Netherlands 1895 (Present)
"Is everything ready Estelle?" granny, the head chief of the village asked. I nod and show a sweet smile while fixing the wagon. She then tell everyone to leave since everything was ready. I immediately jump on the front seat, gripped the rope and wait for my companions signal to set off together.
"You all take care, be back before sunset!" she yelled while waving goodbye, I waved back and whipped my horse.
The sun's head shows up, but still not enough to cover the darkness and to warm the cold breeze.
I shiver when my blanket fell off, the road was a bit bumpy and we take the ride slowly to avoid impaired goods.
"It's really chilly out here." I murmur as a white smoke coming out from my mouth.
The clouds. . my mind was completely hollow as I gaze at it. I sigh, it's been a year since the village acknowledged me after being exiled from my country and they never asked the reason why.
Obviously they're bothered, after all I was a stranger. But they choose to make me feel comfortable rather than quenching their curiosity and I'm very grateful for that. So better do my job well, as a return.
The morning cold wind brush my face and a sad thoughts came up to me. Remembering my past is something I try to forget everyday, wishing that I may lose all these memories that haunts me and try to start new, but the more I run away, the more I lie to myself. I pause as a glimpse of him crosses my mind. Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I pity myself.
I stretched my hand towards the clouds, hoping to reach it. "The clouds are beautiful today. I hope you can see it too."
Upon arriving, lots of merchants from other places already filled the loud crowd of the local market. I look around. Same as ever, better move and finish the job.
"Estelle, let's meet here after." My companions instructed. I nod and stretch my list, reading the name of our customers and haul the goods to be delivered.
"Hi Ms. Montello, here are your carrots." I smile while carrying the basket.
"Are these fresh?" she ask while checking some of them.
I wink at her, "When did I let you down?"
She laughs and hands me the payment. The sun was already high and I was busy attending my patrons when I overheard a conversation between those two folks.
"So they will do it." he said.
"Do what?" the latter confusedly asked.
"The execution of Laurent the 6th King of Belgium."
My eyes widen the moment I heard of it, and before I knew it became the subject around the local market. Everyone have their own views and opinions but they all agree in one thing . .
The Execution of the former King.
I felt a pain in my chest. Those words, those cruel words everyone mumbling around seems like sharp crystals stabbing me vigorously.
I was trembling when one of my companions approach and ask me if I was alright. At that moment, I don't know what to do. I looked at him not realising that my tears are falling.
"Estelle, tell me what's wrong?" he worriedly ask.
But instead of answering him, my feet drag me towards the wagon and drive as fast as I could to Belgium.
Everyone who knows what happened to me will think that I was being utterly insane. Who would be dumb enough to go back to the country you're exiled and endanger your own self?
What is exactly my reason?
What is it that I want to do?
Is it to watch the former King execution?
To see him in pain?
After all, he's the reason why I was exiled in my country.
But no.
Actually, I just unconsciously brought myself in this situation. I bit my lower lip stopping myself to cry as soon as I realized the truth.
"Is just that the former king, that person is somewhat important to me." I said as my tears fall and the blood starts to flow from my lips.
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-Flashback-
Belgium 1885
At the age of 10 I live on my own. I'm an orphan and I never care about the whereabouts of my parents, I don't care if they leave me for my own good or for the sake of their selves, either way I'm happy on my own. I don't blame them. For what I see now, you should do what it takes to survive.
How do I live? I steal. Not only for myself but for those families who can't afford to support their selves because of the monarch's unlawful taxes. We, who are away from the Kingdom experience this unruly world while those people inside, drown their selves in foods and money.
I don't feel any remorse, after all they steal money from us. Isn't it better than letting yourself die for being too honest when the world is not and justice would never be served?
I face this reality every day and to avoid this cruel truth, I went to a place that only I knows.
A place which can deceive you that the world is perfect,
A place secludes me from the hell we're living.
It has beautiful scenery, dandelions around the lake, willow trees, dragonflies everywhere. But behind that beauty, something ugly resides at the heart of it.
THE LAKE.
It has the color of darkness.
One time I went there, I was surprised to see someone lying beside the lake. I carefully tiptoed myself towards. It was a boy, wearing simple clothes but I can tell that he isn't one of us. He's sleeping comfortably and completely unaware of my presence.
