4 Without

William Skervoski

So, the guy who jumped scared Maika was actually Nana Rong's mischievous, trouble making, and cooking hazard of a grandson (Her words, not mine). He has wavy dirty blonde hair with clear blue eyes, and annoyingly tall.

He is also one of the knights of the kingdom, which explains how built he is.

Although, according to Ella, he doesn't act like a 'strong, serious, brave 'knight around a certain someone.

A noble woman in fact, one of the women Maika had tea with this very morning.

Thea Charmant, a lovely young woman who can be sarcastic at times, the daughter of Duke Ronald and Duchess Moira Charmant. She's about a year younger than Maika, with cocoa hair up to her mid back, forest green eyes and a pretty smile.

They had somehow met just months earlier when Thea got lost in the gardens, and like some kind of cliche, love at first sight meeting, a story only ever heard of in books, William found her, escorted her back, while having a lovely pleasant chat. After that, whenever she would visit, they would meet up together in secret.

How Ella knew this was a really bad play on William, or Will as he likes to be called as. He told her basically, exploding with words when Ella simply asked how his week was. For a knight, that was stupid really.

Ella also apparently spotted his behaviour this morning with Lady Thea, which according to her, was quite a sight to see.

Ella and William were near today's tea gathering. Ella was one of the maids assisting the small event, and William was strolling around the castle and was near the area of said event.

Ella laughed as she remembered his reaction upon seeing Thea, even more so as she spotted him, smiled, bloomed a pretty blush on her face, and gave a discreet small nod at his direction.

He froze for a second, Ella narrated, blushing madly, and gave a small wave, he tried to get back to his walk in a daze, which didn't end well since he suddenly tripped on a tree root, then fell in one of our unnecessary grand fountains.

That certainly explained why Lady Thea suddenly laughed out loud, making the other women, including Maika, give her weird looks, and the maids giggling almost every second.

It definitely made Maika laugh at just imagining it. Ella herself fell off her seat clutching her stomach, with tears of laughter in her eyes, and Will, who came back after being scolded by Nana Rong, blush deep red and glared at Ella, muttering a few interesting choice of words. From the corner of Maika's eye, She sees Nana Rong give a small smile.

After that, and some time Maika and Ella were ushered by Nana Ring to get back to the palace.

" Out! Out!, back you two go, it's bad enough dealing with this one " Nana Rong says, gesturing at the pouting Will. "Off you go" She waves goodbye to them as they start to head back, they wave back goodbye to her. Maika gives her a sad smile while doing so, and she sees Nana give her a sad smile of her own.

'I'll really miss her, she was always there for me whether I needed her or not, she was there to make me smile and hold me when I wept .'

"So am I allowed to know about your discussion with Nana-" Maika asks Ella. "Oh uhh….. look over there your highness, it's that new treat the staff and I were talking about!" She says frantically, obviously trying to change the subject but Maika lets it go. She takes Maika's hand and leads her to the stall.

It's absolutely delicious!

Like a small piece of heaven wrapped with caramel, then covered with chocolate!

Maika unwrapped another piece of candy. Holding the small bag of candy Ella bought.

"Are you going to give these to your fellow staffsman?" Maika peeps into the small candy bag.

"No not exactly and I deeply apologize for letting you hold the bag," she bows and holds out her hands. Maika places the little pouch of candy in Ellas open palms.

"It's alright, also if you aren't giving these to them, then what are you going to do with the candy?" "Well- I'm selling these to them," Maika stares at her speechless.

She's going to sell the candies to the other servants for a higher price than the one here, because not only are servants usually not allowed outside but also because she only bought a few, so they're going to be doing 'first comes first serve' or highest bid. Maika again stares at her, impressed and Ella shyly smirks.

On the way to the palace, they occasionally talk, sadly Ella's not giving away anything of her discussion with Nana.

When we finally step inside the palace I feel....

Empty…

Maika suddenly feels hollow again.

She's back in her room and staring at her open book of etiquette. Sighing as she recalls the day's events, she decides to then slip onto her nightgown and head to bed.

...

It's already been a week since the day Nana got fired and Maika's visit to her. It got a little depressing afterwards for her, since after all, She grew up in Nana Rong's care. But at least she now has Ella as company, and occasionally, Will.

Maika smiles at the memory of the two, she finally has friends of her age to keep her company.

When Maika has time, she visits them and they make sure no one is around when she does. Maika completely understands though, meeting up with Will would raise some eyebrows and accusations that are nowhere near the truth.

They talk about their day, and at times their problems and Maika even talks to them of the weird recurring dreams and voices she keeps hearing, Maika asks about Nana Rong, and Ella and her tease Will about Thea. These thoughts and memories just give Maika the biggest smile she's had in a long time.

It grew even wider as she recalled yesterday's meeting.

Maika got up from her study seat and decided to take a walk around the palace. Just today her Mother, the Queen, assigned maids to assist her wherever and whenever. So right now she has a total of 5 maids following her as she takes a walk in the palace garden, Ella not being one of them so that's a downer.

Ella tells Maika that the maids assigned to her are close to the Queen so she should be careful of what she says or does. Her Mother might have known about her little get away and decided to keep a closer eye on me.

Laying down on one of the little couches in the garden pavilion, not bothering to go to her bed chambers to take her nap, nor caring that there are her handmaids surrounding her, however, the maids' chatty behaviour won't allow her a wink of sleep.

