The musky but fresh scent of after rain grass.

Grey clouds covered the sky but a bit of sunshine peeked through the gaps in the clouds.

Lara, who was in the maid’s quarters, closed the window, having satisfied herself with the sights. Sure it wasn’t such a great sight, but nonetheless it was beautiful to her. Perhaps it was because she was happy?

After wiping herself with wet cloth and putting on her Victorian maid uniform, she braided her hair to a bun, adjusted her glasses and headed out.

One of the maid's usual duties was to clean. Her usual areas were places frequented by her master, the second prince of the Twilight Kingdom, Lazarus Valheart. He could be a handful at times, but overall he was a well behaved kid.

Lara arrived at the palace gardens and began sweeping. She carefully examined the usual corners that the other maids didn’t bother going over and reached down, but sometimes the shrubbery would hide the many leaves beneath it. And even with her broom, she couldn’t reach it.

Well, there’s no other choice left.

“Selestes irimu salasum,” She began chanting, and placed her left palm on her chest, and the other palm pointing two fingers at the shrubbery began emitting a faint blue light, “Anti, Neresumu, valus!”

As she finished her words, a green hexagon appeared in-front of her fingers and blasted out a gust of wind.

The fallen leaves beneath the shrubbery were blown out and it kept on going as she changed the angles to get some of the leaves that got stuck in the branches. She circled the shrub and after a good while, she shook her right hand as if she was drying off water from her palm. And at that moment, the green hexagon vanished.

It really was convenient to have magic at her disposal. It would’ve taken the regular maids a while to do this since some don’t know different elemental spells unlike her.

Well, maybe they just didn’t have a good affinity with wind.

Most people had only good affinity with certain elements, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t cast other elemental spells, it just meant they couldn’t do it as well her.

With that thought in mind, Lara continued to clean the Palace gardens.

It took a while but it was done. Gazing at the leaves free garden was satisfying. Lara turned her head the moment she heard a call,

“Heeyy! Lara!”

It was one of Princess Anastasia’s maids. She wondered what could be the problem?

The moment the other maid arrived, she began talking almost hurriedly.

“Now’s not the time to clean the palace gardens!”

“Why?”

“It can be left for later, right now we need you and your magic for heavy lifting!”

“Aren’t there other maids who can use the strength reinforcement?”

“They’re all busy, with some other things. So, come! Come!”

The maid took Lara’s hand and began leading her away.

Lara let her as she was somewhat taken aback by the abruptness.

“Is something big happening?”

“Yeah, Lady Emilia will be coming back in a few days!”

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

“The tale of the Arcane Prince.” Muttered Lazarus, staring at the thick story book he held in his hand. It was yet another picture book but it could serve as a good reference for magic training. At this point he’d already finished several picture books and re-read them many times.

Sometimes he forgot to train because he’d be so engrossed in the stories itself. But after finishing them, he’d always make time to train.

That said,

“It’s already late at night…” Lazarus looked at the door.

…

Usually Lara would be here by now to clean his room, but she didn’t show up.

He jumped from the bed and headed for the window. Upon pushing open the wooden window, cold winds entered. The night sky was clear, filled with thousands of tiny glittering dots.

It really was night time already like he’d anticipated but…

Lazarus looked to the door once more.

Maybe she wasn’t coming.

—--------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Lazarus was walking down the hallways to get to the palace gardens. When he noticed Lara, he wanted to come up to her and talk to her but he noticed she was carrying several crates that were at least twice as tall as she was and they looked heavy.

“How-...” Lazarus held his tongue upon setting his sights on her arm. They were glowing a deep blue light and in her forearm was a runic symbol.

A strength reinforcement spell!

Lazarus headed for her and spoke from behind her,

“Hey Lara! Is that magic!?”

“Hmmm?”

Lara turned to look at him but he noticed something strange. Her eyes looked weary, her hair that was usually a braided bun was flowing messily down. And she had bags under her eyes.

“Indeed it is,” Lara finally answered, but another maid came up from behind Lazarus and held his shoulder.

“Sorry, we are in dire need of Lara’s magic for now young Prince, if you could return to your room that would be helpful.”

