( Five years before.)
Maya stood in front of her dressing mirror, comb in hand as she arranged her hair, a small smile plastered on her face while humming a tune to herself. The sun was high in the sky and she could hear the birds singing on the trees, tree branches swaying in the gentle breeze. A perfect day to go on a walk and pick herbs, her favorite thing to do. Braiding her hair neatly behind her head, she let a few tendrils run free. Fixing a bow on it, she let out a sigh of satisfaction, pleased with herself.
A knock came on the door it creaked open, with a middle age woman peeking her head in. Her eyes found Maya and her face lit up in a smile.
" I see you're getting ready for your walk, my princess." She said as she walked in. Maya turned to her, her smile growing wider. "You should have called on me, I would have helped you get ready." She said as she helped to brush off the wrinkles that has appeared on her dress.
"I'm no longer a child, Nanny Naomi. I'm perfectly okay with taking care of myself." Maya said, picking up the basket that contains the things she would be using. She noticed the parcel Naomi was holding and her eyes glinted. Already she could guess what was in it.
"Dressing you up is the job of a maid, princess. You shouldn't be doing that by yourself." Naomi continued in a gentle but firm voice.
"And we don't have any with us. Besides, you have way too much work in your hands, I don't want to add to it by expecting you to come early in the morning to dress me up."
Naomi's eyes flared in disagreement but she didn't speak again. Indeed there was no one in this huge villa except her, the princess and the stable keeper. Helpers came from the palace time to time but they never lived here. She stretched out the parcel in her hands instead.
" Here, I baked some cookies for you. You should eat that when you're hungry. " She said. Maya collected it gleefully, placing it in her basket. Then rushed to give her a hug, wrapping her hands tightly against the older woman.
"Thanks Nanny! You're the best!" She said excitedly. Naomi stiffened but didn't pull away. Instead, she patted the young lady back, a gentle smile on her face.
"You don't have to thank me. It's my duty to serve you, my princess," Naomi replied. Maya rolled her eyes, pouting.
"I'll still thank you anyway." She muttered. It was Naomi's turn to chuckle. "I'll be leaving now..." Maya announced, walking ahead with her basket in hand.
"Okay, my princess. Don't stay out too late." She called behind her. Maya nodded. She got to the door and paused as if remembering something, turning back to Naomi.
"Nanny, are there any updates from the palace?" She asked.
Naomi seemed to think about it for a while, her brows crinkled in thought. Then she spoke up. "Oh... The second prince of Madonia will be visiting soon."
Maya nodded, partly satisfied. "There weren't any invitations from my family? No inquiries?"
Naomi shook her head sadly. " None, my princess." She replied.
A look of sadness crossed her face but it quickly cleared. She managed a smile. "Okay. I'll be leaving now." With that, she turned around and walked away from the room, her footsteps quietly dissipating.
Naomi let out a sigh, feeling sorry for her. It's like the Royal family has forgotten they kept a child at the villa they built for holiday purposes. Not surprising if you check the instances of her birth but it still didn't make it hurt less. After all, she still had royal blood flowing through her veins and she didn't ask to be born. Blame that on the king's promiscuity, having an affair with a maid while having a queen.
She shrugged, shutting her mind to it. It was none of her business. Her job is to take care of the princess. And that she will do.
.
.
.
Maya walked out of the villa and it take long for her to approach the forest. Knowing this place like the back of her hands, she hummed as she walked, letting the bright atmosphere soothe her troubled mind.
Frankly, she wasn't surprised there was no invitations from the Royal family but it didn't stop her from asking. Since her mother's death nine years ago, she'd been living in the villa with her nanny. At first, she'd lived in the village oblivious of her status but her mother's worsening health had forced her to seek her father, the king of Madonia.
He barely acknowledged her as his daughter even though the resemblance was there. But he also couldn't deny her because everyone knew of the affair that had happened between him and her mother earlier.
The queen took the information even terribly. Memories of the Queen screaming to have her killed for trying to bring something dirty to the palace filled her head, causing her heart to hurt. In the end, they brought her here, away from the world promising to bring her back to palace once she turns sixteen.