"-eard that the King and Queen are going to be holding princess Hundines debut to society soon-"

"-but Princess Maika hasn't had hers yet-"

Maika kept her eyes shut and her expression calm and eavesdropped. The maids think she's in deep slumber.

Maika listens intently.

"So you're implying that Princess Hundine's going to be next in line for the throne??"

"Yes, isn't it obvious that their Highnesses favor Princess Hundine more?"

"I know-"

Then their endless yaps about how Hundine's going to be a great Queen.

Maika nearly drifts to sleep out of boredom but then they suddenly bring out a topic that somehow intrigues her. "Oh my- there are going to be a lot of wealthy and attractive noble men on the debut day aren't there- even princes from other kingdoms maybe?" The maids all sigh in envy.

"What a lucky woman Princess Hundine is- perfect men after her hand in all directions."

Maika feels their eyes land on her and she rolls her eyes.

"They'll also be finding a man for Princess Maika- marry her off most likely,"

"but of course they will be, but they'll be giving the best man to Princess Hundine, Princess Maika will- I don't know, a political gift to another country or a Duke with many mistresses most likely!"

Maika could hear the younger of them snickering and the older ones reprimanding them. Which led to some protests and more noise. 'How could they not have been scolded by a senior servant patrolling yet?' Maika is frustrated at the lack of discipline the servants of this palace has.

"Oh but all those other young men aren't a match for Fleek Stichman!"

"Oh my, the Stichmans will be attending the debut?!"

Maika has not the foggiest idea why this certain name keeps grabbing her attention. She ponders on it some more, 'Who is he? Have I met him before at one of the social gatherings I've attended? I do recall my father working with a man with the same last name, could that be why the name seems so familiar? But if so, why do I feel there's something more?'

Deciding to leave the subject alone, she began to tune them out, closing her eyes to take the small nap she planned.

...

Maika fluttered her eyes open, adjusting to the light, she stretched her arms and immediately regretted her decision to sleep on the couch as she heard a few cracks on her back. Hearing no noise of the usual gossiping whispers, she looks around, noticing that the maids seem to have left.

Maika sighs in relief, and lays there on the couch, enjoying the silence. After a while I notice the sky darkening. I then stood up from the small couch, and left the pavilion, heading to the banquet hall for dinner.

On the way to the banquet hall though, She passed by Ella, she gave Maika a relieved look then gave a letter, 'Nana Rong' she mouthed to me.

The rest of the way to dinner, Maika had a smile on her face. 'Nana Rong has finally written to me! I wonder how she's doing?' she thought, entering the Banquet hall and hiding the letter in her pocket.

Maika saw that her Mother and sister were already seated. Her Father, the King must still be busy since he was not present once again. Seemingly to not have noticed Maika since they were still having a loud chat about more gossip, which many of the staff can clearly hear as they keep glancing in their direction while doing their work. Maika decided to make her presence known.

"Mother, Sister, good evening"

Their conversation was immediately cut to a halt. Hundine gives Maika a nod of acknowledgement, smiling her way, though when she takes a sip of her cup, I can see her give a small eerie smirk. Mother on the other hand looked at Maika displeased once again for a long moment, before giving her a nod, and turned to Hundine to continue their gossip, which was apparently about some kingdom's prince having an affair with a nobleman, preposterous! I thought, does it really matter the gender? If they love each other then let them be! None of anyone's business really.

Maika sat far from them, enjoying her meal quickly so she may go to her chambers and read what Nana Rong had sent her.

Finally!

After dinner she excused herself and almost ran to her chambers, taking long strides to get there quicker while still holding her composure.

When she finally entered her bedroom, she immediately took the letter from her pocket to read what Nana Rong sent. She smiled as she read it.

...

Dear Maika,

When you're reading this, this old hag is doing just fine… so no need to worry about me losing my position in the palace. It's not like I was going to work there forever anyways. Come visit anytime, but if you're going to make a mess here don't expect me to clean it!... let Willaim clean it.

Actually I think being free from the palace is like being promoted! HAH!

There are certain things you have to be weary off… Sorry if my letter will seem short, I needed to do some scolding on a certain someone, anyways, live your life the way you want to dear… and don't let that witch alongside her demon spawn step on you.

Love,

Nanny

...

Maika smiles sadly after reading the letter, despite her somewhat comforting words, this just reminds her more how she's no longer here, talking to her in her own Nana Rong way. Maika got up and ran her hand against the north wall of her chambers, looking for that little pinky sized dent. Once you pull it a small square shape of the wall comes loose, it's her little compartment where she hid things like her sketches. She places Nana's letter inside and seals back the compartment.

Maika decides to take a stroll by the palace pond to just enjoy the quiet night. Passing by a rather lonely goose, eating bread crumbs alone. She squatted down and smiled to herself. "Honk hONK!" it's looking at Maika like she might have more bread. Maika shakes her head and walks away giggling.

'Hmm now that I think about it, who would feed the geese so late in the night? Shaking my head, it's probably nothing.'

Maika hears footsteps and a woman's giggle along with a man's chuckle. She hid herself behind some shrubs and took a peek at the two silhouettes passing. She squints trying to define their features in the soft moonlight…

'Why am I not surprised?'

It's William and Lady Thea Charmant. Maika shakes her head again for who knows how many times today. 'These two really aren't thinking about the consequences. What if they get caught? Lady Charmant will never step foot in here again or most likely, William will lose his title as a knight if the Charmants want to sue.'

Maika looked at the two with a sly grin on her face. 'I wonder what Nana Rong will say…..oh well.'

'Ella is gonna love this.'