Chapter Two

"I'm not supposed to be sick? But everyone says I'll be dead tomorrow night."

"Yeah, that's when they'll send in some kind of super-secret assassin appointed by the king himself to go into your room and slit your throat. But do not fear, for I am here to save you! Tomorrow night, exactly twenty-four hours from now, I'm going to be outside your window, ready with a rope. You're going to climb out your window and use the rope to reach the grounds of the castle. Then, together, we'll escape the castle grounds and start the long journey to Luimesha so you can reunite with your parents," Ludwig explains, and I am left to look at him in shock, still processing what he told me moments earlier.

Someone appointed by the king, the man who I thought was my father for the entirety of my life, was going to kill me tomorrow night? And this spy- who was suspiciously outgoing- was set on rescuing me and returning me to my actual parents? Did Miss Kali know about this? Did the citizens of the kingdom know about my true origins? That a prince from a foreign kingdom was planning on becoming their king, had he not been poisoned, thought to have been just a terrible sickness that would recede with time and medicine?

I stagger over to my bed and grip onto one of the white posts that hold up the canopy, allowing golden curtains to hang around my bed, though I am too weak to pull them back and forth, so they remain open and in bundles near the two posts at the end of the bed.

"Why are you saving me? What if I die once I leave the kingdom?" My voice is hoarse, and my throat burns.

I eye the milk upon my nightstand, which is still upright, even after the fall of the tray and myself just minutes earlier. But I can't bring myself, both physically and mentally, to take it in my hands and drink it. What if it too, like the soup I've been eating my whole life, is filled with poison?

"Well, for starters, I'm getting paid for this. Second, you're not going to die. Not from the sickness, at least. Lucky for you, I brought just the thing to tide you over until I arrive tomorrow night," Ludwig stands up, pulls a small bag from the inside of the black cloak he wears, and hands it to me.

I look at the small bag and attempt to undo the satin bow keeping the contents inside the woven item, but my fingers shake and lose their grip on the bow. Ludwig bends down and undoes the bow for me, with nothing but a smile on his face the entire time.

Why is he smiling? Did he find my lack of physical strength amusing? It would be no different than what I experienced when I was younger, playing with the other children inside the castle when my parents- or I guess the king and queen, now that I know the truth- used to allow visitors. After my sickness progressed to a point where I could barely walk from my room to the stairs leading to the ground floor of the castle, the king and queen no longer allowed visitors, and only Miss Kali ever visited me to deliver me food.

That was four years ago. I barely remember the faces of the king and queen. The only person who I consider my family is Miss Kali since she's been nothing but compassionate and helpful to me. Hopefully when I leave the castle- if Ludwig's plan succeeds- she can live a better life than one as a servant to a sickly prince.

Ludwig picks up the small item within the bag as soon as the silk ribbon is undone. He holds it out to me, and I cautiously take it before turning it around in my trembling fingers, only to have it fall on my lap and roll down onto the floor.

The spy softly laughs and picks up the item, before adjusting his position so he is level with me, and his hand is near my mouth.

"Looks like this is the only way to make sure you eat this. Open your mouth, please!" Ludwig ends his statement with a beaming smile.

"Wh-what is it?" I try to hold back a cough, but it makes it up my throat, so I cover my mouth with my elbow per my manners.

Ludwig's smile doesn't fade. He happily answers my question.

"It's one of Chidora's exotic desserts, Hinora. It allows one to keep themselves fed for an entire day. Or, at least hold off that sickening feeling of a stomach yearning for food. Nonetheless, once you eat this, you don't need to eat or drink until you're beyond this castle's walls. Amazing, right?"

I look into Ludwig's eyes and am unable to distinguish if he is telling me the truth or lying. I wouldn't care if this was the poisonous Yhor berry covered in chocolate. If it was, as soon as it traveled down my throat, I would close my eyes and never wake up.

"Oh, and your sickness, when you wake up, will disappear! Well, at least the physical weakness, and only temporarily. But it would be in your best interest to wait until you are completely alone to stand up and walk around with all the mobility of a normal Dracecean! You may even get a chance to explore the interior of the castle, granted the king, queen, and your servant don't see you or grow suspicious. Now, are you ready to eat this? Trust me, it tastes just like chocolate!"

I blink a few times before reluctantly opening my mouth. Ludwig gauges the distance between his hand and my mouth with his eyes for a moment before throwing the small brown sphere into my mouth. I slowly close my mouth and am surprised to feel the dessert literally melt once it comes into contact with my tongue, instantly easing the pain of swallowing as it eventually travels down my throat.

Ludwig glances at the window behind me before focusing his eyes back on my figure. He then stands up, looks over his outfit, and picks the pouch and accompanying bow off of my lap before returning the items to his cloak.

