The Lost Princess

"Can you believe this?" He scoffed.

"You would think she'd get the hint by now and stay hidden in her room." She replied.

They were enjoying tea on the balcony looking over the garden in her room.

"To think that she is the one who holds the king's favor. All because she is the first princess to walk these halls. Have we found any evidence to prove otherwise yet?"

She took a sip from her cup then gently placed the cup down. Then looked him firmly in eyes,

"Unfortunately anything that is known about her is all based off rumors."

He slammed his sweet cake down and almost tipped his teacup over,

"Ugh! We need to be rid of her."

She reached across the table and touched his hand. Then took it in hers and smiled at him,

"My son, please be patient our plan is in the works as we speak."

He raised an eyebrow and met her eyes,

"Really, when will it be done?"

She let go of his hand, picked up her teacup, sat back a bit in her chair, sipped from her cup all while keeping her eye on him. Placing her cup back down on the table she let out a small chuckle,

"By morning your worries will have vanished along with her."

He laughed hysterically and took a drink from his cup.

She cackled as she fanned herself hiding her devious smile behind her fan.

Standing behind the door she listened as they planned her murder. She tipped-toed away from the door watching for any signs of people coming and headed towards the garden. What would they try this time, snakes, scorpions, spiders, or assassin? They've already tried every poison they could get their hands on. Last summer they tried to drown her in the lake by inviting her on an outing. They always made it look like an accident so no one could trace it back to them. She walked down the hall the fatigue showing in her steps. Having to spend half her night half sleep and half woke was taking its toll on her. She reached the hall leading to the garden and went to take a step when everything suddenly went black and she felt her body become heavy.

He was walking by when he saw her slumped against the wall. Running over to her he checked her pulse and her breathing and let out a sigh when he saw that she was just sleeping.

"What an odd place for you to fall asleep." He whispered.

He looked at her face while she slumbered as he pushed a curl of hair out of her face and behind her ear.

"You truly have grown to be a stunning beauty, haven't you, my darling little Lo. Breathtaking in every way."

She inhaled deeply and her body relaxed, even more, moving further down along the wall.

"While it would extremely awkward to let you see that I am actually very fond of you, I guess I should at least try and move you to a better spot for a nap. Such a pain you have become, a real rose with thorns you are."

Just as he was about to lift her up from the floor he heard footsteps behind him and looked to see who they belonged to.

"What has happened here, Robert?" His father said.

He stood up and bowed his head quickly. Then looked back down at Loraz.

"I was on my way to the library when I came upon her asleep in the hall, father."

His father walked closer to Loraz and looked back at him then said,

"Really now. Well pick her up and follow me and try not to wake her."

Robert looked down at Loraz and sighed,

"Yes, father."

The king walked ahead a bit and Robert followed behind with Loraz in his arms her head resting peacefully on his c.h.e.s.t.

The King looked over his shoulder a bit and sighed,

"Poor thing. She must still be having trouble sleeping at night."

Robert's eyes widened and he peeked down at her,

"She hasn't been sleeping?"

The King shook his head,

"No not since she arrived here four years ago. She suffers from nightmares as well as a number of mysterious attempts at her life."

"Are you saying someone is out for her blood, but why?"

The King stopped and turned around to face him.

"Because, my boy, they fear her, just as you do."

"I don't fear her..."

Robert adverted his eyes and turned his head slightly.

"Listen you are the only one who knows how she came to be in the castle. I had thought I could count on you to watch over her since you seemed to be more level headed then the rest...was my judgment wrong?"

"I am sorry I have disappointed you, father, but how could I watch over someone like an older brother if I am the youngest of your children. I know nothing of being a big brother."

"Even if you couldn't be her family at least a friend would have been kind enough of you."

"She doesn't need me as her friend, father, she seemed to have made friends with a few of the servants."

"Do you hear yourself right now, son? Have I lost you as well to the greed of the crown and castle?"

Robert snapped his head back over to his father his eyes full of fire.

"No father, but I will be leaving next week for Ay Su and once I am gone what would she have done if we had bonded as you wished. Cried her eyes outs until she fell ill? I choose to keep away from her for her own safety."

The King chuckled.

"You speak as if you have fallen for her."

"I have done no such thing, father. She is the unofficial princess of Mossca, therefore I cannot fall in love with my own family member. It was you who made this so..."

The king walked closer to him and whispered,

"But you know the truth."

Robert's eyes narrowed and his brows frowned then whispered,

"And you raised us to live a lie. You cannot undo what is done, father. She will forever be a princess of Mossca."

"For now that is, but it will come to light who she truly is and when that happens it may well be too late to confess your undying love, words to take with you when you depart next week. Now come I know a spot that you can sit with her until she wakes."

The King turned around and continued to walk down the hall towards the garden.

Robert kept quiet and looked down at Loraz,

"You must really be tired if that didn't stir you awake."

He followed his father until they reach a tree in the far end of the garden.

"Lay her there and sit with her until I return from my meeting it shouldn't take long." His father said.

He laid her out on the bench and sat down on the ground leaned up against the trunk of the tree.

"I know what you're trying to do, father, it won't work just to let you know."

"Just do as I say, boy. I'll return shortly."

The king walked off leaving the pair unattended.

"Stupid out man...to think he believes me to be in love with the likes of you," Robert said out loud.

He looked over at Loraz and watched as her c.h.e.s.t went up and down. He sighed deeply and inched his way over to the bench on his hands and knees. Once he reached her side he watched as she laid there peacefully. Moving a strand of hair from off her lip he felt her breath hit his finger. Standing on his knees he stared at his finger and then looked at her. Focused on her lips he slowly leaned in. He closed his eyes and their lips touched briefly. He then backed away and whispered,

"The only problem is that he was right."

He then stood up and made his way back to his spot by the trunk of the tree and sat there waiting for his father to return.