XII

DAE

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The jousting tournament, it was something Dae had find uncomfortable to watch as she sat watching some lords and knights meet in the middle of the field and hit each other with their lances, the cracking sound of it makes Dae flinch. She could never understand how they could enjoy this.

"I'll bet a hundred and fifty gold coins to lord Ritter." Her brother told the man that was sitting beside him, Fredrick had actually pulled her with him, they sat side by side in the tilt barrier. He actually forced her to come with him, threatening her that she would hit her again if she dares to deny him.

"I'll bet three hundred and fifty gold coins to lord Colvin" the 12th prince stated while he drink from his goblet, they had been betting since earlier, and his brother kept losing, she doesn't know if he's intending to lose or he just really can't tell who's going to win. Anyway she decided to join, since she had no one to talk to.

"I think lord Colvin will win." She spoke softly which earn him a glare from him.

"Do keep it to yourself sister, what do you know of this game?" He sneers at her making her cower. He's been doing that since earlier whenever she tried to make a conversation, he would sneer or completely shut her off. She heard prince Daylan chuckle.

" No, let her... I must imagine how bored you must have felt, forgive me for not including you. But do tell me how do you know he'll win?" Prince Daylan asked her, he looks at her and smiled, showing that dimple, he is handsome, and he looks charming, having him look at her makes her blush.

"Well um... Lord Ritter's horse looks distracted and he seems weak." She told him noticing the horse. It had been acting weird, and the rider actually looks like it's having a hard time controlling it. The prince only nods and smiles before turning his attention back to the tournament.... And just like that his brother lost another hundred and fifty gold coins, lord Ritter's horse fell down just in time for lord Colvin's lance to make contact with his head knocking him unconscious.

"Is he alive?" She asked no one in particular, watching as the squires tried to carry their master out of the field. Her brother suddenly stood up, face red with anger at his lost.

"Excuse me." He said before leaving without another word. Once he is gone the 12th prince laugh.

"You're correct, that horse is sick." He told her, winking at her before he too stood up and left. She was now alone in the tilt. Behind her where other noble lords and ladies but none dared to approach her. Dae now sits their quietly just watching, waiting for the next contenders, on the other side of the tilt she could see the commoners watching the games, but some of them were looking at her, they are more focused on her if Anything. She quickly averted her gaze feeling anxious, why are they staring at her? Was it because of what she's wearing? Dae looked down at the dress she's wearing, it was a dress that the people of Solvira usually wear, where everything is hidden, it is also lavish, and the materials used in it is expensive. Was it the color? She wore the color of their house, Green... Should she have worn something else? Perhaps the color of the king which is white and gold? Or was it perhaps because of her looks.

Dae had already noted that majority of the people in Solvira had blonde hair, fair skin and their eyes varies from the color of blue to grey. There are some who has chestnut brown hair or dark colored hair, but they are rare, and they often belong to the lower class of family. If you thrust her towards the group of people she always stands out.

With a sigh, Dae decided to leave, she wasn't enjoying it anyway. She stood up and was ready to leave but was startled when someone hold her arm, looking up she was relieved to see lady Eleanor already smiling at her.

"Lady Dae." She greeted her before taking a seat to where her brother used to sit.

"Lady Eleanor. It's good to see you." She told her, before sitting back down, a moment later lady Ceris appeared, the woman was wearing a dark blue dress that clings to her body like a second skin. Her lips were painted black and her hair was free flowing, she's the very opposite of lady Eleanor who wore white dress.

"Are you enjoying the tourney?" Lady Eleanor asked once she's situated to her seat comfortably.

"A bit, it makes me uncomfortable just by watching this men hit each other." She wince just in time when she heard the unmistakable sound of lances hitting armors.

"I couldn't relate more. But the king loves this game, he held it every time one of his concubine gave birth or one of his children celebrates their birthday." She spoke before looking at the poor knight that was being dragged, bloodied from the hit of the lance and the fall of his horse.

" Then why are you here?" She asked her. Lady Eleanor smiles.

" My youngest son and lady Ceris will be competing in this tourney, and I believe they are up against each other." She supplied to him.

" Prince Raynard Helios! Competing against Prince Erik of Faringray!" Lady Eleanor grinned before turning to lady Ceris, she whispered something to her, Dae watched closely as the serious look on lady Ceris face slowly fade, her lips upturn and she graces lady Eleanor with a soft smile. Dae turns to look at the two knights at the opposite end of the field, one was wearing a Golden white Armor, and the other a complete black.

" That's our boys." Lady Eleanor suddenly speak to her.

