3 The Only One

Another day of the usual. Etiquette and Academic Lessons, which Maika spent in writing notes, and trying to listen, sadly, the words just end up coming out the other ear.

Maika spent the rest of the morning joining the little tea parties that Hundine and her "friends" host. Maika treats them kindly and they, the same, she could tell that just like Hundine, it's all just for show but at least they recognize her presence.

Maika delicately lifted her cup to her lips, and took a small sip as they talked about the latest gossip, of things such as some duke's latest wife, their suitors and such.

They tried to include her, but before Maika could excuse myself, Hundine

decided to speak for Maika.

"My sister doesn't have anything to say, she has no suitors to claim her hand, nor does she have anyone to spend her day with." she says as she looks at Maika with fake pity and concern. Maika would've believed her if she didn't know her so well and the fact she's trying to conceal a small smirk.

It's not like men don't talk to Maika, they do. During balls she would talk and dance with them, but every time she did, Hundine would follow and they never came back.

All her friend's looked at Maika with genuine pity, but Maika simply smiled.

"I don't mind really, it gives me time to myself and it gives me time to study more" It was the truth, It does give her more time, but it sounds more like an excuse now that she hears it herself.

...

After the tea party incident, Maika felt stuffed so she sat on her window seat whilst studying the new book about Foreign Lands that Sir. Harry gave her.

She hears three soft knocks on the door. Her face lit up as she immediately knew who it could be.

Nanny Rong!

One of the few people who treats her with love and respect in this cold palace, she's been by Maika's side ever since she was just a child, even during the incident, Nanny Rong was the only one who believed her.

Maika set the book down and rushed to the door. She smiled at the sweet old face that showed concern, but panicked when she saw the hint of anger that was shown on her face, Nanny Rong makes her way in and swats my shoulder like she always did when she's worried about Maika.

"That little red haired twat caused you stress again didn't she?!" Nanny Rong said in a low but scolding voice, looking like she was ready to kill someone.

"N-no, not really Nana.." Maika smiles in slight pain as she squeezes her aching shoulder.

"You need to learn how to stand up for yourself!"

"But Nana--" She basically slams her finger on Maika's lips before she could say anything further. "Maika sweety, you know that Hundine isn't up to any good.. You need to come-up with something to make sure you don't get hurt…" she clasps Maikas hands in hers with genuine concern in her eyes.

Maika's eyes fall on her hands in Nana Rong's wrinkly and aged ones. Maika sighs inwardly and she suddenly comes up with an idea, "Nana I know! I could leave all of this behind and live in the countryside with you!" she beams hopefully.

"That could wor--" Nana Rong's smile suddenly fades. "What is it?" Maika asks, "No.. The King and Queen would never allow such thing,"

"What do you mean? The kingdom wouldn't care if they discover I'm no longer princess nor do they, they'd probably even be more happy that Hundine's place on the throne is secured!" Maika squeezed her hands tighter and desperately searched her Nannies sad eyes.

"Maika dear, they'll probably want to marry you off to some noble or prince in another kingdom." Nana looks at Maika in pity, but the kind of pity that looks like she'll help her through everything in any way she possibly can.

'I can feel the tears again, what if Nana isn't allowed to come with me when that happens? I'm going to be really alone- why can't I just toss all of this aside? Why can't i--'

Maika tilts her head upwards to prevent the tears from escaping, she chants to herself in a small quiet voice that it'll all be fine, that it's not that bad. Doing what she always does when her world feels like it's collapsing. Nana sees this… she knows this.

"C'mon.. Sit," She leads Maika to her bed. "You try to stay calm and I'll go get your favorite tea," Maika smiles weakly and barely manages to say thank you. She pinches Maika's cheeks and gives her the 'you really need to toughen up more' look, and then turns to fetch my tea.

Maika collapses down onto her bed as the door shuts, and stares up at the ceiling with her arms outstretched, unconsciously falling asleep.

...

She wakes up and it's dark out.

She glanced at the table and found her favorite berry tea turned cold. She shrugged and took it out with her to the balcony to stare at the stars again. She suddenly remembered that sweet familiar voice the other day…

She pondered for a moment why it was so familiar.

Who could it be?

Maika tries to think hard on where she could've heard that voice. But after a while of trying to remember and failing, she gave up.

She stared at the view from up her bed chamber's balcony, the royal gardens lightened up by the shining moon and stars, with the light breeze softly brushing her skin.

She sighs, deciding to go back to bed. Placing the cold tea on her bedside table.

The mysterious voice can wait, for now it's time to rest.

...

At the crack of dawn Maika's up to do her morning routine. After taking Etiquette lessons , She strolls to the staff area and asks for Nanny Rong. They all looked at her wide eyed, unable to speak and gave each other worried glances, giving up. She went back to the halls.

