Fingers intertwined with the veins of the flowers growing from the sides of the palace as she walked past them. The fingers soon found a young bud flowering and carefully plucked so as not to disturb the rest of the plant. They brought it closer to her eyes for inspection. The petals were curled and pale. They are not blooming properly. Hasumi sighed at her failed experiment once again and placed the bud behind her ears.
She found herself in the same position again looming against the second-floor railing, her hand pushing against her cheek, eyes gazing up at the benevolent sky as to find peace in the otherwise suffocating palace. The sky was unpredictable, quite parallel to life in the palace. It was like a golden cage to her, one she'd like to run away from. She tilted her head at the lack of residents down below.
It was her usual day, frolicking around the palace before going and collecting flowers and plants to experiment on. It was a day unfit for a princess but a day nevertheless. The palace didn't have much for her to do despite being the crowned princess. Or rather she avoided doing it. Hasumi, for a lack of better words, hated the idea of being the Empress. The palace overran with a scent that she hated. The scent that she had no free will which wouldn't go away despite the number of flowers she planted. It was something she hated.
She'd rather run around and do her experiments alone, thank you very much, but being a Princess didn't exactly help her case. She ran off towards the staircase, her robe flowing with every step. An older palace maid cleaned off the dust from a large vase which had a pair sitting across from it. She didn't even take her eyes off the vase before muttering out a "Walk slower, Your Highness." Hasumi unintentionally slowed down at her words before raking up her speed once again.
She took a sigh at the end of the staircase, before calming down and regaining her usual posture. A strand of hair covered her face as she walked over to the entrance door that was wide open. It seemed ironically a little too open for a place so trapped. She went outside slowly to take a look at her garden, it had been a while since she visited the patch of land. A small smile spread over her face as she calmly strolled, thinking of the possibilities. Quiet footsteps filled the palace walls as she reached into the garden admiring its progress. The green in the leaves was too pale. Maybe she had to change the compost. It could be better… She thought as she went off into a different world thinking of all the different things she could've done to make the plants grow abnormally.
She sighed at the thought of it before she noticed a few servant boys from the corner of her eyes. The palace had recently taken a group of former slaves as servants under the Empress's rule. A pale boy with white hair caught her eye, it would catch anyone's eye. He was smiling ear-to-ear as he twirled the bucket of water around. The surrounding boys had various reactions to it. Her eyes twitched back to the garden to notice the other plants.
She was about to go back upstairs as she noticed the boys coming closer. They must be preparing the bath. She pursed her lips as they bowed at the sight of her. They weren't much in sync making it evident they were new. They weren't much older than she was. They hardly looked like they were adults. It was odd that just because they were born in a different place than her, they had to carry water while she wore silk. She flashed a small smile before turning around to walk away. She was going to have to note down her findings in her notebook. This year's experimentation wasn't as drastic as last year's as she got a huge scolding from Mei, the head maid when she accidentally dirtied her most expensive robe, custom-made from the capital's finest tailors. She walked down the path slowly noticing that the boys were walking way slower so as to not overtake her. She sighed before stopping and pretending to look at something from the railing. The boys, as expected, quickened their pace and raced towards the bathhouse.
A flash of white covered her irises again as the scrawny, pale boy passed by. He had long hair, quite expected of the Northern Empire. She tightened her lips once again before floating off to her world as she strolled down the halls again. She rubbed her chin as she noted down the small things she noticed. The edge of the leaves were turning black, it must be a calcium deficiency. She'd have to add eggshells tomorrow.
The young palace maids were holding a bucket of clothes, possibly for taking it to the river nearby to wash them. They were whispering but their voices couldn't possibly get louder. 'Have you heard? The Empress is calling the Princess again.'
'She must be trying to evade the conversation again!' A girl with brown hair chuckled it off while scrambling away with the rest at the sight of Hasumi. Her eyes travelled downwards before quietly walking towards the stairs. The Empress did call her. She had been avoiding her for many days. She couldn't possibly think that she is fit enough for the crown. The sight of a dirty princess who has a knack for gardening possibly couldn't be good enough for her. The Empress who everyone respected deeply for her endless kindness, was more like a nightmare towards her, even if it's her own mother.
