[Music Recommendation: Light and. Shadow ~ Kim Soo Hyun]
The week for the King’s birthday celebration finally arrived so fast. The walls of the palace were freshly repainted with new white paint, and the withered brown flowers that had adorned the pillars before were replaced with fresh red flowers, filling the air with their sweet fragrance. The scent of rain and damp earth added a fresh, earthy aroma to the palace. The throne room was also redecorated, with a new throne design.
Oriana stepped out of her room, taken aback by the new changes that were not there yesterday. She cautiously made her way through the palace corridors, observing the servants as they worked to prepare for the grand event.
When she entered the kitchen, she found the maids cooking and preparing a feast triple the usual size. They were so focused on their work that they barely noticed her presence. The princess took what she needed and left. Curious about the whole activity, Oriana lingered by the side, listening in on a group of maids gathered near the hallway.
"Amelia, you are one of the oldest servants here in the palace. Care to tell us what this whole event is all about?" a younger maid asked, holding her hands together.
"You want to know about the King’s birthday?" she asked, and they all nodded, including Oriana, who was standing by the side. "Now listen, long ago, Avon was created. It was the very first kingdom near the waters. It was small at first, but the water gave it this majestic aura. When our first king, Galgani, won the first battle that made us popular among other kingdoms, that was when the birthday tradition started." The maid paused to be sure everyone was listening to her.
The maids listened intently, their eyes wide with excitement. Oriana, too, found herself drawn into the story. The older maid continued, "So, the birthday celebrates the battle won. And for King Fidelis, we have six activities to mark his six undefeated battles."
"Six?" The maids gasped in unison, their faces filled with surprise.
Oriana, who was standing by the pillar, was also shocked. The king who was now ill also had his glory days as a mighty warrior. She wondered how many battles Adric had won.
"What are the activities?" one of the maids who was carrying a basket asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The older maid smiled. "Ah, Beth, you’re so curious! Fine, I’ll tell you. Let’s take this outside, near the washing spring." The maids gathered around, eager to hear the rest of the story. Oriana joined them, her gown rustling as she walked.
When they arrived at the washing spring, the maids dropped the dirty clothes and sat down on the rocks, ready to start washing and gossiping. Oriana joined them, removing her shoes and raising her gown above her knee. She listened closely as Amelia began to explain the six activities that would take place during the king’s birthday celebration.
"The first activity is the horse-riding procession, where the king parades through the streets and the villagers come out to greet and praise him," Amelia said, beating a dress with a wooden stick. "But that’s just the start. The next is the competition to find the best horse rider. Prince Adric has been undefeated for years, and every member of the royal family is expected to participate. It shows the kingdom that the royal family is united."
Oriana’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. She didn’t even know how to get down from a horse, let alone ride one. She felt a pang of anxiety at the thought of participating in the competition.
Amelia continued, "The next activity is the most dangerous - the hunting trip. I heard someone got lost in the woods and was found dead the next day." She shook her head, handing a rinsed dress to Oriana, who took it without a word of complaint, her attention more focused on the story.
"The safest is the cooking competition. Last year, it was won by Princess Adelaide," the maid explained. "Then there’s the music festival, the archery tournament, and finally the masquerade ball."
Oriana listened intently, her mind racing with excitement when she felt a fly buzzing around her ear and slapped it away, asking, "Why should every member of the royal family participate?"
Amelia replied, "The king always has a reward for the most awarded person and the one with the best gift. It’s like a wish he grants. Sometimes, he even gives the person a spot in the royal court."
Oriana nodded. Adric had already told her about this before. She felt the fly buzzing around her ear again and swatted it away.
"You asked something so important," Amelia said, with a slight nod of her head. She raised the dress she had just rinsed, holding it out to Oriana with a smile.
Oriana reached out to take it, her fingers brushing against the maid’s as she took hold of the damp garment. But as their hands touched, Amelia’s gaze lingered on the princess’s face, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took in Oriana’s features. Suddenly, her expression changed from curiosity to shock, and she exclaimed,
"Princess!!"
The word came out as a whisper, but it was laced with fear. Amelia’s eyes widened, her gaze fixed on Oriana’s face as if she was seeing her for the first time. The other maids turned to look at Oriana and, when they recognized her, they quickly stood on their feet.
Oriana touched her face, looking at the maids. She tried to play it cool, smiling awkwardly as she said, "Ah, yes. That’s me."
Amelia took a step back, her face raised a little before she bowed it quickly. "Your Highness," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "We didn’t know you were... here."
The maids bowed their heads, their faces pale as they realized they had been gossiping without doing their duties.
Oriana waved her hand dismissively, trying to put them at ease. "It’s okay, really. I won’t punish you." But they remained bowed, their eyes fixed on the ground.
Oriana turned her face to see what else had them scared. There she saw Adric standing behind her, holding a strand of a dandelion that he twirled.
"You..." Oriana pointed at him, her eyes widened with surprise, "How long have you been standing there?"
Adric smiled mischievously, his eyes sparkling with something dark. "Long enough to know that you’re not prepared for tomorrow, Princess," he said. He had seen Oriana earlier, when she sneaked out of the palace like a cat that found fish, her eyes darting back and forth like a nervous mouse. For someone who was supposed to be watching her back, the girl had no ounce of wariness. Adric thought to himself.
Oriana felt her face flush with embarrassment, but she tried to maintain her composure. "I’m trying to get ready by knowing what to expect," she said, her voice steady. "You know what they say..."
"And what’s that?" Adric asked, his eyes roaming over Oriana’s dripping wet dress, her slender legs and small feet visible beneath the raised hem. He could cover her feet with just his palm, and the thought sent a strange thrill through him.
Oriana cleared her throat, feeling Adric’s scrutinizing gaze. She held her hands together, trying to appear composed, and brought her gown down to cover her legs, but it only seemed to soak up more water. "Well, I suppose I should get back to my royal duties and also prepare for tomorrow," she said, her voice firm.
As she stood up, her gown dripping with water, Adric couldn’t help but notice how the fabric clung to her curves, accentuating her slender figure. He had never thought of Oriana as attractive before. But now, with her hair disheveled and her dress soaked through, she looked almost... vulnerable.
Oriana nodded at the maids, who still had their heads bowed in apology. "Thank you for the... Awareness," she said, with a small voice.
As she walked away, Oriana couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. She sensed Adric’s gaze following her, his eyes fixed on her like a predator sizing up its prey. Her skin crawled with unease, and she felt a desperate urge to find a hiding place. But her legs felt heavy and uncoordinated, her thighs sticking together with each step. Her gown, soaked through and clinging to her skin, made it even worse for Oriana. Her face burned with shame, her eyes on the ground, she knew Adric was enjoying every moment of her discomfort.
The maids, still with their heads bowed, dared not to raise to up. "Forgive us, Your Highness, we didn’t know it was the Princess sitting here all along," they chorused. Adric twirled the dandelion he was holding, his eyes glinting with amusement.
"What should I do with you all?" he asked, still playing with the dandelion. "Should I punish you for gossiping about the royal family... or should I reward you for entertaining me?"
The maids dropped to their knees, their faces etched with fear. "We deserve to be punished, Your Highness," they begged in unison, their voices trembling. "But please, have mercy on us."
They waited in silence, their eyes fixed on the ground, as they braced themselves. Minutes passed by, but there was no response. The only sound was the soft rustling of the wind through the trees.
Amelia was the first to slowly raise her face to look around. But to her surprise, the Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen. She glanced at the other maids, who still had their heads bowed, and then back at the empty space where Adric had stood.
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