The king's eyes

Satine

I’m sitting on a log, still a little out of breath from the hours of dancing with the tireless revelers.

I chose a quiet little corner away, to recover. I thought I was alone until I heard someone whisper...

I look around me, perplexed... I don’t see anyone.

There is a carriage next to me, it is covered. Does it come from there?

I approach to hear better...

" Excuse me, please? I just need a little water... That’s all I ask..."

Oh!! The prisoner!

He looked young… He must have gotten himself into the madness of those twisted old folks.

But he will have to pay, we reap what we sow.

I’m still going to get him some food and water. I’m tough, but not unfair, that’s what I tell everyone all the time.

Shouldn’t there be guards with him? They must have taken a break… I prepare a well-stocked plate and a large goblet of water.

He is lucky, I am happy, and I want to be lenient.

The guards won’t be as nice so I let him take advantage of my good humor.

I enter the carriage.

He is sitting on the ground, his wrists chained to the kind of wrought iron cage improvised by the soldiers with the help of the blacksmiths we met in the towns we passed through.

It’s dark, I can barely see his face.

" Hello there? Romeo, is it?" I asked.

"Hello. Yes, it is… Thanks for coming." He said, grateful.

"I came to bring you some food." I said.

"Really? Thank you, thank you very much."

"Wait, we can’t see anything, I’m going to get a candle, I’ll be back."

Well, from here, he doesn’t look very scary. But he’s the son of the devil, anyhow, in my eyes.

I come back with a small oil lamp.

I enter the carriage again.

When he looks up at me, I see his face...

He is really very beautiful…

His hair is like… golden blonde, his dark blue eyes studying me back…

He really has a pleasant face, you couldn’t believe he’s a bad guy. He is even very seductive, evil sometimes has that effect, I suppose.

"My name is Satine, I am.."

"The king’s daughter." He said.

"… Yes. Here, eat, and drink. You may be our prisoner but we are not savages." I said, giving him enough to sustain.

"Thank you again… How is Iris?" He asked.

"Are you really interested?" I asked my turn.

"Believe it or not… We had the opportunity to chat a bit. She is overflowing with kindness and gentleness, we can only appreciate her.

I never hurt her. I was at your place a few days ago. I am really worried about her." He said.

"You say you fed and watered her when she was locked up in your crazy evil coven?" I asked, skeptical.

"Yes… I should have done more… I tried, I can swear on my life. I tried to stop them when they put her to sleep. They were too numerous and completely possessed by their hatred towards your father and his followers.

When Iris wakes up... Because she will get there, I’m sure.

When she wakes up she will be able to tell you that I have never been on their side, that I have always set myself apart, that I have always isolated me, so much I could no longer bear to be trapped with them." He said, thoughtful.

"But you are his son! How do you expect us to believe that you are on our side? My father killed yours, your father conspired against mine for years... It makes perfect sense that you want the king dead, at least to avenge your father." I told him. Trying to get the truth.

"I did not know my father, he barely knew me, did not speak to me, and was not interested in me. He was completely obsessed with his goal and the people he could enlist in his cause.

He let himself be alienated by his own ideas, to see that he managed to bring people together and influence them, it made him even more evil and eager to destroy your father… I understood that over time.

I could never come to terms with that. I was an impostor among them, although at first, I tried to think like them...

But I never managed to sincerely believe that they were right. I had no choice but to pretend. They had all planned my future for me.

I could never have left or opposed them. I could only wait for an opportunity to escape...

I was hoping your father would arrive soon, and he did.

But things didn’t go the way I wanted. I will wait for my trial. Pray for Iris to testify on my behalf. And we’ll see." He said, resilient.

I don’t know what to add to that... I continue to observe him, pensive and disturbed by his story.

I believe him to be sincere… I can’t convince myself he’s bluffing, something tells me he’s telling the truth. I hope time will prove it to me.

I let him finish his plate, he thanks me warmly, and I let him spend his night alone in his cage, without any comfort.

Now that I know him a little better, it bothers me to know him in these conditions… What if he was really innocent and we treat him like an animal that we are going to slaughter?

I wish Iris would wake up, too.