Chapter Text
The wooden floorboards groaned beneath the weight of my cautious step, their cry echoing louder than it had any right to in a palace this grand. My entire body flinched at the sound, nerves stretched so tight I felt like a snapped string waiting to happen.
I took a deep breath, slow, shaky, and not nearly enough. Then, I stepped forward, each movement feeling like I was pushing through invisible weights. “By Gaia’s grace, I beg that I won't be caught,” I begged, not aloud, just in the quiet space between hope and dread. Not her. Not now.
It took the most effort out of me to get out of bed in the first place! I was so frightened that my body froze after I awoke. It must have been an hour before I even dared to take the first step!
No matter, I couldn’t risk it.
Worst of all, today was the day the royal council judged the traitor knights' punishment, so they had to wake up early, meaning if I were caught in here in the middle of all of this treason, I would be killed on the spot. Better than what the poor fellow who tried to frighten the princess with a scarecrow went through, but still horrible.
I tested the carpet with one foot. No creak. A blessing. I took another step, slower this time, trying not to breathe too loudly. Then another. Each second stretched like an eternity as I crawled toward the door like a rat avoiding its ender. And that's when I noticed the carpet was ending at least 10 feet before the door. My heart rang heavy each time I even thought about walking.
Glancing throughout the room, I decided that I would have to quickly walk through the area to hopefully get to the eastern guard's tower, which was the only way to leave the palace completely unnoticed.
The room stank of wealth, not in the gaudy way some of the elites flaunted it, but the quiet, cruel kind that made your bones ache just looking at it. There was a mirror rimmed with jewels that sparkled like starlight and a haircomb carved from ivory and soaked in gold, probably worth more than every meal I’d ever eaten.
I swiftly took 5 steps, each making noises that I hoped no one would hear. Glancing back at the bed, I could see the figure there still unmoved, which helped me calm down, even a little.
And as I approached the large wooden doors. My heart stopped. A voice penetrated through the quiet ambiance of the room, sending a shiver down my spine.
“You can try to leave if you wish, but I guarantee that you won't make it very far.”
I could feel her gaze piercing through my neck like she was analyzing me. A loud noise sounded shortly after.
A gasp had flown out of my mouth before I could even process it. I held my hand against my ajar mouth. Waiting suspensefully for the words that I knew would come out of her mouth.
Was she speaking to me? A peasant abandoned by his biological family? A member of the royal family speaking to me? This had to be some type of dream, right?
Lilith. The name alone could hush a tavern. One of the king's many children, but one of the only actual blood-related, she was different. Special. The kind of special that made nobles whisper and commoners dream. The kind that made foreign kings nervous.
You didn’t just meet Lilith. You survived her. Heck, the king deemed it treason to name a child with a name of such elegance as Lilith.
In New Gotham, Lilith was a legend to the people, literally; the king, before her 18th birthday, forbade her from being talked to by anyone outside the castle.
And here she was, just moments before sleeping in the same bed with me, a peasant, someone who shouldn’t even be seen in the eyes of a member of the royal family.
Yet here I was, staring at this beauty with my own eyes. Gazing at her like an imbecile, I wasn’t completely sure if I was drooling or not.
Her hair spilled down her back like a waterfall of ink, flowing in silent defiance of the concept of bed head, glinting in the daylight like obsidian blades. Eyes that were so unique, considering no one else in the royal bloodline had two different eye colors. A pale complexion that could only be rivaled by the snow that fell every 4 seasons. There was no rivaling beauty outside of the 3 major royal families. And that’s exactly why I couldn’t stay.
You see, Lilith has been sheltered from a very young age; we hadn’t known about her birth until she was 6. The public hadn’t even been graced by her presence till she turned the age of 12. And it would have been longer, had the king known the hundreds of suitors, poor and rich, ugly and handsome. Everyone you could think of would come to meet her.
The King had even established a rule shortly after he saw the number of suitors that came for her, which entailed that any non-royal people could not even lay a hand on the royalty of this kingdom (which we all knew was majorly for Lilith).
And on top of all of that, rumors were floating around that even though in our kingdom, the most liked heir would take the throne, Lilith was not going to be chosen, the votes would be rigged, and she would come out in last place. And it's the fault of the Gotham Knights.
