Chapter 12

"Having a little rendezvous, are we?"

Time seemed to have stilled, and along the doorway stood in all her pristine white glory— Kaya. Saccharine red painted over her lips and a white gown that flared out in a dome shape that nearly matched her sickly ivory skin. It is truly ironic that the Ochrean princess looked like a snowflake. There had always been rumors of how pampered the King's sole child and only daughter is. She looked like she had never stayed out more than a minute in the sun given that the warm weather and abundant sun were one of the most prolific nature of the Ochre kingdom. If anything, Kaya looked like a frosty walking and talking block of ice. Without a single expression on her face, her eyes fell on Sorine standing right beside Eric.

Don't be scared. Sorine thought to herself repeatedly, there's nothing to be scared of.

"Kaya—"

"Shut up, Eric." Kaya bit harshly, not taking her eyes off of Sorine. Sorine stared back defiantly that incited a scoff out of the woman. Slowly dragging her eyes away from Sorine, she turned her head ever so slightly, and behind her, a bowed head emerged. Sorine looked at the new entrance and immediately closed her eyes in regret. Damn it all. Damn it, It was the woman she took the letter from. The handmaid. She should have known. She shouldn't have been so foolhardy. Why did she get so sure of herself? She should have lied and avoided any interaction when she found out that the woman was probably Kaya's maid.

"Ingrid," Kaya called. "You know what to do."

The woman, Ingrid by name, nodded solemnly and backed away with her head still bowed. She then disappeared somewhere, off to fulfill Kaya's cryptic message.

Then Kaya looked back, her eyes sharpening. She took very slow steps into the room.

"Do you take me to be a fool? The both of you? You Newarians take me to be an airhead royal, is that it? Sneaking behind my back and throwing your dirty rags into my face?"

"This…this is not what it seems like, Kaya. I merely summoned Sorine to look after my meals. You know it, I have told you—"

"Shut it. I know what you have told me. You have given me an excuse to keep her by your side. I know very well of that. I am no buffoon. Did you know that this girl that you are defending has clearly acted out of line and intercepted a letter that I have sent for you? She dared to step into line, stop my handmaid and snatch the letter out of her very hands! What an atrocious act committed upon a guest of the kingdom! Moreover, does she not realize that a princess' handmaid is much more compared to a mere simple maid? What an insolence!"

"Sorine?" Eric looked over to her with an indescribable look in her eyes.

He seems to be hesitating from saying anything against Kaya in fear that he may get in trouble for taking Sorine's side over the likes of a Royal. Of course, the pampered princess would surely run to her father's arms crying and complaining about how the Newarians dared to disgrace her and with that, the entire kingdom of Ochre. The Ochrean King will sure be livid, enough to ask for more than simple punishment measures against the Crown Prince but even more than that. The diplomatic relations will be sure to sour. To hear of such treatment that his only hile has faced in the cold, dreary scene of an unfamiliar kingdom. The one she would marry into even.

Say sorry. Apologize. That is what Eric's eyes seems to be saying to her when they caught eyes. Get on your knees. Fix this. This is too much to risk. Beg for forgiveness. Do anything to undo your mistakes.

His pleading eyes. His traitorous lips that kiss her lips. The very lips that tell her lies and then change over to sinful worship for the princess. The ones that love another woman's skin while promising marriage to her. A happy ending while giving his hand to another woman.

Oh, Eric.

What happened, Eric?

What happened to the innocent dreams that he shared? Where has that sincerity gone to? That untainted hope that is slowly turning into mad desperation. Was he doing all these just for their future? Would betraying her mean that he would end up with her in the future? Whatever has happened that he has turned into this very man who stands cowardly beside her, cowering under the eyes of another woman? For who's sake has he to do all this?

"I am sorry." Sorine finally spoke up, tearing her eyes away from her lover's clamorous eyes, "Your highness."

If this is what he wants, then so be it.

So be it.

A small impassive smile laced Kaya's lips as she walked even closer, into the middle of the room where Sorine and Eric stood. Her textured white gown flared out and floated just above the ground. Sorine's eyes rove down and up backward, scrutinizing the Princess so blatantly that Kaya's kips straightened disapprovingly.

Now kneel.

That's what her face seems to be saying without saying anything. Sorine could read the look of expectation in Kaya's eyes. Bend down, beg for forgiveness. So who is the most powerful one among us? Stoop down to the level that you are and lick away the dirt on my shoes so you can escape unscathed, without the repercussions of your courage. Perchance then you might be let away with only a mere look of condemnation. Maybe and hopefully even less.

Sorine sighed, to hell with it.

"I was only merely doing what I thought was right."

The air changed over, a chill passing through them. Kaya immediately stopped in front of her. The look of sadistic pleasure that came from Sorine's apology was swiftly wiped away from her face and took place in its stead, a stone-cold shock, that slowly turned over to apprehension.

"What?" She snapped. Say it again. Say it again if you dare.

"No, you must see for yourself. Perhaps your maid didn't know of the rules of the Castle but we don't interrupt his Majesty or any one of their Highnesses during their meal hour. Not even a Princess' handmaid. Moreover, a guest must observe the rules of the guest house. I was merely helping your maid from receiving a lashing and in turn, you, your excellency from receiving a bad reputation prior to the engagement announcement."

"What is your point? You were doing me a favor? Is that it?" Kaya tilted her head, her eyes quivering dangerously in widened anger. She seemed like she would snap any minute now but yet still, Sorine went forward.

"You see, your excellency." Sorine leaned in closer, whispering almost, "You may be a princess but please, you must keep in mind that here, only I am allowed to intrude into the Crown Prince's premises whenever and however. Please watch yourself. Even a Princess like yourself disturbing his meal hours is to be frowned upon. After all, you aren't yet his Queen, and wonders upon wonders, will you even be?"

Oh she crossed the line there.