Dream Wanderers Chapter 5
Chapter 5: The Second Encounter
The next time I met Prince Ryosuke in person was more than two years later. I say 'in person' because after our first encounter, whether it was to torment me or threaten me, he appeared in my dreams practically every other night. He could never kill me like he wanted to though. Without my paper, I was safe. My body still hadn’t adjusted to the missing part of me. I couldn’t run or play as much as the other kids because I would grow tired very easily. Even though Prince Ryosuke couldn't take my life, the hatred I had for him burned like the heart of the fire outside my hut.
My keeper left me to take two of the younger children into town. She called it "real life experience", something she would always say we lacked by being stuck in and around the hut all day long. I had one child latched onto each hand, the fear evident in their eyes. I had been into town countless times before and so I comforted my companions. What I managed to miss all the times I had been into the heart of the village was the Prince. Unfortunately, today was one of the days which he decided to show his face to his subjects.
I heard the blare of the trumpets announcing his entrance and he trotted in on his white steed, holding his head high as if he were the most important person there. Since the Queen was not present, he was in fact the most important. Despite that, I could feel the need to roll my eyes. The three of us stood there to listen to his message.
I could hear the whispers jumping from person to person when he announces that tariffs would be raised for the second time this month. I didn't know much about the taxes other than it meant having to give up most of what you earned; it was an adult matter according to my keeper. Apparently Prince Ryosuke didn’t know either because when a question came from the crowd, he was unable to answer. An old man, who I assumed to be his advisor motioned for his ear and spoke to him for a second. He was probably giving a response to the question because immediately after speaking with the grey turning man, he spoke to the people again. It was obvious that the Queen had sent her son to make the announcement because people could not be angry with a young boy compared to the town caller or even herself. His image hid his personality. During the two years that I lived with my keeper and the eleven other children, now eight because we lost three to sickness, I heard many rumours of the things that the Queen would make her only son do. It was strange that despite knowing the Prince’s actions, he still managed to walk through town without a single threat, even though he gave so many himself; he walked without any physical harm, even though he inflicted so much pain. I suspected the reason why no one hated him was because they all feared him.
I always found it strange that an adult would fear a nine year old boy (by now I learned that he was two years older than I). Remembering my first encounter with him and how easy it was for him to cut me, I realized that they had a valid reason for being scared.
They didn’t know the Prince like I did though. Strangely enough, every time he wandered into my dreams, I would be sitting on the beach where we met. Our first encounter after the one in reality was filled with glares and nasty comments being thrown back and forth. I remember pulling the bandage that my keeper put around my neck and making him look at the pain he inflicted. I remember that he mentioned I was the only one who disciplined him other than the Queen. Everyone else let him have his way because they were all afraid of him.
I remembered at first, he showed absolutely no emotion when he saw my cut. There was blood dried all around it and was still glowing an angry red. We spoke for a while, but there was still a hateful tone to my voice. I despised him but it was so bizarre. There was no opportunity for him to kill me in our subconscious, so why did he keep coming back?
I guess I eventually got tired of hating him because at one point we started to have civil conversations. Usually he would meet me on my beach where I would sit on the fine sand hugging my knees. I made it so the sun shone down and warmed my body. I used to sit and just bask in the sun until he approached. The Prince always stood in front of me, his looming shadow blocking my sunlight. My eyes were always closed and I would only notice is presence when I started to feel a lack of heat. He would wait for me to open my eyes before asking to sit next to me. I remember the first time I glared at him and told him to leave me alone demanding why he was asking permission when I was supposed to be the obeying subject. I laughed at my own sarcastic remark.
Gradually we spoke more and I learned about his past. His father had passed away like mine had and his mother, the Queen did indeed make him do all of her dirty work. That included taking the lives of those who the Queen ordered him to. It was surprising to learn that he had a sliver of good in him but his blood thirsty ways were stone set. He told me his father, the King, was raised well to serve his people before himself. He raised Prince Ryosuke to act that way as well, that was, until he was assassinated during the war. It was a war before I was born and the Prince was only two years old then.
After that night, I asked my keeper about the village’s past. Apparently, it was after the King passed away when the Queen began her reign. She was a complete different person and even started to raise her son in her likeness. Everyone pitied Prince Ryosuke for having to endure such torture. Queen Annabelle didn’t let him play or have friends. His childhood was all about education and violence. He was forced to grow up so much faster than he should have. My keeper said that his mind was far too mature for that of a nine year old. She also said that his maturity reminded her of another child… me.
Our eyes met in the town square and he winked at me. My eyes narrowed because I knew that in reality, the place where there was no missing paper to protect me, my life was in danger. My glare was broken when one of the younger children tugged on my gown.
“Keeper wants us back before lunch, Etta,” the younger ones used to always have trouble pronouncing my name and so they opted to use “Etta”.
“Alright, we should go,” I took the hands of the two children, giving once last glance at the Prince before making our way back to the hut.
A/N- Commento to hiban ga daisuki desu kara...ronpyou shite kudasai? (コメントと批判が大好きですから。。。論評して下さい～) Translation: Because i like comments and critisism, please comment