8. ESTHELA

In the imperial palace, the prince had turned to face his grandfather. There stood a dragon, its scales a mirror of his own, though black was the more dominant hue. It watched him intently, nostrils flaring as it took in his scent.

Erick exhaled a breath he hadn't realised he'd been holding. "You gave me quite the fright, Grandpa. I feared you were Dad for a moment."

"Where have you been?" inquired his grandfather, his tone laced with a mix of curiosity and concern.

"To my room," the prince replied, his eyes darting away, unable to meet the old dragon's penetrating gaze.

"You're not fooling me. Be cautious—ensure they don't discern your actions," his grandfather advised, a stern undertone to his words.

"Thank you, Grandpa," Erick said, his lips curving into a grateful smile.

Erick watched his grandfather walk away and breathed a sigh of relief. However, his respite was short-lived as the old dragon returned, sniffed him once more, and then enveloped him in smoke billowing from his nostrils.

"What are you doing, Grandfather?" Erick enquired, a note of bewilderment in his voice.

"To erase all traces of the crime in you." Grandfather replied. "Now no one will discover your human."

"Huh? How do you know?" the prince asked, taken aback by the revelation.

Grandfather offered a knowing smile. "I have lived long, my son. Just take care to protect yourself. Humans may only live for what seems like a blink in our time, but don't let that constrain you. You are young and should embrace all that life has to offer. Do not let your father deter you; he caused me no end of trouble with humans. Remember, you have my support. Just ensure they don't uncover your dragon heritage."

"Okay, Grandfather, I'll take care of my human," the prince replied, his voice tinged with happiness.

"What human?" Grandfather queried, his tone light yet loaded with meaning.

They heard the Empress Zelda behind them, searching for her son. She had lost the sense of his presence a while ago and was curious to know if he had learned to shield his thoughts from her.

Erick exclaimed in surprise, "Mum! Why are you eavesdropping on my conversation with Grandfather?"

"I wasn't," the empress hastened to explain. "I was merely looking for you because I couldn't determine where you had gone, and here you are, hiding from all the princesses."

"They weary me," confessed the prince. "Why were you seeking me out?"

The empress regarded him for a moment before responding, "First, tell me about this human you were discussing."

"There is no human," said Grandfather, a touch of mischief in his voice. "I was merely spinning tales for him. I suggested that he might consider forming an attachment with a human."

The empress looked at him in astonishment and exclaimed, "Father-in-law, please refrain from offering such advice to the prince!"

"Why not?" Grandpa enquired, then added, "You met your husband by pretending to be a human princess. Why can't Erick have those experiences?"

The empress regarded him seriously and replied, "Those were different times. Now humans have become far too dangerous for us."

"If you say so," Grandfather conceded with a nod. "Good night, I shall retire and get some rest."

They watched him depart, his form receding until he vanished through a doorway. Meanwhile, the prince was wrestling with the fear that his mother might read his thoughts and discover he had indeed concealed a human in a cave.

"Now that Grandpa has left, Mum, what is it you're truly seeking me for?" he asked hastily.

"I simply couldn't sense your presence; no doubt your grandfather was shielding you," the empress sighed. "Also, I wish to ask you to dance with Princess Elgida. You've danced with all the other princesses but her. It's not fair; the poor girl is in tears."

Prince Erick scowled and declared earnestly, "I will not. I don't wish to give Elgida false hope. I've made it clear to her that she will never be my wife, let alone the empress. So please, Mum, cease advocating for her."

"Erick, she doesn't regard you in that manner!" the empress exclaimed, clearly frustrated. "She's your foster sister."

"Then tell her that, see if she heeds your words," Erick retorted. "With your permission, I must bid farewell to the princesses."

And without further ado, the prince walked away, leaving the empress fraught with worry. Could her son's assertions about Elgida hold any truth? She resolved to observe more closely; she would never permit Elgida to wed her son. As if summoned by her very thoughts, the adopted princess made her appearance.

"So, will Erick dance the last dance with me?" Elgida inquired eagerly, well aware that he invariably acquiesced to his mother's wishes.

"I'm sorry, my dear," responded the empress, "Erick has pledged this dance to another princess. That brother of yours can be quite headstrong. Come, join me to see your father. Perhaps you can share a dance with him."

