Something to be known

"To be honest... I really don't like her" Skye looked at her quickly.

"Don't tell anyone about this" Skye added as she shrugged.

"Not my business" Anberine said bluntly.

Skye hearing this hummed as he eyed her before relaxing slightly.

'(Just tell her the truth already! It's not like she's going to blab like those other nobles!)' the voice scolded to Skye's dismay.

'But-'

'(No buts! Just... trust her on this. Once)' the voice urged leaving Skye more conflicted.

Turning to look at Anberine working briefly a heavy sigh left his lips.

"Father wants me to marry her, mostly I think it's because of her father... really stupid if you ask me since father has enough power as it is. If anything I think he should be paying more attention to the missing people than this farce of a marriage" Skye said while dumping a shredded root of a plant into the pot but remained careful of the force he was giving.

"Why not stand up for yourself? You are royal" Anberine asked after remaining silent in order to think her words carefully. Skye hearing her words however snorted darkly.

"Him? He wouldn't give a toss, he only sees us as his chess pawns. Even if I did gain a backbone with him he'll just cripple me making me less of a threat" Skye replied as he stirred the cauldron absentmindedly.

"I don't know what is the point of being a prince if I can't even give my feedback or do anything to help the kingdom. If anything I think father would never give me the crown even if I do improve" Skye commented wearily.

"Well you don't know if you don't try" Anberine pipped up as she stared at him while stirring slowly.

"My mother couldn't change him, what makes you think I can do it?" Skye asked before leaning back on his chair.

The pair remained silent for a bit as they tried to gather their thoughts.

"The best thing is, if you want to make a change is to fight for what you believe in. You can't just expect things to get better if you just stand there and do nothing. Life nor people don't wait for us to make a move we have to move to keep up" Anberine said.

"And what if you can't? What if you stumble and realise it was all for naught?" Skye asked blankly as he stared at the cauldron's continence with an absent-minded look.

"Then get back up, what's the point of complaining if you don't get up and make an effort? Sure we fall but if we give up then there was no point of doing anything to begin with" Anberine said calmly as she tried to put her thoughts into words.

Skye eyed her slightly as she continued to do her work diligently.

"You know... you're a bit wise for someone who doesn't go out much" Skye commented earning a light snort from Anberine.

"Life is my experience and my teacher, I've learned never to give oppressors the satisfaction even if they have more power than me" Anberine hinted to his embarrassment.

"Huh..." Skye looked at his cauldron quietly.

"Sorry... I know I'm saying this a lot but I know I've been a jerk during the years, it's not right and yes it's weird that I'm now being all nice. But I mean it" Skye said while looking at her confused expression.

"I was a real ass, I took my frustrations out on you and it was really stupid. Literally I messed up" Skye hung his head slightly as fatigue filled him.

"Royally?" Anberine added earning her a snort from Skye.

"You can say that" Skye said with a light smile.

"So... can we start again? For real this time" Skye said while holding his hand out.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Anberine asked while observing him, compared to spelled Skye this was a bit more calmer but it didn't stop her from being on edge. Biting the inside of his cheek Skye looked down for a bit.

'(Please just do it)' the voice stressed leaving Skye almost groaning in defeat at how relentless the voice was being.

'Fine... just this once' Skye said almost regretting the decision as he looked at her.

"It's funny coming from me right?" Skye said with a light shrug.

"All I can say is that compared to me, you have been really patient towards my attitude and how I've behaved around you. Really patient and I... that guy Rowan's words got to me. He actually looked up to me and I don't know what I did to cause him to respect me" Anberine bit her lower lip from knowing but said nothing.

"However, seeing how disappointed he was with me now. I know I have been rather paranoid and untrusting. Everyone was my enemy and wanted something that I had. Emotions were weakness and power was all that mattered and if you were in control then no one could do anything to you. Then there's you when we first me" Skye winced from the memory of seeing her cry after he kicked sand in her eyes.

"I guess I got jealous at how happy you were, while I on the other hand was left in a miserable household. I was stupid, really stupid to behave like that without considering how you would have taken it. Then seeing you with people and they were happy to see you then welcomed you without any hesitation-" Skye placed an ingredient in the cauldron.

"Jealous again?" Anberine asked bluntly as she stirred.

"Well you had something I didn't" Skye replied weakly.

"Friends?"

"Hope" Anberine eyed him oddly.

"Just seeing you remaining positive even after all that, even when you were by yourself I just didn't understand why you would be happy doing sandcastles by yourself, Why you would be friends with people who are openly hated and branded as traitors?" Skye commented.

Anberine sat up straight as she stirred.

"It's not about their past, it's about who they are. The problem took place years ago, they didn't start nor take part in the war. Why should I think badly of them? Plus they were the first people to be nice to me and not do anything rude to me. Marcus well, he's always there given his situation" Skye gritted his teeth from hearing Marcus' name while his mouth remained closed.

"He's an orphan that my aunt took in" Anberine commented as she saw the look in his eyes, blinking Skye looked at her in surprise.

"His father died of illness and his mother was beaten to death for not being able to pay the taxes. It was lucky he could open up or that we were able to find him, who knows what would have happened to him if we hadn't" Anberine added softly as her mind wandered slightly.

"Another reason to apologise" Skye admitted weakly as guilt trickled in thanks to what he saw in the village.