An oath of secrecy

Mircea was well aware of the rumors and she was smart enough not to address them. However, it appears the situation is going out of hand. She will have to do something about it before people stop speaking behind her back and start asking questions on her face. 

Being a queen didn't mean being invincible-not at least when she was a new ruler and things were still settling down. The north side of the palace was brimming with joy, servants were rushing here and there.

Mircea supposed the ceremony was already over. The ceremony wasn't just held for Urban and Leigh, it was also for the people who wanted to become a part of Slyve.

Every late summer mortals travel from Ruzzi Bay claiming Slyve is their lost home and after taking oaths on their lives that they will-till death be loyal to Slyve they are allowed to settle anywhere in the kingdom except for the capital city. 

"How many have gathered this year?" Mircea looks back at the guards who are accompanying her. Their faces go pale when they realize she has asked them the question. "Are you new here?" She asks further when neither of them replies to her. 

"We have always guarded the gates of the palace, it is our first day inside of it." 

"We apologize, your majesty." They both reply simultaneously.

"Nevermind." Mircea pads towards the hall where the ceremony is being held. More guards and servants bow at her before running away to do their chores. 

Mircea didn't know why such a trivial event also needed any royal presence. Even so she wasn't here to attend the ceremony. She entered the big ball room. No commoner was in sight, they had already been escorted out of the palace she presumed. 

Every high official family was here tonight, enjoying the red wine and forming new connections. Moreover every bachelor man from the higher officials was here and eyeing Mircea.

Almost every other person was staring at her. Some were gazing at her crown, some were gazing at the jewels perched on her bare skin and some were blatantly staring at her face. It was typical for her as she hadn't attended any ball or social gathering except for the private council meeting in the past few days. 

Mircea moved fast through the crowd acknowledging important people and nodding at bachelor lords. She didn't get a glimpse of Urban or Athos. Either of them would be better company right now. She wished Carsten would attend events like such so no one would dare to bother her with their politics talk. 

"Athos said you are sick." Mircea recognizes Leigh's voice and spins around to greet him. He is wearing their signature violet color coat which is thinner than the usual ones. 

"Ah, it was just a mild headache. Nothing new when you are running a kingdom." She gives him a sardonic smile.

"Has anyone told you, you are really funny for a queen, your majesty." Leigh chuckles 

"No! You are the first." 

"Oh, then it's my pleasure, your majesty." He bows slightly laughing with her.

"What are you doing alone?" Mircea queries him looking around for Urban.

"Oh devils, I forgot! Urban went to see you."

"What? Why?" 

"Well, Athos told us you are sick so Urban thought he might help." 

"But what about the oath?" She asks him, alarmed.

"Oh, don't worry. We both took the secrecy oath. It was quite a ceremony, I didn't imagine it to be this grand." 

"I should probably send a servant to escort him back." Mircea looks around and orders the first woman she sees to tell Urban she is here. "Do you know where Athos is?" She questions Leigh.

"He was here…" He scans the crowd, sighing as he turns back to Mircea "I don't know where he is." 

"I guess I will have to find him myself." 

"Is there anything urgent?" 

"No, no, nothing urgent. Urban told me you wanted to go back, are you missing home?"

Mircea's voice is soft when she asks Leigh,

"Yes, I… I want to go home when it is possible. I mean you don't need me anymore with all that has happened and Urban has to wrap up some things back home before he settles here." Mircea blinks at his words.

Urban is settling here?

"What do you mean by before he settles here?" She voices her doubt 

"He hates the king but he wouldn't dishonour him like that." 

"Oh"

"Yes, there he is." Leigh points at his tall figure staring at Mircea pointedly. She holds his gaze as he strides towards them.

"Hey, weren't you sick?" Athos pops from behind Mircea startling Leigh and her, both. Mircea snickers at him, he smirks at her in response, and nods at Leigh acknowledging his presence.

"Weren't you sick?" Urban repeats the same thing when he reaches them, making Mircea groan. She clears her throat before speaking with poise "Yes, I had a mild headache because of this bas… gentleman here." Mircea points at Athos, he simply chuckles at her. 

"Oh, I was going to bring you herbal hot tea but then some girl came running saying you are alright and waiting for me here." Urban's bold statement makes Mircea's insides twist weirdly.

"Stop bluffing, I was there when she ordered the lady." Leigh comments.

