Bordom and Naïveté

There comes a day in the life of many low class members of society when, after saving up money, they could either go on a vacation or relocate completely. Not all were financially fortunate enough or cared to explore beyond their homes, but there existed a type of astonishment that even hermits could imagine:

Size.

Geographically, the citizens of the Ashraha kingdom could be divided into four tiers of settlement: the castle town, the capital, the other cities and large towns, and smaller towns or villages.

But the architectural shock wasn’t just inside the four geographical castes.

Whether from right next to the royal family in the castle town, or from a faraway settlement, the size of the balcony princess Zayobi would soon step onto was enough to uplift the people below into cheers.

Behind the massive red curtains separating the inner chamber and the balcony, in what would’ve looked like a mother doing the hair of her daughter before a wedding if she’d been a few years older, the queen was giving the finishing touches to Zayobi’s attire.

Sitting on a seat with a tall backrest that didn’t allow her to met her mother’s face even if she turned around, Zayobi asked: “If my status as heir is immovable, then what about when I have a husband? My partner becomes the king, so if I’ll allow him to marry any of my sisters, they would become queens as well, and thus could replace me.”

The sixteen-year-old princess spoke with no hint of sarcasm, maybe even proud of her theory.

“Let’s assess our candidates, then.” The red colors spread throughout the room weren’t enough to saturate the queen’s warm voice.

She continued: “Sgura is too delicate and soft, her figure’s maturity is sadly not enough. While Kamiko, whose wisdom in battle and politics might surpass her expectations, is the kind of person others’ idolization of is heavier than their desire to rule those they charmed.”

“You skipped Hedyla.”

“Hedyla idolizes you the most, while being better than Kamiko in many things. However, if given only the two choices, Hedyla will prefer to dedicate her life to protecting Sgura by herself than to rule.” She ended with: “I skipped her because Hedyla will be a queen only if Sgura were to become one and split the title with her.”

Her mother’s words were like an egotistical moral compass, speaking directly yet hiding from you. Even if not on purpose, a voice being warm doesn’t mean it will convey warm words too.

“You’re one to decide on goals for yourself and achieve results without sharing them with anyone. Like when you decided to map out the entirety of the royal castle, when maps and blueprints of it were readily available. Which princess has ever made a multilayered blueprint with notes on the guards’ patrols for her own castle, and in under a week?”

“That’s for me to escape the castle without anyone noticing. I also mapped out the castle town.” Zayobi stated bluntly.

“You must be now in the process of studying the Hallowed Forest standing between us and our enemies and preparing for your very own infiltration mission, right? You did just witness an, while failed, example of how some people do it.”

Princess Zayobi sighed: “You know, for truly unique places like the Hallowed Forest, maybe a map isn’t needed? Maybe it’s a kind of place that guides you even if you don’t illustrate it, or that rewards those who venture without a direction.”

Her tone was always either blunt or an “I expected too much.” Zayobi’s choice of topics and words radiated both ambition and what might’ve been a creative mind some would say was too dangerous, not just for a sixteen-year-old, but for a future queen as well.

“Apologies dear, even I am hindered by formalities such as your ceremony.” She finishes going through her hair.

“I do believe, however.” She added. “That when you take the throne, not only will maps of the Hollowed Forest be sold throughout the kingdom, but your soldiers will carry our flags to the borders of Zevesh and Mizrakah, and hopefully beyond.”

Those were the queen’s last words before Zayobi stood up, finding her mother’s hand on her shoulder, meeting her face with a nod saying “go ahead.”

***

What was there to say about a birthday ceremony, specifically for a princess? How different was it from a normal birthday, aside from having invited a thousand times the normal amount of people?

In all honesty, Zayobi’s interest was so low that she didn’t even for a mere moment glance around, only gazing forward to the sky standing at near-equal height.

Obviously, she didn’t try to fake awe in her mind with a “so many people!” or a “they all have their hopes in me to one day lead them!”

This is Zayobi’s story, why would it waste time going over the details she herself ignored to the point of erasing from her memory?

This isn’t meant to be philosophical, but if one were to read a biography, would they value more a version written only by the person themselves while they were alive, or by many different people who’ve met the person, yet made after their passing?

An objectively correct answer would be: “I love princess Zayobi! I want to get inside her mind and see what logic brought her to the great results she was known throughout the years for!” so chances are that such a devoted citizen would applaud the selfishness of the calculating princess.

One of the things that did matter during her speech, was, however;

“And I promise, and I promise knowing words alone have no value, that I, Zayobi Ashraha, will be the symbol of our nation. Whether or not I truly am a Flame Soul without a Divine Creation, I know my spirit will be the light guiding every one of you!”

If only the roaring citizens and soldiers knew how bored she was inside throughout her whole speech. The contradiction between her psyche and voice was wide enough to turn the capital into a canyon had it materialized.

Not necessarily a facade as well, however, Zayobi couldn’t know that in less than one day, she would tell a lie that would change the course of her life.

One so small, no one would expect it to be effective against the person whom it will paralyze.

Fittingly enough, the lie’s weight and size would be equal to the body of that consequential chat.