3 The King's Butler

As Anthony approached the wine cellar, another person risking his life because of greed was busy taking vintage bottles of wine from the storage. He didn't even mind because that wasn't his issue at all. He asked the greedy troll if he'd seen the princess and luckily he nodded his head. Apparently, he was very engrossed in taking what didn't belong to him in the first place. On the other hand, why shouldn't he? Not like there was anyone around to drink wine anymore anyway.

Running to the tunnel, he remembered the first time the king took him there, and that was the only time. He made it for times like these he said as if he knew a time like this would come where the tunnel would actually be the only route for escape.

He entered and heard voices. Abruptly, he stopped in his tracks, he was scared. As he listened closely, he realized they were female voices. That could be the princess, but with who? forcing his feet to move, he walked further into the dark tunnel slightly illuminated by whatever source of light those ladies were holding. Water was leaking from different areas in the stone cemented above them and he knew it was as a result of the blasts.

"This building might cave in soon. Please Lord, let one of those ladies talking be the princess so we could get out of here", he was out of breath already with all the running around he'd done and also with trying to catch up with her after he got the info about her possible location.

He saw her red hair!

Releasing a long breath he didn't know he was holding, he called out to her twice in case she didn't hear him the first time and crouched to catch his breath.

"Anthony?"

As he heard his name, and yes it was Princess Ruby's sweet voice, he got on his feet and walked briskly towards her. Anthony took a bow more out of joy and relief than out of protocol or respect.

"I am so glad to see you, Princess. I've been looking everywhere for..."

"Why are you here without my father? Where's the king, Anthony?"

Of their own accord, his eyes went to the lady standing beside the princess and he saw he fear in her eyes too. He was very sure the same fear could be seen in his. How? How was he going to deliver this news to her?

"I"ll tell you everything on our way out of here. The tunnel might cave in anytime now because of the trauma to the palace walls your highness", he said this faster than he'd usually talk. Hopefully, she'd accept this for now for they needed to keep moving to get to the lake on the other side.

They hadn't even seen any foe within the walls. Did they just want to drive them from their home? Was it because of how rich their grounds were? Everyone in the neighboring kingdoms knew that their land was blessed and enriched with minerals within them.

He could see lights from outside now, little sun rays entering the tunnel. He knew they were approaching the mouth of the long escape route but there was no room for joy after what he witnessed just moments ago. All these were going to live with him for the rest of his life; that, he was sure of.

"The king once told me there was a boat hidden in one of the caves nearby", Anthony said. It was already getting dark, the sun was setting and he had no idea where they were going to spend the night. As long as they left this land, every other thing would fall into place.

They found a little boat. Anthony told the ladies to hold on so he could drag the boat out onto the shore so they could paddle away.

"Can you do this yourself? You look quite skinny like you've got no strength. I could help if you need it Anthony", Greta said with a mischievous smirk on her face.

He looked up at her and hoped she wasn't about to start taunting him like she always did when they crossed each other's paths inside the palace walls. Rolling his eyes, he replied; "I got this Greta, please don't start. Let's get out of here first then I'd have your time".

Ruby listened to their interaction and a small smile came to her face. It was the first time she had smiled since the start of the day. She was impatient to hear about the whereabouts of her parents but told herself to be patient, surely they were alright, at least Greta said so.

"Step in carefully Princess. Greta, if you like step in but please do not tumble the boat".

"What?! At least the boat would feel my presence. If you enter, I doubt the boat would notice anyone got in", she hissed at him. This time around, Ruby let out a full-blown laugh. What was the issue between these two?

"Hahaha... I can help paddle too. We should rotate it between ourselves", Ruby said.

"Do not worry for yourself about that Princess Ruby. This troublesome lady and I have that under control, don't we Greta?"

She made a face to Anthony but arranged it immediately she faced Ruby and said; "Yes Princess. We will take you to safety", she gave the princess an assuring smile.

Ruby shook her head with a smirk on her face and relax just a bit as the current began taking them away from the ruckus and away from the destruction behind. She looked back, deep in thought, she was leaving this place she had always known. Ruby was born here, she grew up here, all her adventures were on this ground, in this kingdom.