It was one of Anastasia’s maids.

Understanding that Lara was busy and the fact that this maid could say some bad things to Anastasia if he protested, Lazarus decided to back off.

“Sorry young prince, I will come to clean your room at a later date, okay?” Said Lara, trying her best to give him a bright smile.

Lazarus nodded and simply returned to his room.

The next day, and the next, then the next. Lara never came.

Lazarus ended up wondering why they were so busy. He did clean his room by himself but he usually looked forward to just talking with Lara while she was busy cleaning. It was a bit disappointing but it couldn’t be helped.

That’s right, it wasn’t like she was leaving for months on end like his mother.

Lazarus was headed to the library since he’d already read most of the books on his little shelf and he needed more.

*Bang! Clink clang!*

"Hmm? What was that noise?"

The moment he entered the library, he noticed Lara, he smiled but stopped the moment she noticed him.

Widened eyes and fingers trembling, and disheveled hair. But Lazarus didn’t notice her looks as his gaze was fixated on a broken piece of ornament right in front of Lara.

“Uhmm-... this…”

“That’s mom’s priceless vase.” Lazarus muttered, he didn’t think too deeply as to why it was broken just stating it as is, but the horrified look Lara gave him made him feel a sense of apprehension.

“Oh my god!” Lara dropped to her knees and hurriedly took each piece of the broken vase in her palm. She collected them abnormally fast, and that it was scaring Lazarus a bit.

“What happened to mom’s favorite vase?”

Lara stopped, slowly turned her head up like a broken doll to him. “I broke it… But I didn’t do it on purpose! I was too tired from the preparation and-!”

Heavy footsteps could be heard approaching.

Lazarus was all too familiar with the heavy footsteps and he hurriedly went inside the library and closed the door out of fear. He wanted to hide somewhere but then he remembered that there was a broken case, and Lara was the one who broke it.

“What do I do?!” Lara held her head and looked around rapidly.

It was then that Lazarus recalled his talks with Lara a few weeks ago and he asked,

“Will you get fired?”

“Eh?” At this point, Lara just stared at him. Her mind went numb and she just stared at the broken pieces in front of her. She realized that this was her own fault.

If she was fired… No, she would definitely be fired. But then what will she send her family? How will her younger brother continue schooling in Royal Jenis academy?

The door clicked open.

Both Lazarus and Lara turned their heads to see the one man they never wanted to see in this situation.

His eyes were green, the kind of green that budded on the prisoners of winter, showing immense strength and dignity. His golden hair that shined like the sun, and his rugged blond beard that was cut and well trimmed made for a very powerful and commanding look.

The King of the Twilight Kingdom, Veyron Valheart.

His eyes darted around and when he noticed a broken vase, a maid looking at him in horror, and a kid looking at him like a small animal waiting apprehensively at its predator.

He sighed and said,

“Who broke the Valencia heirloom?”

“Valencia heirloom?” Muttered Lara dumbfoundedly. It wasn’t just a favorite vase of the queen but an heirloom of her family. Before Emilia Valheart had married Veyron, she was known as Emilia Valencia of the Valencia noble family.

And Lara broke their heirloom.

Lara felt her heart stop and she became nauseous. Her body felt cold and she could feel her vision blurring from the sheer terror.

-’I’m as good as dead…’- Thought Lara to herself.

This was certainly the end for her.

Lara felt her arms grow weaker. Then she simply hung her head.

“I’m sorry father… It was my fault…”

Lara hurriedly looked up to the trembling Lazarus. Did he just..?

“I was playing around and knocked the vase by accident.. I-..I’m t-truly sorry…” The young trembling child said as he stood in front of the King and bowed his head.

Lara couldn’t comprehend anything for a moment. Her gaze was fixated on the small back of the young Prince she served. In that small trembling back, what she saw was a wall. A massive wall that stood tall to protect her.

“You!”

*Bam!*

With one swift motion from the King, the young prince was sent flying. It happened all too fast, and Lara was taken aback. The young prince slammed against a table and screamed,

“Arhghhh!”