Suddenly Maika heard someone running, she turned to find a servant panting slightly from running. She has dark caramel brown hair tied in a bun, with dark brown eyes, wearing a simple light blue outfit that all the female staff wear. She then whispers, "The Queen ordered for Elder Rong to be removed from her position yesterday-"

Maika froze before she could even finish.

She can't even think of hating the Queen right now. She just needs to see Nana. Maika grabbed the maids' wrists and asked her for a favor… to take her to Nana.

The maid takes Maika to her servant's chambers and pulls out two cloaks. "Put this on and follow my lead your highness… and uhmm don't try to draw much attention,"

She says.

"It's kinda strange that your pre--"

"Prepared?" Maika nods.

"Well this isn't th--"

The maid stops mid sentence and covers her mouth with both hands dropping her cloak. She looks at Maika wide eyed looking like she probably told her something that she wasn't supposed to know, which probably is.

"Uhhh… Whoops?"

"It's fine, I mean it wouldn't be a surprise if someone too sneaked out," Maika tries to reassure her. "I won't tell anyone if you won't say anything about me, deal?"

She nods and bows. "I forgot to ask, what's your name?"

"Ella your Highness," Ella bows again, suddenly remembering that Maika's a princess.

Maika giggles because she too forgot about social standing in that short moment.

They put on their cloaks and pull their hoods up, Ella places her arm around Maikas shoulder and the other supporting Maikas side then she whispers, "Pretend to be ill," Maika nods and hunch herself forward and fake some coughs and some sniffles.

They arrive at the back gate for servants and of course there are guards there too.

"We got another one again," She says to the guards.

The guards looked like they were afraid to catch the disease or flu 'the servant had' so they opened the gates for them and basically shooed them out.

"What do you mean by another one?" Maika asks curiously in a low voice.

"Oh, there have been multiple cases of an unknown disease lately but we're pretty sure it's because of the frogs" Ella scrunches up her face just thinking of the slimy disgusting beady eyed creatures.

...

They finally arrived at Nana's home.

Nana Rong's house was a two floored cottage, with some potted plants and some bushes at front. The house has light wooden walls accompanied by bricks and some darkwood, and finally a stone roof.

Fortunately Ella and Nanny Rong were Neighbors. Maikas hand hovers above the wooden door, Maika retracts her hand and turns to Ella.

"Thank you for doing this Ella...really," Maika genuinely thanked her and brought her in for a hug. Ella gets startled at first but eventually hugs her back awkwardly like she's trying not to get dirt on Maika. Maika laughs and pulls away. "Anytime your Highness," She says flusteredly and minimizes her voice on the 'your highness' part.

Maika looks back at the door and knocks. Nana opens the door but her face is turned to the side while she shouts at someone "And sweep that floor! I don't wanna see a single speck of dust!" Maika giggles and she snaps her attention to her.

She pulls her hood down and Nana Rong's eyes go wide, Nana immediately grabs Maika's shoulders and almost throws her inside. She pops her head outside and looks left then right and almost had a heart attack when she saw Ella. So of course she drags Ella in as well.

...

Maika sits here in their small wooden living room while Ella and Nana discuss something they obviously don't want her to hear in the kitchen. Maika examines Nana's warm home, it's the complete opposite of the palace. The palace… Big but cold. This place however, is small but unlike the palace, you can feel the welcoming warmth.

She looks around the small room, light wooden walls, a small fireplace with some clay pots above it, a few pieces of wood and coal by the side, a big bookshelf, and a long wooden table with some bread on it.

Staring at the staircase she tries to hold herself back from going up there and take a little peek.

Suddenly….

Footsteps?

Someone's descending from the stairs. Maika immediately shifts her gaze somewhere else, flustered. Getting nervous she darts her eyes to various places and internally cussing at herself, now she's just bringing more attention to herself. She tightens her grip on her skirts and shuts her eyes to calm herself down.

She slowly opens her eyes and realizes that someone is sitting beside her!

Guessing from the discarded big leather shoes, it's a man. She takes a deep breath and turns her head to him.

"Maika," she introduced herself.

Though because he's reading a book and squatting on his seat. He looks engrossed with the book and he doesn't recognize her presence. She taps his shoulder several times before he finally looks at her finger then up to her face.

"AAAAAAAHHH!!" He suddenly screams! Drops his book and edges away from me.

Maika screams as well then Nana and Ella come rushing in from the kitchen. Ella looks worried and confused and so does Nana until her face turns to an angry one. She storms to them and Maika holds up both of her hands "I swear I didn't do anything!"

Nana ignores this and smacks the man's head. He exclaims in pain but then suddenly starts laughing and holding onto his stomach like he's wheezing.

"Crazy boy!!" Nana smacks him again.

"You should've seen the look on your face!" He points his finger at Maika and starts wiping under his eyes like he's crying.

Maika's jaw drops and she just stares at him. He laughs even more and Nana grabs his ear then drags him off to the kitchen.

Ella also stares at the two's retreating backs speechless. "The nerve of that Man!" She says while giggling along with Maika.

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