She recalled a particular moment. She was 17 at that time, full of energy and always leaving the palace through windows, sneaking into food carts leaving the palace for a refill, in the trunks of carriages, sometimes changing her appearance and perfectly disguising herself going as far as coloring her red hair black just to get out and mix with the people of the land.

That blessed day, she snuck out of the palace with a bottle of wine wanting to relax in a cornfield that was quite far from her home, to bask in the sun and just be out there where no one knows she was the princess of the land. She got there, laid the small piece of cloth she brought with her, set the bottle of wine down, and took out the book she had tied to the back.

Ruby liked being free and cherished her own company. She popped the bottle open and poured a generous amount of the sweet, slightly alcoholic liquid into her small mouth, and swallowed. Sighing with satisfaction and relief, she laid back onto the cloth that was spread on the grass, closed her eyes, and allowed herself to daydream a little.

The princess had a strong sense of smell. The wind brought a different scent to her nostrils and her eyes flew open immediately only for her to see a dark-skinned boy hovering over her. He stared down at her and she noticed he was about the same age as her. She got up quickly, straightened her dress, and said;

"Why were you staring? You should have said something when you approached me. Haven't you heard it's rude to stare?" Ruby asked pouting her lips. The boy was cute and his hair unruly so she discovered she was a bit shy.

"I actually thought you had fainted or you must've been drunk", he replied looking at the huge bottle of wine this young lady brought all the way to the field alone. He wondered what kind of courage she must possess.

His voice was so deep even for his age like a man fully grown. He stood tall over her about 3 ft more and Ruby was tall, everyone called her a long girl that she better stopped growing otherwise she would be taller than her husband and it would look awkward on her wedding day. One of her maids actually told her one day that she might have to bend to kiss her husband when they said 'You may kiss the bride'. They all laughed then but when Ruby played the scene over in her mind, it didn't look pretty at all. Oh well... not like she could tell her bones to stop stretching.

This boy's eyes were a golden brown. The brightest brown she had ever seen, the contrast to his dark skin made his face all the more beautiful. Then his hair...

"I'm Rudy. It's a pleasure to meet you", he stretched out his hand to shake her with a very attractive smile with a good set of teeth in his mouth and he had dimples!

Ruby's stomach flipped. It was the first time she was having this feeling and she wondered what it was about. Still, a burst of loud laughter came out of her mouth and she grabbed her lips immediately quite ashamed of the unfeminine sound she just heard...maybe it was the wine she thought.

Taking his hand, she said; "I'm Ruby. It's nice to meet you too". Rudy laughed as well.

"Your name...our names are alike. Was that why you laughed like that?"

"Yes. Isn't it funny to you?", she asked.

"It's the best sound I've ever heard". He sat down on her blanket without her asking him to and patted the spot opposite him signaling her to sit as well. She looked at him and sat down as he had told her to.

"So what are you doing out here all alone and that wine, it must've been expensive because I can see that it's vintage".

"Would you like some?", she asked him.

"Yes I would but on one condition".

She rolled her eyes with a smile on her face; "Shoot! What condition could that be? Better don't ask for anything outrageous".

"That I see you again"

She was taken aback but recovered quickly and said; "Why not Rudy? I'd like that too".

They talked further, getting to know one another and before Ruby left the cornfield, she knew she liked this person and she looked forward to seeing him. They met at the same spot the following day and it continued like that for a very long time till the war began. Communicating via letters now, and more mature with her feelings, Ruby knew she was in love with Rudy but there was no future for them for he wasn't of royal blood. He was her first love and she'd never forgotten him.

By this time, darkness had come upon the waters and the moon blessed them with its light.

"I'm thirsty"

Ruby had been silent for a long time but Anthony kept looking over to her. He knew she wasn't asleep but he wondered what she must have been thinking about.

"Have some sips my princess", Greta offered her a plastic bottle half full of water.

After she quenched her thirst a bit, she said to both Anthony and Greta; "I think you both should call me Ruby, I do not feel like a princess anymore. There's no kingdom. Anyway, I would prefer to be called Ruby".

Both Greta and Anthony nodded in agreement.

"You'd have your kingdom back. I don't know how but I know it".

Ruby stared at the man paddling the boat and laid down and prayed for sleep to find her.