My person

Elion's eyes jolted wide open.

There was a soft endless knock on the door. His body reacted before his consciousness could process it--- he ran towards the door and turned the knob, opening it, expecting an emergency.

"What happened?" Elion said in a hoarse voice.

"Hurry, follow me." Chief Barn said solemnly. "And wear something on."

Elion grabbed the crumpled white shirt from his nightstand and shove it over his head. His newfound dormmate, Chef Will, still sound asleep amid the commotion. 

Elion did not ask any questions and followed Chief Elion just as instructed. 

It was a Friday, and the sun was just about to peek from the sky. Elion knew he would not be called this early if it was not urgent. 

Urgent, meaning the princess. 

Elion stayed here long enough to be familiar with the twist and turns of the corridor, and as soon as they took the right turn, he immediately knew where they were heading towards to. 

Chief Barn nodded to the guard, signaling him to announce their arrival.

The guard opened the floor to ceiling door. "Chief Barn." He announced. 

The queen was sitting upright at the throne.

Chief Barn halted his steps as soon as the door closed behind them. 

The queen beckoned, encouraging them to move forward.

"My Queen." Chief Barn lowered his head in ninety degrees bow. 

Elion shadowed the Chief closely behind. He could see the knees of the old man wavered, being cured does not mean you're cured from old age, you just become one forever.

"Yes," The queen greeted them. "We meet again Eli, how has my daughter been these past few days, knowing you get to spend more time with her more than her own mother."

Something clicked on Elion's thoughts, he realized why he was dragged here. "Princess Alyssa is doing well."

"As she should be, she must be enjoying her current curfew free life." Queen Kathy clasped her fingers on her lap. "So much so that I'm getting concerned… that she will end up getting herself hurt."

Chief Barn grabbed Elion by the arm and dragged him a few steps in front. 

"You understand what I'm saying right? I never want my daughter to get hurt. Not even a single stand of her hair. Chief Barn told me a very fascinating story today. In truth, I'm a little disappointed in you. You should be the one telling me these stories."

"I do as what the princess ask me to."

"Obviously, I am well aware of that. I am flattered that you're loyal to my daughter, you've earned yourself a step ahead towards the cure. But as her mother, I believe I am the best person in this room to decide what is good or bad for my daughter. Especially plans of hers that might cause herself harm."

Elion did not answer.

The queen took that as a que to continue. "What does Alyssa know about the VIP club?"

"Nothing." Elion does not need to lie about this one. "That's the reason why she wants to see it herself, to know what is in there."

"I see." Queen Kathy and Chief Barn gave each other a knowing look. "Well, if my daughter would like to see the auction then let her be." she smiled. "See how easy that was? I want all the best for my daughter."

Queen Kathy beckoned to a guard. 

The guard threw a blue ice box in front of Chief Barn. 

Chief Barn knelt and hugged the ice box on his chest--- his body, convulsing.

"Enjoy your dessert, or shall we say, early brunch?" Queen Kathy laughed heartily.

Chief Barn laughed awkwardly in reply. "Th-Thank you, my queen."

"As long as you do a job, there will always be plenty for more." Queen Kathy regarded Elion with new light. "And as for you… what do you want?"

Chief Barn nudged him on the side. "Go on, tell the queen."

"I…" Elion did not want anything from the queen.

"Barn here have worked for years before he got cured, maybe if you work harder, you would be rewarded in lesser time." Queen Kathy waved them away. "Both of you may leave now."

"Ttthank you, my queen."

They curtsied to the queen and exited the room.

When the throne room closed behind them, Chef Barn was palpitating. "Ggggo back tto you room." He grabbed his left hand to try control it from shaking. "Donndon't tetell this to anyononoe. Especially to the princecesss, or both of us willlll die."

Chief Barn did not even wait for his reply as he went on his way, leaving Elion on his own.

Elion went back to his dorm intending to have two more hours of sleep. Wanting to be more comfortable on his bed, he removed his white shirt and tossed it on the nightstand. 

But Elion tossed and turned on his bed as his dormmate mumbles on his sleep. 

Elion felt a pang on his chest, never had he felt bad for the princess.

