"Ha!" Wilius laughed out. "I'm jesting ofcourse! What on earth can you even do with that information, anyway? Gossip about it?" He continued to snigger uncontrollably while I caught some air back into my body. It had become as if my insides had dried off and lost all life.
"You do have a grest sense of humour, Wilius." I said with a fake chuckle. God, I wish I could demolish his face with a punch.
"One-" Wilius started but was cut short by a voice.
"Your Royal Highnesses." It was the Messenger. "I bear a notice for the both of you from the King."
"Oh. What is it?" I asked. "Read it aloud."
"On the occasion of the King's twenty fifth year on the throne, His Majesty shall undertake the renewal of his sacred oaths- a solemn reaffirmation of duty to the crown, nation and kin.
In preparation for this event, His Majesty requests the presence of all the members of the Royal Family for a private audience during Dinner in two days time, to discuss the proceedings and roles therein.
Attendance is expected and valued."
— By the hand of Royal Secretary under the seal of the Crown.
"Seems as if slipped my mind. It did come out nowhere, did it not?" Wilius stated.
"Yes, it did." I muttered. "Then again, his entire reign is out of nowhere."
A brief silence fell amongst us. The messenger blinked awkwardly and shifted where he stood, suddenly interested in the floor. The parchment in his hand crinkled faintly under his grip.
Wilius gave me a look— flat, unreadable. "You cannot resist your commentary, can you?"
"And you can never tolerate it," I replied, my voice calm.
Wilius raised a brow and glanced at the messenger. "You may go."
The man gave the quickest bow I'd ever seen and hurried out without a word, his footsteps quick and quiet.
Wilius lingered for a moment, adjusting the cuff of his coat as though it required his full attention.
"Perhaps," he said at last, eyes lowered, "you should choose your words more carefully in Father's presence."
"I always do, unlilke yourself." I replied.
A pause. Then Wilius gave a faint hum— laced with complete disagreement.
"We'll see."
He didn't lookat me as he left, the door closed softly behind him, but the cold he carried stayed behind.
___
My feet continued to tap on the floor continously, clearly emanating my growing impatience. I was already through with my third cup of tea and was actually considering walking out of the room.
"I thought he said just a few minutes, did he not?" I snapped to the guard waiting over the entrance. "Does His Grace think too high of himself to attend tea with a lady, the Princess at best?"
The guard looked as if he was having a very bad day at work. For it had been almost half an hour that I had been waiting for Victor and he still hadn't showed up.
His lack of disciplince frustated me like no one else did. Not even The Queen.
After a few laps restless rounds of the room, I had decided to drop the entire decision of having tea with Victor and had started walking out of the room. Just before I gestured to open the doors, they oopened themselves to reveal the man of the hour. Victor.
"Your grace." I said, my tone laced with irritation as bowed stiffly. "I was started to think you incompetent at keeping your word."
"Apologies. I have an Army to handle." He gave me an averted look.
"Hmm." I nodded. "If you're going to showcase your arrogance to me right now, I am going to leave."
"What's this new hatred that you've managed harbour against me, Your Highness?" Victor asked.
"Well, ever since you decided I was unworthy of punctuality, I've been forced to revise my opinion of you, like so many times before." I said coldly. "Apparently, commanding soldiers comes with the side effect of forgetting manners."
"Alright." He dropped a spoon on the table with a faint clatter. "I sincerely apologise. Now, can we keep this behind us and focus on what's more important?"
"Um..." I stuttered. "Y-Yes. We can do that."
"Great. Let's take a seat then."
I indicated the palace guards— a silent signal that this was to be a private conversation. Under ordinary circumstances, having unchaperoned conversations was considered highly inappropriate, but today wasn't ordinary. For anyone's ears, Victor would've just come to call on me.
"So, what is it that you wish to know?" Victor asked calmly, serving himself some tea when we sat down.
"Taking into consideration our last conversation, I would only need help for information that you might already know this time."
I saw a true smile growing on Victor's face, perhaps because he was mostly told to put his neck under the blade whenever I seeked help. However, let's just say that the blade was under mine today and I would have to be very careful if I wish to stay safe either way.
"Do you know anything about the settlements across the Palacetown?" I said quickly. "Like, you know, Tallow or Evendon?"