Maya shivered, swallowing the lump in her throat. That is six months away. She didn't know if she should be terrified or excited. She shook her head, chasing those scary thoughts away. She busied herself with picking herbs and flowers, munching the cookies that nanny naomi gave her. It didn't take long for the smile to be back on her face, her heart light.
She was in a really good mood today due to the vast amount of rare herbs she was seeing. If she gathered enough, she might have nanny naomi sell them for some money. Nanny Naomi never approved of it but it was something she loved doing. Plus, it reminded her of her mother.
She checked her basket and discovered it was full to the brim. Her hands was dirty and she needed to wash it. Luckily, the river wasn't too far away. She picked up her basket and began heading towards the river.
It didn't take long for the river to come into view, it's surface glistening at it flowed gently. Maya watched, enthralled before lowering herself to watch her hands and proceeded to wash the herbs. She she did, she glanced around. Her eyes caught something, causing her to freeze.
Something was sticking out of the water. No, not something. Someone. Surprised, she stood up, taking steps back. Her heart began racing as she walked closer, wondering who it was and why it was here. The clothes on him was torn and he had sustained multiple injuries. But even as it laid there unconscious, she couldn't help but notice how beautiful the person looked.
Unconscious? What if he was dead? That thought in her head, she dragged him out of the water, laying him face up. He wasn't breathing at all and his body was cold, her heart began racing.
She checked his wrist, her heart pounding in her chest, Desperately hoping for something. And she felt it, a faint pulse... So faint, it could almost go unnoticed.
He's alive. Barely, but alive.
He's alive. Barely, but alive. Maya let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. With a racing heart, she spent the next few minutes, trying to revive him, using the herbs she had gathered. Luckily, she knew a few things to do. Spending her younger days watching her mother as she treated people in the local hospital where she worked after she was kicked out of the palace had taught her how to treat wounds. And this person had a lot of them, although most of it had stopped bleeding. She tore his clothes and gasped, her face white with horror when we saw the stab wound in his stomach. She checked his pulse again, her heart racing. It was so slow and still so faint. Her mind reeled, her hands shaking. She took deep breaths to calm herself, pressing her lips together in determination. Maya scooped water out of the river and poured it into his mouth, forcing him to drink. Then placed him in a comfortable position, giving him air. He coughed a bit, blood and water
Back at the palace and the entire kingdom, the news going round was about the death of the prince of Madonia. It went like this, ' The prince couldn't arrive to the palace because he was involved in a ghastly carriage accident. Everyone, including the prince died.' it left everyone in a state a mourning for loosing a royalty so close to their borders. But in the villa where Maya and her nanny lived, they were pretty oblivious about what was going on. Instead, they were busy trying to treat their injured stranger so he recover his full strength. Maya and Nanny Naomi took turns feeding him, applying balms to his wounds and changing his bandages. His breathing was a lot steadier now and he looked more relaxed than when he first arrived. They also cleaned out the room he stayed in as it had been unused for years, opening the windows during the day so fresh air could come in and closing it at night. During those days, Maya had enough time to admire his looks and physique. She
Dexter's heart pounded in his chest as he ran through the forest, tripping over tree roots and getting his clothes slashed by sharp tree branches. Dexter didn't know how long he'd been running but he knew one thing, his chasers wouldn't stop until they've killed him. Every time he stumbled and fell to the ground, he picked himself and continued running. He couldn't afford to rest for his chasers weren't far behind. Something whizzed past him, slamming into the tree in front of him. He saw it was arrow and ducked his head, the moon overhead illuminating his path but also making it possible for his chasers to see him. An agonizing pain tore through him and he bit the inside of his lips to stop himself from screaming out loud but a muffled groan still escaped his lips. He slowed down, gripping his abdomen, the telltale wetness reminding of what he already knew. He'd begun to bleed out. He needed to stop running or dizziness would find him first before his chasers did. T
