Beauty of Thebes

Chapter 5: Princess, You Smell Like Me

Rumors of the third princess’ intoxicating scent quickly spread throughout the palace. The maidservant who served her and the first and second princess’ maidservant, too, testified in person — their words credible.

“Your scent is strong. What did you use?” a maidservant said.

“Scent? Hey, our princess doesn’t have a thing for that. She’s just… not that kind of person. And it just wouldn’t match her face,” said another maidservant.

Eutostea became the hot topic amongst the servants.

“Then what is this scent? It’s the first I’ve encountered of it. It’s otherworldly and superior…”

The maidservant washed the bedding sheets from the princess’ room. Soon, other maidservants huddled together and inhaled the ever so rousing scent. The scent from the sheets was stronger too. Did the princess spill some on the bed sheets? But nevertheless, the mysterious aroma caused the maidservants’ hearts to flutter.

“Are you scads going to waddle there?” The laundromat captain scolded the maidservants and splashed them with frothing lye. “You’ve a mountain of laundry to do! Get going!”

And so the maidservants scattered and made their way to their baskets.

The maidservant placed in charge of cleaning the bed sheet dipped it onto the lye and stamped on it with her feet, cleaning the dirt off in the process. Strangely, however, the scent in the water became thick like a golden wooden chamber.

“I’m sure the princess would scold us if she knew the truth. What ever shall we do?” a maidservant sighed and muttered.

The maidservant washing the scented bed sheet looked over her shoulder and casually asked, “What?”

“You intentionally broke the window latch. What if she finds out that we’re the culprit? She’s even ordered us to fix it this morning, but yet I did not.”

“The princess, she’s been interested in that window latch since then.”

“Right…”

The timid maidservant was uneasy. “It was the king who instructed me to take out the window latch in the first place. It was his order and I only followed. I assume it was for the princesses safety.”

“So that’s it. But why do we need to keep the princesses locked up… why…”

“Shh. Watch your mouth, Clara.”

And that was that.

Their conversation ended.

The maidservants dried the laundry in the hot sun while the three princesses spent time in their respective leisure activities.

***

Dinner came quickly.

Eutostea leaned against her bedroom window and sighed. She had asked the servants to have the window latch fixed, but the repairman suddenly had to withdraw early. He was tasked to work outside the palace.

‘I have to make sure the window is closed,’ she thought with clenched teeth. ‘He’ll come again today.’

Night came quickly.

Eutostea’s heart thumped erratically and went to bed early, making sure all the lights are turned on. She heard that gods were reluctant to reveal themselves to humans. Yesterday’s there was only one light, the moon. With only the moonlight present, Eutostea was unsure whether the person was a man or a god.

So, she needed to be wary. With the lights turned on, she felt more at ease.

Besides, she did not want anything to do with the gods. They’re dangerous. Past godly intervention always ends in tragic mess.

Outside the window, the sounds of the guards’ footsteps echoed.

Eutostea bit her lip. The security, they weren’t reliable. She thought of asking her father to train them further tomorrow morning. If only she was properly guarded…

But, much to her dismay, an ominous foreboding loomed in.

A gust of wind blew out all the lit lamps.

“What…”

Eutostea leapt to her feet as the reality of the present moment overlapped with the memories from last night.

It was a man, his shadow a fluorescent beauty against the moonlight.

He slipped into the room with graceful gestures and became one with darkness.

Eutostea’s legs trembled.

Step by step, the man walked up to her, without notice, without hesitation. Though wearing the shell of a human, his godly presence was evident…

“Princess of Thebes, we meet again.” The sweet voice echoed in her ear, proving that last night’s deed was no dream.

Eutostea felt an electric touch from her back.

“You smell like me. I’m glad.” The man laughed.

So, it was all because of this god that she had met unnecessary troubles.