Peasant

Rosalind's POV

"The prince personally invited me here."

The journey had been more stressful and expensive than I had anticipated and I was more than a little glad that I had denied Bast's incessant requests to come along. 

The guard was disbelieving then incredulous before his face tightened in displeasure. 

"We aren't giving handouts. Leave now."

What was with me and meeting people who treated me like shit?

"Handouts? I don't need your handouts." I straightened my shoulders. "I am here to apply for a job opening."

His frown only broadened if that was even possible at this point. 

"We don't have any openings."

"Hey, what's going on here?" An older guard came around at the sound of his raised voice.

"Just the usual. Beggars looking for a free handout." He said dismissively.

"Beggars?" This was a mistake. I shouldn't have come. I thought of all the bronze I had wasted to make this trip. I shouldn't have dared dream of a better life. I should have saved up the bronze such that we would have fed comfortably for weeks and taken small gigs to assist. Now I would return home with nothing to show for it.

I locked gazes with the guard who probably knew nothing about how we suffered at the districts. How much this trip had cost me.

"I might be poor but at least I'm not prejudiced. How could you just baselessly accuse me like that? At least try to confirm my claim before flinging around labels."

The guard moved forward as though to hit me for my impertinence. "Hey who do you think–" 

The older guard stood in between us.

"Calm down, Ray. Go and sit, I'll take over from here."

"But she is–"

Ray looked like he wanted to argue more but the older man shook his head and Ray stalked away angrily.

The older man turned to face me, his smile broad if a bit awkward.

"I'm sorry about Ray he gets a little touchy. Can you tell me what exactly you want?"

I felt silly saying it now, especially after the first reception I had gotten. "I met one of the princes and he told me there was a job opening in the palace I could apply for."

The older man seemed puzzled. 

"There hasn't been an opening here in months. But here's what we are going to do. You tell me the prince and I can take you to him. Perhaps there is an opening I do not know about."

It was at that moment I suddenly realized I didn't know which prince it was. I didn't know either of their names nor had I thought to ask for it at the time. How stupid could I be? I should have asked him for it the moment he proposed the job to me instead of getting caught up in his looks.

"I'm not sure. I didn't ask and their names aren't common knowledge down in the districts."

Goddess, he must see me as the beggar his second had implied. I was soon proven wrong however as he focused on something else.

"You are from the districts?" He seemed shocked. "So am I."

"Really?" He didn't look anything like he was. He looked clean. Well fed. Healthy. Like a real silverbag. Was this what living in the palace did even if it was as a guard?

"Sure. I'm Sam." He smiled wider now as though he was more at ease now.

"Rosalind."

"Such a proper name. Your parents must have been very ambitious."

Wait till he heard Bast's name. 

"I never met them."

"My apologies. Life in the districts can be very harrowing." He cleared his throat. "You are a long way from home. But it's always nice to meet someone from there. If you don't know his name, what district are you under?"

"Northern."

"Oh." He seemed taken aback for some reason.  "You must have met the prince in charge of your district. How unusual." He said that last part almost to himself but hazards of supernatural senses was that I still heard him

"Come in. I'll take you to him."

Why had he been so shocked? Surely everyone knew of the Northern Prince's benevolence?

I lost track of my thoughts as I passed through the gates. The palace was stunning. 

From the majestic gates that were already far more expensive looking than anything in the districts to the towering walls and the beautifully landscaped gardens with many exotic flowers. It was amazing especially because most of our plants in the districts were edible or medicinal. 

Seeing a plant, a garden especially on such a large scale that was meant to just beautify was perplexing. The grounds are expansive so that it felt like we were travelling to a different place entirely. 

Was this the extent of power and wealth of the princes? Of the prince, I had told to take his hands off me? 

I would need to atone for my mistakes.  

Sam tried to draw me into a conversation by telling me the names of the buildings we passed on the way but I was too intimidated to participate in the conversation. There were courtyards, fountains, intricate stone and marble carvings, and elaborate architectural elements offset by towering columns. 

Even the maids moving about looked like a different class of nobility. I felt and looked very drab in comparison. Thankfully we soon reached the Northern Prince's receiving hall. 

"Wait in there. He will come to see you soon. He is just finishing up a meeting."

Sam smiled at me assuredly before leaving. 

I stood still at first scared to death of damaging anything but when the prince didn't show up immediately, I relaxed a bit. 

I looked around marvelling at the room. The level of wealth I had seen today was mind-boggling and humbling. What were a few bronzes compared to all these yet the prince had interfered in such a trivial matter for me. 

I owed him a lot. 

I noticed a tapestry. It was more beautiful than I had seen in the entire room. It showcased a battle. The battle where werewolves triumphed over witchcraft casting them out of our kingdom. 

I had never seen anything like it. The werewolf king, the Northern King's predecessor, looked majestic as his sword red with stained blood lay at the nape of the queen of the witches who looked so glorious even in her defeat glaring at him with rage in her eyes. 

The colours were beautiful, the forms so distinct and alluring that I moved to touch the tapestry before I realized it when a sharp voice cut through to me.

 "What are you doing?"

I jumped and moved away from the tapestry.

"Nothing." I blurted turning to face the person questioning me. I couldn't breathe.

He looked even more handsome today though that could be because he was putting on the full royal regalia. He even had his crown on this time and the black lined-with-gold ensemble that did wonders for his already perfect form.

"You look good." I said then slapped my hand over my mouth in horror.

What did I just say? Had I lost my mind completely?

He seemed amused. Was it just me or was there something decidedly darker about his smile?

"I imagined I would. I am a prince after all." He said his voice was heavy with sarcasm.

Had he been this tart yesterday? I didn't think so. It was probably because he was in his element now. His castle, his regalia, his guards.

He is a prince, Rosalind. I reminded myself. He probably had different personalities depending on his mood. I couldn't hope to ever understand him. Nor did I need to. I just needed a job. 

"You still haven't replied me." He took off his jacket and my mouth went dry. He needed to stop moving before I was rendered unable to think. "I asked what you were doing."

"Nothing," I squeaked, then I threw myself at his feet. I had almost touched an heirloom that I wasn't even fit to look upon. 

 "I apologise for my impertinence. I haven't touched anything."

His voice had a sardonic lilt to it now. "Are you new?"

What? Had he forgotten my face so soon? 

I fought against the wave of disappointment that very nearly bowled me over. I had stayed up all night thinking of the perfect symmetry of his face but he seemed to have forgotten me so easily. 

"My prince? I have come here for the job. The one you offered yesterday. I have reconsidered. I would be grateful if you were to give it to me." 

"I offered you a job?" He sounded surprised.

"Yes, my prince." Had he forgotten about it? Had my journey here been in vain? "Yesterday in the Northern District."

His voice hardened as though I had said something wrong."And what would a prince be looking for in the Northern District?"

I didn't know what to say. Even I had been surprised to see him there.

"How could a peasant like me presume to understand you, my prince?"

He crouched and I shivered from our closeness.

"Raise your head, peasant."

Slowly I did, my heart thundering. I met his heartbreakingly beautiful hazel eyes. Was his hair a bit longer than yesterday?

His hand went under my chin and my head stopped thinking.

"Which of the ministers sent you here and what is your motive?"

What?! My words tumbled over each other as I spoke.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, my prince."

He laughed and his laughter sent chills down my spine.

"The punishment for lying to me is death, I think you just lied to me."