Stranger, this unfamiliar woman called him. She was different from the one he saw yesterday. Or was that an angel? He didn't know, his brain was too foggy for him to think. "Where am I?" He asked but his voice came out as a croak. Looking around, he tried to figure it out himself. "Safe. " The lady responded. He glanced at her, a brow raised. He tried to sit up but his inactive and sore muscles protested, causing him to groan. " Easy, you're not that strong to be moving around." The woman said but he paid her no heed. Eventually he managed to get himself to the position he liked. He stared at his body. He'd been treated. Thoroughly. Someone had saved his life and provided him treatment. He glanced the older woman. " Did you save my life?" He asked, his expression changed. Slowly, the woman shook her head. " I didn't but I can introduce you to the person who did. She's been waiting for you to wake up." Naomi replied, unable to hide the glint in h
"I apologise for changing the topic so suddenly." Dexter said, looking apologetic. " I had wanted to thank you for saving my life." To that, Maya let out a small smile. "You don't need to worry about that. I'm glad you told about this before we went ahead to tell my family about your survival. It would not have ended well." She said. "Indeed, it wouldn't have." Dexter seconded. " Thank you once again, Princess Maya." He said, bowing his head. It was the first time someone other than Nanny Naomi had addressed her by her title without it being laced with ridicule and disgust. Maya realised that she liked it. Liked it a lot. A warm feeling began fluttering in her chest but she did her best to keep it away from her face. "Get your rest, Prince Dexter. I'll have the doctor check up on you. If you need anything, do not hesitate to call on us." She said. " I'll be taking my leave now." She added before walking out of the room, with Nanny Naomi following closely behi
"What do you mean, he'll be coming to Gegoria?" She dropped the brush she was holding,walking closer to Naomi, her eyes filled with worry and fear. " Why do you think he is coming Nanny? Do you think he'll come here?" " I have no idea, my Princess. But according to the rumors I heard he just wants to visit the last place his brother set foot, to pay his respects." Naomi replied, her voice much calmer but filled with worry as well. Maya scoffed, rolling her eyes. " We both know it's just more than visiting, Nanny. " Naomi shuddered, her thoughts the same. " We need to tell Dexter. " Maya announced, walking back to the dressing mirror, sitting back down." Naomi took it as her cue and began helping Maya with her hair and unbuttoned pins. By the time she was through, Maya looked like the Royal she was expected to be. She took in a deep breath and when she glanced at herself in the mirror again, there was the usual princess look back on her face. Pursed lips, rais
Just like they had feared and predicted, an unfamiliar carriage pulled up at the gate of the villa a few days. Maya was in Dexter's room, discussing with him with Nanny Naomi came with the news. Maya looked at her nanny, a surprised look on her face. Dexter mirrored the same expression. Almost immediately, Maya got on her feet, her expression turning serious. " We expected this already, so there's nothing to be worried about." She turned to the windows, closing the curtains. Darkness settled into the room. " We don't know who that it is and we are also not expecting anyone. It would only make sense to hide Prince Dexter now." " Yes, my Princess." Naomi answered. Maya's hands dropped to her side as she sucked in a deep breath." Take him to the place we mentioned, no one will be able to find him there. I will welcome the guests myself." She announced. Naomi's head snapped up. " No, my Princess..." She began saying... Maya turned to her, her gaze filled wi
Maya walked down the large hallway, holding a lamp on her right hands. There should be candles filling up the hallways to bring light to them but since they wasn't any use of them, none was lit. At the very end of the hallway was a door that was hidden behind a large portrait. She glanced around the hallway first before pushing the portrait away, revealing the door. With a creak, she pushed the door open and a flight of stairs came into view. The stairs led down to the basement. Holding the lamp firmly in her hands, Maya took in a deep breath and began walking down the steps, the only source of light coming from the lamp. She soon arrived at one of the doors and knocked on it. Receiving a reply, she pushed the door and walked in. Dexter was sitting at the edge of the bed, his face filled with worry. He relaxed visibly when he saw her. " I'm sorry, I hope you're not too uncomfortable? I had my Nanny clean this place in preparation for this but i