Forgiving the Forgotten - 9
Taeen gets to know the man who took her brother's place as king....
CHAPTER 9: KNOWING A STRANGER
TAAEN'S POV:
I had been in solitude for almost a week. Prince Amenatsu (sorry, king Amenatsu) was still sitting outside my door. Talking away relentlessly to cheer me up. Cracking lame jokes.
I felt pity on him. How could I trust him? He could be anyone... anyone like the warden's cousin. I shuddered as I thought about that asshole. My stomach had started growling and I knew I looked totally hideous, with huge dark circles and messy lusterless hair and cracked lips. Such things which gave no glory to a 20 year old like me. I was behaving very badly and I had to apologize to that man outside who was doing everything he could and could not to make me happy.
He was reading my mind again....
Soft like a feather. His voice was a gentle caress in my head. Calming me like a drug.
"Taeen... if you can listen to me, please respond...."
He had said that many times, and I hadn't responded once.
"Taeen, I'm leaving for Jerome today. Can I please see you. I just want to make sure you're alright. Please."
Did he never leave the door? I don't know why or how, in seconds I was at the door, unlocking it. I paused after unlocking the door. He didn't push it open but waited for me to open it.
I have never seen so much pity in myself. The man sitting on the floor at my door was a king. And he was sitting on a bunch of cushions with an untouched plate of fruits there. I dropped to his side and looked at his face; it was probably only second worst to mine.
His eyes looked sad and weary. Oh and for the first time I noticed that his hair was almost reaching his waist. Just a bit shorter than my hair.
Huh! What the hell was I thinking? But before I could admire prince Amenatsu any more, he had placed a hand on my face and a tear ran down his cheek. God... what was he?
"Prince Amenatsu... I'm really sorry..."
He shook his head and wiped the tear on his sleeve.
"No, it's me who should be apologizing. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him die.... I'm sincerely sorry."
His hand left my face in a hurry. The place where his fingers grazed seemed to tingle in spite of everything. A guilty glance stole his eyes. And I tried to penetrate his mind. I couldn't. He was too strong.
"No... no.... don't worry about that. I have multiple reasons for my being stupid. I'm really sorry...."
Prince Amenatsu caught the door handle for support and staggered.
"I must leave. I'll see you at breakfast."
I watched him leave the door-side and burst into another room. It was his room, according to the officials in the verandah.
I roamed about the suite and settled down in front of the breakfast table. The dishes had not been brought in yet. My stomach made some unwelcome noises suggesting that I should have something to eat. Prince Amenatsu returned in a few minutes. He looked so sleepy. He was going to sit at the other end but I didn't want him to be so far away. He seemed so... troubled.
Just as he was about to sit, I opened my mouth to call him to sit near my end of the table. But the poor thing had already sunk in his chair, so I left my chair and walked cautiously towards him and settled in the chair two seats away from him.
"I thought it's just the two of us on the table, so there will be difficulty in serving the food...."
He nodded and continued with his efforts of placing a steaming bun in my plate. In the other plate he placed a wonderfully smelling curry like thing. And a bowl of fruits.
A servant came up to serve the food to me when he blocked his hand and shook his head to say that he could manage. And smiled at the servant. Oh! His smile.... It was like heaven was smiling upon you.
I could feel my cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Do you always keep reading my mind? Or at least do you always keep trying to do so, princess?"
I stammered and said, "Even if I would like it, there is nothing I can do to unravel the things that you do not wish to show me. Like the things you hide about your family..."
A gasp escaped the mouth of an official. I stopped abruptly to check myself.
His face contracted mildly but regained the usual composure.
"Ah... you'll know in time. Your strength and mine..."
He stopped. And stuffed a fruit in his mouth.
"So... what about my powers and yours?"
He shook his head, smiled with his mouth full and indicated for me to start.
The food was terrifically delicious. It was so tasty. I hadn't had such food in a long time. The breakfast was followed by a glass of milk with some flavors added.
"Prince Amenatsu..."
He cut me short and said wagging his stirring spoon, "Amenatsu... not prince Amenatsu. I'm your... friend...."
