by Maggie Lee
"Well, that is a little bit of a long story, but basically we were supposed to have dinner, guess that's not happening, no one told me that until I tried to sneak into your bedroom and you weren't there!"
I tilt my head and look up at him in confusion. None of that made sense, or maybe I have a concussion. At this point, I don’t know anymore.
"Slow down, I think I'm concussed or something." He laughs at my comment and I give him an expecting face.
"Oh, we were going to have a family dinner tonight. Arden mentioned somewhere in town, but I figured I would just stop by since you were both going to be here anyways.” I completely forgot about our dinner.
“Dinner is cancelled, Markus,” I tell him sadly.
“I know, I mean I was looking forward to us going out. I also, may have been looking for you both, and scared your lady in waiting,” he admits.
"She is alright, correct?" My tone is hard, but he better not have hurt Alexis.
"I think I just gave her a fright. She laughed once I explained what I was doing. However, I then went to find my brother and he wasn't aware you weren't in your room. So, we’ve been searching the grounds for you. He's been in the garden. The asshole gave me forest duty. Do you know how scrubby it is out here?"
"Yes, I'm currently sitting in a pile of scrubs." He gives me a funny look before nodding in understandance.
"Come on, little queen. Let's go find my brother before his head explodes. He was mad with me that you weren't in your room." He extends a hand and pulls me up.
His help is greatly appreciated, because with how sore I am, getting up would have been awful. We walk in silence for a few moments and then I catch what he actually said. His brother was unhappy that I wasn’t in my room?
Didn’t he just decide that he's going to marry June, why would he care what I've done? I'm no longer his responsibility.
"Do we have to go back to him? Can't you just escort me back to the house?" I ask, hoping I can bypass being caught out and my father finding me.
"He won't be happy till he sees you. Just let him know you are alright and he can take you back to your room. I'm going to leave the gates as soon as possible. Your father, not a very friendly guy." He holds back some branches so I can get through easier.
"You're telling me..." I say as I pass him.
"I mean, I'm glad he didn't catch me in your room. Lord knows, he would have had my head. He was pissed that I interrupted whatever conversation my brother and him were having to even say hello." Oh no. He spoke with my dad!
"Did you tell him? Oh my God. Does he know I'm out?" I stop walking, frozen in a panic.
"No, God. He asked why I was out of the working quarters and who my supervisor was." My fear instantly goes away and I laugh, hard. My father thought he was the help.
I give him a look over and see why. This man wore jeans to a formal meeting dinner, no wonder. Arden was in jeans today, but that was for a day wear activity, not dinner. Although, at this point, I would bet that my father believes he can do no wrong.
"What did you tell him?"
"I just pointed to my brother. I'm sure I offended him not giving him proper greeting anyways. He will work through it, we're going to be family one day anyways." He starts pulling me along to the edge of the forest next to the greenhouse.
My heart eases, seeing it. My father never comes out here, it's so peaceful.
A few maidens are out here working in the garden and I pass by giving them waves or checking in on what they are working with. The tomatoes are out of season, so they are mostly working on tilling the area for replanting. As I bend over to speak to someone, I'm twisted around and pulled into a big embrace.
Everywhere hurts, so I let out a whimper and that causes them to let go.
"I thought you had ran, I didn't even know where else to look. I've been everywhere in the garden and greenhouse. I even sent my brother into the forest. Idiot." Arden has me held out and I'm more confused than ever. His words keep me silent. "I'm having your father banished from the kingdom the moment I'm crowned, possibly even the country."
"I'm not sure June would like that. She's rather fond of him," I tell him with a slight snarl.
He looks at me for just a moment before answering, "I don't give a fuck what June wants."
I shake his hands off of me, "You should, and she’s to be your wife."
"No. But that's a different discussion. If he did more than what I saw today, you won't be allowed in another room alone with him. Do you understand?" He releases me, only to step closer.
"First, he is my father and the king. I'm not sure you can say who can and cannot be in a room with him. Second, are we engaged again then?" I try to ask the second question like an afterthought, but I'm obviously curious.
My heart stops beating while I wait for his answer.
"I can tell you to stay away from him, and based on the fear I saw in your eyes when I entered that room earlier, I believe you will listen." He takes another step closer and looks down at me with softer eyes than he ever has before. "No, I am engaged to your sister. It's best this way. Go finish dinner, and stay in your room until your father leaves for our meetings in the morning. We should be gone for over a week and he may cool down some in that time."
He lifts his hand up and lightly cups my cheek before leaning forward and kissing my forehead. I lean into him, but he is gone just as fast as he came. I watch him and his brother walk away and when Markus tries to speak to him, he raises a hand and it silences him instantly. I watch until they both pass the garden gates and disappear from view, and then I still watch the gates for a few more seconds.
"Alright, have a good night ladies," I say to the women gardening around me like they didn't just watch my train wreck of a life fall apart.
I stop by the kitchen. But my help isn’t needed tonight. So, I take advantage and disappear to my chambers. Every step up the stairwell is painful and I feel like a jellyfish when I finally get to the top.
