I admire how they are so good at hiding their true colors. Smiling at my face like they really mean it. I’m not dumb to not realize that everyone here at the palace were fake. None of them truly mean what they say. They know when to fake a smile and talk behind your back. It was disgusting to be surrounded by such people, but what can I do? My so called parents were the one who assigned them to be my servants, just because they are educated, but don't know how to show some real respect.

Today is my 17th birthday, unlike the other normal kids I’m not allowed to celebrate it. The thing I need to do is to give useless speech in front of those people who worship us like we were gods. My father is the current emperor of Japan, and since I have reached the right age, I'm now going to start appearing in front of those people so that they will know what the next emperor will be.

“Good day citizen, I’m Yamabe Hisahito the 126th prince of the imperial palace. My father is Natsuhito and my mother is Mazukawa, they are now the current emperor and empress. Next year I will be crowned as the next emperor,” I said while looking at the people and I noticed some of the bushes were moving. I continued my speech while looking at the bushes when I noticed someone watching. ‘Are they servants?’ I asked myself. I know that low cranking servants are not allowed to speak or look at us. I guess those two hiding behind the bushes don't know those rules? Today is the day that I’m free to show myself to anyone, except for the servants outside. I finished my speech and everyone clapped. I gave them a bow to show some respect before leaving the balcony.

“Today, you are now free to roam around the palace, but you are not allowed to go outside alone. There are many servants residing outside the palace and you may not speak to them at any cost. Servants have no rights to look nor speak to a royalty. And you need to perform your duties as the next emperor,” Tanaka-sensei said while looking at me.

He has been my teacher since I was a kid. I got separated from my parents when I was 5. They said it was traditional and kids like me, who’s going to be an emperor someday, need to learn a lot of things. I refuse to go to school so I have a personal teacher to teach me. “Do you understand, Yamabe-sama?” he asked. I nodded. I don’t understand why we are not allowed to talk to the servants. It’s not like they are some poisonous animals. I know it’s been like that since then, I studied a lot about the imperial palace and the duties of an emperor, but I still can’t get the right answer about this. It’s like, I was born to only speak to people who have the knowledge and the status. I didn’t know being a royalty would make me this lonely.

~

“Ah. I’m so disappointed,” Ervin said while standing behind me.

“Stop complaining and go back to work. You’re bothering me,” I said while digging the soil.

“Oh, come on. Don’t be so mean, you know I’m your one and only friend and I’m just here because I know you feel lonely,” he said with a sad expression.

“Are you making fun of me? You’re just using me so you have a reason to slack off!” I exclaimed before walking away.

“But, kidding aside. What do you think of the prince?” he asked. I looked at him and he’s wearing an evil smirk on his face.

“He’s beautiful,” I said without a second thought. “I didn’t know that man can be that beautiful.”

“Yeah, he is beautiful. Not what I expected him to be. So? Is he your type?” he asked while poking me again. “Also, I’m beautiful too!”

I immediately turn my gaze. “No! What are you talking about?” I said with an angry tone.

About what Ervin said, he’s also beautiful to be honest. He said he was an orphan and he was sent here to be a servant, but to my observation he doesn’t even have the hands of a person working. His skin is fair, he has this movement that doesn’t really suit for a servant.

“Hey! Calm down I was just asking. I know you like pretty things so I was just curious,” he said while holding his hands up. “Why are you staring at me? Don’t tell me you also like me?”

“No way. You’re my friend,” I replied while looking at the flowers I planted months ago. It already bloomed into beautiful flowers. “I was just thinking. How’d you have those beautiful hands and a fair skin if you grew up having a hard life?”

He laughed. “Is that what makes you stare at me like an idiot?”

“I’m just curious.”

“You already know everything about me. Don’t overthink things, I’m who I am and that’s the end of the story,” he said with a serious look on his face.

It’s rare for Ervin to talk like this, he’s always goofy and annoying. He did talk about himself but he’s always putting his guard up, like he is scared to spill something very important. “I’ll get going now,” he said before walking away.

I watched Ervin walk away as I think about the prince’s face, he’s just too pretty. Oh! And I forgot to tell Ervin that I made eye contact with the prince. I can’t believe what I just witnessed. I know our eyes met, but that’s impossible. I’m hiding behind the bushes. There's no way he saw me there. Is it just my imagination?