Çuiren had never considered the customs of royals. In her village, they had gifted each other foodstuff all the time. But it had always been smaller amounts than the small cart-full of wine for the errand runner to bring to the First Blood Prince’s estate.
Despite the day being cold, Çuiren had ungraciously rolled up her sleeves and she her breathing seemed a little heavy as she watched a familiar guard dressed in black and green give commands to the errand runner.
A handkerchief was held up in front of her, obscuring her vision of what was happening.
“You’re not half bad,” she heard the boyservant tell her and she took the cotton handkerchief and wiped the sweat off her face.
“Eh. This was nothing. I worked in the fields back home.”
The boy hummed softly and she turned to look at him. He only smiled at her and for some reason it startled her.
Seeing her take a step away from him, the boy reached out, but before she had thought it through she slapped his hand away.
The guard sharply turned hearing the sound of the slap and saw the rumoured girl step away from a boyservant of maybe fourteen, fifteen years of age. Perhaps sixteen, if he was short for his age.
He signalled for the errand runner to go while he strode up to the pair.
Just as the boy was about to grab hold of her, his wrist was seized.
“What do you think you’re doing?” the guard growled.
“I’m not doing anything,” the boy replied haughtily. “Isn’t she the one? The dirtied one? Why am I at fault?”
The guard glanced at the girl. How could he agree with the boy and assume she was wrong? Would that not anger the youngest Blood Prince?
“Roll down those sleeves,” he said. “You’re shaming His Royal Highness dressed like that. Then go back inside and do what a slave like you should do.” He motioned in the direction of the palace with his chin, his meaning very clear.
Çuiren nodded frantically before she turned on her heel and ran away.
While she didn’t think the servant had meant any ill, she had nonetheless thought of the rumours all of a sudden.
They may not be true now, but if she was too close to a man or boy, surely they would become true to royalty, regardless of what actually happened.
She was soon back with the other maids, out breathe and a little shaken.
“Did you see His Royal Highness when he stepped out of the outer chambers?” she heard of of them quietly ask another.
“How many layers was that? Five?”
“Never mind the layers. The amount of gold is ridiculous.”
“He was meeting Ažerlü-šanad. Naturally His Royal Highness can’t be underdressed even if meeting in private.”
“Wasn’t he overdressed? He’s more humbly dressed even when he sees the emperor.”
“Wonder how many of us could leave if we had that much gold on our hands?”
One of the maids chuckled. “What are you even plan—”
Another maid cleared her throat having noticed Çuiren at the door.
“When did you come back?”
Çuiren curtsied. “Just now.”
“Announce yourself.”
Çuiren thought about what the head servant had told her and not once had he mentioned she needed to tell others she came to do her work.
“I will learn to do better,” she replied. “What tasks do I have now?”
“The Prince has ordered everyone to rest while he’s away.”
Çuiren paused. Were these servants trying to make things more difficult? Had His Royal Highness told them to test her?
She forced a smile.
“Surely there are still tasks to do while he’s out?”
The maids looked at each other. “There are, but you are not supposed to do them. You’re still learning how to do things around here. It’s not like being a serving girl.”
“I understand that as well. But the Emperor placed me in His Royal Highness’s care. I can’t just sit and do nothing.”
The maid who seemed to be the oldest shook her head as the others looked at her.
“We don’t have any tasks for you for the moment. Unless High Royal Highness gives his explicit permission, we daren’t give certain tasks.” The oldest looked at Çuiren with pity. “You’re not supposed to appear in front of His Royal Highness.”
“Well then,” Çuiren said and bowed. “I’ll take my leave.”
She turned around and went to her room to get washed up and to tidy up her appearance to look free of fault. If they could nitpick, then she might have to deal with more problems.
Once done she stepped outside, leaving the quarters for His Royal Highness’ servants.
She avoided to be too visible by avoiding the areas of the Princes. She had already been told where those who would become serving girls could be, and this information helped tremendously.
She also realised that when dressed as one of the youngest Blood Prince’s maidservant, some people she recognised didn’t realise it was her.
Being so, she approach a couple of maids who were gossiping.
“Are you talking about that?” she asked innocently.
“About how U’il-šanad snatched the serving girl out of the Crown Prince’s hands?”
“Mm.”
“Are you new?” the other asked giving her a once-over.
“I am.”
“You’re one of the Prince’s maids. Why would you want to hear gossip?”
Çuiren smiled a little. “They speak of no rumours regarding the Prince among the servants, but how can I not become so very curious? Indulge me.”
“Fine by me, but you can’t tell anyone. All of these are secrets.”
Such well-kept secrets, Çuiren thought to herself, but nodded with enthusiasm.
“I heard that this was all pre-planned by the youngest Blood Prince. He has never taken a serving girl but is soon of age. He also have far from the same amount of servants as the other Princes. So when he laid his eyes on the serving girl, he decided on the spot that he’d have her no matter the means.”
“But could he really start the rumours to begin with?” the other maid asked.
“Perhaps he had his servants do it.”
The other maid shook her head. “Don’t you know how bright that Prince is?” She laughed softly. “I hear he returned items to the wrong brother.”
“Doesn’t that happen now and then?” Çuiren asked.
“Of course, but U’il-šanad does it quite often.”
“That’s true. He also doesn’t seem very educated according to my master. He makes small faults all the time.”
“But his address in impeccable. He never addressed a prince wrong.”
“How could it be wrong if he calls all of his older brothers elder brother?”
“He does always do that.”
“Says who?”
“My master.”
Çuiren only continued to half-listen the gossip.
Was His Royal really stupid? Then again… Didn’t he say that women lss familiar than Çuiren had seen more of him than she did that day he brought her there?
Remembering the day she felt a little embarrassed to have seen him in such a half-dressed and dishevelled state.
If he was truly brilliant, would he be so unconventional that he showed his body for others to see?
She only had more questions now, but as long as her name was cleared, she could focus on those of lesser importance again.
“What are you blushing for?” A maid asked her.
“I just thought the Prince is a little odd.”
Both women huffed a laugh.
“What Prince isn’t odd? They’re insane, the whole lot.”
The other nodded in agreement. “I heard that the Crown Prince wanted to execute the poor serving girl. I heard from another girl who heard from a guard that this is because he wanted to make an example of her towards the youngest Blood Prince.”
The first nodded. “It was supposed to be a warning. But then the Emperor gave him the serving girl because he couldn’t let the Crown Prince threaten his dearest child.”
“Threatening the youngest Blood Prince is seeking death. The Emperor adores him!”
“Speaking of that…” the maid lowered her voice even more and Çuiren had to concentrate to hear anything. “…I don’t know if this is true, but someone once told me that the Prince isn’t born from any concubine.”
“You mean the Emperor’s youngest is…”
“A slave child, maybe. That was why U’il-šanad always remained hidden from view. The Emperor imprisoned the woman and let her die and had U’il-šanad under house arrest until a few years ago.”
Çuiren was dumbfounded.
“Could…” she swallowed and leaned closer. “Regarding the rumours, could it be His Majesty is…”
They both shook their ends and hushed at her.