A week had passed since Arenim took the medicine samples, and it had also been a week since the high priest sent another morph to be Mai'ya's tutor. The princess's new teacher was tall and had fair skin. His dark brown hair was so short it looked spiked, and his eyes were the color of honey. He wore a long, sand-colored robe fastened at his waist with a white braided belt. This meant he had already taken his vows and was a priest of Selèn, no longer an apprentice.
The priest's name was Kauan, and at that moment, he and Mai'ya, followed by Madelaine, were heading toward the small Temple of Selèn located on the palace grounds. The princess, being still young, had to walk faster than usual to keep up with the priest's pace.
The princess was curious about the outdoor lesson, but when she looked at Kauan, she realized he wouldn't say anything about it until they reached the temple, so she held her questions for later. The three of them were almost reaching the garden lake when Mai'ya recognized voices from a group coming from the path to their right. She prayed that the group wouldn't come to that side of the garden, but her prayers were in vain, because a few seconds later, the voices fell silent, and the princess knew she had been spotted.
The queen shot a furious look at Mai'ya and approached the princess. "How dare you be here?" Valissa shouted and slapped the little princess's right cheek. "Who gave you permission to walk around the palace? Know your place." The queen aimed at Mai'ya's left cheek and gave her another slap, this one so strong that the princess was knocked to the ground by the impact. Tears began to stream from the princess's eyes.
She hated being treated as something unwanted, and she hated Lyra even more for abandoning her and leaving her at the mercy of Valissa's wrath. But above all, she hated the fact that she couldn't defend herself. As the daughter of a criminal, she had to accept these punishments in silence. "Madelaine, stay out of this," the princess ordered when she saw the maid coming toward her.
Saying that was a mistake, because the queen noticed that Mai'ya was trying to protect her maid.
"You!" Valissa pointed to one of the four guards in her escort. "Punish this maid for her audacity in trying to interfere where she shouldn't," she ordered.
"Please, Your Majesty, don't punish her. Madelaine did nothing wrong," Mai'ya knelt before Valissa in submission. "I beg you, Your Majesty, please spare her."
"Are you trying to give me orders?" the queen, red with anger, asked the princess.
Widening her eyes in fear, Mai'ya realized her mistake and threw herself at Valissa's feet. "No, Your Majesty, I made a mistake and deserve to be punished for it." The queen, smiling wickedly, moved forward to strike Mai'ya again.
"Stop right now!" Kauan shouted at the queen and rushed to help the princess.
Valissa began to laugh. "You can't stop me. As the queen of Kálan, I can do whatever I want. Only the king can give me orders," she said, looking at the priest with disgust.
"And you'd better remember that," a male voice echoed toward them. Walking toward the group was Anik and his two advisors. The three were being escorted by six members of the royal guard. The queen's group and Madelaine bowed to the king. Valissa nodded to the king, acknowledging his presence.
Anik went to his wife and slapped her so hard that she lost her balance and fell onto the grass. "I'll deal with you later," the king declared, looking at Valissa with utter disdain. Anik turned toward Kauan. "I thought Arenim had decided to be Mai'ya's tutor, but it seems I was mistaken," he said to the priest.
"The high priest entrusted me with continuing the second princess's history lessons. I apologize if this matter had not yet been clarified for Your Majesty," Kauan said, bowing and asking for forgiveness.
Anik looked at the young priest and nodded, accepting the apology. Of course, I had already been informed about the change in Mai'ya's tutor, but I'll let them think I'm negligent about some things, the king thought. "Is any of you going to help the second princess up or not?" Anik asked, looking at the queen's guards.
A guard with red hair and gray eyes approached Mai'ya and helped her to her feet. He also straightened the skirt of the simple pink dress the princess was wearing, brushing off the grass blades that were stuck to the fabric.
Up close, Mai'ya could see that the morph who helped her must have been between fifteen and sixteen years old. He's quite young to be in the queen's guard. He's probably some commoner in dire need, the princess thought.
The king watched the guard and the princess while ignoring Valissa, who was getting up from the ground, her face red from the slap and the anger she felt.
"What's your name?" Mai'ya asked the guard who was helping her.
Surprised by the princess's interest in him, the young guard took a few seconds longer than polite to answer her. "My name is Dastan, Your Highness," he finally said.
"Well, Dastan, I think there's no more grass on my dress, so you can stop shaking it now," the princess declared with a smile, as with every shake the guard gave the fabric, she felt her balance falter.
The guard blushed, accentuating the freckles on his face. "I'm deeply sorry for my improper behavior, Your Highness," Dastan apologized, bowing. When he straightened up, he saw that the king was approaching him and the princess. "Your Majesty," he greeted the king again with another bow.
"How are you, my niece?" Anik asked Mai'ya.
"My face is stinging a bit, and I hurt my hand when I fell to the ground," the princess replied. "But other than that, Your Majesty, I'm fine," she finished with a calm smile.
Mai'ya's smile and gaze reminded Anik of his twin brother, Khelios. He, too, used to smile like that, even when going through hardships. I think I've neglected Mai'ya for too long, the king thought.
Making a decision, the king turned to Dastan. "Young man, how would you like a promotion?" Anik asked rhetorically.
Realizing what was happening, Dastan knelt before the monarch.
Satisfied with the guard's quick reaction, Anik continued, "From today onward, you are no longer a member of the queen's guard. I am promoting you to the personal guard of the second princess, Mai'ya," he announced. "You must serve her and, above all, protect her from anyone who wishes to harm her," the king continued. "And one day, if you decide the princess is worthy, you may take the oath to become her sworn protector. Now rise and walk your new path," Anik concluded.
"Yes, Your Majesty," Dastan said, standing up again.
"You are all dismissed, except for Valissa, who must accompany me to the royal office," Anik ordered, causing the group to disperse.
"Well, let's head to the Temple of Selèn nearby," Kauan said, pointing the princess, her maid, and now her new personal guard in the right direction. And so, they left that part of the garden.