Izrina stood at the same place watching the fading figures of Spinola with the soldier. She wanted nothing but to run after them and maybe stop the guard from laying hands on her governess. The woman who taught Izrina everything she knew about being a graceful woman was now being treated as nothing but a tool.
It wasn't just Izrina who had rocked the last pebbles of the ocean floor. Spinola and Cora met same fate. And it broke Izrina to pieces that she was realizing it now. Slowly turning her feet, Izrina walked aimlessly, searching mostly not searching for the stable or anything at all.
The day had barely begun, and she was already exhausted, and it had nothing to do with her body. Her mind and emotions were breaking apart. Every day in this new life of hers made her want to cry until she couldn't breathe, but she couldn't be that selfish.
If Spinola and Cora could risk their pride and dignity just to protect her, then she had to put a little effort to show gratitude. With that in mind, Izrina hastened her steps in search of the stable and her new disguise.
"If this were my palace, where would the stable be..."Izrina muttered softly to herself.
By this time, the morning slowly realized its duty as day, the soft dews that shrouded the palace melted under the sun. Making clearer the trees, different quarters and fresh ponds in different areas.
Having a clearer look at the palace without panic of getting caught made Izrina see how different it was from her home. Where the palace in Ziadne had a simple design with few trees that served as shed and a majestic fountain at the centre of the palace. It was like a walk into heaven with few trees to appraise nature.
Zephryus palace was different; it had so many trees that it appeared like a castle had been built in the woods. So, with the tall trees, birds of different colors could be seen on every branch, and it was whimsical. The kind of castle girls prefer to get lost in after a quick tour. Same kind children are warned never to go to because a wicked ancient being who steals people's souls has cursed it.
The air in the palace gave all the feels, one that granted nature a stage to show off and another that made birds hum their best melody before the dread happens. If Izrina was being honest, and she was, the only thing missing in the palace that would make her want to stay here forever was snow.
The young princess hummed with an approving nod. "When I return to Ziadne, I will change our castle....I will ask mo-"
Izrina paused. It wasn't the realization that her mother had died but the person standing few steps away from her.
The stable Izrina searched all along was now before her, and so was a man who was now struggling to hop on a horse.
"Mhm..." The young man grunted, clinging onto the saddle. His body stayed on the side of the horse, making his position awkward.
Izrina moved her head to the side same angle as the man's position. She couldn't understand why someone would mount a horse like that. She was not an expert in horse-riding, but she had tried a few times with Cora, and this wasn't it.
"Mhm." The young man tried to move his body this time, but his action startled the horse, and it threw him off with a neigh, brushing its hooves on the short grass. The horse walked back into the shed as if abandoning the man.
"Wa-"
Izrina stood there with her head still moved to the side and her mouth open. She was wondering why the man was stretching his hand forward for the animal like a departing lover instead of standing up to-
"Help me up now, if you're done moping."
Izrina blinked. She turned to look behind her, but it was just them there. The man had noticed she was here all along? And why was he-
"I use those over there." The young man replied with a soft chuckle, closing his eyes tight.
Izrina's eyes grazed the place for what the man was speaking of until she found the walking sticks with arm support resting on the short stable door.
"Oh!" Izrina clapped her hands. "I'm sorry...I'm so sorry, I didn't notice." She panicked, running over to the man.
The young man continued laughing, this time with his eyes open. "It's fine...no...no need.. This is so embarrassing." He muttered under his breath. When Izrina returned to help him up, he placed his arm around her neck.
"Let me sit over there...great. Thank you." He said with a grin.
Izrina handed him the crutches the second he had sat down. She pressed her palms together, same as her lips. Guilt etched Her tanned face. "I am so sorry...I didn't mean to-"
The young man waved his hand dismissively. "It just fine. I mean, what business do I have dragging my lame feet to the stable?" he threw his head back, laughing with one hand on his stomach.
Izrina didn't laugh. The situation wasn't funny to her. Instead, she felt really bad.
"Oh no." The young man slapped his lips, "Did my words offend you? I was only joking."
What?! Izrina screamed in her head. He was the one who should be offended, not her! How the tables turn.
"I don't like it when people look at me like that....like I am some helpless, pitiful person." He chuckled. "So please, young boy....don't feel sorry for me."
Izrina nodded with a sigh. He was right. She thought. She too hates it when people pity her, like her life is the worst thing ever. Izrina understood the young man; he was trying to hide his...
Wait, Izrina glanced to her left and her right. The man looked oddly familiar. Where had she seen him before? Where! Izrina's eyes lit up when she remembered. It was last night! The same man who was in the room with two others.
"You know, it feels like I have seen you somewhere before, but I can't...." The young man trailed.
Izrina moved her hand over her nose. She couldn't hide her face behind her hair. She didn't expect to meet someone from the inner palace in the stable and so early in the morning.
"That face, where...is something wrong?" The man asked, "Do I reek of horse dung?" he asked worriedly, sniffing his shirt.
Izrina almost slapped her face for making the man feel stupid. "No! No, sir...you do not." She replied. "It's just that.... I'm sorry." She apologized, unsure of what else to say.
The young man chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "You are so easy to tease, love," he remarked.
"I was only joking...I do remember you from last night, and yes, I am surprised to see you here today. Though I am quite excited, since I thought about you all night. You look like you will be adventurous."
Izrina sputtered, trying to think of a lie to give. A twin? No? Would that work?
"Oh, your disguise is perfect, but it takes an idiot who has seen you twice not to recognize you even in those clothes and....you might need to work on your voice too." The young man added, trying to hold his laugh when Izrina's expression changed from shock to fear.
"Your Highness!"
Izrina jumped when she heard a servant's voice. She turned to see who it was, hopefully it wasn't the king.
"There you are, Your Highness. Lady Feyrne has been worried about you." The servant walked past Izrina, now standing in front of the young man.
"Your Highness?" Izrina repeated mostly because she wanted to be sure the servant had said the right thing.
The servant nodded. "Yes, this is Prince Aldrich. The King's only brother."
Prince? He is a prince? Izrina felt a wave of dizziness wash her from eyes to stomach. Someone related to the King found out about her disguise first!
Did her fate even try? At least humor her for a minute. Allow her to act as a man a whole day to crown praise to Cora's idea and Spinola's effort. Did the universe even try to hide its animosity towards her existence?
"And who are you?" The servant turned to Izrina. "I haven't seen you around before."
Izrina dropped her shoulders tiredly. It was over for her. Well, it had always been over. She just tried to give it her all, even with a broken will.
"That is the new stable boy and a good friend of mine." The young prince answered with his eyes on the girl. Pushing his body up, he placed his legs on the crutches for balance. "I will leave him to his work now." He moved towards Izrina and whispered.
"Worry not, friend. Your secret is safe with me." When Izrina looked at him, the prince winked at her before leaving the stable.