The Gotham Knights were a group of vigilantes working for the royal family. (Allegedly, there is no real proof they work for the royals, but there is no other reason why they protect their name and honor.) They were also known as the Bat Syndicate since the leader seemed to be parading around in a bat costume.
They came around threatening even the highest of nobles, demanding they vote for Prince Richard, who was the second-favorite choice, when the king would most likely fall in battle against King Clark.
“Are you just going to stand there idling as if you were a guard similar to the ones outside my door?” She giggled, as if it were not a mere joke but a threat and a warning.
I dare not speak in her presence without being commanded to speak, one of King Bruce’s other rules.
It's harsh living in New Gotham; King Bruce holds his family above all his citizens. I have no doubt he would sacrifice us in a heartbeat for even a single one of his children!
“Y-you majesty, I had no idea you were awake. Forgive me, I was just making my leave.” I fell to one knee, head facing downwards. I had no idea how I had gotten here, and yet I was in the same room as her majesty! I have to get out of here.
She shuffled to the side of the bed, sitting up, and then standing. Step after step, she walked towards me, seemingly gliding across the floor. And my heartbeat matched her pace.
Time seemed to slow down, and I couldn’t think of anything. My mind seemed blank at this moment alone. And as a person who’s usually quick to batter, this baffled me.
She edged closer and closer. It took me an hour to walk across the room, yet she did it so effortlessly. Not under the pressure of death, I am.
How did I even get into the palace? How was I not spotted, stabbed, and then forgotten all in one swift order? And most of all, how did the other members of the royal family not kill me on the spot? There were rumors that Prince Jason carried a small dagger for ‘safety’ measures.
Who was swift enough to sneak past all the guards and the royal guards, along with the princess's overly attached family, all in one night? I had no idea, but whoever it was, I applaud you; you managed to send me to a place worse than Ironbark.
I bowed deeply enough that my hair was scratching the ground. And then I turned and raised my hand to the door handle. But just as I was about to pull the door handle towards freedom, she was right behind me. I hadn’t been paying attention to her and had disregarded the silence right in front of me.
I'm such an idiot! She wrapped her long, slender, lightly toned arms around my chest. I looked over my shoulder to see her; I hadn’t realized she was this tall from afar! She was at least 6 inches taller than I!
I never would have guessed that this tree of a woman was someone who needed to be “protected”.
“Why don’t you stay a little longer? You’ll be fine as long as you stay here.” She urged me. I didn’t feel any deceit in her tone, although her expression was unreadable.
“Y-you majesty, what are you doing!? Please, you have to let go, I’ll be executed for this!” My voice rasps in response.
Did she, Her Majesty, just hug me? No, it had to be some kind of joke. There’s no way she did. The same person who’s known for not wanting a husband just hugged me?! Of course, that could still be a Falsehood created by the king, but still!
I swiftly ducked under her arms, and I backed away till I hit my biggest adversary. The large wooden doors are behind me. Looking into her eyes once more. It was like they had me in a trance; galaxies woven into them.
But I hurriedly shook my head, disregarding the thoughts invading my mind, a small blush appearing on my face.
“You can try to leave if you wish, but just as I stated before, you won't make it very far. I trust you understand what would happen if a Laborer were caught in the royal palace without a specific summons from the royal family?” A threat? She was threatening me?!
“You’re threatening me?! I didn’t come here willingly; I don't even know how I ended up in her highness's quarters!” I pleaded that I knew she was right, and I would be decapitated on the spot if I were caught.
But there’s still a chance! All I need to do is escape from the eastern part of the castle, then I’ll end up in the forest below, and I’ll be back in town just like nothing ever happened!
“No, not a threat, just a warning. I suggest you stay here for the time being. I have to speak to my family about this “arrangement” we have going on.”
She didn’t say why, but the way she looked at me when she said it… I knew. If anyone saw me touching her, breathing her air, I wouldn’t walk out of here alive.
“Wait, you had something to do with this?” I said, a clear frustration in my voice. “Why? I’m nothing but an orphan; why would you have me taken here?”
“You’ll know in due time, but for now, I suggest you stay in this section of the royal quarters for the time being. I don't doubt that nothing good will come for either of us if you get caught, a stern talking to me, and a sword to the neck for you.” She was right… But still, I couldn’t just stay here and wait to be punished for “treason against the country,” as the king says. I had to leave; there was no other way I could stay and still live a normal life!
