Head canted, the crown prince followed her story intently, a few slow nods here and there, taking in every words spilled from the maid’s lips. He was trying to stay still as she retold her life – oh, did he try his best! – but the perfectly flat, cold floor, as well as his crossed-legs position did it on him. Discreetly, Zacharias wiggled his legs, avoiding the cold temperature for a split-second while regaining blood flow to his legs.
He knew of many servants’ fates prior to serving the royal family. A great number of them were taken in for they had no one in their family to support them, while some came from enemy kingdoms, exploits from victorious wars – though they seldom perform tasks directly for the family.
He has heard of the common tendency between soldiers, demanding women to aid their wounds as to flirt with them when they have the chance. But such things weren’t discussed much with him –don’t worry, the affairs of soldiers are none of our concern; let the soldiers have what they want. Besides they serve our kingdom, don’t they? This— it keeps them loyal, Father replied him when Zach brought out the topic some time ago (Ma said the soldiers are getting rowdy. She said, even the maids get the brunt of it, and that you better attend to the problem).
Zach nodded back then, keeping silent despite his father’s reply. He couldn’t deny the logic behind it, as indecent as it may be (but what difference is there with hiring a whore? he thought back then). Besides, if anything completely terrible happens between the maids and soldiers, something equivalent to treason or murder, Alain, as the king, would take care of it.
Yet the facts were spilled out in front of him right on his bedroom floor. A terrible account... and definitely not one that has been taken care of.
“I am sorry,” to hear that. I am sorry for almost letting you relive the experience all over again. Only three words were spoken, however Zach placed a weight of pity and guilt on each letter said. What she told him explained her reactions in the bath earlier: the glint of tremendous fear when he placed his palm on her thigh. Her vulnerable mien when he leaned down for a kiss.
Such things happen to people near him. People inside the castle’s protection. With how she told him, it is plausible to assume that this happens as if it was but an everyday occurrence. And despite everything that has to do with his heritage and pride, Zacharias couldn’t argue with the fact that the nobles kept their dignity and pride intact by distancing themselves from people they deemed without.
“Does my father know about--” the prince stopped midsentence. Of course he knew. Though not of the rape, his father knew of the harassment by the soldiers towards the maids, and had chosen to turn a blind eye to it. The very reason why Ma despised that side of him. He pursed his lips, let three seconds pass, and tried again: “Have you talked about this to anyone else? Does the head maid know about this?” Perhaps this was precisely why she was sent to his chamber instead, even though this was not in her line of work. To tend his bath, not to tend the wound of soldiers.
Zacharias is a believer of Fate; he is not one to believe in coincidences. Why she was sent to his room and not his brother’s, there was definitely something behind it. In every occurrence there is an underlying chance, an underlying potential: if a person realises the reason behind ‘why this and not that’, they can use that chance to determine the next course of action that will produce the best possible outcome, in accordance to that moment’s potential.
If this encounter meant something...
He is the crown prince. He can decide how things should fall into place (something his brother can’t do. For now, at least). Suddenly everything clicked into place. “You can serve under me for the moment. I will have the head maid arrange it tomorrow. I think it would be better than tending the soldiers...” a couple of nods, “...yes, definitely much better. Then the higher up wouldn’t dare to defy me. You were sent here to tend my bath, after all.” A part of him couldn’t believe he was spouting definite orders in the heat of the moment. But the gut feeling was there. That he has to do something about it.
Using a royal’s bath without permission is one thing, getting pregnant outside marriage is another thing, but things like severe punishments do not seem right when the maid told him the whole story. But the other nobles might not think so. But they don’t know the exact truth. Would keeping quiet be the right thing to do?
“Also, I will not speak to anyone about your mistake in the bathroom.” A pause, fists pressed on his knees. “Nor about your pregnancy...” This was the right thing to do, right? He fought the immense feeling of doubt with resolve: I am the crown prince. The stakes weren’t enough to kill me, so of course it will be alright. “It will just complicate your situation further.” (At situations like this, he thought of whether his mother would approve his judgment or not, being the level-minded person she is. This time, Zach believed he won her approval.)