Taking careful steps while thinking of her list of things to do, she reached the end of the staircase. She took a sharp turn from her room which was basically yelling her name and headed towards the Empress's chamber. She didn't hate her mother, they just had a perfectly healthy relationship, which was slowly severing due to consequences from the past. She took a deep breath as she stood in front of the door to her chambers. "Come in," The Empress whispered as the door slightly opened. Observant as ever… She entered the room, making the smallest of noises before she settled down in front of the Empress.
"I am trying my hardest to find an heir." The emerald-eyed woman calmly said as she twirled her cup around. "So?" Hasumi gently retorted as she took the cup in front of her. The emerald-eyed woman let out a breath before muttering out, "Why don't you want to be the Empress?" The Empress knew that no matter how much she hid from her, she'd end up finding out that her hunt wasn't going successfully. Her eyes flickered with a tint of persistence. "I don't want to. You don't want a person like that ruling the country, right?" The emerald-eyed woman blinked slowly as she thought of what to say, "I don't want to let you go too." The words were short but held enough meaning to surge a reaction in her. The hazel-eyed lady tilted her head as she replied, "You have to." The words were short but held a significant rebellion. "I shall take my leave." The princess calmly stood up and bowed down to the Empress before heading out the door.
Her steps held a more significant weight to it now, she was literally running away from her problems. The thought of actually becoming the Empress was starting to dawn on her, along with the feeling of her little freedom being taken away. What role did she have in the golden cage in the first place? The princess's face slowly fell into desperation. Her breath grew shallow. Her steps faltered. And for the first time, her face crumpled, the calm slipping into something fragile. Her mind flashed a weird idea; escaping. The usually rejected idea was starting to be favoured by the Princess. She had no other choice if she didn't want to lose her gardening rights.
Her steps quickened as she ran towards her room, stopping right in front of it. She had the routine memorized, from the schedules of the maids to the Empress. It was the only thing she honed throughout her childhood. Could she? Maybe, she could but would it be okay? What would be left in this golden cage if a canary flew away? She leaned her head against the door. This place which was filled with the finest maids, finest clothing and the best food, would anyone ever leave it? A cage is a cage, whether or not it is made of gold or wood. It genuinely was suffocating her now. Her eyes faltered around the view of the railing. At night, the guards will be at their lowest, drinking because today will be the day of distributing the left overs, whether it was food or goods. The maids will be in their chambers, hauling over the new-found treasures. The Empress would be fast-asleep. She could do it. She had to do it.
She rushed into her room, the scent of floral pungent hitting her nose. It was calm and subtle unlike the perfumes the noblemen's' wives wore. She headed towards her desk, placing all of her precious books - books about herbs, pressed flowers and her book recording growth - into a bag. She took a sigh before placing her cheapest clothing in the bag as well. It'd be best if she took cheaper clothing since she was running away from her duties as a princess. She took a peek outside, the sun was faltering, slowly but surely going down. The maid will call her for dinner a while later. All she had to do was act normal, everything else was going to be done for her. A quiet sense of doubt washed over her, but she quickly shook her head. She had to do it.
As she began to calm down, the adrenaline did take the best of her, she sat down in front of the mirror. A lady with long, black hair appeared in front of her, it was her after all. Hazel eyes twinkled at the vanishing light from the Sun. Where was she going to go? Maybe a few days at the capital before rushing towards the Eastern Empire. What she was going to do was solid, write about the flowers and plants she finds throughout her journey and keep a few of them to experiment on.
As expected, a maid came knocking at her door. "Come for dinner, your Highness." She let out a low hum as she took a look around her room once again. She was going to have to miss this. She opened the door, a beam of light hitting her face, she slightly bowed her head at the sight of the maid bowing down at her. She wasn't going to miss this. The maid quickly backed up and hurriedly walked towards the dining room. She must be a server there. Today, the left overs from food and other articles were going to be distributed
, hence the commotion and the perfect day for the escape. She pressed her lips into a line before quietly entering the room. A smile for the noblemen, fake sparkles for all the nobleladies. This was something she was definitely not going to miss. Her green robe sparkled in the well lit room, as she quietly sat in the corner of the table watching as the maids flaunted at the jewelries she managed to capture from the table nearby. It was a silver necklace with a flower engraved on it. The silver matched with the green from her eyes. Her eyes mellowed down to the guards who were enjoying the abundance of alcohol. A soft smile spread over her face before she knew it as she brought the spoon from the soup closer. Today's dinner was a tad bit more flashy, with split buns made with potatoes and herbs, porridge made with the finest vegetables and the rice was flavoured with lemon having a herbal scent to it.