Elgida's face fell with frustration. "Mum, Erick has danced with all the princesses but me. I'm a princess too, even if my clan is no more!"

The empress regarded her for a moment before attempting to soothe her. "Don't take on so; to Erick, you are his elder sister, that's all."

"But I am not his sister; I am merely another princess of the empire. Had my clan survived, it would have been among the most influential," Elgida retorted swiftly.

"I understand. I shall speak with the emperor about finding a suitable prince for you to marry; you are of age now," the empress suggested, her concern growing.

"Why not Erick, Mother?" Elgida pressed directly.

"Erick?" The empress echoed in astonishment, realising her son had been correct; Elgida was indeed harbouring pretensions.

The Empress paused to look Elgida squarely in the face, her gaze following that of the adopted princess. Elgida's eyes, filled with envy, were fixed on her son, who was laughing joyously alongside Princess Luddie of the Water Kingdom and Princess Ranys of the Fire Kingdom, both strikingly beautiful.

"Daughter, you must dispel such thoughts," the Empress Zelda spoke with grave seriousness. "It is true that you are the heiress of a once great clan, but that clan is no more. The Emperor will not consent to you marrying the heir to the throne unless Prince Erick himself requests it. And do not forget that Prince Erick has been betrothed since birth."

"Mother, I could be his second wife!" Elgida exclaimed, a note of desperation in her voice.

"Disabuse yourself of that notion; I am advising you for your own good!" she responded firmly. "Now, come along."

For her part, Esthela continued to reside in the cave where Prince Erick had secreted her away, biding her time and pondering her fate. She consoled herself with the knowledge that at least Leoric had eluded capture. Mourning the loss of her entire family, she wept profusely, and with the arrival of winter, she stood there, resigned to whatever lay ahead. Ignorant of her location and with no desire to ascertain it, she was resolute in accepting the will of the enigmatic, unseen being who had delivered her from peril.

One day, when ennui had taken its toll, the sun emerged after a lengthy absence. Seizing the opportunity, Esthela decided to venture out for a walk. As she exited, she felt a peculiar tingling at the cave's entrance, though it caused her little discomfort. Absorbed in her surroundings, she meandered down the snow-laden slope until she encountered a couple approaching from the opposite direction. Their eyes widened in astonishment upon seeing her. Esthela attempted to flee, but the woman caught her by the hand.

"Good morning, my dear," the woman said warmly, sensing Esthela's trepidation. "There's no need to fear us; we mean you no harm," they assured her in a tongue foreign to her ears. "What brings you out here all by yourself?"

Unable to comprehend their language, Esthela remained silent, offering only a blank stare in response. The couple gently led her by the hand to their home, which lay not far from the foot of the slope. They welcomed her with great kindness. Despite their hospitality, Esthela contemplated escape on numerous occasions, only to find the house invariably secured and herself under constant watch. She dared not lead them to her sanctuary.

As days turned into weeks, she slowly began to grasp their language, yet she refrained from speaking. Trust did not come easily to Esthela, particularly due to the man's unsettling gaze.

One day, Esthela overheard the woman pose a question to her husband, "Darling, do you think we might take the lovely Lin into town today?" They had christened Esthela with this new name since she refused to reveal her true one. During market visits with the woman, Esthela had spotted several posters offering a substantial reward for her. She managed to conceal them from her companion and shrouded her face with a scarf.

Would Florian ever cease his pursuit? How could he be certain she hadn't fallen prey to the beast that had snatched her in plain sight? And, most disconcerting of all, why was he searching for her in this vicinity? Filled with trepidation and thoughts of flight, Esthela feared the couple might recognise her and deliver her to Florian.

Upon hearing his wife's enquiry, the man glanced at Esthela and responded, "Yes, let's bring her along so she shan't wander off again. Perhaps we might find her kin; they must be searching for her. It's truly unfortunate she's deaf and mute—such beauty. We could sell her and make a handsome sum."

The woman immediately rebuked him, "Darling, cease such talk! We shall commit no such atrocity!"

"Atrocity? I purchased you, and you've fared well," the man retorted without averting his gaze from Esthela, who comprehended their every word.

"She is different," the woman insisted firmly. "Lin is a beautiful young woman undeserving of such a fate. Let her stay with me for company when you are out hunting. Her family must have forsaken her due to her affliction of being deaf and mute; no one has come seeking her."