Chapter 5: Apple of her eye

Over the next few days, Helena developed an enjoyable routine. During the day, she kept up appearances by attending her classes and not disturbing her siblings much. She was too tired to bother others with her whims as much as she used to. She could barely contain herself throughout the day and anticipated the evenings impatiently, wishing to spend more time with Rion and Rachel.

Rachel's complexion began to improve and Helena ensured that she always brought with her some food items and other useful household items. At first, the siblings tried to refuse her gifts, but over time began to accept them with simple yet honest ''thank you''.

Helena enjoyed the company of Rachel but would lie to herself if she didn't admit that she spend most of her waking time thinking about Rion. Despite him not showing her any affection other than what she interpreted as a brotherly concern, she began to long for him. Whenever she went through struggles, she thought that he was the reason to try harder at achieving her goals. Because of that, she also decided to try harder to gain his feelings.

''Rion, you look dashing today!'' Helena greeted the boy, who gave her a strange look back in response.

''Elena, do you even know the meaning of half of the words that you are using?''

''Who knows, maybe I borrowed them from a romance book that I was just reading''.

''Aren't you too young to be reading these?''

''Oh come on, I'm not a child!''

''Yeah, yeah, sure thing'' he chuckled, but swiftly became serious again. ''There is something I wanted to tell you today.''

''Oh?'' her heart began to beat rapidly. Could it be that he was going to admit that he too began to fall for her?

''The thing is...'' he hesitated. ''I decided to start working at the salt mine since I am turning twelve this week''.

''No!'' she cried out. ''Rion, please! Isn't there nothing else you could do? I'm sure we can find something different for you'' her hands grabbed his shirt, but he freed himself from her embrace.

''The decision has already been made, Elena. I'm only telling you this so that if something happens to me... Could you please take care of Rachel?''

''Stop it!'' her eyes filled with tears. ''I won't allow this!''.

''You don't have anything to say on this matter'' his eyes pierced her.

Helena began to sob while Rion stood awkwardly next to her. She noticed he didn't try to comfort her, which made her angry. She emptied the contents of her apron and headed back to where she came from.

''Elena, wait''.

''No, I won't talk to you until you change your decision''.

''I won't change it, but what about Rachel? Will you abandon her like this, too?'' his words hurt her deeply.

''I care for both of you!'' she turned back to face him, anger twisting her face. ''Don't you think she will be heartbroken too when she hears about it?''.

''That's why I'm not telling her'' he explained curtly. ''Look, I need to make enough money for both of us. We cannot keep relying on your help''.

''Why not?''.

''Because one day, you will be gone'' his cold tone made her freeze. Seeing her reaction, he added more calmly ''You're a noble lady, soon to be engaged in other activities or with other... company. I know that you will forget about us and move on like we never mattered.''

''How could you say this to me?'' tears were dripping down her face and she felt an unpleasant stinging in her throat. ''I will never abandon you, no matter what''. He didn't answer, and Helena realized that there was no point in convincing him.

She turned her back and walked back home, promising herself that even if he were to recall this moment as a confirmation of his words, she would do anything to prove him wrong.

Helena woke up the next morning with her eyes swollen. This mostly went unnoticed until she bumped into her older sister, Olivia, who was busy with preparations for her engagement party.

''Helena, sweetheart, are you quite alright?'' hearing her affectionate voice, Helena began to cry again. Despite her sister's attempts to find out what was going on, Helena kept her mouth shut. Olivia resigned and hold her tight until her younger sibling felt comforted. Her teachers were notified of her disposition and Helena found herself with time to spare.

Out of habit, she looked around to see her brother studying in their favorite southern garden. She approached him quietly but as usual, he quickly spotted her and sat her next to him.

''What is going on, my little sister? You caused quite a stir today''.

''Not your business'' she muttered, pouting. His eyes grew bigger in disbelief.

''Since when do you talk like this?''.

''I'm sorry, Pavel''. She hesitated. ''There is just this problem that I cannot solve, no matter how hard I try.''