As she was focusing on the meal in front of her, the older maid who was dusting the vases came up to her, a piece of jewellery in her hand. "Lady Hasumi, don't you think this silver would flatter you?" Her hazel eyes eyed the silver hairpin in front of her. It was sharper, and longer than other Empire's hairpins. It was more like a murder weapon than a hairpin at most. Due to the uproar of thieves and gangsters in the past, women sharpened their pins whenever they went out for work just in case. It still continues till this day, acting as a silent reminder of all that happened in the past. She took the pin in her hand, flashing a genuine smile. "Thank you Mei but I am not sure I can accept this. It is yours after all." The pin was beautiful, engraved with a dove and lotuses around it. It was intricate and slender. Mei took the hair pin and placed it between the Princess's hair bun. "You look more beautiful with it." She mumbled placing a strand of hair behind her ear. She bowed slowly before returning to her place with elder maids. The smile never left Hasumi's face as she slowly ate her food.
The chatter in the room slowly diminished as most maids returned to their chambers. Lights were slowly dimming as the noblemen and women bit goodbye. The guards had returned to their post a while ago, still under the influence. She was in front of her room quietly eyeing the courtyard. The Empress had long gone to her chambers, creating the perfect opportunity. She placed her bag over her shoulder and quietly walked down the stairs. Most of the guards were asleep. How careless… She sighed as she looked at the guards. She looked around her surroundings as she noticed no one. She faced downwards thinking of all sorts of things, the little food she packed should be enough to last her a few days. The leaves rustled at the low breeze. It was past midnight now, no one should be awake. As she approached the entrance door which was slightly open, that must have been the noblemen leaving. The guards were way too far in their fantasies to close the door. Just as she was to step out the door, a scrawny, pale hand held her hand from behind. "Where are you going, Princess Hasumi?" The voice called out lowly. Her head sharply turned to see the flash of white once again. The boy's face was much closer now. He had softer features now that she saw. White hair cascaded down his back.
He quickly took back his hand and bowed deep, thinking it was punishable to touch the Princess. "Why haven't you gone to sleep?" The Princess calmly asked, trying to subside her worries. The boy tilted his head before looking down. "I can't." She sighed at his words, he was a former slave after all. God knows what they might've made him do. He shakes his head before asking again, "Why are you leaving so late?" She couldn't tell him the truth. She did make a fatal mistake of not noticing the servant boys earlier. She looked around before replying, "I am going out to… find a special flower." It was not much far from the truth.
"Really? But alone? Shouldn't you go in the morning with guards and maids?"
"It's a flower that grows in the dark and… everyone is sleeping so why should I disturb them?" She calmly explained. It was a ridiculous lie that anyone could catch except him it seems. His eyes widened as he begged the Princess to let him go with her as he was wide awake. She sighed at his antics realizing they might be caught if they caused any more ruckus in the courtyard. She slid through the small opening and waited for the boy to come out as well. He came out with a happy smile, walking behind her.
The capital's streets were reduced to small candles held out by the houses with gangsters roaming around the corners waiting for their next prey. "Hey… Don't you think it's a bit more dangerous at night?" The boy slowly said as he moved to hide behind the Princess. She pursed her lips as she retorted, "I'll protect you." She didn't want to say much to him. She had planned to go and sleep in the old, empty houses in the northern side of the town before waiting for the morning but she couldn't do it with him present. She had to find a way to get rid of him. "That's a bit improper. I should technically be the one protecting you." He said with a hint of protest. "Let me protect you." She said holding the boy's hand as she pushed him into the side of the buildings along with her to hide from the officers roaming at night.
"You know how to hide…"
"Why wouldn't I?" She retorted sharply.