The Prince's Favour

WINIFRED

"Your highness," I heard Darryl say and I soon heard his feet shuffling. I could see the prince get closer until he was standing right above me. He reached for me and I flinched away from his touch, reaching for Darryl.

"You're so cruel, Winifred. Even though I treated you so well."

"I'm sorry, your highness. I can't see how well you've treated me."

He burst out laughing, retreating from the high vintage position above me. He went to sit in the chair Darryl was before and Darryl sat next to me on the bed on the other side.

"Thank you for treating me so well, your highness," I bowed. It felt like he was staring at me like prey, again.

"That necklace you wore caught my attention so I decided to have it investigated. I stalled the priests at the temple because it looked like you were uncomfortable around them. Did I make the right decision?"

"Your highness made the best decision for my safety and I gracefully accept it."

"You speak big words for your age, Winifred. Is this the so-called wisdom of the gods?"

"Perhaps," I mumbled, picking at my fingernails. I didn't feel comfortable enough telling them about my situation but now that a suitable excuse has been given, I will use it for every time I'm being a smart ass. He burst out laughing again and I was starting to think the novel's description of the prince was inaccurate. After everything that had happened so far, the novel has become an unreliable source of information. How sad. I thought I would have some form of advantage.

"You really are amusing, aren't you, Winifred? My father trusted me enough to escort you because I am the most trustworthy one of all the princes. I can't imagine what would've happened if any one of my brothers had come for you. You're too amusing for me to give you away so easily."

"You speak about me like I'm some toy, your highness."

"Winifred," Darryl whispered with panic in his voice. He also pinched my finger, which didn't have the effect of pain he intended. I guess my body chose when it wanted to be numb or not. My formerly sensitive ears were now as unresponsive as the rest of my body. It's supposed to be an advantage but it makes me sad.

"Hmm, in some ways, you are a toy. As the Saintess, you will become a tool for them to use as they please in the temple. Getting a voice for yourself will be hard, especially since you're blind. In a few years, you will turn into a psychopathic beast, just like the rest of us. That is the fate that awaits you."

"Y-Your highness!" Darryl exclaimed. The prince turned to him and I shielded him with my body before the prince could say anything.

"You know I'm right, don't you, Winifred?"

"Yes, you are right, your highness."

"Winifred!"

"So, make your choice, Saintess Winifred. Will you become a toy of the church or will you become my toy?"

"I didn't know your highness was interested in little girls."

"I don't mean it like that! If you agree to work with me, you won't have to go to the temple until you turn 15. You can live with me, registered as my offspring in a mansion of my choice in the capital. We will lay low until it is time to strike. What do you think?"

"It's an excellent plan, your highness. I hope my input will be valued in this as well."

"Of course. I take good care of my people."

Haaa…what a bastard. I can tell he was being smug, even if I couldn't see it. Still, a smug bastard was invaluable for a blind orphan. Fine. I'll play his game but to the tune of my own music.

"Still, I take it that the church isn't going to be pleased about my absence. What shall you do about that, your highness?"

"As a child, you cannot use your powers yet. That is the most suitable excuse. Do not worry. I know exactly how to keep them at bay."

"Then I will believe in your highness's ability to protect me to the end."

He laughed again and walked out of the room. Darryl's sigh of relief was very loud. He held my shoulder and shook me while crying;

"What did you do that for?"

"I negotiated our freedom. You're welcome."

"It would've been better for us to go to the temple instead of being the Prince's tools. The entire reason for leaving with the church was to not become anybody's tools."

Darryl did have a good life, despite being the Prince's loyal servant. Whether or not he suffered any indignity in the church wasn't stated but one thing was for sure. He lived a better life than Winifred. So, he didn't understand.

"If you want to go back to the church, you can. But I'm staying here."

"Why??"

Should I tell him my reasons? No. I don't think he would understand.

"I'm hungry and I feel sticky. Won't you help me, Darryl?"

I held my breath, waiting for him to complain again. There was nothing. I felt him grab my hand and help me off the bed.

"They bathed you before putting you on the bed. You don't want me to say anything, do you?" He grumbled. I smiled, letting him lead me. It wasn't any less comfortable letting someone else bathe for me but I felt better knowing it was Darryl.

There was some type of satisfaction from knowing he would stay with me despite my decision. It was the first time in my life that someone had chosen to stay with me of their own violation.

"Would you leave me, Darryl?"

I was in some type of bath, splashing around in the water with my feet. I knew he was nearby because who would leave a blind girl by themselves?

"I thought you wanted me to go to the church."

"That's why I'm asking. I want to know your decision and whether or not you'd leave me."

"I'm not going to leave you, Winifred. You came back for me, didn't you? I won't leave you."

I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

After the bath, he pulled me out and dressed me up, leaving to get me breakfast or lunch. It was hard to tell the time of the day being blind.

This left me with time to decide on my next move. I was safe from the church but was I safe from the royal family? As far as I know, they were as complicated as my family, maybe even more.

Maybe I should've just died.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Not far from the outskirts of the city, a short distance away from the orphanage, there was a certain graveyard. It had the body of common people now but in the past, it used to house kings and important village chiefs. It was a place brimming with dark, death energy.

Hidden under foliage and behind a large tree was a certain headstone. It was short and completely hidden, weather beaten for generations. Only a single letter was visible on the headstone, a letter L. It looked very different from the rest of the letters and it was only because of that it was the most preserved.

Now, what would happen if someone were to touch the letter L? Well, a path would open up where the body buried is supposed to be. One would take a flight of stairs down under the headstone till they arrive at an underground cave.

If you lit a torch, you would be able to find your way around this cave. If you're curious, look around because there is truly a coffin to be found. But, there's also treasure to be found. One glittery gold coin, another, and another until you find an opened treasury filled to the brim with gold coins, diamond crows, and a certain key that hung above the other treasures. The treasures were all good but the placement of the key caught your eye.

Could it possibly lead to more treasure? Or would it open up a door out of there?

You reach for the key and get it. The moment the key lands in your head, the treasure starts to move aside by some form of witchcraft. But everything has been unusual so far so you ignore it and go to unlock the door.

There's no more treasure, you notice. But it isn't empty. This room is a little creepy. The walls have strange inscriptions you can't recognize and in the middle of the room, surrounded by four lit torches was an open coffin. Your instincts are screaming at you now. You need to leave.

But your body won't listen to you. You are drawn to the coffin, the coins floating out of your pocket as you walk closer to the coffin. One lands in your hands and your hand starts to move. Inside the open coffin, there's nothing in there. The coin drops in the coffin and... silence. Nothing happens.

But then, everything goes dark.

"What an underwhelming body. It's so distressing to be locked up in such a stuffy place for centuries. But now, I can finally be free."

It's a dark sinister voice coming from your throat. As your consciousness starts to fade, you ask yourself 'did I walk in here by myself or did it draw me in?' But your questions would never be answered. Your soul, like many others, have been locked in the abyss that surrounds this dark presence.