Flowers of Worship

ItwasinthemiddleofthenightthatthewomanwhowouldbetheDuchesscametoseeme.Shesaidmyfatherandmotherdied,andmykindunclebecameking.Shesaidit’snotworthitforme,thecrownprince,tobelivinginhiding,too.“Awhileago,YourHighnesshadbeenhidingfromme.Withallduerespect,isthatforthesakeofsurvival?Justbecauseyourparentsdieddoesn’tmeanyouhavenoreasontosurvive.Actually,thatfactalonemadeitallthemorereasonwhyyoushouldlive.Ifyoudienow…”IfIdiednow?WhenIaskedherwhilelookingathereyes,thewomaneventuallybroughtouttheharshtruthwithempatheticeyes.“It’slikeadog’sdeath.”“That’srude….”It’sbeenalongtimesinceIsaidthat.Inashortwhile,hehasbeentreatedasamadmanandbeatentodeathjustbysayingsimilarthings.SheloosenedherarmsthatheldmeandIsuddenlystiffenedupduetoit.BecauseIthoughtshemighthaveloosenedherarmtohitme.Butshedidn’t.Shekneltdownwithonekneeinfrontofme,justlikeaknight.“Hastred’sSarianraisedhersalutations.Mayyouacceptitgladly.”Myfirstknightisbeautifulandkind.“Areyouonmyside?”“Yes,YourHighness.”Itwasallalie.