"Well, I best be getting out of here before the noise I'm making draws unwanted attention. I'll see you tomorrow night when we can finally begin our journey to your true home- Luimesha! Oh, I'm honestly so excited to go there. Their belief in dragons is so profound, so you'll fit right in if your room tells me anything about you! They have different names for the dragons they worship, and believe they each serve in protecting Luimesha in various ways, and- Ah, I'm getting ahead of myself. Farewell, Theo! I shall see you in twenty-four hours!" Ludwig talks as he approaches the window and slips out.

I am able to utter two words to him, acknowledged by another smile, wave, and nod of the head before he completely disappears and I stand up from my bed again to close the window.

"Thank you."

My arms still shake as I slide the pane downward, and my fingers tremble as flip the latch to the locked position. I then stumble over to my bed, crawl over Ki and nestle under my covers before closing my eyes and letting exhaustion overtake my entire body.

The opening of my door awakens me. My body turned to the door, I am able to open my eyes and see Miss Kali enter, with another tray of soft breakfast food. Her calm expression becomes concerned when she sees the shattered bowl of soup and overturned tray at the foot of my bed, something I had completely forgotten about in the true shock of knowing so much about my life in such a short time.

"Oh, my lord, what happened last night? Are you hurt at all, my lord?" Miss Kali places the tray she holds on my nightstand, and begins to clean up the mess near my bed while glancing up at me.

I take a breath before I attempt to push myself into a sitting position. I brace my arms for the usual trembling that overtakes them as they push my frail body upward. Instead, my arms push my body upward with little trouble, causing me to throw myself forward with a rather loud exclamation of surprise, instantly drawing Miss Kali's attention.

She stands up, holding the silver tray, with all the pieces of the porcelain bowl in a neat pile on the right side.

"Has your strength somewhat returned, my lord?"

I remember what Ludwig said about the food he gave me before leaving. Some of the effects of my sickness would wear off, but only for a short time, however long 'temporarily' was. Knowing I can't tell Miss Kali the truth, I am able to summon a lie to come out of my mouth instead.

"I suppose I...got more rest...last night than I...usually get."

Miss Kali offers nothing but a smile as she exchanges the tray on my nightstand, putting the untouched glass of milk on the same tray as the broken porcelain bowl, and bringing the tray of breakfast food near my lap.

But, as Ludwig said, I don't feel even the least bit hungry, and I wave the tray away with my right hand and look at Miss Kali.

"You don't wish to eat? Shall I just leave the tray here for later, in case you find yourself hungry later, my lord?" Miss Kali sets the tray on my nightstand when I nod my head.

"You can...leave it there. Could I...ask something of you...Miss Kali?" I make sure to intentionally leave pauses in between short phrases, though I know I can speak in full sentences.

This dessert Ludwig gave me sure does work miracles! I have to offer him a more sincere display of gratitude when we meet again later tonight.

"Of course. What do you wish to ask of me, my lord?" Miss Kali stares at me with eyes suggesting she is happy about my returning strength.

I summon enough courage to ask my daring request. Hopefully, she would accept.

"Could I...explore the castle a bit? I promise I won't...go anywhere I am...not allowed, and stay near my...bedroom if you are...concerned about those aspects." I add on to my original request when I see her expression switch from happiness to concern, not wanting a chance to not make her too suspicious go to waste.

Once again, Miss Kali looks over her shoulder at the white door leading to and from my bedroom, which is open this time. But, no one is there, and her eyes return to me.

There are several seconds of silence as she considers my proposal. She then nods and smiles.

"Of course. Do you need any help getting out of bed, my lord?"

I let a smile overtake my lips, and shake my head as I easily move my legs over the right edge of my bed and push myself out of bed.

"No, thank you...for the offer though. I promise I won't go...very far, Miss Kali. Thank you for...granting me my wish!" I try my best to sound excited, though it is hard, considering the thought of needing to still put on the facade of being sick.

"No, thank you. It has been a pleasure to serve you, my lord. I will grieve your death and miss you every day after tonight. Do be careful as you explore, and make sure not to get spotted by the king and queen. Though they are preoccupied with preparing for the royal banquet tonight, so they will primarily be downstairs. Farewell, my lord."

Miss Kali turns and leaves my room, having the door remain open. My eyes sparkle with excitement as I take a step forward, finding I can do so without any type of pain or shaking. Even my fingers, which usually tremble despite resting at my sides, do not move unless I intentionally direct them to.

It is as though I am a prince capable of ruling a kingdom. I am reborn, no longer bedridden and sick. I am the prince Aegia desires. I am the prince Luimesha is waiting for. I am the prince I always wanted to be.

But it is only temporary. Then my dreams will vanish like smoke like they always have.