2. Amanita

TWO

AMANITA

My eyes gazed over the exquisite breakfast, studying the placement of the foods, china, golden-tipped glasses, and utensils before me. The setting was of the highest regal standard and somehow it felt familiar to me. Was I a maid here, in the palace? Or perhaps a lady to the late queen? Footsteps dissolved my train of thought as Agaric entered the formal dining room, beaming like the sun at the sight of me, dressed in his colors and sitting perfectly at his table, awaiting his arrival.

"Lady Amanita." He radiated, extending a quick bow I did not deserve. His presence warmed me. I lowered my head in recognition of his stature, offering a sweet smile. He was dressed in an almost identical outfit as the day prior, only today's tunic was a deep maroon—it reminded me of the color of fresh blood. "It is such a pleasure to find you waiting here for me. What a marvelous way to start the day." He sat in his usual chair, looking at the warm pastel spread of exotic foods displayed perfectly across the large mahogany dining table. As he picked up his golden fork, he spoke to me. "Today,"—he lifted the matching knife, cutting into a hearty piece of meat,—"I thought we might take a stroll through the royal garden." I poked my fork at the wobbly egg on my plate, surprisingly tired despite my drug-induced sleep from the day before. "The sunflowers are in full bloom, and I thought that a lady such as yourself would enjoy their company." He stopped, looking at me as if waiting for a response.

I fidgeted in my chair, the heavy yellow dress that not only washed the little color from my skin but weighed me down like an anchor. The idea of walking in the sunlight, in this ridiculous garment didn't appeal to me, but after all the prince had done for me, I didn't want to disappoint him. I owed him so much for his kindness. "Of course, my prince." I nodded, forcing a casual smile. I wanted to please him, wanted to make him happy. I took a sip of the dark red wine, trying not to grimace at the flavor. It was sweet, as usual, and made my stomach flinch at the light, sugary taste. There were so many new experiences and ways of life within these palace walls, from the food to the mannerisms and styles. I caught myself struggling to keep up, seemingly unable to fit within the pieces.

Agaric watched me closely, his hand gripping a knife and fork. "Good." He resumed eating as his demeanor lightened. "Then we shall visit the garden after this very meal." He continued to eat, carefully examining each piece closely before consuming it with grace. He was the picture-perfect reflection of royalty and refinery. His posture, the way he spoke and used his words, his mannerisms—it was all perfect . As if an artist had taken the time to create such a beautiful painting absent of any flaws. I studied him, a part of me wanting to find a mistake in his behavior. It was as if he had studied how to be a prince his entire life, preparing for moments like this. As my eyes canvassed his features, something hidden within his face spoke to me, tugging at my memory. Did I know him prior to the war? Surely not, though I was curious to know why someone like Agaric would even bother to spend his time with the chore of my recovery, burdening himself with the company of a lost soul such as myself. I was nothing more than a mere shadow in his presence, quietly following behind while he shined bright in the world.

Beads of sweat rolled down my bare neck, catching on the bumps of my various scars before reaching my constricted chest. I struggled to hide my discomfort, my body seemingly struggling to adjust to the weather, as Agaric and I silently strolled through the numerous rows of the royal garden. The grid of pastel and sunshine colored florals carried on for what felt like an eternity, only stopping as we reached a marble archway covered in thick vines that twisted all around, golden honeysuckles dripping from the stems. Prince Agaric stopped, offering his hand to me. "I must warn you," he said with full confidence as I carefully placed my hand in his, inhaling sharply at the warmth of his skin as it touched mine. "Very few outside the royal family itself have set foot in this particular section of the garden. Only our blood and those we trust most are welcome here. And you, my lady," his grip tightened around my hand as he leaned close, "I trust dearly." I swallowed, unsure as to how to respond. The statement was of the utmost flattery.

Agaric led me through the archway as we stepped into the furthermost part of the royal garden. The bright golden sunflowers burned my vision, almost reflecting the color of the sun as rows and rows of the flowers stood in full bloom. It would have been quite a beautiful sight had it not been for the extreme heat. Agaric stood strong, taking in the sight as the sun beamed above him, highlighting his vibrant hair, his deep red tunic burning in the sun. He was beyond handsome—he was magnificent, the living embodiment of Helios, the god of sun and light.

