The truth is not for all men
but only those who seek it.
~Anatole France
***
Frederic's eyes held more than a thousand dangers and irritations when he sauntered forward, matching his intimidation.
With his voice low and promising, "I won't stand here and watch you insult Sophia under my watch. You're nothing but that title on your head, and it would be satisfying enough to watch you eat it with your own mouth, little brother,"
But Edmund took a step forward, then another, until the circle tightened and the breeze turned heavy with tension. His words dropped low, cold, and final when he opened his mouth to speak.
"I've tolerated much. Your arrogance. Your games. But I will not stand by and let cruelty parade itself in noble silk. This girl is under the House's protection. She belongs to the crown."
His lip curled in an obvious disdain. "Then she belongs to you, does she not?"
Edmund's jaw tightened, but his tone remained measured. "You forget yourself."
"You forget us," Princess Sophia snapped back in response. "This—" she gestured toward the suddenly stiff Ravenna, "—this nobody doesn't deserve your protection. What does she know of sacrifice, of loyalty? She's not even Vladoryn born!"
Edmund turned his gaze toward her. "And yet, she has shown more poise under fire than half the royal court."
Ravenna's breath hitched when she was mentioned. She had remained unmoving, better off unnoticeable under the fury of the royals than influencing it but her heart raced wildly against her chest, knowing fully well the tension was built due to her situation.
Eyes suddenly seemed to swerve in her direction and she shrank deeper into the body of the gravel figure caging her body under its unbreakable grip, her heart racing.
When he said, she lowered her head quickly supported by gravity, unsure whether to feel honored or afraid.
Princess Sophia's heart burned in outrage and darkness when she spat. "You dare draw a parallel between a servant to us? You dare to lay comparison between royalty and filth?"
"I dare speak the truth," he simply said. "And the truth, they say, is always bitter,"
"Coming from a Prince or a Bastard?"Prince Fredrick defended, leveling his irritation. While others seemed to bottle up and hide their emotions, he rather expressed them. And the tension inflated in the air.
It appeared that the weather felt its intensity, creating a siege for the sun under the blanket of the clouds, as though sheathing light away from darkness.
For the first time, the cold-faced Prince seemed to cackle up an emotion when his jaw ticked twice. "Coming from your future King,"
An unmerciful sheath of blades from both Princes' guards cut through accordingly, stimulating the intention of the rising threat, as they stood in poise, ready for an order followed by several sudden gasps filling the air.
Ravenna's pulse thrummed in dread, especially when the giant's threatening 'hmm' was louder than the sound of the unscathed swords in the garden.
There was one feeling known to Vladoryn's finished experiment when sensing a threat to its master. And it was anger. It was rumored that the creation of the Castle's Dog had been completed by the linking of its sense of authority to its master where only its master gets to control it.
Over the years, Princess Sophia convinced her parents to become the master, which was rejected due to several complications that could go awry, but her greed and desperation led to their decision. What could change the mind of Vladoryn when power paints the most powerful picture among all kingdoms?
Especially when the bonding was successful thereby driving the experiment into an advanced development of Giant's existence.
They all stood fixed, waiting for one moment to strike, one opportunity which could shatter the peace into pieces, driving the madness into chaos.
Finally, Prince Fredrick made the first move, towering above his height by only six inches. His gritted, sending daggers through his gaze and fire through his nostrils.
With a scowl on his face, "Better be grateful my father gave you a roof over your head preferably than the dung of the pit and rats you once lived with. But be careful at the same time, for I can take that away and leave you, worse, with nothing but your name." He threatened, unfazed by the aura emanating from the man before him.
In nonchalance, "Is that a threat, big brother?" He queried in the manner he was referred.
"No," Prince Fredrick said, meeting his challenge. "It's a promise,"
Crown Prince Edmund appeared unfazed by his augury, but the fury scorching deep inside him could burn down the castle to ashes.
He raised his hand as a sign, which the guards behind acknowledged, sheathing their swords back into their scabbards followed by Prince Frederick's.
Ravenna released a silent sigh, and so did the others but it wasn't too long-lived.
"Order your giant to release the servant, Sophia," his voice was low, deepened in threat. "Or watch me burn Faerie," he said, earning a shriek in return.
"You dare not!" The Princess's face shimmered in outrage, her sharp tone shattering the stillness, sending the birds screeching in the air.
"Dare me," His gaze was defiant and challenging enough to shut the Princess's mouth for a second.
Princess Sophia's heated gaze shifted, taking turns to stare at the people present. "Fredrick!" She yelled, advancing towards him. "Do something! Don't let him do that to Faerie!"
But Edmund's voice cut clean through the air. "If you interfere again, Sophia, I will take it before Father. And you know he listens to me more than he ever did you."
Sophia faltered.
Prince Frederick looked like he was about to crash out rather turned to his shoulder, "If you don't wish to release the servant, let Faerie serve as the sacrifice, Sophia. After all, she is just a cat."
Blood drained from her face, turning her pure white as snow such that Ravenna wished she could take to heart and mock the Princess's vulnerability.
The sight was pleasing enough to stifle a laugh but she oddly pitied the Princess.
Ravenna knew how attached Princess Sophia was to her cat, and sometimes called childish, but no one truly understood why such a bond could be formed with just an animal.
Maybe she did, because she could feel something in her, confusing enough to relate to her expression.
"Just. A. Cat?" She reiterated word after word, fury radiating in her tone totally shattering the uncrackling facade into her true vehemence. "Do you—"
"Save yourself the stress and do your part or soon expect the ashes of your favorite at the front of your doorstep." Prince Edmund cut in without remorse, unaffected by her reaction and she blazed at his audacity.
