My mind went blank as the weight of my power sank down on me.The king had lied to me...He never saved me at all; he had been using me... The king had told me that Sybettal was full of thieves and criminals, and that he had removed the mages for their own protection. I had always known Sybettal had endured a terrible downfall, but I assumed it was caused by the villains within their borders... not the villains next door.
If Miron was telling the truth, and I was really Princess Estelle, then I had been living under the roof of the man who slaughtered my people and family. And now he wanted to use me to win a war that likely should have never been waged. I thought back to the dozens of visions I had shared with him regarding the foreign affairs of the other kingdoms. He had been using me to gather information on them. I had known he used my visions to aid his kingdom, but he had always told me that the other kingdoms in the realm were dangerous and threatened his people.
Had that been a lie, too?
I looked back over at the prince. He knew that telling me this would make me lose faith in his kingdom. Did he really want to gain my trust so badly that he would risk me hating him, too?
“Elle,” I squeaked out, my voice meek after the surge of emotions. “Call me Elle. It’s what my friends and almost-friends call me.” I gave him a weak smile and heard him shift with excitement. I still had no intention of sharing my visions with Miron, but if he thought I was on his side, then maybe I would learn more about this tragic past. I needed to know what I’d been hidden from for so long. If the king was going to lie to me and Mabel couldn’t tell me the truth, then it seemed my only option for answers was the prince who endangered my life.
“Alright, Elle,” he said with a hint of a smile in his tone. It sounded as if he was testing the name on his lips like a new treat. “I’m sorry I had to be the one to tell you this. I must say, I find it rather repulsive that my father would deceive you so horrifically. I’ve been used by him for years, but at least I knew I was being used...” He took in a sharp breath, and I sensed there was deeper pain lingering behind that knowledge. “Let’s just say, I’ve turned a blind eye to my father’s schemes for a bit too long. I suppose I can understand how he didn’t allow you to know your true lineage, but tricking you into staying locked up inside a single room...?” He let out an aggravated snort. “It’s downright despicable that he thinks he can treat you like a blasted artifact. If I wasn’t his flesh and blood, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did the same to me or my brothers. For the love of the realms... What kind of king would do something so—” He paused, almost as if balancing his thoughts. “Although, if I’m being honest, I’ve never been the type to avoid the temptation of the occasional wicked deed, so I can’t say I’mtoomuch better. But even when I was tasked with tormenting the Isallan princess, at least I had the courtesy to lead her to a quiet town. I’m hardly a villain at all when you look at it like that, and I’m certainly not as bad as Father who trapped ababyin atower.” His tone riled up as he rose from his knee and started pacing angrily around the room. I never expected he would be so opinionated about my situation, though, at the same time, it wasn’t surprising knowing he had endured similar exploitation. “And what about the other rooms? What if you’re not the only one?”
I bit my lip as I recalled the information I had learned from Mabel earlier. “Your Highness... I learned something from my servant this morning. I don’t have proof, but I think that you’re right to assume there are others living in the tower.”
Were there others who had been lied to, as well?
His pacing stopped, and I heard him whirl around on his heel to face me. “Is that so?” He sounded intrigued, and I could hear his nails tap against a solid surface. “I assumed as much. It seemed too strange that Father would have access to so many spare chambers, but I don’t know how to get into their rooms to investigate. The locks are absolutely ludicrous, and I’m not sure if they possess servant entrance like yours.” His pacing continued, and then he stopped abruptly. “Oh, and call me Miron. If I get to call you Elle, then it only seems appropriate that you use my name as well. Us pawns need to stick together.”
I gave him a soft nod, unsure how else to respond to his oddly dark humor. It seemed so strange to call a royal by his first name, but I guess I was a royal now, too... Or I always had been... My head hurt. “Thank you, Miron. It would seem that you understand the concept of being almost-friends.”
That drew a small chuckle out of him. “I strive to impress, my lady.” His voice dipped in resonance, presumably as he took a bow. “Tell me, Elle? Do almost-friends get to hear about visions? Or is that still reserved for a higher rank?” The tease in his voice was undeniable, but I still felt a rise of irritation from his persistent asking.
“I don’t recommend even asking until you’ve at least elevated to the level of companion,” I said prudishly, sticking my nose pompously into the air. “My visions are not something to be trifled with. I don’t always see good things, you know.” A knot formed in my stomach as I realized I could never let myself befriend this man, anyway. He was destined to try to slay me, and I couldn’t allow myself to slip into trusting him.
“That hardly seems fair,” he huffed. “It took me a whole twelve hours to move up from trespasser to almost-friend. Is there an expedited service I can apply for?”
