Chapter 10

She almost drifted off the distant land of thoughts. Almost. But just then, the harsh clink of a tray hitting the marble counter beside her echoed sharply and brought all the attention to itself.

She turned in surprise and her eyes fell immediately on an untouched set of dinner plating. Stew, soup, bread, and all the meat left without a trace of touch. She looked up. Mary stood all in her five foot two glory of anger and huffed out a greatly frustrated breath.

Oh dear, what has happened?

"Mary?" Sorine called inquisitively, realization then hitting her, "Weren't you to deliver the Crown Prince's meal?"

"Arghhhh!" Mary grunted under her breath, balling up her fists, "That exactly! But it's the third time and it is all in vain."

Sorine's eyes slowly moved towards the untouched tray of lavish meal and back to the frustrated grimace on Mary's face— what could possibly be the problem? Sorine had a sneaking suspicion.

"All in vain? What do you mean?"

"The Crown Prince has refused every meal brought to his door!"

Sorine wasn't exactly surprised.

"What?" Sorine scoffed, "Why?"

He couldn't possibly be throwing a tantrum, would he? She did know that Eric often refused his meal if she hadn't eaten out of it but he wouldn't possibly go this far. He knew that she had been banned by a royal, a noble.

"Untouched by his sinne, he says and I quote. What do you reckon what he even meant? He is not making sense! He goes on blabbering about his hard life. He is a Prince, crying to a maid. I should have known that castle life wasn't all that glorious."

"Hmmm." Sorine hummed wordlessly, unable to spit out a word in her defense.

"And his birth celebration is approaching near fast. Why would he act up like a toddler? Is…" Mary inched in closer, "Is his betrothed not as easy on the eyes as he expected? I hear that is the case."

"Mary, don't jest." Sorine mumbled, "The betrothed is, of course, blessed with the most striking features. Trust my words."

"Oh…" Mary mumbled, realizing her mistake. She has rattled on about the Crown Prince's engagement when she should have been aware of the fact that Sorine was involved with the Prince in question. But alas! How thick-headed of her! She had completely forgotten about that chunk of information. Important information.

"Sorry." She immediately apologized, knowing that she would have to confront it rather than act as though nothing ever happened. How foolish of her! She should have kept her mouth shut.

Sorine shook her head.

"No, Mary. It's alright." Sorine looked away, silently adding, "I know my place."

"Sorine, I—"

"I shall leave. I intend to set the wall lamps alight before the sun dips." What a spout of nonsense. It is barely noon.

She turned, feeling that she didn't want Mary to apologize to her. After all, there is nothing to apologize for. Yet, on the other hand, she needed to deal with Eric. After all, she can't possibly be the one to cause the Crown Prince's death by starvation. She knew she would have to meet Eric. Surely Kaya and The King wouldn't be far too pleased if they found out that Eric has been throwing a childish tantrum as a result of his maid mistress. The one he forced his father to take into the sacred castle of Newar that people worshiped. Sorine feared that she would surely lose her head soon enough if Eric kept this up.

It was quite rudimental to keep up with her presence in the castle when they were but innocent youths dancing and prancing about the golden wall of the castle without the fear of the terrible realities of the world that would crash onto them soon enough. But now, Sorine was an obstacle. She stood in the way of the principles that Newarfa has guarded for generations. She would soil the pure blood of the Royals with her less than common blood. That was what everyone was thinking of, especially the King and the Queen. She knew that the King detested even the thought of letting her mingle with his children within the walls of the castle.

A chill ran down her spine, knowing that she might actually lose her life this time. The reality was setting in. The King has kept his toleration towards her because she merely laid low all these years. She didn't dare to break a rule nor did she do anything in fear that she would cast a light on her existence. She feared being brought up to a level where she is not supposed to be.

Her instincts kicked in. Yes, she is somewhere she doesn't deserve to be but her blood didn't dictate the right to love someone. She would not dare die at the hands of an imbecile who couldn't merely accept the fact that love didn't dare discriminate. Moreover, she didn't think they deserved the right to kill her.

No way in hell would she ever die in the hands of filthy royals.

She would stand by her dignity and let them know that they wouldn't dare mess with her.

Even without Eric by her side.

She stopped in her tracks.

Eric.

A pang hit her heart and she instinctively grabbed a fistful of her black shirt. What is it about Eric? What should she exactly do about Eric? She loved him with all her heart and her existence. Up until she was merely a youth, she only knew of him and her world revolved around him. That is a telltale sign of how prominent he was in her life.

No. This won't do.

She straightened up her shoulders and staled past the wretched elaborate hallways of Newarfa. She couldn't keep moping around like a sad sack of grain. Sorine knew nothing was solved with one mulling over everything.

The hallway forked into two pathways. One which led to the Workers' Quarter and the other. The other is the one she has been banned from even casting a glance towards.

"Come visit my room tomorrow."

Eric's words from the previous night echoed in her memory. His fist balled tightly and she stood in the middle of a crossroad both physically and mentally. She knew what she wanted to do, the calling of her heart and she would do it. She dared to do it. She turned away from the hallway that led to her room and walked down the hallway that would lead to the bridge that connected one tower of the castle to the main tower; the Royal Tower where the entire membership of the royal family resided in.

Her heart hammered against her chest rapidly but she walked ahead, looking down. She hoped that she didn't dare meet eyes with anyone and that anyone would recognize her. She became weirdly conscious of her golden eyes. God forbid that Eric loved them but they have been used to identify her apart from any normal maid in the castle. What was she even doing right now? She has an ally now. She should have sent Mary to pass on a message to Eric. But she was also sure that he wouldn't trust the credibility of the letter.

Simply he would only take the word from her directly.

She took small quick steps down the connecting bridge, ignoring her usual habit of staring out at the white peaks of the mountains visible from the suspended bridge connecting the top of the two towers. One could clearly see the change that is affected in the walls, the expensive red Heriz rug laid leading down the path to the ornate and intricate architecture along the supporting beams and the pillars. Elaborate archways decorate the entryway of each pathway leading to a royal room. The King resides at the peak of the tower and he is given sight of the entire view of the kingdom, a truly fitting metaphor of how he watches over the people of the entire kingdom. But it is not the king's chambers that Sorine is mindful of.

Luck was on her side when Eric chose to reside on the very floor that the bridge connected to.

The other princesses and princes lived on the floor below the Crown Prince's with the exception of the Fourth Prince who is rumored to be exiled in another tower, away from his family— the king and his supposed siblings. Sorine headed down the much familiar hallway carpeted with red, golden walls across and even more gold armory hung along the walls. She made sure that her feet did not make a squeak in fear that someone might have been watching on her. She could see the large heavy door and it is only a few steps away. It is by sheer luck that she didn't chance upon anyone familiar on the way, else she might have been reported. At the very least she has reached her destination without being discovered.

"Halt."