Imperial Year 1177
~ Zylth
So many years dreaded on, but what could I expect from being a servant? I wasn’t one of the lower-classed servants as the emperor thought of me as skilled. The skills of wielding a blade, shooting arrows, stealth, and being educated. He held me in high esteem, although I couldn’t care less. Not after the Abilivia Empire captured me to House Hresvelg. My original house, House Nuvelle, was torn to shreds after the Dagda and Brigid War. The Empire was near those countries; they had to settle things, but it cost my future. The destruction of House Nuvelle was torn in broad daylight… I witnessed my entire family, friends, and other folks die right in front of me… slaughtered, never to return again. I have never forgotten that day since. I should be thankful for the Empire providing me safety. But the other servants always scowled at me since they thought I was being treated like a royal member. Which doesn’t make any sense because Abilvette Lyte, the Imperial princess, doesn’t have to do any chores or work. The jealousy those other servants feel is because I have better looking clothes, eat better, and am given little forms of education. I would also feel envious, but they forget I’m on their side.
“Zylth,” one of the servants calls. “Lady Lyte requests fresh alziscuses from the garden,”
My gaze shifts towards a far away window. The sun is drowning outside.
“Ugh.” I didn’t feel like going through the effort of the sun’s power just for flowers.
He gives me an annoyed look. “What?”
“Hm? N-no, n-nothing…” I gulp.
“The emperor sure coddles you if you are upset about just going outside,” he scoffs as he storms off.
I sigh and curse him under my breath. It wasn’t in my control to be praised and… “coddled”. The sun… I hate the sun. I’ve never told anyone about my issue with sunlight, as no one would understand.
I gently knock on Lyte’s quarters.
“Lady Lyte?” No response. After the third knock, I carefully entered, noticing that her curtains were closed. Phew. It was her resting day, so I thought she would be here. She must’ve taken a nap since her bed was messy. I set down the basket of freshly cleaned clothes to make up the bed. Cleaning rooms wasn’t bothersome, it was the additional chores that were. Getting flowers from the garden, scrubbing dirty dishes, pouring tea… chores that are minor inconveniences for me. Once I finished assembling the bed, I took the dust wand that was strapped to the belt of my fancy white suit. Perfume, accessories, and makeup were scattered across her elegant dresser. It wasn’t necessarily the princess’ fault, since the beauty designers are messy. After fixing the placement in an organized manner, I wipe any additional dust on the dresser. I saw an empty vase that I clearly remember not being there. Is that why she wanted alziscuses? Abilvette Lyte entered her room with red alziscuses. I knew she was a princess, but I didn’t respect her. She wasn’t a princess in my eyes. The emperor left House Nuvelle in pieces with no intention to restore it. I promised myself I would restore it, but being trapped in this castle is making it challenging. Losing complete hope on House Nuvelle will never be my intention.
“I’ll take the flowers,” I reach my hand out for her to give them to me. Lyte shakes her head.
“No, it’s okay… I feel bad enough already.”
I was puzzled.
“For what, Ly- I-I mean…Lady Lyte?” Almost butchered her title, as I never saw her as a princess.
“Usually, I try to come here earlier so I could help with my filthy room,” she sighs.
“You realize that it is our job to clean, right?” I murmur, “The other servants appreciate it but it’s not necessary.” I couldn’t hide my irritation from her comment.
“No, I like helping you.” She walks over and sets the flowers in the vase.
“Me?” I say awkwardly. “Oh, you mean all of us, I understand you-”
“No, only you,” she corrects. “You do most of the work around here. I see you, you know.” Lyte turns to me. “My father always praises you for your work.” Huh, so, she felt… bad for me. I would never want help because of that.
“It doesn’t matter, I am perfectly fine on my own.” I finished cleaning her dresser, but I had to escort her out so I could clean the glass doors outside. My curiosity piqued as I wondered about the real reason why she helps me, just to see if I could get a better response. Even though I shouldn’t be questioning a princess, I wanted to ask:
“Why do you like helping me?”
She blushes. “Uh…well…y-you know…” Her eyes can’t be still on me. “You, um…”
“I…?” I was growing impatient.
“Actually, I-I have to… be somewhere. I… I need to ask my father a question.” she quickly responds, leaving the room. Weird. I make sure she doesn’t come back as I wait and grab the spray bottle and cloth. The thick red curtains await my arrival as I approach. I pull one end and.. the sun… hits my face…
“The sun…” I groan to myself, pulling the other curtain to the end. The glass doors were stained with fingerprints and dirt, some of them most likely being the servants. I lightly spray the cleaning substance onto the glass. Once I wipe, I see my reflection. A shadow casted from my forehead to the bottom of my eyes. What an ugly look it was… it made me look more weak and pathetic than I already am. Nuvelles were supposed to be strong, radiant, and talented beings; warriors, warlocks, and scholars. Yet here I am, as a Nuvelle, working like… no, not even like a dog, More like a mule. Even then, I wasn’t worthy enough to be classified as anything, really. The heat of the sun glared at my face. It burned… hurt… drained the energy from my body. I saw their faces once again. Misery, fear, hopelessness. I was unable to save any of them, not even my own parents. Mother took an axe to the back before she could flee, Father was shot by dozens of arrows. Blood drowned to my feet, but somehow I didn’t die.
