Royal Duty
#11 of Trash Hero
by: featheryboy
featuring: Katherine, Althalos and Audrey.
_ Royal Duty _
The howling wind slithered across the lone dark hallways of the Whitefang Castle, while the grayish light from the cloudy sky seeped between the columns of the large openings from the side.
"Katherine, where are you?" The royal duties of a young girl kept calling.
By his side, a tall and slender brownish hare. "She never liked sewing, did she?" The maid asked.
The tippity taps of the white rabbit became increasingly impatient as silence was the only response he got from the missing princess.
"She never liked anything! How hard could it be to follow the King's requests? Now look at us, having to find that juvenile little girl because she doesn't want to learn how to be a princess."
Giggles came from the hare as she flapped her feather duster towards the gentleman. "Don't worry silly boy! Sooner or later she will be back for her household chores. There's no escaping her responsibilities."
"Ugh, fine." He muttered. "But it's not like that selfish tigress realizes that we also have a job to do, and Althalos is never happy when we can't find her or teach her."
He was right, The King was always angered. His only child; unfit for the throne, and the Whitefang dynasty; in constant uncertainty.
The maid placed her hand over the little rabbit's shoulders, still smiling. "She's young and naive. She will learn."
He shrugged it off, but the noble was clearly excited by her touch with his long ears pointing upwards. At least there was some tranquility in those words, after all, it wasn't his fault that Katherine did not want to learn from him, right?
In the distance, golden strips of the sunset swept across the small openings in the sky. A storm was approaching, and it would not be silent tonight.
"Well, we can try again next time. It will soon be getting cold."
"I agree." The hare replied. "Come, let's head to your room and get things ready for tomorrow."
"Sure. We've got a long day ahead."
The Crimson's Blood Keep went silent as they both walked down the corridor, with the small droplets of rain becoming the only company for the residents. For everyone, just another normal day in the life of the castle.
On the outside, it was another story. The sky cried in the name of a young girl while her life seemed to crumble from underneath her paws.
Hidden on the balcony roof from the outside, Katherine overheard the two servants' conversation. She kept looking at her weary hands, exhausted from the burden of the royal life unable to contain her guilt.
She knows many would give everything to be in her place, but this means of existence just felt meaningless. She didn't feel strong, capable. How could she contribute to the citadel if all she was taught was how to be a wife to a king.
Was it selfish to try to live her life the way she wanted? Was it wrong to want to be someone different?
These thoughts plagued her mind. Perhaps the court was right, how could she pass up on the offer of being a Queen?
But for a moment, she just wished that didn't matter. Putting on a black robe, she imagined being someone different for a moment. Climbing down the castle and running towards the dimly lit streets as the night approaches.
"The girl has run away again. Hasn't she?" A coarse feminine voice echoes inside the spacious room.
A large lynx listens, sitting by a table in the corner of a room. His room is dark while the only remnant light comes from a slow burning candle on top of his desk. Parchment is scattered all across it as the King oversees the several trade deals happening with the north.
"I don't know what to do Audrey... The kid won't listen, and I don't have the time to attend to such a petulant child."
His hand clenched into a fist, his anger flowing throughout his body. But he wasn't mad at the tigress, he actually was in fear for the future of his name, the future of his family and city.
His fingers glided over a leather bracelet he always wears, his mind plagued by memories of the past. "And I am afraid I will lose my only daughter. And it is all my fault..."
The shadowy figure behind Althalos approached, placing her hand over the King's shoulder while he leaned his head against it.
"I will take care of her. I'm sure she is just confused." The woman reassured in an authoritarian tone.
Silence was the only thing coming from the monarch for a moment, followed by a deep breath.
"I don't know what I would be without you..."
The woman chuckled, heading towards the golden ornate wooden door. "You would still be King and the head of the largest city in the realm. And a King must not cry." She replied in a serious tone.
Althalos sighed in response, turning his focus back towards the economies of the kingdom. There was much he needed to do to avoid an internal political turmoil. Doubt was spread all across his court, and the balance of power rested in his hands.
"I am counting on you, Audrey. Do not disappoint me."
"Like if I ever did." She said before leaving the bedchamber, with the heavy clunking sounds from the lock echoing in the corridors and her weighty footsteps alerting everyone of her indistinguishable presence.