My Lady

"Princess, do you remember the rumor regarding….the prince?" The handmaiden asked.

Esme easily picked up the hesitation in her voice as her keen ears instinctively pricked up at the mention of the 'Prince' which she noticed after a few moments. Maybe in the past few days, he hovered around her like a ghost and that has gotten him stuck in her mind. But then another thought followed, 'Why is his name mentioned in all the rumors?' She thought.

Because he is evil. Came the answer soon after.

Shaking her head, she wondered when will these ladies leave. She wanted to go back to her room and sleep.

"You are a little different today. I have never seen you doing all this before. Anyways, it is good that you are growing up and understanding how everything works," The lady in the red gown asked. "The rumor that he beheaded a Princess in a banquet around last year?"

"Yes, Princess," The other replied, "I was informed that that woman was trying to seduce the Prince with her subtle moves. And Prince Aleister was irked by that. It is believed that he likes bold women."

Esme's lips twitched. The Prince wouldn't be this petty, would he? Well, it is possible when it is him.

Esme watched as the Princess tilted her chin higher, arrogantly, "Who likes those bitches? They will act decently in public but are immoral in the private. So, what do you want me to do? And why are you telling me this?"

"Since you are here to marry him, I thought I should inform you about it. But I know that given how bold our Princess is, she is bound to have Prince Aleister's attention all on herself. The rest of the ladies will pale in your comparison. You just have to defy him and he will be hooked around your finger."

As unpredictable as that man was, Esme believed it was not the truth. If something like this has really happened then people like Liz or Keith who have been working in the Castle and have higher positions in the servants' hierarchy should not be unaware of it. So, either one of the servants has lied to the Princess' handmaiden in the greed of rewards or this handmaiden is manipulating her on purpose.

'This Princess would not be a fool to fall for it,' Esme thought. Prince Aleister was not the kind of man who would take a single disrespect well. And being bold in the court, in the presence of the King and the royal family would have consequences in the powerful kingdom of Visteria.

''I am born like this, arrogant and unbending. I don't have to pretend," A victorious smile made its way on the Princess's face as she turned around and left, her steps arrogant as ever.

Esme was left speechless. It was clear that she is looking for her doom.

But it had nothing to do with her. She patiently waited behind the pillar so that the Princess' handmaiden would leave and she would be allowed to go to the servant quarters but she just stood rooted to her spot without showing an intention to move.

When the Princess had walked far enough, her handmaiden turned around.

Esme's eyes widened the moment she saw the woman's face. She placed a palm on her mouth to refrain herself from making any noise.

Striking copper eyes. Looks of a vixen. Mary's voice floated in her mind along with the painting she had drawn in her diary.

This was the same woman Arlan had left with.

But wasn't she supposed to be a member of the royal family? Then what was she doing with the Princess of another kingdom?

Esme could not comprehend it as all that happened was too sudden. Hiding herself properly behind the pillar, she watched as the woman stood there for a few moments before walking in the direction in which the Princess left.

Without any delay, Esme followed after her.

Although Aunt Mary had said that Arlan left with this woman on his own, without being forced to do so, but Esme did not think it was so simple. At that time, she believed it in her panicked state. But she realized over time that her brother was not so impulsive. There must be something that compelled him to do so.

But what?

Only this woman can tell her.

As she followed her, Esme found herself venturing inside the unseen side of the castle. If the woman was the handmaiden of a princess from another kingdom who was a guest here, then how would she know so much about this place? She wondered.

There were guards along the way and she tried her best to act as normal as she could.

And soon, she found the woman stepping inside what looked like the grand ballroom. She stood near the huge floor-to-ceiling windows and glanced at the woman who was standing inside the empty ballroom which was partially dark because of the lack of sunlight in the closed place.

Esme slowly walked towards the wall and glanced at the woman's back from the doorway.

She suddenly turned around, "Having been following me for so long, won't you come inside now?" came her question which almost sounded like a whisper.

Esme was caught off guard, goosebumps rose on her skin as her grip around the stem of the rose tightened. She was acting differently from earlier when she was talking to that Princess. There was something unusual about the woman.

Esme could tell it in the way her body was tingling so uncomfortably just at the sound of her whisper

But it was no time to retreat. Either she will brace up and face this or she will run away. But the latter won't help her in finding her brother. And she will have to be further shackled to her duties as a servant in this place.

She stepped forward.

No angels would come to fight her wars.

Her Aunt had already sacrificed everything for them and the least she wanted was to be a burden to her anymore.

If she let go of this opportunity, there was no other way to look for Arlan.

"You eavesdropped on us for so long. You followed after me. You have something to say?" The woman asked, her voice airy.

Esme rubbed her arms as she continued to look into that pair of striking copper eyes. She stepped forward until they were standing at an arm's length, "Where is Arlan?" She softly asked.

''Who?"

Esme pursed her lips as she glanced at that playful smile on her face. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she kept looking at her, her breath gradually quickening.

The woman's eyes widened, "Wh-What are….."

'Plop'

She dropped to her knees, "My lady," Her eyes turned blank, the playful expressions on her face disappeared.

Esme stepped back, ''Where is Arlan?" She repeated her question, looking into the woman's dull eyes.

"Who is Arlan, My Lady?" came the question in an emotionless tone.

"You…" Esme's eyes widened. How could she not know Arlan? Is it possible that I got the wrong person?

Her breathing turned irregular as a drop of blood seeped out of the corner of her mouth. Her vision turned blurry. She bit her lips and tightened her grip on the rose, letting the thorns pierce into her palm, "The boy who left with you in…."