"But you are here even after the headache." He looks at Mircea.

"Yeah you are here!" Athos says. Mircea looks between them and nods curtly.

"Yes, I am. I wanted some fresh air." 

"You came here for fresh air?" Athos looks at her in sheer disbelief.

"Yes indeed. What is wrong with that?" 

"Even I wouldn't come here for fresh air." Leigh remarks

"What is it with all of you interrogating me like this?" Mircea demands 

The rest of the night goes by everyone indulging themselves in small talks and blood wine.

Mircea exchanges warm looks with Urban every now and then, however they don't talk. She ruminates on what Leigh said earlier. Urban didn't tell her he was planning to come back and settle in this kingdom. 

She knew if he would have ignored the king's words he would have faced his wrath even so Mircea was ready to take the responsibility for that. Now that he is staying Mircea will have to find a way to keep him in the palace.

Mircea steps out of the hall with her guards, she glances at Athos one last time-he is surrounded by two higher official ladies. The pair of three appear drunk and happy with each other's company. Everyone is quite in rhythm with the musical night, Leigh is talking to some royal guard and Urban is nowhere to be seen. She walks quietly to her chambers leaving her guards outside. 

The cool night caresses Mircea's skin through the lace of her gown. Silk curtains flow swiftly as a cool breeze glides in through the open windows. Mircea breathes in feeling the tension drop off her shoulders. 

"Maybe I should go visit them today." She sings to herself as she strips out her gown and dons an old tunic with loose pants. 

Mircea puts a black cloth around her face and trudges inside of her personal bath-room. She carefully closes the bathroom door behind her before pushing the middle stone hard. 

A secret door is pushed open- she starts walking down the dark path with the lantern she picked up which was kept at the entrance. It was a secret path out of the palace kept for emergency purposes. Only Faustina and Lilith except for Mircea knows that it exists. But no one knows Mircea sometimes utilizes it for her personal motives like escaping the palace late at night.

Mircea soon steps out of the long passage into the dark night that is elevating. There are no guards out here. The passage opens to the east back of the palace where normally no one goes. It leads down to the small village that is seen from Mircea's window by the bed. 

She tightens the cloth around her face and starts trooping along the small path made for the escape. She hadn't gone out since she was crowned as the queen-this could be more dangerous than it always was, however staying alone in her chambers and brooding over the same topics would be more dangerous for her mind. 

When Mircea reaches the small village she enters her favourite eating house which keeps on rolling till hours after midnight. The thing she likes the most about this village is that the villagers here are unbothered by the politics that goes on in the palace and the capital. 

"It has been so long since you last came dear." The old man greets Mircea warmly, pulling a chair for her to sit. She perches on the chair thanking him for setting her a table so fast. 

"The usual?" He asks, walking back to the small kitchen that is in the same room as the sitting area. 

"Yes." Mircea answers and gazes out, there aren't many people in the house. There is a couple whispering something to each other. The love in their eyes seems fresh and unconsumed by reality. Mircea smiles beneath her mask. 

"One more bottle of brown alcohol for me." A middle aged guy who is sitting three tables away from Mircea raises his head ordering the old man. She glances at his figure-he appears to be drunk. He catches Mircea's gaze, she looks away instantly pulling the cloth tight. 

"I have seen you somewhere." The man gets up from his seat pointing his hand at Mircea. The couple stops chattering and looks at the man stumbling with every step he takes. "You must have seen me here, I live in the capital but sometimes I come here to eat." She leans on the chair confidently. Her mask is still tightly pulled across half of her face. 

"Oh, are you a trader?" He doesn't stop, irritating Mircea further. This wasn't the first time someone had asked who she was or what she was doing here. The old man comes to her with her dish. 

"Thankyou Rey." 

"Tell me how you like it? I have made some changes in the recipe this time." He tells her, ignoring the drunk man leaning against the table next to Mirceas'. 

"Yes I will." She takes a bite and then grins at Rey who is still standing in between the drunk man and her. "It is delicious. What did you add?"

"That is a secret now." 

"I'm still waiting for my brown alcohol old hag."

The drunk man glares at Rey.

"Watch your mouth." Mircea glowers at him. He laughs at her, "I asked you if you are a trader?" He stops laughing and stares at her face which is half hidden except for her mouth now.

"No, I'm not a trader." 

"Then who are you?"