“Young prince!”

Lara rushed to his side.

The young prince's face twisted in agony. Lara felt her heart tighten painfully. She wanted to tell the King it wasn't his fault but hers. But the overwhelming presence she felt just made her freeze up.

Lara pulled Lazarus up, but she felt some resistance from him and he pushed her away.

"I'm fine" He said. But clearly he wasn't. Lara tried to hold him up, but he pushed her hands lightly off and said, "Father will detest you if you do this, so please, don't"

!

He was doing this for her.

The thought finally sunk in and Lara felt a wave of emotion she couldn't comprehend.

Lazarus stood up, limped slowly forward to the King, and everytime he took a step forward it pained Lara so much. She wanted to stop him, but the resolve she saw in his eyes, stopped her.

Lazarus looked at his father. He trembled under the King's vicious gaze but he looked at him. “I’m sorry-...”

Lazarus bowed again. Even when he was in pain.

Lara felt her chest tighten painfully.

“Do not call me father. ” Veyron eyed Lazarus threateningly. “Clean the mess that you’ve made.”

“Yes fath-... yes your highness.”

“And you.”

Lara flinched under the King’s gaze.

“Do not help him. And make sure he cleans this up, am I understood?”

“Yes your highness!”

The King walked past Lazarus who began picking up the pieces.

Veyron then took out a book with a black key hidden in it and promptly left the room.

Lara immediately went to Lazarus, but he looked at her and said,

“Don’t… I have to clean this by myself. Or else fa-.. I mean the King will fire you.”

Lara held her mouth.

How could such a young child be treated this way.

She was frustrated.

It was her fault and yet she never spoke out. Instead it was the young Prince who protected her. A six year old boy.

Lara wanted to be the one to fix her mistake, she wanted to run after the King and admit her own faults. But she couldn’t.

She wanted to help in the cleaning, but she couldn’t.

Lara felt as if she was being rooted to the ground as she helplessly stared at the young prince whose hands were being cut by some of the pieces he held in his hands.

“I’m sorry young prince. I’m truly sorry…”

“Don’t be…” Lazarus looked at her and smiled, “This way you won’t be fired right?”

For a moment, Lara couldn’t comprehend Lazarus’ words. Well, she understood it, but at the same time, it felt unbelievable to her. Instead of answering his question, she asked one of her own,

“Why did you do that young prince?”

“I didn’t want you to get fired…”

“Why?”

Lazarus looked away and continued to pick up the pieces, and after filling his hands, he went over to the trash bin to drop the pieces before coming back to get the leftover pieces.

“Why would you defend a mere servant?”

Lazarus looked at her angrily, “You’re not just a mere servant. You’re my friend too…Ah-... unless uhm… you don’t want to?” He then looked away nervously.

Lara couldn’t understand it. She knew Lazarus feared the King so much and yet. He took the blame and stood before him. A six year old child did that. All for a friend?

She had celebrated his birthday, did her duties of serving him all because he resembled her younger brother. Nothing more, and yet…

Yet….

Lara felt her chest tighten so much that it hurt so bad.

“I’m truly sorry… I apologize from the bottom of my heart.”

“It’s alright.” He said. And after picking the last piece of the glass he looked at her. “You can come and clean my room again, right?”

Lara felt a wave of emotion hit her. She realized that apologizing wasn’t the first thing she should have done, instead,

“Thank you young prince… I am deeply indebted to you…”

“Your welcome-...”

Lazarus then limped off to dispose of the pieces.

The King wasn't in the room anymore. She could help him. Lara approached Lazarus, but then he looked at her and forced a smile,

"You heard fath-.. his majesty."

Seeing him trying to look alright when he wasn't made Lara stop and feel her heart tear into two. He already did so much and if she just undid everything he went great lengths to accomplish. Then what kind of servant was she?

So this was Lazarus Valheart.

It was at this moment, that Lara put her right hand on her heart, knelt with one foot forward and said,

“I am truly grateful…”

She had always thought that Lazarus resembled her younger brother. But he was far from him. He was much stronger… and kinder. He was Lazarus Valheart.