Secret meeting

Moon sat at the foot of the little raised stair that led up into the chamber he was given to stay. His eyes are fixed on the night sky, watching the stars that aligned and scattered while his thumb moved up and down an object in his hand. Bringing down his head, he stared right ahead of him, in the empty corners and then he lowered his eyes to look down at the royal insignia the king had given to him on their first meeting.

Moon had not expected the king to give him something so significant, but then, it made it easy for him to do what he wanted. There was someone living inside the walls of this palace he needed to meet, someone he wanted to repay back for what they did to him. he had worked to get into this place, and he would not leave without finding that very person. The only thing he was sure of at the moment was that they already crossed paths, and now, what is left is finding out exactly who it was.

Getting up from the place, he went up and inside his chamber and then he turned off the light before laying his head to rest for the night.

It was not long after the light had been turned off that it went back on again. Moon raised his hand up and looked at the red bracelet he had picked up after the lady had unknowingly dropped it and hurried off. He moved his hand and looked at the thread used to make it. It was old and the edges were a little worn. No one would keep an item like this except it meant something.

"I just have to give it back," he muttered to himself and then he turned the light off again.

It was when the light went off the second time that Eve walked in the empty corner with a lantern in her hand to light her path. The king had asked to see her and she didn't have a choice than to go see him. she wondered what it is he wanted to see her about at this time of the night.

As she was walking, her mind went back to the letter that Maidservant Ann was writing. Eve didn't fail to notice other papers that were rolled in like-manner and tied with ribbons that seem to be hidden away in her drawer. The words 'trapped in this space' was something she could not get off her mind.

Did it mean that she was also caged in the palace like her and could not go out of it?

Eve rarely saw Maidservant Ann leave the palace. At first, she had thought it was because she liked her work in the palace, taking care of the household and making sure everything was well taken care of, but these past few days, she didn't think it was the reason all along.

Did she have any family out there but couldn't meet with them? Or…was she forbidden to leave the palace?

She didn't want to start thinking that it was the Queen's doing. She couldn't quite understand why Queen Opaline has so much distaste towards Maidservant Ann.

She soon stopped walking when she heard the sound of footsteps in front of her and she raised her eyes to see the king's most trusted and loyal servant; Callum, who now stood in front of her with his hands behind his back.

When their eyes met, Eve quickly gave a bow and then she heard him say to her;

"Follow me."

Callum is a good man, Eve knows, and he always supports the king and gives him advice in whatever he does. He knows the secrets of the king like the back of his palm and he was going to take it to the grave with him. People like him are the ones who needs to be protected because they are always a prey to the evil ones looking for the downfall of the king and his kingdom. His courage and loyal service is something Eve admires a lot. Even though she has known him since she was brought into the palace as he was the intermediary between her and the king, she cannot say they are quite close like the way she was even to the king himself.

Callum was the one who arranges her secret meetings with the king every time he wanted to see her. It is also from him that Maidservant Ann gets most information from because they are quite close with each other.

She was led into a room and made to wait while Callum excused himself, leaving her all alone in the empty space where only a dimly lit lantern burned.

As she stood there waiting for the one who had called her, she suddenly started to feel nervous when no one entered the room and she picked her fingers while staring at the entrance. It was not long after that she heard incoming footsteps and her eyes glanced down to see a shadow who had stopped by the door. The person standing behind it didn't move and Eve narrowed her eyes.

The wind found its way inside from the little opening of the window and fear slowly started to creep up inside of her. Summoning up courage, she decided to ask;

"Who is there?"

The shadow moved and the door was pushed wide open. Eve took one leg backwards and was about to move the other when she saw the king step inside fully before coming to stand in front of her.

"Genevieve," he called her name.

Eve returned her leg back to stand together and she slowly calmed her nerves. She lowered her head into a deep bow and greeted the king, "Your majesty."

Raising her head back up, she could see the small smile that formed on his lips, like he was happy to see her and it affected her in a good way that she could not help but also smile and she moved her eyes to look away from him before returning it back after composing herself.

"Is there something bothering his majesty that he wants to see me about?" she asked respectfully.

King Otto sighed and turned to look at Callum who now entered the room with a box in his hand. He walked and stood in their middle, dropping the box on the table that was centered there and he left to stand outside.

Eve's eyes fell on the box and she looked up at the king, wondering what it was this time.

Seeing her just standing and staring at the box, he said to her, "Are you just going to stand there?"

"Huh?" Eve moved her eyes to look at him and asked, "is this for me?"

The king answered with a nod and Eve slightly raised her brows before looking at the box again. She moved towards it and placed her hands on the cover before slowly opening it. Setting the lid aside, she dipped her hand inside and touched the colorful silky dress. An emotion crossed her face as she stared at it and felt the touch.

"This dress…" she said and couldn't find her voice anymore.

"Yes. Do you not like it?" the king asked, but it wasn't about liking it or not for Eve. The dress…was the same as the one her father bought for her during that festive period, the one that got torn.

She removed her hand and took the lid before covering it back and her eyes lowered. Taking in a gulp, she blinked and turned her body to face the king again. With a small smile, she said, "I like the dress. I will say his majesty really has eyes for good things, but…why did you get me this?"

This was not the first time he would be giving her things, even things she would not dare put on because of Queen Opaline, but Eve always kept them locked in her closet, hoping that one day, she would get to put them on. 

She decided to rephrase her question and she asked, "Why do you always give me these things?"

"Whenever I think of the princess, I think of you too. You are like another daughter of mine and I want you to celebrate together that day," King Otto said.

Eve bit the inside of her cheeks that she could feel the taste of metal because of the question she was about to ask next;

"If I may ask, are you still doing this because of that day?" 

She was referring to the day her family got murdered and she could not help but think that the king was only taking pity on her, doing these for her because of her tragedy, even though he already told her that her father was a good friend of his.

King Otto smiled at her words and he replied her, "I am doing this for myself."

Eve doesn't see how this helps him, but she decided to leave it that way. Lowering her head into a deep bow, she thanked him, "Thank you for your kindness and for thinking about me."

"Very well then. The hour is late and I wouldn't want Maidservant Ann to be worrying about you."

Hearing him speak about Maidservant Ann, Eve wondered if she should say what was on her mind, but she does not know how he would take it. Even after all these years, she still doesn't know how to speak freely with him. Also, she remembers Maidservant Ann reproving her for speaking in her favor in front of the king.

"Have a safe trip back. I will have Callum escort you to a distance." Having saying that, the king turned and started to walk towards the door.

"Your majesty…"