Chapter 9
The market square bustled with life as I maneuvered through the crowd. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden glow over the cobblestones. I had stepped out again, for the second time. This time, to buy a little more supplies. And maybe see the sun a little. My mission was simple but significant: buy some kindling for the fire, flour and some milk. But I made several stops. I even stopped at a confectioner's shop to purchase sweets for Prince Rowan. I noticed he liked sweet stuff so I decided to get him some sweets, I knew he would appreciate them. As I approached the confectioner's stall, the sweet, sugary aroma wafted through the air, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement.
I handed over the coins and received a small, neatly wrapped packet of sweets in return. Clutching it to my chest, I navigated my way back to the palace, careful not to jostle the precious cargo. Prince Rowan's quarters were quiet when I entered, the only sound being the soft crackling of the fireplace.
"Your Highness," I called softly, pushing open the heavy wooden door with my free hand. Prince Rowan was seated by the window, his legs covered with a thick blanket. I had moved him there before I left, so he could look from his window and see the bustling market. He seemed to like being out of his bed once in a while.
He turned to look at me, he looked relieved that I was back.
"I hope you weren't seen."
He said and I nodded.
"No. I was very careful."
"I have brought you something," I said, walking over to him and holding out the packet.
His eyes sparkled with delight as he took the package from my hands.
"What is this?"
He asked and I opened them.
"They are sweets."
"Thank you, Ariadne. You're too kind to me."
I smiled and took a step back, ready to return to my duties, but Rowan stopped me with a gentle request. "Please, sit and have some with me."
I hesitated. It wasn't my place to share his treats. "Your Highness, I couldn't possibly—"
"Nonsense," he interrupted, his tone firm yet kind. "You need to eat more, Ariadne. I know we don't have much and I've noticed you always give me the bigger portion."
"That is because you are my master," I replied, bowing my head.
He sighed, a mixture of frustration in his eyes. "Ariadne, I don't feel comfortable with you addressing me as such. Please, stop calling me 'Your Highness' and just call me Rowan."
I looked at him, taken aback. He had never made such a request before. "I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I cannot. It would be improper."
"I cannot do that."
Rowan sighed again but didn't press the issue further. Instead, he offered me one of the sweets. "At least try one. I insist."
Reluctantly, I took the sweet from his hand and placed it in my mouth. The sugary confection melted on my tongue, and to my surprise, I found that I liked it. A small smile crept onto my face, and Rowan noticed.
"See? They're good, aren't they?"
"Yes, Your Highness," I admitted softly.
We sat in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the sweets. After a few moments, I rose to clear the wrappers. I hid them away, not wanting Lark to find any evidence of them. Next, I fetched some hot water and a towel to clean his body.
As I gently wiped his legs, he winced slightly. "The pain is intensifying," he murmured.
"That's good news. I'll be more gentle, Your Highness," I said, my heart aching for him. "I will help you move your legs every morning. Maybe you will start to walk sooner than we hope."
He didn't speak for a moment, his gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the window. "Hope is a dangerous thing, Ariadne," he finally said. "I don't want to get my hopes up."
I looked at him, my eyes filled with determination. "I promise you, Your Highness, you will walk again."
"Do you know how I lost my ability to walk in the first place?"
He asked and I shook my head. There were many stories, but none correct.
"No. I never learned the true story."
"It was a full moon. I had offended my father the Alpha King days before and my punishment was to retrieve one of our former strongholds that was overrun with wild werewolves. Arêtes."
Arêtes?!
I had heard of that place. Nobody went there because it was overrun with a particularly notorious group of wild werewolves. It used to be one of the country's powerful stronghold years ago, but the noble families were always fighting and somehow the wild werewolves took over it, making it their own.
Prince Rowan looked away, his eyes staring far into the horizon.
"I was to fight the battle alone. As a test."
"I know my father didn't think I would survive."
"But I did. And I killed all the wild werewolves too. My final battle with their leader was what sent us tumbling over the Arêtes cliff. He died. And I didn't walk again."
"They didn't find me until three days later. And I learnt that the search party was to find my body, not me."