"These sunflowers are the official flower of my kingdom. Unlike any other, they are the only type of floral that can handle the warmer climate year-round. They are built strong, their roots reaching deep as they stand firm, weathering any storm or rodent that tries to disturb them. They are much like the monarchy of Dryade itself." He chuckled lightly, glancing at me. A strand of my hair blew free, waving across my damaged skin. Agaric hesitated, delicately tucking it back in its place as his hand brushed my cheek, hovering for a moment. We stared into each other's eyes, the sun beaming down on us. My cheeks burned from both embarrassment and the heat, soaking in his light. He cleared his throat, breaking eye contact, smiling as we continued, slowly inching further into the golden maze.

The heavy floral auroma tickled my nose as I forced back a sneeze. Much like the citrus scent that caked the palace, I wasn't fond of the floral perfume of the garden. It was too sweet, too light, too innocent.

"My father had these planted when he was a child." Agaric's words pulled me back. "He would care for them himself, tending to them day and night, watching them grow to a full bloom every year. It was his strange passion that has since been handed down to me. As the rightful king, I—"

"What are those?" I interrupted his sentence, spying a shadowed patch beneath a large, ancient weeping willow tree. The odd, cool pop of blue stood out amongst the rest, intriguing me. Looking closer, I noticed that the plants were not flowers, but instead a tiny cluster of blue mushrooms, glowing faintly in the shadows. I released the prince's hand, stepping towards the shade when he grabbed my hand, forcefully pulling me back. I gazed up at him, his face cast in darkness as his eyes remained low.

"My prince?" The change in his warm appearance concerned me, his grip tighter than usual.

"Those," he glanced at the mushrooms, "are my mother's."

"Forgive me." My voice wavered at the mention of the late queen, my stomach dropping at the pain he must've felt at the mention of her. I tried to be courteous, offering my condolences and apologies, but he stopped me.

"You have nothing to apologize for, my lady." He forced a smile, his eyes gazing off into the distance as he spoke. "My mother gardened as well, but unlike my father, she preferred fungi. You see, she had these unique hobbies. She would study every page of the books within the royal library, learning the use and properties of the fungi, believing that they had qualities to not only poison and alter someone's mind, but that they could heal the body and mind as well. Ridiculous thinking, if you ask me, but nonetheless, she persuaded them. After her death, my father fell into despair at the loss of his queen. He had all her books, her studies and concoctions, and her garden destroyed. These mushrooms are all that remain of her gardening. Unfortunately, these are the surviving remnants of the mushrooms she planted with my brother, the traitor ." He spat on the ground, the mere mention of his brother upsetting him. "The mushrooms cannot survive in direct sunlight. They require darkness and cooler temperatures. Dryade is no home for them, but my mother loved them, as they were my brother's favorite. He adored the vibrant fluorescent blue. So, they grew them there," he motioned to the small patch with no light, "in their little garden of shadows." He eyed the vibrant blue mushrooms, glowing. "Her night caps ." He spat the words, as if disgusted by the innocent mushroom's existence. The prince whistled, a servant quickly appearing out of nowhere and standing at his side. His gaze remained fixated on the blue figured as he commanded the servant to dispose of the fungi. The odd shift in his persona made me wonder if the prince was truly as perfect as he seemed. "I want no trace of him left," he snapped. The man nodded, glancing at me before rushing to carry out the prince's orders. He fell to his knees, rolled up his sleeves, and began to rip the poor mushrooms clean from the earth, tearing them apart as if murdering them before us. The action made me sick as I watched, my heart racing from the overwhelming heat. My body swayed a moment, my knees buckling as Agaric noticed my motions. "My lady?" He extended his second arm, catching me before my body could fall to the ground.

"Forgive me," I whispered between heavy breathing. "The heat—"

"Quickly!" He yelled at the servant, now covered in fresh dirt. "Find a fan for Lady Amanita. Now!" The man scuttled away to do so, fearful of the prince's temper. Agaric lowered me as he held me within his arms, the muscles bulging beneath his tunic. The sun shone directly behind his silhouette as his hair burned like fire in the light, his green eyes meeting mine. "Forgive me," he whispered, "your body was not ready for such a task. I should have waited. Let us return indoors so that you may rest." He lightly brushed my inky hair aside, running his finger along my cheek. "I shall help you find your place here. No matter how long it takes, I will make you feel at home." The servant returned, shaking as he offered the fan to the prince. Home .