Izrina's eyes followed the prince until he was out of her sight. He had said to her that her secret was safe with him. And not just that...
Friend. He called her a friend. Izrina found it strange because she had never had a friend before. Not that she ever needed one. Cora made sure she was always safe, and not even a speck of dust grazed her skirt. Wasn't that more than friends?
And the servants she had back in her palace, they served her the best food, made her bed her morning and filled her bath with the best scented stones. They always picked out the best dress for her. Was that also what friends do.?
Then Spinola! The woman educated her on everything she needed to know as a princess and future queen. Did that count too?
Friend. Izrina repeated, shaking her head. Cora has a duty. He was under orders to serve her, and if it weren't so, he might not risk his life protecting her. Same for the servants and Spinola. Though it was different now, but every action Spinola and Cora had taken ended up being because they wanted to serve her. But this prince....he is royalty and knows nothing about Izrina, yet he called her a friend.
"Get ready boy, you have to feed the horses." The servant who had stayed behind after the prince left, broke into Izrina's thoughts.
Izrina nodded, though absent-mindedly. Why did the prince decide to be her friend? What did it mean to be a person's friend? Did he want something from her?
And a secret. Izrina had never kept anything secret before... except counting her existence, which wasn't her doing but her mother's.
"Gather the forage, bring it here....we feed the king's horses first." The servant said.
Izrina hummed, her finger pressing her lips. She was really curious to know the prince's reason, and she was excited to have a friend. Someone who shares a secret with her. To think that all her life she has never had a friend before-
'You have.'
A small voice said in Izrina's mind. She furrowed her brows, wondering who this friend was that she couldn't remember.
Izrina furrowed her brows. The only person who ever said the word' friend' to her was,
"That mad king?"
"Are you going to stand there all day?" The servant yelled, throwing a shovel at Izrina.
Izrina staggered back, picking up the shovel. The girl bowed in apology. Before going to feed the horses, Izrina shrugged off the last thought she had. The king could never be a friend to anyone, especially not to her. The young man was too erratic to be trusted.
"Move boy, we don't have all day to idle away."
With that, Izrina rushed over to begin her day as a stable boy with a smile on her lips and a warmth in her heart. If the prince really meant his words, then she would be having her first friendship in the most unexpected place. An enemy kingdom.
. . . . . . . .
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Aldrich's crutches made clicking sounds against the marble floor as he walked. He moved his head to the side, a bright smile on his lips.
"You look excited this morning, brother."
The smile on his face vanished when he heard the voice. The young prince raised his face. "Ne-" noticing he was not alone. The prince corrected. "Your Majesty."
"Good morning to you too, brother." Neron replied with a grin. Beside him was a young woman in a flimsy silk dress and disheveled hair.
Aldrich dropped his shoulder. "Didn't you hear about the-"
"You can leave." Neron interrupted. He smacked the woman's lower back. "Return to your quarters."
The young woman bowed gracefully, taking two deliberate steps back. She gave the brothers their privacy.
Slowly taking his eyes from the girl, Neron turned to look at his brother. "You were saying?" With his grin still in place.
Aldrich moved closer to Neron. "Father asked that we have breakfast together." He repeated himself, his voice steady.
Neron's grin seeped away, his eyes even more serious. "You don't have to do this Aldie, you are the only person who will eat breakfast if I'm there. And you know that."
"Neron, you know they love you too!" Aldrich retorted, "You just make it difficult for them to understand you most times...." He reached for Neron's hand.
"Now don't try to be what you are not. Let us have breakfast. I've missed sharing food with you. Nero."
Neron yawned, stretching his body to the side. "Aldie," he hummed. "I prefer to let them enjoy their breakfast....We can have mine in my-" Neron tilted his head.
"Did you try riding Zeke again?" Two lines formed on Neron's forehead. He scanned Aldrich's body. "Have you ears just for the sake of it? My orders were simple! Stay away from that horse. He's mine." Aldrich started laughing when Neron began complaining.
"Is this funny?"
Aldrich shook his head, holding Neron's shoulder so he would stop checking his body and maybe quit with the worry that looked like annoyance.
"I didn't get hurt...a very thoughtful way to express your concerns, and I appreciate." he continued laughing, resting his head on his shoulder.
"Oh really." Neron took a step back, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Aldrich nodded with a soft hum. "Yes, I am fine and- what?"
"If you are fine, then it means Zeke is dead." Neron replied dryly. When Aldrich raised his brows. Neron nodded. "The last time that beast tried to kill you....if you are alive now means...."
Aldrich opened his mouth. "What? I would never."
"You never know what people are thinking." Neron remarked casually, "I shall skip breakfast now and go mourn my beloved Zeke." He shrugged and started walking away.
Aldrich released a tired sigh. "An excuse not to have breakfast?" He was about to laugh about it when he remembered the girl he met at the stable. The girl would think he had broken his promise if she suddenly sees the king in the stable.
"Ne- Nero. Wait!" Aldrich struggled to turn, forcing his lame legs to move faster and catch up with his crazy brother. "Neron! Wait! I didn't kill Zeke. I swear it."
Stepping outside, Neron spread his arms and inhaled the fresh morning air. "Zeke, we shall miss you."
"No, I didn't-" It was already too late. "That crazy-" Aldrich cussed. He wasn't sure what to do.
Turn around and let the girl survive on her own? His presence will only make her panic. But what if Neron decides to punish her for deceiving the royal family? His presence could bring a lighter sentence.
Without thinking, Aldrich moved his crutches, making his way back to the place he had left before. Whatever happens, he had to protect the girl. She had trusted him.
Moving the best he could, Aldrich tried to catch up with Neron. He had almost made it, but his crutches slipped on the wet grass, causing him to miss a step and fall with a loud thud.
This commotion brought the attention of Neron, who was now two steps away from the stable, and a frail-looking stable boy with red curls who stared at the king with eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"Aldie?" Neron scolded his brother, with one brow raised.
"The King?" Izrina muttered with a shocked look that mixed with betrayal.
"I didn't..." Aldrich said under his breathe, with a defeated sigh.