A small giggle escaped me. I hadn’t expected him to be able to draw a laugh out of me. “Sorry, no corner-cutting allowed. However, I may accept the occasional bribe of cinnamon rolls if you wish to elevate your chances of a promotion. Fresh flowers are also an acceptable offering, especially honey suckles... they have the best scent.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said through another laugh. His laugh was so different from Mabel’s. I had expected him to be more like his father, but he expelled far more warmth than the icy king. I wonder what his smile looked like...? “I did have a thought, though. I understand that you’re not comfortable sharing your power with me, and I’ll try not to pressure you again into using it.” He paused, and I felt a slight bit of tension rest in the air. “But I was wondering if your visions were capable of seeing specific moments. For instance, if you could foresee whether I’d be able to break into the other hidden rooms amongst the tower? I can’t help but wonder if those rooms are the answer to the mysterious disappearances of all the mages...” I could no longer hear his words resonating off the stone walls, so he must have been facing the open window and speaking out into the air.
I shifted in my seat so I was facing him a little better. “It’s possible, but I still can’t let you use my magic,” I said frankly. “To be honest, I don’t know how I feel about you or the king anymore, but I’m not ready to endanger myself any further. I don’t know if there are other mages up here, but looking into your eyes won’t guarantee that I see them in your future. I could just as easily see something else.”
Like images of my own death...
I didn’t want to risk the horrors of the prince’s eyes any further. It was too much.
Miron sighed into the fresh air, and I felt a little guilty for denying his request, but not so much that I was going to grant it. “I understand,” he said in discontentment. “You know, Elle, I think I actually admire that you deny me, and I usually don’t admire much.” His voice grew a little louder as he turned his head back into the tower. “Your power is incredible, but also dangerous. I find it commendable that you treat it with such high caution. It’s truly a shame that my father tricked you into gaining access to it. There are many mages in this world who use their power for malicious gain, but I’m glad to see a gift as dangerous as yours has been bestowed upon a wise wielder.”
“There’s nothing wise about me,” I whispered to myself. Miron must have heard me because his footing shifted on the stone, sending a gentle vibration through my toes. I sat up a little taller and faced him as accurately as I could. “It seems clear to me now that I’m the biggest fool of all. I have blindly trusted the only man I could truly see, and now the realm is bearing the consequence of my naivety. Even now, I’m dim-witted enough to consider trusting the most deceitful prince in the Emerald Realm.” I threw my hand out in his direction, earning an offended scoff.
“Hey, is that any way to talk to an almost-friend?” he asked with an obvious pout. “I may be... tricky, but I’m not the type of man to betray an honest trust.” His heels clicked across the stone floor until they stopped a breath away from me. A soft rush of air alerted me that he was holding his hand out either in invitation or to hand me something. “You’re not a fool, Elle. You’re a victim... honestly, we both are. Why don’t we start over and attempt this whole trust thing? Perhaps we can start off with an almost-trust. Oh! I’m holding out my hand, by the way... You know, for you to shake it. If you’d like too, that is...” He waited another moment and I fought hard to hold back a laugh as he left his hand outstretched patiently. “Or not... I’m just gonna put my hand down now.”
He began to lower his hand dejectedly, and I laughed as I reached out and grabbed his palm with perfect precision. Miron jumped back a bit as I gave his hand a soft shake, then quickly returned it. “I think an almost-trust is a great starting point.” I smiled amusedly.Not as if I could fully trust you, anyway.“Just try not to underestimate me. I may look like a damsel in distress, but I’m not helpless.” I released his grip and noticed that his hand lingered in the air for a moment longer.
“Certainly not,” he said with an impressed whistle. “I believe you’re capable of many things, Elle. But I will warn you, don’t be so confident around my father. He won’t give up when there’s something he wants.”
“I’m well aware,” I said, starkly. “Right now, he wants a vision, but I’m not sure if I sh—”
My voice cut out as my entire body seized at the sound of a clicking lock. I whipped my head around toward the sound and instantly determined it was coming from the king’s door. I turned my panicked expression back to where the prince had been, and heard a paralyzed silence from him as well.
“Hide, now,” I whispered frantically in his direction. The sound of scuffling fabric followed my command, and I waited an extra few seconds before tearing off my blindfold to locate and hide the section of archive Miron had brought me. I stuffed the paper beneath the cushion of my armchair and glanced back nervously as the king’s door swung open.
Every fiber in my body went numb as the blood flooded away from my face, leaving me entirely white. I couldn’t look into the king’s eyes yet, so I couldn’t entirely tell if he was angry, but his frown didn’t look any deeper than normal. I risked a glance over my shoulder toward where the prince should have been and felt a surge of relief return the blood to my cheeks.
He’s gone.
My eyes darted around the room in search of him as I calmly made my way toward the sandalwood table. There was no sign of him anywhere... I recalled the sound of shuffling fabric before I removed my blindfold and looked over at the window one final time before taking my seat. One curtain was dangling out the window, and a great deal of tension was pulling at the top of the frame...
chapter ten