"They never thought that they would find me alive. Those three days at the bottom of the cliff were spent in excruciating pain. And cold."
"And what did I get for all that? My father's council calling for me to be deposed As I was now unfit to be crown prince. His concubine moved the motion. And my father himself supported it and many others."
"How could they! How could they be so cruel?!"
I found myself asking as my hands flew to my mouth, still shocked at the story.
He didn't respond, but I could see the pain in his eyes. He wanted to tell me more, but I suspected he couldn't go any further if he wanted to. Changing the topic, he said, "You should go and eat. You must be famished."
I nodded but didn't move. "I'll bring you your dinner soon."
He nodded and managed a small smile.
"Thank you for the sweets. They've made me happier than I've been in a while."
"You're welcome your highness."
"If I may ask, May I cut your hair and beard first? They are very overgrown and hard to maintain."
Prince Rowan looked at me, a big smile spreading across his face. "You can do whatever you like with me, Ariadne."
I blinked, taken aback by his smile. It was the first time I had seen such an expression on his face. "That's the first time I've seen you smile," I said softly.
"Well, you make it easy," he replied, his eyes twinkling with a warmth I had rarely seen."
We were interrupted by a loud and persistent knock on the door.My heart raced as I hurried to open it, hoping against hope it wasn't who I feared. But there he stood, Lark, with that sneer on his face, the one that always made my skin crawl.
He walked inside with no invitation, his small beady eyes searching everywhere.
“It’s been a while you’ve called to me.”
He said as he walked towards the kitchen. I followed him slowly.
"Why haven't you come to get more supplies?" he demanded, barging into the small kitchen without waiting for an answer. His eyes darted around, searching for anything of value.
"I have no more bangles for you," I said, my voice as steady as I could manage. "I've given you everything I had."
He paused, turning to face me with a look of disbelief. "Liar," he spat. "You came with three large boxes on the day you arrived. You were covered in gold and gemstones. You're hiding all your gold, aren't you?" Without waiting for a reply, he began searching the kitchen.
He started with the cabinets, pushing them open until everything in them was flying out, then he went into the store room and started tearing through my luggage, tossing clothes and flinging personal items across the room.
"Stop it!" I cried out. "I told you have nothing more to offer you!"
But he wasn't listening. His hands rifled through my belongings, his frustration growing with each passing second. Finally, he stopped, his gaze fixing on the necklace around my neck, the one heirloom I had left from my mother.
Lark's eyes gleamed with a predatory light. "That," he said, pointing to it. "Give it to me."
"No," I replied firmly, clutching the pendant protectively. "It's not for sale."
“Will you and the Prince starve then? Or how will you make ends meet?!”
He asked and I shrugged.
“We’ve been making do with the little you have provided us. We don’t have money for more.”
He scoffed.
I could tell that he didn’t believe me.
“You’re lying. You little thing you’re lying to me.”
“I have no reason to lie. Check everywhere. Check the oven. All we have is some stale vegetables and dry meat.”
I pointed to the kitchen that he had now turned upside down, knowing that he would never find whatever he was looking for in the obvious places.
I had anticipated this.
He stepped closer, his breath hot against my face. His fingers brushed my neck, and I slapped his hand away, but he retaliated with a harsh slap across my face. The pain was sharp, but he didn’t know that I was used to such treatment. It wasn’t the first time I got hit.
I refused to let him see my tears.
"You better remember your place," he snarled, his eyes dark with anger.
My place?! I wanted to argue.
It was he who should remember his place! He was a mere steward acting like he was lord over me.
“Also,” he continued. “There are other ways you can pay."
My heart pounded as he pressed his body against mine, his hand sliding back to my neck. "I know the Prince can’t do much in this department. Allow me to occupy his position in this regard." he whispered, his touch cold and vile.
"Leave me alone," I begged, my voice trembling. "Leave me alone, or I'll scream."
His laughter was low and cruel, his words echoed in the small room, a chilling reminder of how powerless I truly was.
“And who will come to your aid?!?! No one will save you, Lady Isabelle. Not even the prince."