After I finished on stage, I was easily mixing in the crowd with the masks. I was recognizable from anyone else. For all they knew, I was a noble's son. Which I was not anymore, but who the hell cared?
I was free now, my mind churning from everything that I could do tonight.
I was going to get as much food as I could, munching on snacks in a secluded corner when I saw her.
Helena is sad and alone, sitting on the table where everyone avoids her. She looks like the loneliest girl in the world.
It's been a couple of months since I last talked to her. She doesn't know it, but I was worn out being around her. I was brought into this court to be entertaining, but apparently playing with princesses is not part of the job description. The king saw me playing hide-and-seek with her, and he decided that I made myself too comfortable around her.
I tackled her to the ground, and we were really close to each other, a breath away from lips.
Recently I noticed things about her that I really shouldn't, like how her hair has grown into this golden curly perfection and feels so soft when I curl it around my fingers or how her lips look pink and soft when she is smiling.
I wanted to be around her to tell her that it wasn't my choice. At least that she knows it isn't her fault, but the risk is too high.
Tonight we are on masks so I can be whoever I want. I've gotten taller over the last few months, so I had to lean down in order to reach her until I am a breath away from her ear. She jolts, but I have a firm grip on her shoulder to keep her still. I whisper into her shoulder ear, "Come with me."
I pulled her by her arm, keeping her to my front so she didn't see my face—not yet. I led her out to the gardens. She was following me, and like always indulging my antics. I could feel her curiosity prickling on the back of my neck.
She let go of my hold, gazing at the sky. I knew what she was doing immediately: looking for the water snake constellation, the largest star constellation in the sky. She always did that when she was out at night.
We used to do this a lot. Travel along her gardens, and then she used to point out stars and their stories. She said the gods let spirits rest in the sky, and the stars are their way of charting their stories and ours to come.
She also said that they've been resting for so long and so fast that only now their light is coming to us.
I always tried to pass it off as a snarky comment, but something in her words always got to me. When I die, could people centers for now look into the sky and see something worthy? somebody worth remembering?
I missed being around Helean, but a part of me is nervous because I don't just want to be around her. I want something… that I cannot name quite yet.
I kept a distance, but I was a breath away from her lips when I whispered, "Do you like it?"
She jerkily stuttered, "Yes, my lord." I kept my expression blank because who did she think I was? Did she not recognize me?
A pinch of disappointment touched my chest, but something else also took over faster than I could blink. I think an idea popped into my head: she doesn't recognize me. I could stay under this pseudonym pretending to be someone else. I could be around her once again.
Quite a beautiful sight to behold. I pointed towards the sky. She stammered, looking at my face. I wasn't quite sure what she was saying, but I was glad to see something that she saw as familiar because she nodded her head confidently.
"What is your favorite constellation?" I grinned knowing the answer already.grinned,
I kept quite the distance from her, but she still cross-folded her arms protectively over her chest. "How do you know that I even know constellations?"
She narrowed her eyes, inching back. I smirked, saying, "Well, I know a lot about you." She huffed in dismissal. "I know that you have a green book tucked in your dress; it was given to you by your mother before she—" I stopped myself. Her eyes widened, but before she could run, I tagged her to my side. "Don't be scared."
Helena inhaled deeply "who are you?"
I circled her face. "Well, Princess Helena, who do you think I am?"