Fuming, "You will regret this defiance."
"No," Edmund said, and though he did not raise his voice, his presence commanded obedience. "You will. This court will not survive on the bones of the broken,"
"But it has," Sophia hissed. "And it thrives because we are strong and we control it."
"No," Edmund corrected, "because we are just."
A stillness followed suit, and no one dared to move, just the glares and internal promise. Then a flutter of footsteps broke through, seemingly hesitant.
Madame Ruby stepped forward. "Your Highness, may I speak?"
Prince Edmund inclined his head. "Speak."
"Ravenna was… assigned to the Princess's hall this morning. It was a clerical error as she is registered under the Crown's household. She was to be transferred next week.
Lady Alethea paled.
"Ah," Edmund said. "Then this drama wasn't only cruel. It was illegal."
Princess Frederic frowned. "Come now—"
"I'll not tolerate corruption in my name," Edmund cut in. "Nor will I let this be swept aside."
He turned to the guards behind him. "Remove Ravenna from this wing. Place her under my ward."
One of the guards stepped forward. "Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Sophia exploded. "You can't do this!"
"I already have," he replied flatly, unbothered by the rising whispers from the servants also.
Finally, Lady Alethea stepped in. "You disgrace this court with your ignorance and selfishness! How can you call yourself a King when you let stupidity cloud your sanity!"
"No," Edmund replied, gaze unwavering under her incensed one. "I cleanse it."
He gestured, and the guards approached Ravenna.
"Order your giant to release her right now," he added, ending the silence to tell the next sentence without having to enunciate.
Ravenna's heart raced wildly against her chest, anticipating the next action from the Princess. Despite being convinced she wouldn't sacrifice her cat for her freedom, a part of her questioned the impossible.
What if?
The silence suddenly felt like a ticking bomb waiting for the lever to be pulled inducing an explosion. Every breath she took felt like flames burning her lungs, and the effect of being trapped head upside down caused her to feel dizzy.
Princess Sophia knew she had no choice. She clenched her fist into her palm, until her nails grazed her skin. "Let the servant go, Gorwon,"
Her anger blazed the flowers in the garden, causing them to shrink, diminishing their beauty earlier and Ravenna gasped, fresh air rushing into her lungs at the reprieve.
"Hmm," Gorwon reacted, taking her down from his shoulder with one hand.
When her feet touched the ground, Ravenna gasped again, falling behind immediately as though something might change the mind of the she-devil.
Her heart thrummed viciously against her chest, the rhythm loud in her ears and she wheezed, trying to calm her racing heart.
And no one seems to move after.
Without waiting, Crown Prince Edmund turned to leave, and his guards followed suit. But Prince Fredrick's voice rang out, stopping him. "Careful, little brother. Don't get too comfortable,"
And without a word, he ignored him, walking away, leaving the man clenching his fist in anger.
He walked toward Ravenna, who had paused near the archway. As he approached, he passed Sophia, who hissed low under her breath, "You've always wanted everything for yourself and that's what makes you unmanly."
"No," Edmund said softly, stopping just beside her. "Just the things you were never worthy of,"
Her nails dug into her palms, but she said nothing more.
Edmund reached Ravenna and passed, sparing only a glance. She didn't need to be told and followed, desiring to escape the prying eyes of the people behind.
Behind them, silence fell like dust over stone. Lord Archibald remained fixed, daring not to make any reaction, Lady Alethea stood frozen, her irritation barely contained, Frederic's fists were clenched at his sides with a look that could make one cower, and Princess Sophia trembled.
But none dared move. None dared speak.
The courtyard remained still as Edmund led Ravenna across the marble paths, toward the western wing of the Crown's domain.
After they were long gone, Lady Alethea's eyes flashed in disdain at the lingering servants, "And what are you looking at?!" Sending them flying to their respective posts.
Somehow, she was disappointed that this time, the Queen didn't show up and they lost to the hands of that bastard.
It ticked the edge of her irritation, especially when that lowly servant got the mercy she didn't deserve.
With a huff, she stormed out, letting the click-clack of her heels express her bitterness.
Lord Archibald struggled with what to do next, taking turns to look between the retreating Lady and the furious Princess.
Deciding to try, "M-Milady, would you like to take a stroll in the—"
"Get out," Princess Sophia's lack of emotion stunned him, and his face dropped at the tone.
Certain he might have misunderstood, "Milady—"
Her threatening glare shut his mouth instantly, and he gulped, nodding at once. "We shall see tomorrow then," he said, trying to recover from his shock. "Milady. Prince Fredrick," he gave a curt nod and turned, leaving the people behind.
Princess Sophia gritted her teeth, clenching and unclenching her fist. She was just about to turn to take her leave, Gordon trailing behind her, but paused halfway.
"How does it feel watching your little brother take the crown belonging to you?" She asked, her voice low and unexpectedly dark.
Prince Frederick narrowed his eyes toward her, veins popping in his head. Without addressing him, he was aware she referred to him and he clenched his fist.
"How would you feel kissing his feet and licking the ground upon which he walks, ordering you around like his puppet in the Kingdom of your birthright? A power deserving soul kicked into the lowest title of all by a mere bastard is the most disgracing thing I've witnessed in my entire life."
With warning in his tone, "Sophia…"
Adamant, she pressed on, "You feel rage of the truth? Bitter that your little sister speaks nothing but facts but comfortable that your little brother snatches your possessions?" She scoffed. "Now, I call that stupidity,"
Before he could cut in, his eyes fueled with rage, "Do me the favor and for once, act like you're pained. A bastard is more worse than a servant climbing the elevation of a King." and she walked away, leaving the man blazing in sheer anger and something dark curling in the depths of his eyes.
***