The Barathrian empire was led by King Henry. His wife, Queen Emilia had given him two male heirs, Crowned prince Maximus and prince George. The infamous Crowned prince Maximus was known for his rude and heartless behavior. Even at a young age Maximus was able to make grown men tremble with fear at the council meetings and his battle skills were extraordinary. His brother on the other hand was a book worm one of the greatest scholars.
It was rather late that afternoon,14 year old Maximus had just finished an exhausting meeting with the council. As always Duke Archimes was trying to act like he was some great righteous man and well Maximus saw it was fit to remind him who was Crowned prince.
"Brother how did the meeting go." George asked his older brother, who was walking towards the garden. "Entertaining, brother ." Maximus grinned. George understood this only meant his brother had caused yet another scene. "Well mother has invited us to join her for dinner tonight."
Maximus paused, "You mean Emilia has asked us to join her for dinner? I wonder what she is up to this time." George sighed,"None the less the woman you speak of is your mother, our mother. So do join us for dinner." Maximus kindly declined the offer, "Brother I believe this woman is up to something once more and might I remind you, she has no emotional attachment to you what so ever.she left you to be raised by the nannies and has never once had time for us unless she has something she wants from us. So no I shall not join that torturous dinner hers. Now I'd like to have a long undisturbed stroll."
George sighed,"If you do change your mind..." Maximus was already walking away. The two princes relation with their mother was a bitter one. Maximus hated his mother while George was trying to love her though she proved rather hard to love. Queen Emilia was a woman who careless of her children what mattered to her was the money and the status she had to uphold as Queen.
Maximus headed towards his favourite spot in the palace. It was secluded and usually off limits to the staff. The area was surrounded by trees and appeared more like a forest. As he walked he heard a branch fall off a tree and his instincts kicked in, he was being watched. As he looked around he noticed someone onto of one of the trees
"I suggest you get down willingly before I make you." Maximus warned. The person remained fixed in their position, "I don't repeat myself." The person begun to climb down the tree and as he got a clearer view he realized she was a young girl and a servant at that.
Just as the girl was about to get down she fell to the ground with a thud. The girl groaned as she continued to lay on the ground. Maximus moved towards her and crouched down next to her. "You seem to know how to make a grand entrance in your case it should be a grand fall." The girl opened her eyes and for a moment Maximus was just staring at the girl.
Maximus cleared his throat as he stood up abruptly, "You also seem to have genuine affection with the ground." The girl blinked. " Apologies. How rude me." She sat up and winced in pain as she held her head. "You seem to have hit your head." The girl looked horrified as she looked at her hand that had blood on it.
Maximus sighed,"We have to get that cleaned up and treated before it gets an infection." Maximus begun to walk. Sensing the girl was not following he turned," Do you need me to drag you along." The girl got up and followed him quietly. She looked astonished as she came to sight of the beautiful clear pond like lake.
"It's beautiful." She blurted out. Maximus picked took out his handkerchief and soaked it into the pond. He then looked at her. The rushed towards him,"I can clean it myself but thank you." Maximus gave her a look that said no nonsense. The girl reluctantly obliged. The two sat by the pond as Maximus cleaned her wound and applied some ointment which he usually carried around him as his nanny Madamé Sino never let him leave the room with out.
After he was done the girl smiled at him and he had to admit her smile was quite radiant it almost made him smile back."Thank you, kind brother. Oh! I didn't introduce myself. My name is Robellia." She extended her tiny hand. Maximus looked at her hand before extending his own. "Maximus Blackthorn"
Robellia paused for a second. "Your Highness!" She was ready to get up and properly bow. "Don't. By this pond am usually just Max." Robellia sat back and they just sat there in silence. "You aren't as bad as they say you are." Robellia finally spoke up. "Ignorance is bliss." Maximus responded. "Not even a maid would have bothered to help a slave in this palace yet here you are." Maximus looked at her, "You did seem too young to be working as a maid, so you are a slave. It seems it's going to take quite the effort to eradicate this slave business. Are there more of people like you working in the palace?"
" Yes there are but honestly the palace is the safest place we can be. And I am grateful." Maximus sighed," You must have gone through a lot to believe living as a slave in the palace is a blessing." " Well life isn't as good to everyone as it is to you."