Chapter 8

A soft knock echoed through the princess's chambers, pulling Maya from her thoughts. She opened the door to find Prince Alexus standing there, a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"Uh... Maya, where's Princess Samantha?" he asked, his gaze briefly meeting hers.

Before Maya could respond, Princess Samantha stepped forward from behind her. With a subtle glance, she silently instructed Maya to wait in the room. Her message was clear—Maya was to stay behind as she accompanied the prince.

Maya watched them leave, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite place. There was admiration for the prince's kindness, tinged with a touch of longing and a pang of jealousy. She closed the door quietly and returned to her duties, pushing aside her feelings as best as she could.

Prince Alexus shifted uncomfortably, a trace of guilt in his expression. "I hope you're well, Princess. About last night… we met in, well, rather unusual circumstances. I was quite drunk and not entirely... in control of my actions. I hope you know I meant no disrespect."

The princess looked at him quizzically, her mind flashing back to her earlier conversation with Maya. Maya had mentioned a "drunk prince" showing up at her chambers, claiming he hadn't stayed for long before leaving in a daze. Samantha nodded slowly, piecing it together.

"No need to worry, Your Highness," she said, her tone soft, aiming to ease his worry. "You didn't cause any disruption, you left shortly after arriving."

Alexus seemed to relax, but something still clouded his gaze. He looked as if he were trying to grasp a feeling, a memory, that stayed just out of reach. He smiled politely, yet the distant look in his eyes suggested he was searching for answers to questions he hadn't quite found words for.Yet, despite her kind words, he couldn't shake a strange sense of emptiness, as if he were missing something from the previous night—a feeling he couldn't quite grasp.

"Would you care to take a walk with me?" he asked, his voice gentle but noble, a hint of eagerness in his tone.

The princess considered him for a moment, sensing the sincerity in his invitation. "Alright," she agreed. "Let me just give Maya a few instructions to handle my tasks while I'm away."

With a polite nod, Alexus stepped back as she turned to find her handmaid.

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Maya's POV

As Maya stood in the adjoining hallway, her mind wandered back to the events of the previous night, replaying the fleeting, charged moments she'd shared with Alexus. Her heart ached as she watched him now speaking so formally with the princess, a sight that reminded her of the distance between them. Her fingers traced the fabric of her gown, and she struggled to push down the jealousy creeping into her heart.

Suddenly, Samantha appeared before her, her expression as poised as ever.

"Maya, I'll be going with Prince Alexus," she said, her tone cool. "While I'm gone, see to it that you replace my bed linens. And throw out that old rug you slept on—I want everything refreshed. Also, please dispose of that filthy nightgown you wore last night." She added the last instruction with a sneer, eyes flashing with disdain.

Maya clenched her hands, but she kept her gaze low, nodding obediently. "Yes, Princess."

Without another word, Samantha turned on her heel and glided back to Alexus, flashing a smile as she took his offered arm. Maya watched them disappear down the hill .

As they strolled through the garden, Prince Alexus glanced over at Princess Samantha, a curious look on his face. "Can you give me a tour of Eldoria?" he asked, a lighthearted tone in his voice.

The princess laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "I laugh at your kind of humor, Prince. It entertains me."

"Why?" he asked, genuinely puzzled by her reaction.

She shook her head, a small, wistful smile crossing her lips. "It's just that you thought I would take you on a tour. I'm not allowed to go beyond the palace gates."

Alexus's brows knit together in surprise. "You're not allowed? But why?"

Samantha's gaze drifted over the garden, lingering on the flowers at her feet. "It's simply how things are here. My parents say it's for my safety. They want me 'untouched by the outside world.' So, this palace... it's all I know."

Alexus looked at her, a flicker of sympathy in his eyes. "That sounds like a cage, beautiful as it is."

Samantha nodded, her expression softening. "Perhaps. But I've made peace with it. I know every inch of these gardens, every hidden corner in the palace halls."

They walked in silence for a moment, the gentle rustle of leaves around them. Finally, Alexus spoke, his voice gentle. "If you could go anywhere, where would you want to see?"

Her smile grew faint, a bit sad. "I don't know. Somewhere open, I think. Somewhere quiet."