I couldn’t even focus on what she just said. Sweat ran down my hands as I quickly turned around, flung the door open, and was met with a hallway longer than the streets of The Backway.
It was cold outside her room, and the lanterns hanging from the ceiling were at least 5 feet above me. Each door looked the same to me. How do they even tell which room is theirs or not?
There were dozens of doors spanning dozens of meters, and this was before I turned a corner! Honestly, I don't understand the elites of society. Being able to live in such huge places where 50% of the place isn't even going to be used? If I ever had that amount of money, I would travel the world instead of being stuck in this gloom fest of a kingdom.
As I ran through the halls of Wayne Castle, I found myself lost. Not knowing if I was in the eastern part of the castle or the southern. But I was at least glad I hadn’t been caught. I’ve done the most I can to sneak around the place without being caught, but I was worried that it wasn't enough.
I found myself staring out a large window in the middle of a windowless hall. I glanced from side to side, looking at the fields and gardens that lay about. I suddenly heard a noise.
I could hear a glass clinking noise coming from the room behind me. I had noticed when I turned around that this room, in particular, had a red and black design on the door, leading me to remember something haunting.
Wasn’t Prince Jason’s whole color scheme black and red? ....
“Sam, come bring me another drink; I've run out of wine.” My heart fell farther than it ever had before. What was my luck? Had I been cursed? I only stole that necklace to pay for dinner. I don't deserve this!
“Sam? It's already early morning. Why aren’t you here yet?” The deep, underlying angry voice questioned.
Sam must be his butler! If he isn't here yet, maybe I can get away with this! But I probably don’t say anywhere close to his butler. What do I do? What do I do?
I lowered my voice to something barely above a whisper, and somehow he managed to hear it.
“Your Highness, I’ll be right with you. Please give me a minute.” My only chance of survival was deception, and it wasn't going to be easy to deceive the second in line to the throne.
Fingers clenched, I prayed and begged to anyone and anything out there.
Silence. That was all I heard. My heart was going to jump out of my chest at this point. I can't keep doing this.
And then he spoke once more; this time, there was a hint of interest in his voice.
“Sam, get me my favorite kind of wine…” Sweat darkened my shirt. Any more and I would have been named the Great River of Evan.
How was I supposed to get his favorite wine? I may be a harbinger of gossip, but not of the favorite choice of wine the royal family has!
“Yes, sire. That I shall.” In the most elegant way I could, I answered as respectfully as possible. But as soon as I was going to sprint off, I heard something. Something that I didn’t expect at all.
The sharp clang of a sword sliding free echoed through the hallway like a warning bell. I whipped my head toward the door, heart hammering like a war drum in my chest. Just as I steeled myself to move on, the door slammed open with the force of a tempest.
There he stood, Prince Jason. Second in line to the throne, whispered about in fearful tones as the kingdom’s most battle-ready heir. The monster of the royal bloodline.
Daylight caught the gleam of his long sword, its blade a sliver of cold silver in the dim room. His usual expression, an unreadable mask of icy arrogance, was shattered tonight by a furious blaze. Eyes dark with rage bore into me, burning away any hope I had left.
“How dare a commoner sneak into the heirs' quarters?!” His voice was low, deadly, a command and a curse all in one.
My breath caught in my throat. There was no room left to run. Not unless I begged, prayed, and stood the test of time in prison for the rest of my days. Idle in a damp room, begging for scraps.
The sheer pressure of his footing had the stone ground cracking underneath his massive stature. He towered above my average height at a staggering 6’3". My knees wobbled like wet noodles, barely keeping me upright under the weight of his gaze. The kind of stare that stripped you bare, chewed through your defenses, and spat out whatever courage you had left.
I wanted to run, to hide. To be anywhere except here. Why did it have to be me who was in the face of this… this… Massive mistake!?
But I can’t just die now! There has to be something I can do to get out of this situation, right? Not likely; the prince was fuming in front of me.
I could see that the grip he had on his sword caused veins to swell in his rough-looking hands. He must have been trained well to be able to hold one, considering the lack of uneasiness on his face.
He had begun to step forward, sword raised to the right, ready to kill me.
The cold had made an onslaught on my face, stiffening everything from the chin up. How did they live like this? You would think this was some kind of training.
