Suspicions
1213 Words
[Prima]
Umbraculum de Raleigh, Winter Ball
I can see from the corner; two pairs of eyes were watching me. To my left is Prince Theo and on the other side is Prince Duval, the prince of Emirates.
I have heard he knows magic like me, and he's one of the wealthiest royalties in Raleigh. I give Theo a disgustful gaze while I smiled my prettiest to Duval. Then, I walked towards Olivia to tell her I am about to go to my bedroom. I am so tired and have no strength to continue serving all the brats here.
But then, Theo walked towards me along with Prince Duval.
"I need water,” Theo order again.
"You have two hands and two feet. I bet you have a pair of eyes that can see. The banquet table is on your right. Get it yourself! Besides, I am only here to serve those royalties from Egilson."
"Would you mind walking with me to get a drink?" asked Duval, who was standing next to Theo.
"My apologies, your highness. I am a mere servant, and I must not come close to you."
"I know who you are."
My eyes widened in shock when he told me, "H-How?"
I assumed Duval was only scaring me, or it was a bluff that he knows who I am.
"You don't remember me, Prima?"
Prima. . . only the people in the palace calls me Prima. My family and close friends.
"Have we met before?" I curiously asked.
"Yes, hunting tournament at Issenberg."
"Hunting tournament?"
"Yes, the girl who scared the King of Thorgunna with her bow and arrow."
I swiftly stepped away from him. My body trembled as Prince Duval recognized me. My face is covered with a costume mask. How could he recognize me?
"You must have mistaken me for someone else. Please, excuse me."
I am in a hurry to be away from Prince Duval, but Prince Theo stands right in front of me.
"Olivia, please replenish firewoods on my fireplace before you retreat to bed tonight."
"Prima, say yes. It's your chance,” said Malik.
"O-oh, m-me?"
I don't understand why I keep stuttering in front of Prince Theo. I tried to avoid his eyes, but he's staring at me too. Those amber eyes making my heart drumming like crazy, and I couldn't think straight.
"You're the chambermaid," he said bluntly.
If only Prince Theo knew I am not a chambermaid. Not a mere servant but someone he will have to curtsey at the lowest kneeling he can. I am someone whom he can't imagine I am. I am Prima, the most powerful sentinel in our lineage. But of course, no one knows, only my parents and my siblings who abide by the prophecy.
"W-what?"
"Ugh! Are you that —" he looks at me as if I knucklehead and heaved a heavy sigh,"— Do I have to spell what I need from you?"
"S-spell?"
"Ugh! Go into my bedchamber. Replenish the firewood. Clean up my fireplace. I want a warm room to sleep in tonight. Off you go!" he said, commanding me like I was indeed his servant.
I wanted to hate him for treating me indifferently, but I can't blame Prince Theo. I pretended to be someone else, and I must endure everything tonight.
"M-me?" I asked again.
"Yes, it can't be Duval, right?"
“Huh?”
“Lady, you are messing with my patience. I want my bedchamber warm and cozy tonight.”
I stared again at his amber eyes and fainted with a fake smile.
"I-I'll be there to replenish your fireplace, Prince Theo."
I turned away from him. Then, I head myself back to the Raleigh academy bedchamber. I hurriedly walked to Prince Theo’s room.
It's my chance, like what Malik said, my chance to ramshackle his room and find the heirloom that belongs to me. I tried to look around, but there was no ring in the room after cleaning and replenishing the firewood. I lighted up the fireplace and left his room.
Tonight, has been a hell of a night. Prima. . . Prima. . . what now?
"Prima, where are you?" asked Malik.
"I am in bed. I am so tired, brothers. I'll see you in the morning. I must rest."
"I want to know where you are, sister. You disappeared at the banquet."
"Prince Theo ordered me to service his fireplace."
"Rest now, princess."
"Enjoy the night, brothers."
I was about to lie down in my bed when I heard knocking at my door.
"A minute. . ."
Walking towards the door, I felt nervous. Panic. As soon as I opened my door, my heart started thumping when I saw Theo outside my room door.
"What are you doing here?" I asked with my wide quizzical eyes.
How did he know my room? I am overthinking. No, he's not after me. Impossible.
"Is this your room?"
# # #
At Umbraculum de Raleigh Academy Bedchambers
[Theo]
I followed Olivia to my room silently. I watched her look around my bedchamber. She seems to be looking for something. She opened my drawers, quickly skimmed around. Then she replenishes my fireplace, lit it up, and left.
I wanted to know what she was looking for, so I followed her to the room she entered. The largest bedchamber that only the wealthiest royalty may occupy. It came to my mind that she may not be the quadruplets lady maid. Her features don't match to be a mere servant. I knocked on the door, and there I saw her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, goggle-eyed.
"Is this your room?" I replied with a question.
"N-no. This is a princess room. I am tidying up before she comes up to her chamber."
"Which princess you are referring to?"
"Princess P—"
# # #
[Prima]
It's doomsday! Oh, moon goddess, may it not be the showdown of good and evil. My hands fidgeting and my chest pounding to the loudest beat. I couldn't think of what to tell him. Am I now caught in the act? Do I continue to hide the truth? The first day that I am executing my pretend me and I already screwed myself up.
"What are you doing, Prima? You are not telling him that's your room."
"Then what should I tell him, Malik?" I asked in silence.
"Penelope, you are Penelope."
Princess Penelope. . . Penny? P? P for Penelope. Right, this is Princess Penelope's bedchamber.
"No, brother. I don't want to lie again."
"Princess, don't blow your cover quickly to him."
"You have forgotten who you work for. Don't you?"
"P-princess Pene. . . P-Penelope."
"Penelope?" he repeated.
"Yes, Princess Penelope."
"Of what kingdom? Her name doesn't ring a bell.
"Brickenden."
Yes, a white lie. There is no Princess Penelope in the Kingdom of Brickenden nor Durandal.
"Where's the princess? Is she's still in the banquet?"
"Yes, she'd come up any minute now. Aren't you not supposed to be here, Prince Theo?"
"Oh, am... I wanted to—"
"If you could excuse me," I cut him off before our conversation leads to something else."My princess wants her bedcovers changed daily. I have a lot of things to do. Please leave."
- Writer
