Time’s Confession

The world is full of secrets. Crawlspaces of forbidden treasures or family tragedies, there's always a dark reason to run. Just like me, time doesn't stop for those who have secrets, they just have to run faster than it can catches up to them.

"Erza?" I hear the name being called as I turn around to see Beth. "Are you still doing laundry?" She ask me as I continue to scrape the clothes against the metal wringer as I sigh.

"The laundry never stops" I tell her as I keep wringing out the laundry, the water collecting in the tub beneath me. "So why should I?" I ask Beth as she snickers at me.

"Because" Beth starts as she pulls my hand from the tub. "We must greet the guest" she says as I nod my head at the order, dusting off my gown.

"Who is coming to the castle?" I ask her as she chuckles and winks at me.

"Your favorite!" She smiles as I roll my eyes. "Princess Emilia!" She says as I close my eyes and wish this wasn't happening.

"Hurry!" Beth says as we hear a loud whistle through the servants corridors. "We must run!" She orders me, dragging me behind her.

"Beth! Ezra?!" I hear our names as Beth and I eagerly fall to the end of the line. "Why are you late?" Edtha ask as I sigh while Beth freezes, being put on the spot.

"I was too taken with the clothes" I make up the excuse as Edtha walks to me and I bow. "My dearest condolences headmaster" I apologize as I look to the ground as she simply nods and walks away.

"This is the last time!" She orders as I stand up straight in formation. "You will not make me look like scoundrels, running loose in the royal estate!" She yells as the door opens and the sunlight is blinding.

Emerging from the sun itself is an entourage. One male and two females as I stand up straight, not letting anything ruin this for Beth and I.

"Edtha?" I hear as my eyes draw to Edtha talking to the man that walked through the door.

"Yes? Your majesty?" She ask, at his beckon call as I can't help but listen in.

"Please prepare my sisters quarters" he order Edtha as she nods to his orders, "And I will need a escort as well" he says as he looks down the row and I look away from the two.

"Right away Prince William" Edtha says as she stand in front of us and prepares to pick.

"This one" he picks as I bring my eyes to his finger to see Beth has been picked. "She will escort my sisters" the prince order as Beth curtsy at his presence. "Settle them in" he orders Beth as I bite my tongue.

"Yes, Your majesty" Beth responds as she leads the group of women away, down the long hallway.

"And you" he orders as he points to me. "You will escort me to my quarters" he orders me as I continue to curtsy at his presence.

"Yes, Your majesty" I answer his order with as Edtha quickly combats his order.

"If I may your majesty" Edtha intrudes as she stand in front of the prince. "Erza has only been here for two full moons, not nearly enough time to familiarize herself with the whole body of the castle" Edtha combats his order as he nods calmly.

"But she does know the basic" he adds as she nods sincerely as I bite down on my tongue, fighting my laughter. "Come," help!" He orders me as I follow behind him as I sigh.

This was not what I envisioned to be doing with my days.

"What can I assist you with my majesty?" I ask to be clued in. But instead of a response he turns around to me as I stop in the hallways in a effort to avoid running into him.

"You look familiar" he says as my throat becomes scratchy in fear as I stop. "And those eyes of yours" he adds as I try to brush it off with a smile. "Their.....unique, to say the least" he compliments me as I shake it off with a smirk, covering my eyes with my hair.

"Yes" I respond as I look up to him. "I've been told many times their almost.....vengeful" I say through a sigh as he nods, almost interested. "This way" I say as I walk in front of him, leading him to a room, only a few doors away from where we were. "Your quarters, your majesty" I address him as I open his chamber doors as he enters and looks arounds and turns to me again and I prepare for his next request.

"Will you assist me?" He ask as I'm startled.

"Yes, your majesty" I answer him as he sits on his bed and I hope it's not what I think it is.

"I need council" he says as I just wait. "I must marry to inherit the crown, but I don't know whether my future Queen should be from a allied country or someone more powerful?" He ask me as I nod at his questions.

"If you must know" I start as I take a deep breath, preparing my council. "You should marry for something more than power and strategy. You might bond with the common people rather than just repeating the pattern of the generations before you. Tradition is a great thing but sometimes traditions are too old and torn" I advise as he stares to my bones.

"How much of a commoner are you?" He asks me as he stands up from the bed, walking to the open balcony.

"As much as I can be" I respond with. "My name is Ezra your majesty" I remark as he looks confused.

"And what?" He ask as I try not to laugh at his bewilderment.

"It means help your majesty" I shoot back as a smile parts his lips.

"Thank you for your company Ezra" he says as he continues to look out of the balcony doors. "You are dismissed" he orders as I simply curtsy.

"Thank you your majesty" I thank him as I reach for the chambers doors and suddenly I hear his voice again. "Ezra" he calls my name as I turn around to see him facing me, closer than he should be allowed. "Call me William next time" he orders me as I nod at his request and leave the room.

As I walk down the hall a hoard of questions fill my head as can't help but think about them all. Does he recognize me? Does he know who I am? Will he see through this facade? His compliment of my eyes, surely it meant more? I question his actions as I try to be rational. I changed everything about myself, nothing can possibly trace back to me. I assure myself as I whisk myself off the castle wall and back to my bunk. Laying in my bed, my hand over my heart and wishful thinking running through my mind.