4. Amanita

FOUR

AMANITA

The days had turned to weeks, endlessly melting into one another as time passed me by. I had slowly begun to recover, more and more each day between resting and the medical soup provided to me each night. My memory had not yet returned, but thanks to the kindness of Prince Agaric, I had slowly begun to feel more at peace in the palace.

Prince Agaric had slowly introduced me to his life, involving me in many of his daily tasks and responsibilities. We had grown fond of one another, enjoying similar hobbies and topics of conversation, building a friendship with the other. There was a hint of playfulness hidden within our new bond, resulting in minor flirtations and fleeting butterfly feelings. I quite enjoyed our time together, Agaric bringing a sense of warmth and comfort to my existence, though at night, I still felt an odd sense of uneasiness and loneliness.

One afternoon, we were casually strolling through the palace when he asked about my recovery and how I felt. After a few moments of speaking, I felt confident enough to reveal these embarrassing feelings to him. Prince Agaric assured me it was residual pain due to the trauma of the war, as it had taken place at night. According to Agaric, his brother, Morel, had purposely attacked in the cover of darkness, targeting the kingdom of Dryade at its weakest, as it flourished in the daylight.

Sounds of glass clinking together caught my attention as we passed an open door. It led into what seemed to be a storage room, filled with rows of colored jars and bottles, each containing something different and unique, spanning from plants to small creatures. Agaric rushed to the door, closing it as I tried to look past him into the odd room. "Forgive me." He cleared his throat. "This room is supposed to remain locked."

"What is it for?" I asked curiously.

"Nothing of importance." He brushed my question aside, leading me away as we continued our stroll. I tried to listen to him speak, but my focus was carried back to that mysterious room. Eventually, the topic transformed into that of his brother, who I learned was only minutes younger than Agaric himself. He held such disdain and hatred toward him, his own brother, who, according to Agaric, was filled with evil.

"My brother," he sighed. "Unfortunately, the death of our mother destroyed Morel. She and he shared this… bond , and she showered him with too much affection. He pulled her focus from her own duties, as she disregarded them to always tend to his needs. My father hated it. You see, Morel and I may be twins, but we look and behave nothing alike. He was always paler, with this odd aversion to the heat and sun. A real ghastly creature. He thrived in the shadows, his appearance the complete opposite of mine, looking nothing like the rest of the royal family. Some say he was the result of a curse sent to destroy the monarchy. Others say he isn't even the true son of the king, born only of the seed of evil itself. My father saw him for what he truly was—a threat to his throne. My throne. The day we were born, my mother chose to defy my father's objections and kept him, raising him herself. He was always sickly, avoiding the outdoors as much as possible. The only time he bothered to venture outdoors was when he and my mother planted those night caps in her little garden. They did everything together…" His words trailed off, as if tainted with pain and sorrow. "But alas, when our mother passed, there was no one left to coddle him. He was unable to function on his own, unfit to hold a title, and therefore cast from the palace by my father himself, banned from ever returning." He glanced at me, noticing my discomfort in reaction to the story. "My lady, you have nothing to fear." He cupped my hands, pressing his warm lips against them. "Morel has cowered away in his godforsaken hellhole. The illegitimate king of Grisset—the false kingdom—shall never defeat Dryade or me. I made sure of it."

"How can you be so sure he shall never return? He is your brother, my prince." I couldn't help but feel sad for the younger prince.

"Morel is nothing without his queen, and she is gone. When I slew the witch on that battlefield, I watched as his soul shattered like his forces beneath mine. He and his creatures have returned to the shadows where they belong. There, he shall live the rest of his days in misery, sulking until death is kind enough to free him from his earthly prison."

My tear-filled eyes met his, burning. "You slew his queen? Your own brother's wife?" He stood tall, like a statue, carefully releasing my hands before he replied.

"An unfortunate cost of war, my lady. Hesper," he hissed her name, "was just as ruthless and vile as Morel, if not worse. She was his equal in every way. The two were inseparable, obsessed with burning the world in their darkness. You should be grateful she no longer exists." His harsh words began to soften. "She was his wolfsbane. A tragic beauty beyond comparison, who lured many to their deaths beneath her skillful hand. She was a mighty warrior, fearing nothing, including death itself, except the idea of losing her king. Her death was a gift to this world." He noticed the sadness behind my eyes, wiping away my tears. "Do not cry for them. Morel and Hesper are nothing but pure evil. They care for no one but themselves and wouldn't hesitate to kill you. Darkness tied the love between them, their devotion wrapped in absolute chaos. Together, they were an unstoppable force of evil. Now, Morel has no one left to cling to. He shall remain hidden away in his dead, isolated land while the people of Dryade flourish in the sun." Agaric hesitated, wrapping his arms around my pulled waist, inching me closer. My scarred hands rested across his chest, his heart racing beneath his bones. "You are safe here, Amanita, with me. I shall keep you safe. You should not fear the monsters, as I will be your light. Now," he kissed my forehead, causing my heart to flutter faintly, "enough talk of my brother. Fate has dealt him his hand, and now, I shall embrace my own hand." He gently grabbed my chin, raising my face up towards his. I held my breath as he stared into my eyes, the smell of citrus and flowers drowning him. "All I am missing is my queen, and then I shall have a winning hand."

All I could manage was a blank stare, unsure if he was hinting at something more, or merely toying with me, as we did at times. Agaric winked, grinning as he carefully dropped my face and turned to walk away. "I shall see you at dinner, my lady."

I replayed his words again and again in my mind as the days continued, the overload of information and teasing consuming me. The prince seemed kind and caring, filled with a warmth like the sun itself. He was openly fond of me, as I was of him, but something deep inside my soul felt off. Hearing how he effortlessly slew his brother's bride with no remorse gnawed at me, planting a tiny seed of distrust within my conscience. No matter how drawn I felt to him, like a moth to the flame, a part of me felt as though I needed to be wary. No good deed or flirtatious compliment of Agaric's could make that gut feeling disappear.