10 TEN: An Unexpected Encounter pt 1

The morning came far too quickly.

The nerves that had melted away under exhaustion came flooding back the moment Esther opened her eyes.

"I know it's still early, but we must make haste," Baara spoke, wrapping Esther once again in shimmering plum silk.

She was a stocky woman with a few silver streaks running through her dark hair. She didn't speak much and had a gruff voice, but Esther felt something strangely comforting from her.

Behind the woman's politeness and duties of a handmaiden, Esther could sense genuine warmth.

"You will be the first woman to meet with Lord Hegai today," Baara explained as they veered from the servants' path into a large garden.

"I understand," Esther nodded.

The garden turned out to be the perfect shortcut, where Esther and her handmaid could discreetly reach the main path without being spotted on the servants' route.

As they walked briskly, Esther gaped at the gorgeous plants around them. Colorful flowers filled the air with a delightful scent. The trees were all impeccably trimmed, and the ground was lush and green from a dense carpet of succulents.

Esther's enjoyment was fleeting, however, as they soon began to near the edge of the garden and connection to the palace's main path.

Before they exited the garden, Baara pulled Esther into a nearby alcove of foliage and began straightening her clothes.

"Your Uncle told me he was concerned for your naivety," she whispered, "but even I can discern a certain sweet innocence about you."

"Oh.. I-I've been trying my best to act differently," Esther stammered.

She'd already been noticed. And it was by someone she'd hardly interacted with! Had all of Uncle's warnings and training been for naught?

"Your Uncle is a wise man," Baara's gaze was unwavering. "But it isn't just blending in that you must think about."

Glancing around to make sure nobody was near, she leaned in closer, lowering her voice until it was hardly audible.

"These twelve months should, at the very least, be enjoyable. I believe your distinct sweetness is a gift that will open many doors for you."

Esther's eyes widened. The words from this woman's mouth were practically the opposite of what Mordecai had spent the last month drilling into her head.

Feeling more confused than ever, Esther whispered back, "Wait, so you mean to say that-"

"Who goes there?!"

A menacing shout startled the both of them.

Through the bushes standing between them and the garden's path, Esther caught glimpses of white silk and gleaming golden armor.

"Show yourselves at once!" the same voice commanded.

"Yes, Sir!" Baara answered firmly, nodding to Esther as she stepped through the bushes.

Esther followed directly behind the woman, only afterward wondering if the Baara's nod had actually meant for Esther to hide instead of revealing herself as well.

By the time she had the thought, however, it was too late to turn back.

"Bow your heads! How dare you look up in the presence of royalty!" was the call that greeted them as soon as they set foot on the path.

Royalty?

Esther's heart sank.

To fail at disguising her character and catch the eye of an important person on the first day? Either she was very unlucky, or Uncle had put far too much faith in her.

As she stared at the gold-sandaled feet standing in front of her, one of Mordecai's ominous warnings rang through her mind.

The man did say royal, but it couldn't mean the most dangerous pair of eyes in the palace… King Ahasuerus, right?

She gasped a little at the thought.

Surely, she could not be that unlucky.

"It is most likely one of the Persian Princes, My Lady," Baara said quietly to her side.

She would never know how her handmaiden guessed what she was worried about at that moment. Regardless, the woman's words comforted her.

"Whispering about my identity directly in front of me?" came a deep voice. "How bold."

It wasn't the same voice that had shouted at them earlier.

"I meant no disrespect, My Prince," the handmaiden bowed even more deeply. "I apologize for being unable to properly ascertain your identity."

"... Raise your heads," the man with a deep voice commanded.

Esther glanced apprehensively at Baara for a sign, but the woman remained bowed.

But then again, it would be inappropriate for a handmaiden to raise her head before her master did.

Reluctantly, Esther began to straighten up.

"Now take a good look," the same man spoke again. "Do you not recognize me?"

Finally, Esther could see who the voice belonged to.

He was a tall man, with long black hair. His skin was flawless yet a little pale, as if he had spent too little time amidst the sun's warm rays.

A pair of brilliant blue eyes gazed intensely at Esther, set on either side of a sharp nose.

If the smoothness of his skin or the gleaming of his well-kept hair wasn't enough to give away his position as a royal, his expensive silk clothes and thick golden jewelry certainly were. Not to mention, the group of armored guards standing around him.

Esther had never seen such a majestic person in her life.

"I do not recog-"

"Please forgive us, My Prince!" Baara jumped in, cutting Esther off. "My Lady is new to the palace and has not yet been properly educated."

Esther must have been about to make a very, very big mistake, or Baara wouldn't have interrupted her that way. Such behavior was unspeakable for a handmaiden unless she was trying to protect her master's life.

"Hmm, a Queen Candidate?" the Prince rubbed his chin, his blue eyes still lingering on Esther.

"Y-Yes, My Prince," this time Esther answered for herself. "Please forgive me."

"That depends on your answer to my next question," the Prince replied curtly.

"Pray tell, what is a Queen Candidate, who is completely new to the palace, doing in the King's Forbidden Garden?"

Esther's breath caught in her throat.

The beautiful garden she'd been admiring was the King's Forbidden Garden?

She paused, pondering the best way to respond.

Baara remained quiet at Esther's side. She couldn't speak up again without risking more humiliation for her master or possibly upsetting the Prince.

Esther had to solve this alone.

But the question seemed to be a trap no matter how she looked at it. The obvious response would be that she had gotten lost. While that answer would absolve her of guilt, Baara would be punished for not directing her master away from the garden.

Was this Prince trying to seek revenge on Baara for not recognizing him? Such a petty motive seemed to suit his smug face rather well.

The only other possibility was that the man was trying to test Esther--to see if she would sacrifice her handmaiden to save herself.

No matter his motive, however, Esther had no desire to see Baara punished, and there was only one solution she could think of.

"I could say the same thing to you, My Prince," she finally replied.

"What is a Prince doing in the King's Garden?"