Helene strolled through the market square, the morning sun spilling over her like liquid gold, warming the bronze of her skin until it gleamed. The wind danced freely around her, catching her blonde hair and tossing it back from her forehead, revealing a shine that outshone the necklaces at her throat. In her arms, she carried a woven basket overflowing with roses, their red and white petals swaying with each elegant step.
Wherever she went, greetings spread like ripples across water. Merchants paused their work, children quickened to her side with eager smiles, and women watched with affection or envy. She was known not only for her beauty, which seemed touched by the gods themselves, but also for her agility that set her apart. Helene was no idle figure content to stay within walls; she was a flame when needed, and calming water when tranquility was called for.
Though she carried herself with the grace of a queen, her origins were humble. She was born on the outskirts of the city to a family of modest means. Her father, a blacksmith, still worked in the shadow of the citadel, forging blades and shields for men greater than himself. Her mother, whose memory lingered like perfume, had been taken by death when Helene was only thirteen, leaving behind both sorrow and strength in her daughter's heart.
While Helene was walking, admiring the fruits and flowers around the market, she noticed a strange man following her, wearing a black cloak that covered his face. It was easy to notice because Helene is the vigilant type. She then played along, luring him into a small corner since she knows her way around. The strange man entered the corner and saw no one, which frightened him. Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. He slowly turned to see Helene pulling a small knife from her sock. The stranger was too stunned to speak because he wasn't expecting it. She rushed at him with speed, aiming the knife for his gut. The stranger hurriedly moved to the side, grabbing her hand and shaking off the knife. Suddenly, he received a hard punch on his left cheek. She had baited him with the knife. "Ouch! Why are you so brutal? your punch is hard," the stranger exclaimed. He grabbed her other hand and pushed her away.
"That voice... you sound familiar," Helene claimed, with a huge frown.
"Obviously, how is it that you still don't know who it is?" the stranger stated.
"Oh, I remember now…"
"FINALLY!"
"You're the merchant I owe money to, and you've come to collect," Helene proclaimed.
"What? No!"
"Then, who are you?" she says as she pulls another knife from her other sock. The whole time, the stranger is just in awe and disbelief, totally left speechless. He couldn't tell if he was shocked, impressed, scared, or all of it at once.
"Are you an assassin? , I have done nothing wrong," Helene continued as she was about to charge on
"WAIT, Helene, relax," The stranger exclaimed
"How did you know my name?… Oh, you've been watching me, haven't you?"
The stranger sighed and said, "You're such a nuisance."
"Huh?" Helene muttered.
"You're not even going to give me a chance to explain myself. You've asked a million questions, and you won't even let me answer one," the stranger said.
"Ohhh....alright, give me a good answer, or I'll slit your throat," Helene declared.
"Ouch, SCARY," the stranger scoffed sarcastically with a mocking gesture. This made her angry, and she was about to charge again...
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, it's me, okay? Relax… good heavens," the stranger said as he removed his cover.
"You're good for nothing, arrogant piece of trash," she uttered angrily
"I'll take that," replied the stranger.
"How are you sure I don't want to kill you more now that I know it's you?" Helene pressed.
"Well… that makes a little sense… or you could just... hear me out?" said the stranger.
"How did you even find me?" asked Helene
"Uhm, it's pretty easy since I'm a prince," he claimed.
"Yeah, but there's no way the palace knows you're here, and I know you're not smart enough to find me. I'm sure you've never been to this part of the city before."
"Oh, Helene, you talk so bluntly and unvarnished," he then said quietly, "and it's really annoying."
"Did you say something?"
"No"
"After saying I talk bluntly, you said something else, didn't you?"
"I did not."
"Hmmmm"
"Hmmmmm"
"Alright, Eraga, what's it you want to talk about ?" Helene asked calmly
"Well, we can start by having a drink."
"I see, so you want us to get drunk again so you can repeat what happened that night."
"Come on, don't be so cynical, we don't have to get drunk."
"For Greece's sake, he's already messing it up."
Thaleia asked, "Do you think he's going to make it?"
"No, I don't assume so," Calista answered as they both sighed.
"No, I'm not going to grab a drink with you, not after what you said to me the other night," said Helene.
"What did I say that is so wrong-... You know what? Fine, I was wrong. I said those things because I was still a little drunk, okay? just let me make it up to you," Eraga replied.
"Hmm, okay, let's see what you've got, smart mouth," they said as they walked into a nearby bar.
"I guess this is where our tailing ends. Anything that happens now is in his hands," Calista implied.
"He's definitely going to mess something up and get beaten by a woman," replied Thaleia.
"He is a prince, she wouldn't dare, and besides, he's a soldier that-"
" has never been to war, never put his ability to the test, and besides, she punched him, I don't think this woman cares if he's a prince or a common servant," Thaleia said, interrupting Calista.
"Perhaps that's why he's hung up on her," Calista muttered.
"What do you mean?" Thaleia asked.
"I am saying she sees him differently from everyone else; maybe he likes the look"
"Hmm, that sounds about right," Thaleia replied
"So... what are you here to talk about?" Helene murmured as they both sat beside each other on the bar bench.
"Well, I wanted to apologize for the other night. I said some stupid things."
"Yeah, you sure did."
"So... you're poor, right?" Eraga said. Helene coughed out her drink as the bartender walked away, shaking his head. Thaleia and Callista, at the very end of the extremely empty bar they rented, both slapped their heads, super disappointed. Eraga, surprised by Helene's reaction, said, "What? Are you okay?"