I nodded and felt a smile creep up my face. He was very kind.
"Amenatsu... uh, why can't I go back with you?"
"I've to make arrangements for you princess. No... I'm kidding. It's just that I've some work. I'll be back in a few days."
He wiped off the milky mustache to reveal an unshaved mandible that elicited a desire to keep staring at him. He was handsome by universal standards.
"Would you like to complete your education on Earth?"
"How much time would that take?"
Prince Amenatsu... no I mean Amenatsu, ran his long fingers through his hair and jammed it there.
"It'll take six months. For you to graduate. Do you want to go to a new college?"
I looked down and said, trying not to think of what happened that night, "A new college would mean getting adjusted to everything new. Other than the warden there is no problem."
He smiled in a sinister way; it made his perfectly placed eyebrows come together and said, "Alright, you continue in the same college. I'll send some good bodyguards for you in college. They'll keep the warden away from you. In the worst case scenario, they'll even kill him if it takes that to protect you."
I recoiled when the last sentence came. It didn't seem appropriate coming from him.
I nodded and went to have a bath. A maid accompanied me to the bath to explain what all was kept there.
"This is the Prince's set. You are allowed anything you want. He plans to get your set soon. Your wishes are to be taken. The brands or the types and the fragrances."
I stood aghast at the door. It was the most elaborate bath I'd ever seen.
"If you need my assistance please tell me princess, I'll be waiting outside."
I nodded and stepped inside. The door closed softly behind me.
I picked up a soap from the rack and started scrubbing myself. Next I shampooed my hair. Almost as if I had smelt that exotic smell somewhere.... The water gushed into the tub. I think I had a bath for one hour. When I was lavishing myself with conditioner, a knock came and the same maid said, "Princess, the prince wants to say a few words."
"Alright. Do I have to open the door?"
Amenatsu's voice echoed in my head.
"Taeen. I'm leaving for Jerome. I want you to take care. You can contact me anytime you want. Ask the head of your maids. And..."
He paused, I thought he could feel my heart racing and me feeling giddy with feelings I didn't know.
"And... I'll miss your presence. And..."
TAAEN'S POV:
I had been in solitude for almost a week. Prince Amenatsu (sorry, king Amenatsu) was still sitting outside my door. Talking away relentlessly to cheer me up. Cracking lame jokes.
I felt pity on him. How could I trust him? He could be anyone... anyone like the warden's cousin. I shuddered as I thought about that asshole. My stomach had started growling and I knew I looked totally hideous, with huge dark circles and messy lusterless hair and cracked lips. Such things which gave no glory to a 20 year old like me. I was behaving very badly and I had to apologize to that man outside who was doing everything he could and could not to make me happy.
He was reading my mind again....
Soft like a feather. His voice was a gentle caress in my head. Calming me like a drug.
"Taeen... if you can listen to me, please respond...."
He had said that many times, and I hadn't responded once.
"Taeen, I'm leaving for Jerome today. Can I please see you. I just want to make sure you're alright. Please."
Did he never leave the door? I don't know why or how, in seconds I was at the door, unlocking it. I paused after unlocking the door. He didn't push it open but waited for me to open it.
I have never seen so much pity in myself. The man sitting on the floor at my door was a king. And he was sitting on a bunch of cushions with an untouched plate of fruits there. I dropped to his side and looked at his face; it was probably only second worst to mine.
His eyes looked sad and weary. Oh and for the first time I noticed that his hair was almost reaching his waist. Just a bit shorter than my hair.
Huh! What the hell was I thinking? But before I could admire prince Amenatsu any more, he had placed a hand on my face and a tear ran down his cheek. God... what was he?
"Prince Amenatsu... I'm really sorry..."
He shook his head and wiped the tear on his sleeve.
"No, it's me who should be apologizing. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let him die.... I'm sincerely sorry."
His hand left my face in a hurry. The place where his fingers grazed seemed to tingle in spite of everything. A guilty glance stole his eyes. And I tried to penetrate his mind. I couldn't. He was too strong.
"No... no.... don't worry about that. I have multiple reasons for my being stupid. I'm really sorry...."