''Is it a math problem? Do you want me to have a look?''.

''If only it could be a math problem'' she thought to herself. Instead, she carefully formulated her request. ''Brother, how can our people survive?''.

''What do you mean?''.

''Some of our people work so hard to meet ends meet. Even children are forced into mines in order to support their families''.

For a long time, her brother didn't answer, staring at the snacks that were laid out in front of him on the serving plate. Helena followed his gaze, too. Did he realize that for some, such luxuries would never be experienced?

''The world isn't a fair place. In most cases, our worth is determined from the moment we were born. Sometimes if you try hard enough and luck is on your side, you might be able to change it.''

''How can you change it?'' she leaned forward. ''How can a boy and a girl survive when they struggle to pay for food?''.

Her brother gave her an inquisitive look.

''For a start, they could work where food is being produced''.

Helena clapped her hands. ''You mean, like at a farm?''.

''Yes, that sounds like a safe option. Naturally, nothing is guaranteed and farmers are facing difficult periods, too, but our government often supports those whose role is to feed our people''.

''Are there any farms nearby?'' she asked innocently.

''Well, there is one a few kilometers from here, would you like to visit it?''.

''Yes!'' her excitement was contagious and her brother laughed.

''Alright, let's go!''.

Helena tried her best to follow the talks that her brother had with the farmers but became easily distracted when she noticed a litter of kittens. She stopped to play with them, beginning her brother to keep at least one, to which he graciously agreed. While her brother was busy following the men, Helena looked around and noticed a girl who was observing her intently. After catching her stare, the girl quickly turned her eyes away and pretended to be drawing something with a stick in the mud.

''Hello.'' Helena didn't waste any moment. ''Are you the daughter of one of the farmers?''. The girl nodded in response but didn't look up. ''Don't worry, I just came to look! I was wondering, do you ever need any help with the chores?''. Meeting her confused gaze, she added ''I don't mean myself, but there are two... acquaintances of mine that are in desperate need of work and shelter''.

The farm girl didn't answer for a long time, instead looking at the kitten that Helena put on her lap. ''Isn't he pretty? Your father and my brother said that I can keep him''.

''If you can keep a cat, can't you keep those two people, too?'' Helena saw her point and pondered for a moment before answering.

''I wish I could, but no one takes me seriously yet. It's not easy being the youngest.'' The girl nodded vigorously in response, making Helena smile. ''What is your name?''.

''You can call me Ari''.

''Ari'' she grabbed her hands and held them tightly ''could you please help me? I will give you anything I can - once I'm all grown up, of course - if you could tell me how I can find work, food, and shelter for those two''.

Ari looked at their joint hands and felt the softness of her skin. Various ideas went through her mind.

''My father is currently looking for a stable boy, but he would like someone experienced''.

''Is it something that can be helped?''.

''Perhaps one of my brothers could teach him, although he would have to be a quick learner to pick it up in time''.

''Oh, he definitely is! Is there anything that a girl can do? Something that is not too strenuous''.

''There is no such job here, my lady'' Ari's eyes pierced through her.

Seeing her brother return, Helena squeezed her hands one last time before letting her go. ''Thank you, Ari. You will hear from me soon''.

Over the next few days, Helena spent her time figuring out how to convince Rion to move to the farm. Should she bribe him? Last time, her borrowing money (which she would definitely be able to return one day over the next few years) did not go unnoticed and caused a ruckus at the castle. She couldn't force him, either - she knew how proud and unrelenting he was. No matter how hard she thought about this, there was nothing that she could think of that would make the upcoming conversation easy.

After a week, she decided that further delay won't do her any good and that she had to see Rion. Even if it would take her hours, no, days, maybe weeks or months, she would do anything she could to ensure that eventually, he would listen to her.

She was distracted while going through the castle grounds, heading towards the flap. Just when she was about to open the flap, a hand landed on her shoulder, squeezing it. ''Where do you think you are heading to, princess?''.