"Are you? What kind of man asks a woman that question?" Eraga was speechless, wondering what was wrong with what he said.
That's before Helene said, "Ohhh, now I see the problem..."
"It's definitely over this time, let's go home, Thaleia, " Calista grumbled as Helene continued, "......you don't know how to talk to women, almost like you're scared of them" with a smirk on her face
"What do you mean?" Eraga asked in utter confusion.
"This is why you get drunk — because it's the only time you can do the things you have no guts to do. When you're drunk, it's the only time you do wild stuff. Other times, you're just a good boy. You like wild things, but you have morals, so you use getting drunk as a fuel," Helene said.
"Well, I never thought of it that way, but I guess that makes sense," Eraga replied.
"Women from outside the citadel are so different," he added.
"How so?" Helene asked.
"I grew up seeing women like my mom, my sister, and our maids. They had so much integrity and manners; they were so clean and modest. But when I came out, I saw something completely different from how I viewed women. That is what has kept me away from women for a long time."
"Are you saying the women in the citadel are better than us outside?
"No, just different attributes, but they are definitely cleaner," he scoffed, humorously.
Not a single smile escaped from Helene.
"Oh, I... uhm... thought it was... funny," said Eraga, as Helene then laughed and said.
"You should see your face right now."
"Hahaha, very funny *sarcastically*" Eraga said as Helene continued to laugh.
Hours have gone by, and Thaleia and Callista and has long left; it was just the 2 of them in the whole bar, laughing and drinking
"yeah that's right, that reminds me, I never asked about your parents," Eraga stated. The smile on Helene's face faded as she coughed softly
"Uhm, did I.....say something wrong? " Eraga asked
"No, it's fine, my dad is a blacksmith and my mom....I lost my mom a long time ago."
"oh I'm sorry, I shouldn't have -"
"It's okay, I have gotten over it."
"Ohhh, yeah, so...what's your ambition, what are you trying to be? You're obviously really smart, you can be of great use, you know."
" I don't care about ambition or great use, none of that, I just want to survive," Helene replied
"*Chuckles*, what's even that?"
"Boring, right ?"
"Super boring, but hey, it's better than being a prince. Your future has already been decided since birth; you don't even have the option to choose or create it. Everybody expects you to live up to their expectations. The wealth is definitely good, but sometimes the cost bothers me. I envy you, you get to do whatever you want," Eraga expressed.
" Yeah, it's nice, I envy you too."
"Why? Because I'm rich? "
"Nay, I don't care about that."
"Then what?"
"I envy that you have a lot of people that care about you, worry about you, that is a luxury among all the luxuries that I don't have. My dad doesn't even care. We live in the same city, yet we haven't set our eyes on each other for years, not even a glimpse," Helene said.
"Wow, that's.....sorry."
"It's okay, I'm used to it."
"Perhaps that might change soon."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, just optimism."
*Chuckles* Well, if you say so," she said as they both looked at each other nervously.
"Yeah"
"So... are you gonna take me this time with a sound mind?" Helene said with a huge smile on her face.
"Ohhh, uhm… in as much as I would love that, maybe, I have to return to the palace soon. They must be searching for me everywhere. My father is preparing for an invasion, so I must be ready. A serious-looking guy with a silver cloak will walk in right about... now!" Aeres walked in.
"Told you," Eraga said with a smirk
"What on earth is wrong with you eraga, Eraga? Are you drunk this time?" Aeres snapped
"I am clean as a whistle," Eraga replied
"Move, now! " Aeres pressed
"Is that how you address your prince in front of his guest?" Eraga said.
"Shut your da-" Aeres quickly stopped his speech, taking a deep breath to calm himself.
"My lord, shall we leave this place? We have many issues to attend to, and we might need your help, my good lord," said Aeres. Eraga stood up and tapped Aeres on his shoulder.
"Hmmm, that sounds better, my good knight," Eraga said with a huge smile on his face. Meanwhile, Aeres was pissed but managed to keep himself in control so as not to embarrass the prince in front of a guest.
"Wait, isn't that the woman you we—" *gibberish* Eraga bluntly interrupted Aeres as he dragged him out, saying "let's get out already."
"What was that about? "Aeres asked with a frown
"Perhaps you're worse than me when it comes to women, " Eraga said
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind it."
"Who is she? She doesn't look like she's from the citadel."
"So basically, she's poor, and I shouldn't be around her, right?"
"look eraga, this isn't a stage play or a book where the rich guy marries the poor girl and runs away, this is real life, it's not going to work, you know the rules."
"Do I?....., it's not love, it's the way she looks at me."
"That's love, you idiot."
"Huh? Well, it's different. Everybody looks at me with side eyes, watching my next move, measuring my worth with their eyes. The looks of expectation are scary; they make me feel like I'm not enough. Everyone gives me that look, even Thaleia sometimes. But Helene is different. She doesn't see me as a prince. To her, I'm just another guy she ran into at a bar. She's not scared of me and doesn't give me any respect I haven't earned. She looks at me the way normal people should look at a person. It isn't necessarily love, it's just different.
"Well, you might be right, but right now you don't need any distractions. You have to focus; you know you have a great responsibility.
"What a drag."
"You know, there are so many people who would kill to have what you have now, Eraga."
"I wish I could give it to them. I mean, I love being rich and a prince, but being an heir is too much of a burden—the one I never asked for—and it doesn't even suit me. I don't care about politics. I wish I could give it to someone like you who truly deserves it, I don't deserve it," Eraga said, his hands reaching for the stars in the sky as the chariot continued to ride them toward the citadel.
.