Victor's brows raised, flickering with intrigue and faint doubt. "Well, Evendon is the largest village from amongst all of towns and villages in Asnovitch. Tallow is significantly smaller, though people in Tallow are known to be quite averted from the Crown. They prefer to live in their own little bubble."
"Well, you said Evendon was the largest right?" I started with equal interest. "Then surely the number of grievances there must be quite high. Do you not think?"
"I am not so sure, but I hope not." Victor said with a frown on his face, his doubt growing steadily by the second. "But, why does that concern you at all?"
I reached the teacup but didn't lift it. "Just some hushed whispers from Balls that I gathered." His frown deepened. "What else do I even have to do? I am just trying the soothe the itch of curiosity."
"Alright, all I know is that Evendon has history of Bandit attacks an-"
"Yes! Bandit attacks. That's what I wish to know. Does it not tinker to you that these attacks might be connected to a bigger source? Possibly, a group managed by our enemies?" I interrupted.
The doubt had grown to such a level that Victor had to keep his teacup down. "Is everything alright with you, Amber? Why are you asking such questions all of a sudden?"
"Just tell me, Victor.
"Fine. If you think so that way, then might I ask their symbol or perhaps some piece that might help us recognise them? Any at all?"
Symbol? I thought deep for the matter and remembered that night's events and sentences of Pete.
"And they carried a similar red band up their arm, like they were a part of the same group."
Red band up their arm.
"Red band. It could be a sleeve as well. On their arm." I stated.
Victor looked shocked at my quick response. "Well, it is nice that you know, but you seem to contain all information already why ever would you need my help?"
"I just thought perhaps if I know such a great deal from bare whispers, then you would know better and descriptively." I smiled earnestly, badly hoping he did.
"Then I must apologise that I don't." Victor said. "I cannot spare you anymore information for that matter."
"Well, what is your responsibility then, if you do not know?" I commented rather judgingly.
"My responsibility is to the Army. Not some measly village across town, which is something that even you shouldn't be concerned about. There are people for that cause." Victor stated, anger flaring his nose.
"Huh! Then would you care to let me know who is responsible for it because the King seems rather incompetent at his duty!" I rasped.
"Why is it concerning you at all, I do not understand!" He half-shouted and got up from his seat.
"It might just be a measly village for you, but people there are in financial and even mortal danger. It is clear that you don't understand!" I replied with a shout myself.
Victor had already lost his cool and had reached the door when he stopped with a pause and turned back. "You are no one, Amber. I repeat, no one to question His Majesty's rule. But if your disrespectful self wants to know so desperately, the King has assigned a few special guards for each settlement out there that protect the citizens after sun-down."
Special guards?
"What special guards are you talking about?" I said confusedly. For all that I knew, there were no such 'guards' that protected the citizens. Wasn't it me and the people of the town that were in action that day?
Victor looked at the edge of his patience. " They are called 'Vigilantes'.Guards that are supposed to keep all dangers away from the people. I am saying this the second time."
"You are saying, every town has these...vigilantes?" I gulped and he noddoed agressively. "Who handles them? Who is responsible for these guards, the King?"
"The last time my knowledge was revised, it was the Crown Prince."
Wilius?
"The Crown Prince? Wilius is responsible for it?" I asked rather nervously, my skin standing at wits end.
"Indeed. He appoints them and modifies as per his will to better their performance. This arrangement is funded by the people with their tax money that they pay for. And to soothe your massive itch of curiosity, the details of this practice is some common information that is a part of the Royal Archives."
"You didn't tell me this before." I whispered.
"It is common, did you not hear me? All the Ranking officers of the Army know about this." He continued. "You must take back your wretched words of the King's rule."
When I didn't reply due to utter shock, Victor basically barked. "Now, you have managed to vex me to the absolute point and won't entertain your questions." Saying so, he left abruptly, leaving me speechless.
There were no such Vigilantes, for all I knew. The towns and villages were basically left alone like an orphaned child. Prone to any kind of danger. Which meant that the Funds weren't put into the right place by Wilius.
The floor beneath me shaked as I realised.
Wilius had been stealing. Not just from the Crown, but also from his very own people.
<<>>
Hi guys, Ankshita here. I hope you enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoy writing it!
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