Never, until today. 

Not one person is at the princess side in this palace--- not even Elion himself. 

The princess is on her own, she had always been.

***

[The night before Barn's rebirth]

"Let's eat to the fullest tonight," Alyssa smacked her hand together. "No holding back."

"Princess," Barny sat in font of Alyssa, admiring the table full of dishes. "these are…"

"Yes," Alyssa said proudly. "I ordered the kitchen to cook all your favorites."

Roasted beef, honey Chicken, egg drop soup, spaghetti, and strawberry cake were sprawled on the table—they were more than enough to feed five people.

"Thank you, princess. You managed to keep this one from me, I'm surprised."

"Well, I may have asked my queen mother for a little help." Alyssa was bouncing on her eat. "Should we eat?"

She took a slice of cake and began eating. 

Barny opted to eat the roasted beef first. "Hmm, I don't remember strawberry cake as my favorite."

"Oh, this." Alyssa licked her spoon clean. "This one's for me." she smiled.

Barn stood up and scooped a bowl of the egg drop soup and slid it across Alyssa. "At least have something warm."

"Are you exited for tomorrow?" Alyssa took a few sips of the soup.

"I don't know." Barn placed his spoon down and pondered for a moment. "It feels like tomorrow's a normal day for me." He counted with his hands. "I'd have to water your garden, iron your dress, bring your brunch, refill your food stash… what else?  I think I'm forgetting something…."

"You don't have to do all those things anymore." Alyssa reached for his hand and folded three of his fingers. "You last mission as my attendant is to iron my dress."

"But…"

"No," She lifted a finger to stop him from speaking. "You're relieved from service, but…just the dress, I want to wear something special tomorrow."

"But…"

"Barny, I said you're relieve from service." Alyssa scooped the strawberry at the top and shoved it whole. "I'll just eat at the mess patio tomorrow."

"Princess,"

"It's okay, I can do this, I can function without you, I can do this." She said more to herself. "I'm just glad mother finally agreed! I told you I'm good at persuasion."

"Of course, princess, the queen will give the world to you if she can."

"As I would to her." She smiled. "That's what families do right?" she took her time before saying her next words. "You're a family too Barny."

"I might be punished for saying this but," Barny lowered his voice. "You're my family too, princess."

"Good, considering you know everything about me. More than my mother, to say the truth."

"Your mother will know more than I ever will." 

"I hope not," she took a second slice of the cake. "Some things are too embarrassing to tell your own mother."

"But not to me?"

"But not to you."

"Princess, free to talk to me anytime, anywhere, nothing will change between us."

"Are you sure about that offer? Because I might just barge into you room unannounced one day."

"Yes princess, I'm sure, no matter how busy I am, I will always find time for you."

"Good to know."

"It's the least I could do for everything you've done for me. You're the reason I have the queen's favor."

"Now that you mentioned it, why did mother summon you earlier?"

"She wanted to congratulate me personally, advised me not to be nervous for tomorrow."

"I'm glad everything worked out for you Barn, I'm happy," Alyssa nodded. "I really am." She kept it to herself what she really wanted to say--- she wished he could sill be her attendant, but she knew being promoted as Chief would be for the better. "Just promise me one thing though…"

"Of course, princess, what promise?"

"Promise me you will still be my person, promise me you will always be my person…" Alyssa looked at him in the eyes. 

Barny looked into the princess straight in the eye. "I promise, princess, I will always be your person, I will never betray you."

"Thank you." Alyssa's shoulders relaxed. "You know I only have you, you're the only one I could trust… well, other than mother of course."

The two were beginning to get full but the foods on the table looked like it was barely touched. 

"Princess," Barny laid back on his chair and rubbed his round belly. "I don't think I can finish all of these."

"NO, eat all of it!"

"I think my stomach's going to explode if I eat all of these."

"Well, at least have one last bite of… that one!" Alyssa forgot the name of that glazed chicken. "And that one…" and that smoked beef. "Everything won't be the same beginning tomorrow, you better shove everything in until your stomach explodes!"

So he did, Barny ate until he was about to puke, and everything did change that faithful day.