Chapter 22: The only Prince

The next day, Esme finished all her work within the garden before sitting under the shade of the tree while holding the blue rose in her hand. The same rose that a certain Prince had placed in her hair who knows when.

Some noises from behind shifted her attention. She stood up from the ground and dusted off her gown with her hands as she turned around to look at the entrance gates opening. Soon after, royal carriages entered inside one after another before queuing up in front of the grand castle.

"What's going on?" Esme mumbled. She could see numerous ladies getting off the carriage with the help of their maids. All of them looked like royals and aristocrats.

"They are the candidates for the marriage."

Esme turned around only to find Liz standing behind her. Her eyebrows rose slightly finding it weird that Liz was standing under the glaring sun for so long as it was not usually her place to be here in the garden. But she did not point it out.

"Marriage?" She asked, confused. Was the king marrying once again? Kings are usually allowed to take as many wives as they can but most of them keep mistresses instead just like her Uncle. But the situation looked different here, "Are they here for the king?'' She asked nonchalantly.

Liz frowned as she looked at her expressionless face. What would it take for her to show some expressions on that pretty face? She wondered.

"They are not here for the King," came a polite voice.

Esme and Liz turned around to look at Keith Reiner who made his way towards them.

"Mr. Reiner,'' Esme greeted the man as she nodded slightly at him.

Keith smiled at her gently, "Miss Esmeray."

"Mr. Reiner," Liz smiled as she bowed at the man.

"Miss Liz," Keith nodded, polite and distant.

"You were saying?" Liz asked the man.

"Forgive me ladies but I overheard your conversation," Keith smiled apologetically at Esme as he spoke, "But those ladies over there are not here as the candidates to be the King's wife. They are here for the Prince."

"Which Prince?" Esme glanced at them curiously.

Both Liz and Keith glanced at her silently for a few moments until the former could not keep quiet anymore, ''How many Princes are here?"

"How would I know?"

Keith sighed, "The only Prince in Visteria is Prince Aleister," He glanced at her expressionless face as he wondered where she was from. People of almost every kingdom, big or small, were all aware of the infamous Prince of Visteria and regarding him being the only son of the King.

Esme paused as she glanced at the blue rose in her hand.

Liz sighed, "Our King is the most benevolent ruler in all the lands but other than that, he is also a loyal husband. After the Queen passed away, he never wed another woman and hence Prince Aleister, their son is the only Prince. Since the Prince has turned 20, the King has arranged many banquets for him to select his future wife but his hopes were crushed each time with the Prince's new and weird quirks. I remember he once beheaded a Princess in front of the court officials but the reason remains unknown…." She stopped when Keith glanced at her warningly. Liz quickly looked around, hoping that nobody heard her or else she might become the next one to be beheaded.

Esme was not that surprised. What more can be expected from a man whose mood is more unpredictable than the weather in Visteria?

"Since the Prince has turned 24 a few months ago, it is only right for the King to find a Princess," Keith said after thinking about it a bit.

"Alright. I shall leave now since my work is done," Esme nodded at both of them before she turned around and walked away.

"Miss Esmeray is rather…" Keith paused, not being able to find a proper word to describe the girl who left nonchalantly.

"Rather cold?" Looking at his strange expressions, Liz continued, "She is always like this. She rarely smiles or shows any reaction to anything," She did not know much about Esme but this is what she had observed within these days. The girl was too detached from everything around her. They only got to see her in the hallway in the servant quarters in the morning when she came to the garden every day, and then she would go back to her room after finishing her work. Neither did she talk with anyone nor did she sit with anyone.

Keith glanced at Esme's retreating back, "She is indeed very different.''

Liz tilted her head to look at him.

Esme gently rubbed her aching wrist as she glanced at the rose in her hand which was still as fresh as before. She walked in the direction of the servant quarters.

"Princess, I have bribed one of the maids here. There is something interesting that you should know to achieve the goal we have here."

Esme halted in her tracks. She tilted her head and glanced at the two ladies standing at a distance. One of them had her back facing towards her whereas she recognized the other. She was one of those noblewomen whom she had seen outside in the carriages. She quickly slid beside a huge pillar when both of them looked around to make sure that there was no one. Since she had heard them already, there was no way they would let her go easily if she walked out even though she had no interest in what they were talking about.

Leaning her forehead against the pillar, she continued massaging her wrist. Working under the sun for too long had her body aching and her throat was parched by this time. Yesterday, she was looking around in the castle with hopes that she might find the woman with whom her brother had left but she got no leads. And by the time she went to bed, it was almost dawn which is why she could not get adequate sleep yesterday. And now she was stopped here.

"What is the thing that got you so excited?" came the Princess's voice.

Esme slowly turned around to glance at the lady dressed in an elegant red gown who had her chin tilted slightly as she looked at the other person, who seemed to be working for her given her plain white gown with a black layer towards the bottom.

Esme could not see her face as the servant's back was facing towards her.