I skip the dinner that is brought up for me and opt to take a bath. I, as nicely as possible, kick Alexis out of my room and enjoy my soak alone. Too much happened today and I don't think I can handle another thing. When the water turns cold, I reluctantly climb out and sleep.
Like Arden said, I spend the next morning in my room preparing to return back to the school I was apprenticing at. My classes resume this week and I'm looking forward to getting back to my routine.
Alexis brings news that I’ve been suspended from working in the kitchen and alongside the grocers. Father probably has forgotten about my teaching, so I’m lucky he hasn’t tried to take that away as well.
The way Father made it sound is like Arden will marry June, and they will take the throne. I wonder if that means I can continue the path I was on before and be on the Education Board with my uncle, until he retires and I take over. That was always my path anyways.
Another day passes and with Arden’s voice in my head, I don't attempt to leave other than going to the garden to water the plants. On the third night, when no one brings a meal to my room, I set out to find Alexis, but instead run into June.
I double take as I notice her attire. She is dressed up in a full evening gown, ready for a royal event that I’ve not been told of. We have the December Solstice coming up, but it’s not near far enough in the month for that.
"Whatever are you dressed for?" I ask her. She looks lovely in the shade of teal she has on.
"Dinner with Daddy and Arden tonight. We are going out with the advisors and mother’s queen council." Her tone is gentle, but I almost feel as though she sounds disappointed in me. Which is a weird feeling as she is the one dining with my ex-fiancé.
"Oh, no one told me they were back. Or I wouldn't be in a nightgown." I turn to go change, but her hand lands on my shoulder stopping me.
"No one told you because you are dining here, alone tonight. They are only here for the night and then they leave again." I don't turn around, only nod and go back into my room.<
br />
I've been exiled, even if part of it is my own doing, but that's fine. I would rather be alone than be surrounded by them right now. Being in here is safe and I don't have to worry about anything other than classes starting back. Although, I would be lying if I said June adapting to my roll in this whole thing so quickly feels a little traitorous.
The following morning, I get up and make my way downstairs to the town car that always takes me to the school. Everything goes at it always has before, my driver stops for coffee and we make it to my classroom a half an hour early, so I can get settle before the kids and other teachers show up.
This year is supposed to be my last year in an active class room, but I'm not sure what our plan is anymore. I should get to attend college and take my finals that certify me as an educator, but Father had vetoed that last time we talked. So, maybe now things have changed. It has always been my role as the second born to be in charge of the education of our people.
Ms. Buss comes into the quiet classroom about fifteen minutes before the children arrive, and I’m honestly so happy to see her. She is buzzing and full of life, it truly brings my spirits up just being near her. "Good morning, Your Highness."
"Ms. Buss, please, call me Mackenzie." I tell her this again, for what has to be the hundredth time. She has a hard time using anything other than the official titles, and I honestly believe it's because she has been a part of the Mesial class her entire life. They were raised to treat the distinguished as just that. Distinguished.
Other’s castes and class never really mattered to me, it was just another fact about them that didn’t matter, like their hair color. It existed and I wasn’t blind to it, but I definitely never cared about it. Sometimes it was obvious where people stood, and they truly cared, but unless someone brought it up, I never asked. It didn’t even cross my mind when we attended Thanksgiving, and who knows what class those people were in? I couldn’t tell by their clothing or how they looked. Everyone was clean and dressed appropriately for where we were.
Well, except me. I was dressed like a princess.
"Alright, Mackenzie, I’m glad you’re back. Have you prepared a lesson plan for today?" she asks me, taking a seat in one of the student desks in front of me.
"Yes, I have! I look forward to seeing the kids bright and shining faces as I teach them about the history of our country! Don’t tell anyone but, I actually attended a Thanksgiving celebration this past week or so, and while I won’t teach them about that, I am looking forward to diving into our country's history and how we became what we are."
"That sounds great, because I hate teaching it. Oh!" She pauses and giggles like she's said something dirty. "Sorry, I know you are who you are, I just find it more fun to teach them science and math."
I can’t blame her, our history and social studies aren’t the most fun to teach or learn, but maybe with my renewed love of them, I can make it a better experience. It was an honor to attend Thanksgiving and see what it was all about. Everyone bringing something to the table.
I laugh with her and we talk until the students come in and start filling the desks. Our morning runs smooth with our co-teaching approach and its lunch time before I know it. I use the privacy of the room, and the phone in here to try my attempt at calling Teijan to warn him about Father and the letters.
My heart breaks when I get a disconnected signal. He must know and already be on the move or... I don't let myself think about it, instead I pull out paper and write a letter to him about everything going on and how sorry I am. Odds are Father has his mailbox being watched or something along those lines, so I will probably get caught doing this, but if there is any chance I can get a letter to him in time to warn him, then it’s worth the risk.
I make a quick trip to the mailbox in the office of the school and then resume my day like nothing happened. Hopefully no one thinks twice and they send the letter on its way. I fear what will happen if I get caught again.