I kneeled down beside and leaned, staring at him. He's well groomed and his skin screams of nobility. That moment, I knew he's one of those people inside. He suddenly woke up and accidentally bumped my head, I exclaimed in pain.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." he apologized in a gentle way.
"Who are you? And how did you find this place?" I asked curiously.
"How did you?" He replied looking at me innocently.
"Because I'm a wanderer?" I said tilting my head.
He stand up and offered me a hand, then smiled "Me too."
At first I hesitated, the gap of our status is quite big even if I didn't ask. But surprisingly, that started our unusual friendship, his name was Rent.
"Sometimes I wonder how darkness resides in something so beautiful." he said observing the lake.
I can clearly see the sadness in his face. "Do you want to do something worthy?" I interrupted.
He looked at me with curiosity.
I smiled, giving him a glimpse of hope.
"Let's make it silver".
He came to the lake every day at the same time, from noon until the sun sets. We played and cleaned the lake. I find him entertaining since there are a lot of things he doesn't know.
He's with me everywhere I go,
steal with me,
run with me,
and laugh with me.
I don't know where he came from, whenever I asked him he won't say anything. Sometimes I wonder how he cannot see that some of the things we do are contrary to the rule. Is he really that oblivious?
"Did it ever cross your mind? Like you got scared of me or something, because even if you won't tell me, I know that you came in the higher class society and all of the girls you meet there have nice clothes, expensive things and good etiquette."
"Are you jealous or something?" he teased.
"Of course not!" I blushed. "I'm just asking about your impression on me! First and now!" I shouted while pouting.
"Geez. You don't have to be defensive. It's usual for me that a girl would liked me so easily." he said giving me a smile that makes me feel irritated. I responded him with a deadly stare.
He scratched his head. "You're obviously different from them. My first and current impression hasn't changed actually. You're still innocent, cute and lovely. Why would I be scared for something beautiful?" he said smiling at me. My heart skipped, this boy was really oblivious to reality.
Starting that time, I began to make him see things the way I see it. I offered my hand for him and ask him to come with me. He'll ask "where?" giving me an innocent look. I laughed at him and said "to my world".
Then I brought him to the families I helped and he feels sorry for them. The next day, I saw him bringing foods from his place, enough for him to carry and gave to them. And when the sun sets, he would always say "we'll meet again" and leave.
We've been doing this for a long time now and as years passed, we're getting closer and closer, yet I still know nothing about him. All I know was that he is my friend and he's precious to me.
We sat near the lake as we usually do, waiting for the sun to set. He asked me what my plans, what I wanted to do. "I want to help those people who have been neglected by the monarchy, I want to fight for their rights and to have justice for them, although I don't have the power to do those things, I still wish that they will have a better world someday."
"Am I too ambitious?" I asked him.
"No, it's perfect." he said lying down.
"Oh and before I forgot for this lake to be silver, we're still half way." We both laugh.
"How about you?" I asked staring at him.
"I'll support you, you'll see this world someday would really change, together with the heart of this place, it would be sparkle and shimmery. I promise you that."
"Can we really do it? We can't even make the waters silver here. It takes a long time."
"Yeah. Doing great things have never been easy but the result is always been a life changer, for you and for the people you are doing it for." He said showing me his brightest smile.
That time, for some reason I believed him.
The following day, I went to the city proper for the King will introduce to the people the heir of his throne.
"May I present to all of you, Prince Laurent of Belgium!"
Everyone clapped their hands. I don't mind it actually, the reason I went there was because it's a perfect time to steal, but when the prince shows up in the balcony, I was startled.
It was Rent.
I immediately ran to our place and stared blankly at the lake waiting for the sun to set, but this time I'm alone.
I failed.
I hadn't stolen anything, my mind was completely blank and how come I never knew he was a prince for all those years. I thought he was just some sort of high class but not a prince!
"Estelle?" upon hearing that voice, I immediately stood up and bowed my head, "Yes, your Highness." I said politely. A big silence engulfed us, he suddenly laugh at me like he usually did and said that whenever he went here he's not Laurent but Rent, my friend.
I playfully punched him, blaming for not telling me the truth. But he hold my hands and looked at me seriously, "I'm sorry for not telling you the truth for all these years, but I don't regret it. For if you have known who I really am, we would never be what we are today. Look, days had passed so fast and we have obligations to face now. I came here to tell you that I may not be able to sneak away from the castle like I used to be. But then again, I want us to fulfill our ideals like what we had planned, and I promise you. We'll meet again."
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