Chapter 6: The Little Blue Boat.
I left for KFC.
I did not question any of this. I have since learned I was alone and there was no help desk, so when something whacky happens, I go with the flow. And chicken was good tonight, as I haven't seen it in ages. I let the smell lead me.
I noticed I was Akeen to a ghost in movies, I could not touch anything. But I did not let that stop me.
At Frogmore, in the dark. People littered at the bus stop and walking the streets askance. Leaving this world didn't make me miss it. Standing here in this street, I only had one thought. This world was dirty, litter everywhere, smells mixed together and a weird sensation that this was not night-time. It felt like the world was disturbed from its peacefulness and had adapted an unnatural hum.
I walked through the door at Kfc when everything stopped moving. People froze, and animals too. There was a cold feeling That settled like oil on water, my movement felt like a swimmer's, but I was not giving up, I don't know why I was forced to this world, but I have a mission: chicken. And no deity was going to stop me, not even the entire universe put together.
I swam with all my strength towards an outstretch arm hold a drumstick. I could imagine biting into the chicken and feeling the crispy outer part of the chicken crack and crumble between my teeth, I could feel the soft and tender chicken come next. Feel the crumbs scratch at my tongue, creating a tender and crispy contrast forcing me to moan at my own imaginations, but I could only smell the chicken, but I could not taste it. I could not feel it. I feel from heaven into hell. And just as I thought I would be stuck this way for three months feeling this torture, I was snapped back to the prince, as if I never left.
the hall was mine and before me was my worst enemy who I dearly love with all my heart.
"Tell me princess, what is a robot?" I heard the prince say.
Everything was the exact same, except the crease in his eyebrows. He looked down suspiciously for a long time as if he caught himself in the act. what act? I do not know what he was thinking of, but I decide to help him and speak, saying...
"They... They are..." I try to say still unsure what this situation was, when he sharply looked up at me and say quietly.
"Mechanical beings..." He blink twice and looked back down. "Mechanical beings without emotions. mechanical means man-made. Am I correct?" He asks looking back at me confused
I didnt know how to answer that and replied with...
... "uhm...". I must have looked equally confused as he looked away from me and pointed his bread to one of his attendants before withdrawing it and said, "get this palace properly staffed before diner is over." Turning to me, He stretched out his hands "Your birthday." He said standing up. I automatically took his hand and followed him.
"Convince me why you should have one."
***
Pathetic!
I am pathetic.
Stood here with Jupiter, I felt pathetic. Every part of me, wanted him to be mine, but he did not deserve me. He was an asshole, but i ached for him. In such proximity, with him leading me gently, it felt like before and i was ready to pretend i did not know what he was capable of. I wanted him to love me. Or be able to pretend he loved me.
Pathetic.
We walked to a bridge I had not seen before; it was yellow in colour with pink flowers growing on it. The water was clear enough to see logs, twigs and leaves at the bottom of the lake. I could spot a small blue boat at the bottom of the lake. I guessed it had a tragic story.
"The boat that did not make it." I could feel the prince's gaze on me, but as I turned to look at him, he had looked down to see the boat.
"It was not made to 'make it'." The prince said still looking down. His face looked sullen, and he gritted his teeth.
"Did you make the boat?" I asked.
"The boat was made by the dowager." He said, breathing in deeply. "I know, you would never have expected her royal hands to craft something so childish and simple." He said looking at me with an indescenable expression. The breath in my lungs choked as i watched those expressive eyes, unable to control myself i reached out to caress his cheek with my hands. I expected him to recoil or yell at me, but he leans into my hands and closes his eyes briefly before opening them.
"She made me watch her making." He spoke. "Then punctured it. Took it to this lake and made it swim. I watched as it travelled, slowly filling up with water, till it began to sink. It made a small noise; it was so small I almost did not hear it. Before falling, never to surface again. She looked at me with a grin before walking away without a word."
I looked back at the blue boat unsure what it was made of, laying still within a mess of branches and leaves. It made me wonder why a boat mattered so much, then he said. "The following day, news arrived that my mother's boat had sunk at sea, and she was unaccounted for." Which means dead.
Looking at this boat I could not help but feel fear. It must have been a long time ago, yet the blue boat was still vibrant and visible where many trees are planted. Three trees must have fallen branches and leaves into the lake all those years, but the little blue boat was still uncovered.
All those years it must have been more than just this boat that fell into the lake. Yet no litter was seen, which meant it was always cleaned.
Which only meant, someone wanted This boat to have a long life as a visual reminder for something drastic. That someone being no other than the Queen dowager.
"How often do you come here." I found myself asking quietly.
"Often enough for the boat to serve its purpose." He said looking back to the boat.
the water went for miles and little creatures danced onto the lake creating beautiful ripples. it reminded me of a powerful quote. 'The rose on top is beautiful and pleasant to look at, but the thorns beneath are sharp and draw blood. who knows what coloured the Rose its Vibrant red?'
"The queen dowager chose you to be my wife, she must have an agenda." He looked at me and held my hands looking at me deeply. "I have watched you for a while, you were not chosen randomly. And with the way the dowager has treated you, you are not one of her many people, this marriage may be forced to make us hate each other, but from where I stand, I see we both have a common enemy." Pulling me by my waist he pulled me to him and whispered in my ear. "I know you are planning to build connections with the birthday. Let me be your first connection." He pulled away not letting go of my hands as he gently guided me down.
It suddenly felt like i was part of something, like I have been asleep, and I just woke up to find out I am still very much in love with the world's greatest asshole, people are trying to kill me, i am going to be a princess, and the asshole reincarnated or transmigrated is trying to get with me in order to save his ass!
"No." I said softly under my breath, unsure if that was what i wanted.
"Sorry?" He asked.
"No, i don't want to." I said unsure why i was suddenly crying. "You shouldn't have joked about making me a concubine, you shouldn't have called me here. You were watching me? Did you just admit to being a grade A stalker? What do you want of me? To be your Bonnie? No chance! Not today try another number!"
"You are to be my wife. Is it not the norm that we are on the same side? I did not joke about making you a concubine, i just didn't intend on doing the talking, I am a man of course i had other plans!" He said Whisper shouting as if hiding from an enemy.
I scoffed at this unsure whether to slap him or kick his balls.
"Despite popular believes, I am not desperate. I am not an idiot." He said holding his waist like an old man. "I will prove how useful I am at dinner today." He said throwing his coat back stylishly before walking away. I could faintly hear him say "I can't believe I was flirting with myself."
I took one last look at the little blue boat and a fear that was not there before clenched at my heart.
This bitch was for real.
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