“Thank you for accompanying me all the way here. For now,” I turned to the two guards behind me, “I’d like to have a moment alone.”
After I woke up from my nap, I decided to take a quick stroll around the castle grounds. Luckily, the guards told me that Bethilda had a small garden. So, I asked them to show me its location.
The two guards shared glances with each other, worried and unsure. One of them replied, “But Your Highness, His Majesty specifically said that should you ask for our company, we are not to leave you alone. Especially when you’re outside the castle.”
I chuckled. “There’s nothing to be scared of, gentlemen. With the location of the duchess’ residence, it’s a bit impossible for enemies to attack from within these walls,” I explained. “At the same time, I don’t think that these walls are penetrable from all fronts.”
They looked at each other once again, still uncertain of what to do.
I sighed, which made them look in my direction. “I assure you, I can manage on my own. I just need a bit of time for myself,” I added.
When they saw that I couldn’t be persuaded, the guards gave up and bowed. Slowly, they walked away and finally, I had the space and time that I wanted. I then proceeded further into the small garden.
I looked around and there wasn’t much to see. As I walked down a pebbled path, all I saw were nicely-trimmed trees. The path was surrounded by stone holders for torch bowls. I followed the path even further and I came across a gate, covered in vines. The arc above it was also engulfed in entangled vines.
I checked my surroundings before I approached the gate with caution. Even though I was in a relative’s castle, I couldn’t just touch anything. If I were to allow my curiosity to take over me, the least that I could do was to be careful. I moved the vines to the side and thankfully, the gate wasn’t locked.
I moved the handle aside and the steel gate opened with a creak. And to my surprise, my eyes were greeted with a lovely sight.
A small garden.
---*---*---*---
No wonder there wasn’t much to see outside. All the beauty of her garden was kept here. Flower-growing shrubs and tall, majestic trees took most of the space. But because of the trees, numerous birds sang from above. And in the middle of everything, there sat an old fountain.
I closed the gate and walked towards the fountain. I peeked into it and the fountain contained nothing but old pebbles. It seemed as if this garden hadn't been visited for a long time. The shrubs weren’t perfectly trimmed like the ones outside. The trees here were taller than the ones in front of the castle. And because the entrance to this small garden was covered in vines, I could tell that this place had been forgotten.
I sat down on the edge of the fountain and took in the scenery around me. Why would Bethilda neglect such a beautiful place?
“What a shame,” I talked to myself as my eyes roamed around my surroundings. I continued, “This place has so much potential to be even more breath-taking. It only needs to come to life again.” I took a pebble from the bottom of the fountain. “I wonder why this garden was never kept properly.”
“Because it holds so many memories.”
I quickly turned to the direction of the voice. It was Marcus. He immediately knelt as he entered, “Your Highness.”
I smiled as I put the pebble back. “There’s no need for formalities, Marcus,” I replied. As he stood up, I took notice of the travel clothes that he was wearing. “Are you going somewhere?” I asked.
He looked down onto his attire and grinned. “Yes, Your Highness,” he looked back at me. He continued, “His Majesty said that I will be sent to your castle for my safety. And I couldn’t be more thankful for such an opportunity.”
“It’s the best that we can do for your protection,” I replied as I approached him. “Even if Bethilda will be confined within her quarters, she could have secret allies within your household. You’ve done so much to help us. It is only proper that we do the same for you.”
He bowed his head. “Once again, I thank you with all my heart, Your Highness.”
I put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a brief shake. He looked up and we shared a smile with one another. “Anyways, what was that you mentioned about this garden?” I asked as I pulled my hand back. “Why did you say this place held so many memories?”
“Well, according to what I heard, this garden was a dedication to someone very special to the duchess,” he explained. “They said that the duchess once fell in love and she had this garden made for that person. Perhaps, it was some sort of gesture from the duchess to prove her love for that person.”
I briefly held my breath as Marcus explained. The only person I knew that Bethilda loved was James. Was there someone else? Or was this garden truly made for James?
I then asked, “Did anyone mention who it was that the duchess loved?”
He took some time to think before he shook his head. “They simply said that the trees hold the answer to whoever this garden was made for,” he replied. He continued, “For all the years that I’ve been here, I never figured it out. Nobody has stepped foot into this place for a long time. Not even the duchess herself.”
He added, “I guess she was so heartbroken that she abandoned this garden entirely. And it is uch a painful sight to see. I mean,” he opened his arms and spun, “Just look around you. Its beauty is hiding in plain sight.”
I looked around and up to the trees. Every now and then, the birds would fly to and fro from each magnificent tree. They all sang at the same time and it was music to my ears.
Marcus sighed. “Maybe if I was born around the same time as her, maybe if I was born into royalty – or even just the nobility – she would have noticed my devotion towards her.”
I froze as my eyes widened. Slowly, I turned back to him and asked, “What do you mean?”