" Raynard is my boy, and his little brother Erik, the one wearing the black armor." Dae nods her head, from what she already gathered, Lady Ceris had only ever bore the king one son and one daughter, and her son was born wearing his mother's color the same could be said to her only daughter, lady Eleanor on the other hand gave birth to one son and two daughters. All bearing the king's color.

Dae watches in bathed breath as the two charges against one another, their lances hitting each other but none fell off their horse.

"The man said Prince Erik of Faringray, why didn't he get the king's name?" She asked her genuinely curious, her eyes never left the two contenders as they once more charges against one another, this time Prince Raynard hit prince Erik to his right shoulder, knocking him down his horse. Lady Eleanor also tenses.

"Lady Ceris is the only daughter of the count in Mayhills... So it was agreed upon that her first born will inherit the title of count from his grandfather, thus explain his name." She explained before turning to lady Ceris.

"Is he alright?" Dae saw that prince Raynard had dismounted from his horse and approached the still sitting prince from the ground, apparently the prince must still be dizzy from falling off his horse.

"He is fine, just adjusting from the fall." Lady Ceris answered calming them. Dae watches as the Prince Raynard help his brother to his feet, before Patting his back and hugging him, showing good will. This made lady Eleanor smiles.

"My boys are good." She told Dae before turning to her.

"How are you faring so far? Have you already adjusted to your new life?" She nods her head smiling.

"Yes, it's hard but I can manage." She told her, lady Eleanor nods her head, before turning serious.

"I'm glad that the king left. You see, he isn't really someone that easy to be dealt with." Lady Dae looked at her, studying her feature.

" I know how it feels when everyone expects a lot from you. I once went through that phase and it wasn't easy, I married the king after I lost my husband from the war. I was summoned to the court and our marriage was held after two weeks, I couldn't properly mourn my dead husband. And I had to bear him a child as soon as I am able." She suddenly looked hunted which made Dae concern, that look never suits the bubbly lady Eleanor.

" Anyway, I'm not here to scare you... Just wanted you to know that I am here. I will help you if you ever need me." Dae smiles and held onto lady Eleanor's hand.

" Thank you." She told her. After that the two of them continued to watch, engaging in a conversation every once in a while. When the tourney was over though Dae had already excused herself, she already felt exhausted just from watching the gruesome game. She wishes to rest.

On her way to her room she passed by the queen's garden and happened to catch a glimpse of a lonely figure sitting under the lonely Nara tree that was planted in the middle of the garden. The woman wore blue simple dress, and she wore no shoes, Dae tilts her head to the side and watches as the woman's long hair dances as the wind blew. She was holding onto the Tree trunk. Dae decided to approach her.

There was something sad about her, she stood their like a lonely soul. She stops in midway when the woman turns towards her suddenly. Her bright blue eyes look so haunted.

"Have you seen him?" Dae's brow furrowed when she asked her that, now that she looks at her the woman looks so dirty. But her dress tells her that she if of an important status.

"Who?" She asked her curious, the woman looks behind her back at the tree, she touches it one more time, running her hand against the its trunk, tracing something.

"My little boy, my prince, my only son." The woman stated. Dae looked around, she must be one of the king's concubine, she must be looking for her son.

"No... But would you like me to help you look for him?" At the suggestion the woman quickly turns to her, eyes wide with hope, she grabs her hand and held it closely.

"Would you? Would you help me look for him?" Dae nods her head, of course, the woman must be worried sick about her son.

"We could ask some of the servants if they saw him. Where did you last see him?" She asked her, holding on the woman's hand.

"He was just here... Running around with his sister, playing with her. You know my boy really loves his little sister. The woman smiles softly, remembering the memories she had of her children.

"He even named her himself." Dae nods her head, looking around the garden once more, trying to see any kid. But she saw none.

"Well, might you have any idea of where he could be?" The woman stares at her blankly for a moment, before nodding her head.

"He must be at his father's study." She told Dae.

"Well do you know where is the study?" The woman nods and silently walk, while Dae remind at her side.

"He loves to play hide and seek, it often made her little sister cry at how good he was at hiding. He often hides at his father's study, knowing that her sister is afraid of that room." Dae patiently listen as they made their way to the King's study.

"My little prince is the sweetest boy. He has this sweet smile." The woman smiled at Dae, and she saw that the woman too is of an old age, wrinkles were already appearing on her face, specially her forehead, white hair are already making it's root.

"You must have love them dearly." She told her as they took a turn. The corridors of the castle is empty, all of the stuff are busy attending in the main hall.