“Sir Zylth?” a faint voice came from inside. No… how could I be so stupid to not recognize Lady Lyte’s voice.
“Are you, um… I-I wanted to apologize…”
I don’t move, make a sound, or dare to draw a breath. This state I was in, she couldn’t see me in such a way. I was supposed to always look my best, especially in front of the royalty. I heard footsteps approaching, there was no way to hide on the balcony. The sun’s rays must have cackled at me as I stood there hopelessly. She was going to see me. I stopped cleaning the doors and walked to the elegant fence. She wouldn’t be able to see my hideous face. I never talked to anyone when I was in my “outdoors state”, I pray my voice sounds the same.
The doors open. “Sir Zylth?” she calls. “Um… m-may I… apologize for how I acted in front of you…” she walks closer to me. “I shouldn’t have-”
“It’s okay,” I mumble, still not facing her.
“ Huh?” she must’ve noticed the change in my voice. “Are you… are you okay? You sound so…”
I sigh, it was hopeless. Either way, she knew something was off. I turn around.
“Yes… Your Highness. Forgive me for not showing proper respect. You need not apologize for your actions, as I am to blame for not acknowledging your kindness to help me…”
Her smile faded and she looked more…worried. I noticed she was holding the dusting tool that I stupidly forgot.
“Zylth…y-your face…” she came closer to me. “how can a shadow be on your face when it’s sunny…?”
I sadly laugh. “It’s quite hideous, isn’t it?” I move away from her and pick up the cleaning supplies. “I must get back to work, as it is my punishment.”
“No,” she walks up to me. “I don’t want you to work.”
“But… I have to.” I dunk the cloth in the cleaning mix.
Lyte moves the bucket away. “No, I want to talk about you.”
I chuckle. “There’s nothing left of me, Lady Lyte… I… I am nothing interesting.” I sigh and sit against the door. The light was too strong for me to even move. I didn’t have energy to go back indoors, so I had to deal with my outdoor state. She sat down next to me but didn’t say anything. The sun was almost suffocating me and I was unable to speak. Only the war has clouded my mind at the moment.
“You sound so… different…” she says. “Is this… is this a normal thing you experience? I’m sorry to be nosey, but the way you are, i-it breaks my heart…”
I wasn’t going to lie. “Yes, Abilvette-”
“Don’t call me Abilvette, just call me Lyte,” she interrupts, but smiles. It wasn’t proper to do that, but I couldn’t make her angry, so I continued.
“Yes, Lyte, I-I have had this for five years. I tried so many ways to cure it, but no spell worked.” For some odd reason, she came closer to me, though I ignored it and explained further. “Don’t be worried for me, really, i-it’s me.. I am the one who…who caused it..”
She frowns a bit. “Is it the sunlight? I could give you something to block out the sun.”
I shake my head. “I appreciate the offer, but even with a hood, the sunlight bleeds through. You shouldn’t worry, I promise you, I am well.”
“No…” she disagrees. “No, let’s go inside then,”
“Lady Lyte… no. I don’t deserve such care. I get up, but she catches my arm. Lyte gets up too and drags me back.
“I’m not going to tolerate you purposely, um… well, this has to be a form of self harm if you aren’t moving to stop it.”
I didn’t want to face Lady Lyte indoors. That meant she knew… my fear. It made me vulnerable like a worm to a giant eagle. What if she tells her father? Or mother? She opens the doors and pushes away the curtains. Once I was inside, she stood there for a second.
“Oh,” she realized I was still in misery, what a burden I must be. She mumbled a curse word and quickly blocked… the curtains. My body instantly felt a wave of serenity.
“There we go,” she said.
I felt embarrassed. Vulnerable. She knew. Now what? My heart was racing for what could possibly happen next. Was she going to tell her parents about my outdoor state? Should I ask her not to tell anyone?
“I’ll find someone else to clean the doors,” Lyte smiles.
I shake my head. “I could’ve done it myself.”
“You act so…different when you are outside..” she still couldn’t believe it. “Not just your attitude, but your voice too…”
“Yeah…” I look away, embarrassed.
“I’m not letting you do that again, by the way,” she says.
“Hm,” I frown slightly. “Um…”
She walks closer. “Hm? You look like you want to ask me something.” My response was a sigh.
“Is it about what just happened?” she asks. I nod.
“Can you… can you not tell anyone?” I couldn’t believe I was trusting her. I figured she would want a bribe. Her gaze softens.
“I wasn’t planning on telling anyone, but yeah, sure.”
“Oh?” I said, surprised. Lyte giggles.
“What? What’s with the confused look?” she says. I clear my throat.
“Um, no, I-I just thought you would want something in return, like a bribe,” I realized how bad that must have sounded, accusing a royal member of being corrupt. “uh, no, t-that’s not what I, uh, meant…” I sigh at the clothes I still have to put away and other supplies I need to bring for cleaning the floor.
“I must be leaving, I have to bring more supplies.” I walk to the door but pause.
“Uhm, if you do want anything to… keep the secret… then I’m here, you know.” I didn’t want to be friends with her, but I couldn’t be on her bad side either. She thought about it for a moment.
“Actually, there is something I want.”
“Name it,” I reluctantly said. I knew she wanted something. What was it? Flowers? No breaks? Bathroom cleaning?
Lyte walked up and kissed my cheek. “There, that’s the only thing I wanted.”