Alexus thought for a moment. "Well, if you ever find a way beyond these gates, I'd love to show you the forests of Elkodia. There's a lake hidden deep in the woods, surrounded by tall trees and open sky..."

Samantha's eyes brightened slightly at his words, a hint of longing flickering in her gaze. "That sounds... lovely. I can only imagine it."

They continued along the path, the night air filling with the scent of blossoms and the gentle rustle of leaves. After a moment, Alexus looked over at her with a thoughtful expression. "Is there anywhere here you particularly love? A part of this palace that feels like your own?"

Samantha paused, looking around the garden. "There's a small fountain at the far edge of the garden, hidden beneath the roses. Hardly anyone goes there. It's one place where I can feel alone with my thoughts, away from all the formalities."

Alexus smiled, nodding. "Will you show me?"

Samantha hesitated, then nodded. "Yes... follow me."

She led him through winding paths of greenery and flowers, the moonlight casting a gentle glow over them as they finally reached the secluded fountain, surrounded by roses in full bloom. They paused before it, the gentle trickle of water breaking the silence.

Alexus looked at her, a touch of admiration in his gaze. "Thank you for sharing this with me. It's beautiful, just like you."

As they continued talking, a distant memory surfaced in Prince Alexus's mind.

Flashback

They were standing at the edge of the palace garden, the sky painted with the colors of dusk. The view stretched far, a perfect picture of Eldoria.

"The view is so beautiful, isn't it?" he had asked the princess, glancing over to see her face lit softly by the fading sunlight.

"Yes, it is," she had replied, her gaze thoughtful as it wandered to the horizon. "But it's even more beautiful outside the palace gates." She paused, a small smile playing on her lips. "There's a stream I love to sit by, not far from here. You just go north. I grew up playing there, spending quiet afternoons by the water."

The memory faded, but the warmth of her words lingered. Alexus blinked, bringing himself back to the present, but he couldn't shake the image of the stream or the way her eyes had softened when she spoke of it.

Back to the Present

"You have never been outside the palace gates?" the prince asked, his voice a mix of surprise and curiosity.

The princess glanced away, a shadow of sadness crossing her features. "Yes, I have never," she replied quietly.

Prince Alexus felt a strange pang of confusion as he recalled the memory he'd just experienced. The words he'd remembered—the description of the stream—couldn't have come from her, not if she'd never stepped beyond the palace grounds. He shook his head, dismissing it as a random thought, perhaps a blend of imagination and memory.

"If I may... escort you to your chambers?" the prince offered, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.

The princess looked up, giving him a faint smile as she accepted his offer.

After the prince escorted the princess to her chambers, he noticed someone struggling to carry a large quilt and a rug down the hallway. Curious, he stepped in front of the person, causing them to bump right into him.

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I can't see—" a voice said from behind the quilt. "If you could please... step aside?"

Instead of moving, Prince Alexus reached forward, helping lift the quilt to reveal a familiar figure beneath a veil.

"Oh... Maya," he said, a note of surprise in his voice. "Where are you taking this?"

"To my chambers, Your Highness," she replied softly, her head slightly lowered.

The prince took the quilt from Maya's arms, lifting it with ease. "Allow me," he said with a soft smile. "You can lead the way."

Maya hesitated for a moment before nodding, then turned and began walking down the corridor. As she walked ahead of him, Prince Alexus couldn't help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. There was something so familiar in her movements, in the quiet way she held herself, and it drew his attention.

Finally, they arrived at her chambers—a small room with a single, bare bed and a cracked window that let in a draft. He took in the simplicity of the room, noticing how it lacked even the basics of comfort.

"Thank you, Your Highness," Maya said with a respectful bow, sounding genuinely grateful. "If I can be of assistance to you, please feel free to call for my help."

Before she could step away, Alexus spoke up, a slight smile on his face. "Actually, before I forget…" he began, "I might need your assistance with something else. I'm told there's quite a lot to see around Eldoria, and I could use a guide. Would you be willing to show me around?"

Maya blinked, surprised, her cheeks warming slightly. "Me, Your Highness?" she asked, almost incredulously.

"Yes, you," he replied with a chuckle, his gaze warm. "If you're up for it, of course."