As Prince Jason took another deafening step forward, his sword at the ready, a low, ringing clang sounded behind him.
He stood still.
We both did.
And a voice followed that, one cool, firm, and unmistakably infused with command:
"Put down your blade, Prince. That's a direct order from Crown Princess Lilith."
The coldness of the air shattered like glass.
The temperature in the hall shifted in a snap.
I hadn't even fully noticed how insanely cold it was because of the adrenaline coursing through my blood.
From the darkness of the corridor emerged a woman clad in red and black steel, Wayne family symbol emblazoned openly on the chest plate.
Pauldrons glistened with the touch of daylight, and a red cape streamed behind her like the blood that had been spilled.
Sir Katherine Kane, Commander of the Royal Guard.
The Crimson Knight.
The king's niece.
And, apparently, my guardian angel.
Jason's expression wavered not with fear, but Annoyance.
You could tell it from the way his hand tightened.
His mouth was in a sneer.
"He's trespassing," Jason growled, but his sword arm was at the ready.
"He shouldn't be alive."
Kate cut between us without slowing, her booted feet pounding the stone like punctuation.
She came to stand before me, one hand resting on the hilt of her sword, the other raised slightly to halt Jason.
"And yet, here I am. I am commanded by the crown princess, and so are you. And she decides today who lives and dies, prince."
Jason flinched, actually flinched.
My jaw nearly hit the damn floor.
Kate's helmet wobbled minutely as she looked at me, no reprimand, no compassion, only a thoughtful, calculating appraisal. Which embarrassed me, her looking at me while I'm square on my tush.
Then her eyes flicked back to Jason, and she spoke in an even softer voice, but somehow more deadly.
"He's in my protection. If you have an issue with that, feel free to discuss it with the lord. But unless you'd care for a reprimand from Lilith, I suggest you let him go.”
Jason's eye flickered.
He stared at me and her as if weighing risk.
Then, with a deep, resentful snarl, he shoved his sword back into its sheath hard enough to create a spark.
He leaned in close to Kate, speaking in a low, bitter tone.
"The council won't shield you indefinitely. Neither will your little marker."
Kate did not flinch.
"And yet it always has." Her smile was a blade.
Jason spun and strode away down the corridor, boots thudding every step like a drum.
And in a flash, he was gone.
For a flash, the corridor was silent.
And then Kate leaned up and released her helmet with a hiss of steam.
Red hair was mussed over her face, her eyes cold but human.
She was beautiful, more than I’d imagine a knight would be.
She glanced at me for a beat.
"You’ve stepped in it, huh?" she muttered, almost amused.
I nodded wordlessly, still trying to figure out how not to pass out.
Kate Kane rolled her eyes and offered me a gloved hand.
"Come on, peasant boy. You’ve got a lot of explaining to do. And many powerful people are about to start asking questions. But lucky for you."
She glanced back down the hallway where Jason had disappeared.
Smiling cheekily towards where the prince just exited, she said.
"You’ve got me."
“Now, we’ve got more important things to attend to.”
“Thank you for saving my life. I don’t even know how I got here. I promise, once you let me go, you’ll never see me again. Just lead me to the exit, and I’ll skip town instantly. Once again, thank you so much for,”
Cutting me off, she looked as if she were on the verge of laughter.
“I wouldn’t say ‘saved,’ just under new management.” And as she said that, before I could even react. She reeled her fist back, throwing it like a cannon into my stomach.
***
The clacking of shoes began to slow as Princess Lilith approached the dining hall. Beside her was Katherine. “Is he back in my quarters? I wouldn’t want another person seeing him before I could even explain myself.”
Fully dressed at this point, not painfully waiting for her plaything to finally arise and try to escape, just as she had planned.
“Don’t worry, he’s fine. He’s still out cold, and I didn't even hit him that hard.”
Lilith glanced towards Katherine, seemingly grinning. “Yes, of course, the head guard, who is known for not being able to pull her punches, definitely held back perfectly on a mere malnourished commoner.” She said sarcastically.
And before Katherine could respond, Lilith simply raised her slim hand gracefully as they arrived at the dining hall.
“Come back here in 1- no, 2 hours, depending on when I get fed up with their never-ending ramblings.” She chuckled
Katherine just nodded before slightly bowing and leaving for where they came from.