Prince Amenatsu caught the door handle for support and staggered.
"I must leave. I'll see you at breakfast."
I watched him leave the door-side and burst into another room. It was his room, according to the officials in the verandah.
I roamed about the suite and settled down in front of the breakfast table. The dishes had not been brought in yet. My stomach made some unwelcome noises suggesting that I should have something to eat. Prince Amenatsu returned in a few minutes. He looked so sleepy. He was going to sit at the other end but I didn't want him to be so far away. He seemed so... troubled.
Just as he was about to sit, I opened my mouth to call him to sit near my end of the table. But the poor thing had already sunk in his chair, so I left my chair and walked cautiously towards him and settled in the chair two seats away from him.
"I thought it's just the two of us on the table, so there will be difficulty in serving the food...."
He nodded and continued with his efforts of placing a steaming bun in my plate. In the other plate he placed a wonderfully smelling curry like thing. And a bowl of fruits.
A servant came up to serve the food to me when he blocked his hand and shook his head to say that he could manage. And smiled at the servant. Oh! His smile.... It was like heaven was smiling upon you.
I could feel my cheeks turning slightly pink.
"Do you always keep reading my mind? Or at least do you always keep trying to do so, princess?"
I stammered and said, "Even if I would like it, there is nothing I can do to unravel the things that you do not wish to show me. Like the things you hide about your family..."
A gasp escaped the mouth of an official. I stopped abruptly to check myself.
His face contracted mildly but regained the usual composure.
"Ah... you'll know in time. Your strength and mine..."
He stopped. And stuffed a fruit in his mouth.
"So... what about my powers and yours?"
He shook his head, smiled with his mouth full and indicated for me to start.
The food was terrifically delicious. It was so tasty. I hadn't had such food in a long time. The breakfast was followed by a glass of milk with some flavors added.
"Prince Amenatsu..."
He cut me short and said wagging his stirring spoon, "Amenatsu... not prince Amenatsu. I'm your... friend...."
I nodded and felt a smile creep up my face. He was very kind.
"Amenatsu... uh, why can't I go back with you?"
"I've to make arrangements for you princess. No... I'm kidding. It's just that I've some work. I'll be back in a few days."
He wiped off the milky mustache to reveal an unshaved mandible that elicited a desire to keep staring at him. He was handsome by universal standards.
"Would you like to complete your education on Earth?"
"How much time would that take?"
Prince Amenatsu... no I mean Amenatsu, ran his long fingers through his hair and jammed it there.
"It'll take six months. For you to graduate. Do you want to go to a new college?"
I looked down and said, trying not to think of what happened that night, "A new college would mean getting adjusted to everything new. Other than the warden there is no problem."
He smiled in a sinister way; it made his perfectly placed eyebrows come together and said, "Alright, you continue in the same college. I'll send some good bodyguards for you in college. They'll keep the warden away from you. In the worst case scenario, they'll even kill him if it takes that to protect you."
I recoiled when the last sentence came. It didn't seem appropriate coming from him.
I nodded and went to have a bath. A maid accompanied me to the bath to explain what all was kept there.
"This is the Prince's set. You are allowed anything you want. He plans to get your set soon. Your wishes are to be taken. The brands or the types and the fragrances."
I stood aghast at the door. It was the most elaborate bath I'd ever seen.
"If you need my assistance please tell me princess, I'll be waiting outside."
I nodded and stepped inside. The door closed softly behind me.
I picked up a soap from the rack and started scrubbing myself. Next I shampooed my hair. Almost as if I had smelt that exotic smell somewhere.... The water gushed into the tub. I think I had a bath for one hour. When I was lavishing myself with conditioner, a knock came and the same maid said, "Princess, the prince wants to say a few words."
"Alright. Do I have to open the door?"
Amenatsu's voice echoed in my head.
"Taeen. I'm leaving for Jerome. I want you to take care. You can contact me anytime you want. Ask the head of your maids. And..."
He paused, I thought he could feel my heart racing and me feeling giddy with feelings I didn't know.
"And... I'll miss your presence. And..."
Post Comment