"Oh I do... I really do love them... But." The woman stops suddenly, before turning to look at her with the same hunted eyes.

"My daughter... I think I have neglected her." The woman whisper looking down in shame.

"You see... My son is very sickly when he was a kid. He often spend his days lock in his room. Falling ill every winter. The king made sure that I take care of him... And took my daughter away from me." Dae felt sad for them, the woman's daughter was taken from her and her son is sickly.

" Why not ask Princess Roshanne to heal him?" She asked her, she knows that the princess has the power of healing, maybe she could help.

" Roshanne? How do you know her?" The woman looked suprised that she had mentioned the name of the princess.

" Uh... Well she is a friend of mine." She supplied, and the woman suddenly smiles, and tears began to gather in her eyes.

" Roshanne has friends? Oh I'm so glad, that girl.... Always like to keep it to herself, she never had a friend, she avoids them... Tell me, is she fairing well? Does the family of Regalia takes good care of her?" Dae's brow furrowed not knowing how to answer that. This woman must be close to her.

"My goodness! There you are your grace!" A maid suddenly exclaimed startling them both, Dae looked at the panicked looking maid that was quickly approaching them.

"I was worried! You shouldn't have gone out of your room." Her grace? Dae looked at the woman and only then she had realized that she was talking to the queen! She didn't recognize her because of her dirty looks.

"My goodness your grace look at you." The servant stated while she gently wipes the Queen's face with a wet fabric, she also has tears in her eyes.

"I'm fine... This fine young lady was helping me look for my son." The maid then turned towards her, her eyes widening in recognition.

"Oh, Lady Dae... My sincerest apologies for the trouble." Dae shakes her head and smile at them..

" No problem. It's... It's fine." She told her, before looking at the queen... What happened to her?

" Come your Grace, let me draw you some warm bath." The maid tried to usher her but the queen refused and turn to look at her.

" We are looking for my son." She told her maid, the maid looked at her, begging for her to help her.

" Why don't you take a bath first, I'll look for him. I'll bring him to your room once I found him." She suggested, making the woman smile.

"You promise?"She nods her head, and finally the woman gave in and allowed the maid to guide her, a moment later the other maid and ladies in waiting of the queen appeared all looking worried, she saw how relieved they were once they saw her.... This people must have really love their queen. Shaking her head Dae made her way to her room, the thought of the queen still filled her mind, she must have lost her bearing when she lost her son. She remembers story of the knights, about how the prince fell.

Tales of that prince actually reached their kingdom, they said that he was handsome, and kind, a fine king in the making. He lives by the rule... Everything she heard about him was good, and the knights of her father even sounded sad when they told her that the former crown prince died, they said a spear makes it way to his shoulder, knocking him down off of his horse, and in the process he broken his neck ending his life... The enemies then decapitated him, they took his head and it remained with them for five days before it was retrieved and was sent back to Solvira.

Now come to think of it, she hadn't seen any portrait of that prince, none was displayed on the wall, must be because of the queen. Dae laid down on her bed and covered her face, she suddenly felt sleepy, and slowly she drips into sleep.

Dae was awoken next by a soft yet constant knocking on her door. She opened her eyes and looked outside the window and saw that that sun is already setting.

She slowly sat up and looked at the door where the knock is coming from.

"Come in." She called, the door opened and lady Odette stepped in, the older woman looked at her with soft gaze and smile a little. Which is rare, she hadn't seen that woman smile in any occasion, save when she is in the presence of her Highness.

"Lady Dae, Princess Roshanne is asking for your immediate presence in her room." Sleep quickly flew out of the window once she heard that the princess is asking of her. She actually hadn't seen her the whole day, even at breakfast the princess was absent, she was actually beggining to get worried that the princess might dislike what she had done. And she couldn't sleep that night, because all she could think about is the look of the princess while she kneeled between her legs, even in the morning when she woke up, the only time she got distracted from thinking about what had happened was when she was watching the tourney.

Dae quickly get up on her feet. And following lady Odette out of the room. She was led to the princess room, the door was opened for her. Inside she met the princess sitting on her chair by the window, she was looking outside, she's probably thinking about something, and Dae uses that chance to admire the princess, the glow of the setting sun makes her hair looks like it is burning, the glow of it makes everything in the room more radiant. Truly there is no other sight in the whole of the kingdom to consider more beautiful than the princess, sometimes Dae would think that she is even unworthy of this, unworthy to see her beauty because she is nothing but a common girl, she often feel that.... Standing too close to her might taint the beauty of the Princess.