The next morning...
The lukewarm rays of the morning sun pried through the transparent glass of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the dining hall — the light click of utensils echoed through the serene atmosphere of the royal gathering.
With the imperial head, Queen Rebecca, seated at the far end of the table, her two sons, Wilhelm and Anthony, sat on her left and right, respectively.
Uncovering the served meal for each royal member, the maidens then bowed before exiting the room — they began to eat.
Seated both calm and at peace, it took a few moments longer before one of them noticed the normalcy of it all...
"Where is your wife?" Wilhelm's question pierced sharper than Anthony's favorite spear, down his spine.
Anthony's demeanor remained unhinged.
Queen Rebecca looked up with quirked brows. "Oh... no wonder the meal tasted better." She turned to her oldest son. "But sadly, where is she?"
Anthony refused to ruin his breakfast as he focused diligently.
Wilhelm let out a sigh. "What sort of husband leaves his wife fast asleep to eat breakfast alone?"
"I know it is difficult for you, sweetheart," Rebecca's voice softened. "But we are not barbarians that we can't even feed the unfortunate... Even when it revolts us." She mumbled the last words.
Again, Anthony responded with silence for moments longer before stretching for a glass to drench his throat with red wine.
Exhaling softly, he said, "I wish I were a ringmaster to understand what thing you two expect me to account for."
Rebecca gave him a quick frown at his dismissive tone and statement before turning to wave one of the guards.
"Bring the princess for breakfast," she ordered, returning to her meal.
The guard stood in place with a slightly agitated grimace.
Rebecca gazed back at him. "Did your ears fail you or are you paralyzed?"
"Your Majesty..." the guard bowed. "Her Highness is in the library..."
Rebecca crooked a brow. "Doing?"
"She has been there since last night, Your Majesty... and she refused to be disturbed."
Their faces scrunched in confusion — all except Anthony.
"Not to be disturbed?" Wilhelm repeated.
"The audacity," Rebecca frowned.
"Enjoy the heaven's ray while it lasts, Mother." Anthony seized their attention as he pushed off from his seat. "Maybe one day she'll disappear for good," he offered a light smirk before leaning down to peck his mother's cheek.
"I will be on my way to Lord Abraham's manor then head to the council," Anthony announced before making his exit along with a pair of guards.
Wilhelm and Rebecca shared quizzical stares.
"This was not how I envisioned it..." Wilhelm broke the silence between them.
Rebecca sighed. Even she knew not what to make of the current happenings...
She rested back to rub the side of her temple. "All this trouble thanks to one deviled girl..."
Meanwhile, amongst the pair of knights that stood behind the queen — one of them, coincidentally, the same guard that had escorted the prince to his chamber the previous night — watched the seated royals with a somewhat irked expression underneath his metallic helmet.
His fists clenched at his sides.
• • •
Later that morning...
Within the silent hallways of the palace echoed the steady, measured footsteps of metallic boots that strode forth, along with the creaking tyres of the trolley pushed along.
Having on his metallic helmet that shielded his face, the knight proceeded through the hallway until he reached the grand doors of the library.
He halted.
Taking in a deep breath with shut eyes, the knight carefully pushed open the doors.
"Who is it?!"
The knight paused at the sharp tone of the Werlerian princess.
Now standing at the entrance of the library with no direct sight of Her Highness, the guard's view dragged from one side of the large library to the other.
Where was she—
THUD!
The sudden stumble of Her Highness' movement behind a long row of shelves drew his gaze to her location.
He could hear her let out a grunt as she seemed to fuse quickly on the other side.
He crooked his head, stepping away from the trolley to carefully pace toward the location of the noise.
Princess Sylteena suddenly jolted out from between the shelves — her mismatched eyes locked wide on the guard, her hands clasped to the flare of her dress.
Her chest heaved rapidly due to the long, shallow breaths that dragged through her clenched teeth. The guard remained still as a spooked cat, uncertain how to react to the princess's agitated state.
Sylteena's being finally caught enough breath before speaking.
"I— I had announced t- to the previous guard... T- That I do not want to be disturbed...."
He then cleared his throat before lowering his head. "Pardon me, Your Highness, but I was sent to bring your morning meal."
He dared not raise his head after the lie he had just blathered out.
Not only were none of the royal members concerned for her absence, but none wasted a thought to even act regarding her hunger.
His fists clutched. He just hoped she would believe his words without seeking to verify from any of them... that's if any of them cared to give her a listening ear, that is.
"T- Thank you..."
What a relief.
"But you do not have to speak false words against the royal family."
His head snapped up at the sound of her strained voice. His brows quirked underneath his helmet.
Despite her disheveled blonde strands and the swollen dark bags under her reddened eyes — evidence of the night-long tears she had shed — her chipped lips pulled into a weak smile as she offered a subtle nod.
"Not even the maids cared to find me for my morning routine... I doubt my feeding would be in the periphery of focus for Her Majesty and sons..."
The guard lowered his gaze in shame of his poor attempt to lie.
"But your kindness is much appreciated..." Her smile seemed strained on her stiffened facial muscles.
He bowed once more before turning to push forth the trolley to feet within her reach.
"Please eat to your satisfaction, Your Highness..."
Sylteena only continued to stare at the guard with intensity.
He gazed down at himself and back. "Is something the matter, Your Highness?"
Sylteena did not give an answer as she looked down to the trolley of delicacy and back at him.
The knight became only more confused, tempted to repeat his question.
Sylteena then asked, "What exactly do you stand to gain?"
He paused, his mind taking a moment to rethink her question where the only thing that left his lips was, "Pardon?..."