Class continues on and I teach my lesson with all eyes on me, “We started as one country, united under one flag. Then one day, the country was taken over. The country was weak at the time, after years of things happening to this country; wars causing debts, invasions causing loss, sickness causing panic. It was the perfect time for someone to swoop in and pay off debts, taking over the country. That is when the Colossal War happened. This little country, barely standing, tried to fight. Unfortunately it was just too much...”
A hand shoots up in the middle row of the class, “Ms. Mackenzie! What happened then?”
“Well, they lost the war. So, another country called Irby, sent over a few of its leaders and they decided to make a leadership council. See, they didn’t believe one person should have all of the power when running a country. The country they came from, Irby, had a queen who sat as the leader of a monarchy. You’ve learned about those a little before. We have one now.”
“So they gave us a monarchy?” she asks back, this time without raising her hand.
“Sort of, it’s more like they formed one. Only the country as a whole tried to rebel. It’s didn’t work entirely, but it did break us up into tinier countries. A few more wars happened to get us there, but we are out of time for today!” The bell letting everyone know school is dismissed for the day begins ringing and the younglings are up and out of their chairs before I can blink.
I begin to pack up my things when Ms. Buss approaches my desk. “Sorry, you didn’t get much time today. Other lessons ran long, but tomorrow, feel free to resume yours when class starts.”
“Wonderful. Thank you.” I give her a nod and we both pack our things up and leave the room together.
The car service is waiting for me in front of the school, and we ride home in silence. Like always. Which in some weird way now annoys me. I couldn’t make conversation with my driver even if I tried. They always keep the partition up and closed. I am almost sure I could climb out of the window at a stop and they wouldn’t notice.
Chapter 13.
Back in my room, I eat my dinner alone and then prepare for bed, no maidens come by to help and I can’t help but think that is another form of punishment. I’m a grown woman and can take care of myself, so I don’t mind the isolation, but I’m used to Alexis at least stopping by to check in on me every once in a while.
I sleep and the day repeats itself for the rest of the week. The weekend comes too soon and I try to figure out how to keep myself locked in my room for the following days. My heart keeps having flutters of panic every time I think about the fact that my father returns today from whatever trip he’s been on with Arden.
As I work through another lesson plan on how our monarchy came about, Alexis comes in for the first time in days and starts working on preparing a dress for me.
"Am I going somewhere tonight?" I ask her.
"You are having dinner with your family and some soldiers that are being promoted in the December Solstice Ball" She answers blatantly while working on pressing the dress’s creases.
"Where have you been the last week?" I ask her, it's been a long week here alone.
"I was sent to work on the living quarters for you and Arden, they kept me there even though plans have changed" she tells me defeated.
"I'm sorry, I'm sure the cottage looks lovely now." I console her, even though it was my heart that was stomped on.
"What did you do this time?" she mocks me and I can’t help but laugh with her.
"Treason and all that. You know." I shrug and we giggle together. It's so good to have her back.
I continue working on my lesson plan until she tells me it's time to bathe and begin getting ready. We work on my hair and makeup in tandem, and by the end, I feel relatively good about myself for the first time in days.
"You look lovely, Sir Arden is going to be sad he has to marry your sister when he sees you tonight." She laughs, but it strikes a nerve somewhere in me.
I do all I can to let out a small fake laugh and force a smile, then return to fiddling wi
th my heels. I don't have long before she will go downstairs and then come back to retrieve me. Hopefully tonight will move along smoothly and I won't have to watch my sister and Arden fall in love in front of me.
"I am going to go down stairs and see if the serving crew is ready to receive the royal family yet." she announces and I give her a small nod.
Alexis has been my maiden for quite some time, and she is nothing if not formal and professional about her duties. Even when I’ve asked her not to be. Maybe it is for her sake, or mine, who knows at this point? I like to think of us as friends, sometimes it feels that way. Her professional attitude has saved us both though, many times.
Time passes slowly and my nerves come into play. I have been focused on school and just staying out of the way that being alone has become almost a habit. Returning to the normal seems impossible when Father was as angry as he was.
Alexis cracks the door a little and calls to me, "Alright miss, let’s make our way down stairs, everyone but your father should be there by now."
I stand tall and give myself one last once over, but before I let out the deep breath I was holding I hear a muffled exchange at the door and my heart sinks. Someone is probably coming up to tell her I won't be invited to dinner after all.
My mind wanders for a minute or two until the door opens and Arden enters, shutting it behind himself. His eyes widen when he sees me and we both stand in silence facing each other. My heart pounds as we inspect each other for a minute and I can't help but let my eyes wander. I've never seen him in a suit before. His dress blues made him look regal, but today he looks lethal.
The suit cut is delicious and if I saw him, with no history or knowledge of him, I would have been interested. The dark grey suit is custom, the perfect shape to show his sculpted torso and long muscular legs. The color brings out the dark and dangerous features he has. Most of all, the whole suit makes him look sharp. Like the steel blades I know he can forge.
"Good evening." His tone is gentle and I can tell he doesn't like whatever talk we are about to have.
