Mama Ruth.

Who was she? Was she just an old innkeeper?

"Wait here," I told Reynard hastily and then dashed up the stairs to my room. I threw open the door and pulled out the large, red ACCOUNTS book from my side drawer. I took it downstairs back to the small table and took my place on the crate.

"Mama's diary," I breathed when Reynard looked at the book, confused.

"That's Mama's diary?" he hissed as he pointed to it. "Where did you get it? How old is it?" He tried to snatch it from me but I slapped his hand away.

"Shh! I got it from the attic," I mumbled as I opened it and started flipping the pages. "Let's see… There's a specific entry I'm looking for."

It was dark so I couldn't read very well. I pulled the candle holder closer to me and peered at the pages dowsed by an orange glow.

"Okay, here we go," I said and started reading:

❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇

The 27th of Taerel,

'Tis the day of the Priestess's birth. The whole town is preparing for the celebrations.

Elric helped me buy goods for today's special meal. I usually serve porridge and bread, but today I reckoned it'd be good for the inn's stature if I served duck. Lissy made quite the fuss when I didn't take her along, but she'll know it's for the best when she grows up to become a fine young woman.

Erratically, I wore the brooch today, the one my mother gave me right before she died. It's a bit old and chipped, but the white on it still glows beautifully in the sun. I knew nobody would recognize it to be the priestess's crest any longer, or I would have been in some trouble. It matched fashionably with the lime green dress Elric gifted me last week. There'll be a ceremony later tonight, so I must put it back in the closet for the night.

Johanne paid a visit today, too, and she brought with her little Amice and some apples. I'll bake some apple pie later. Amice has grown to become such an angel, and might I add that her rosy cheeks and lovely black hair that she inherited from her mother makes her quite the looker.

Lucan sent a letter, relaying that he's back in the Lands of Sovia, living with a new girl. Honestly? Good for him. He sent me a small portrait of her along with the letter, probably to rile me up. She's not even that good looking, and her dimples look rather childish. Of course, I'm not jealous. Not when I have dearest Elric by my side.

.

.

.

Goodness! I just came back from the ceremony and I'm so, so tired!

The guests have turned in for the night, and I'm so thankful for that since I didn't want to prepare another meal. The whole ceremony was unnecessary, though.

We all prayed at the House of God and after that, there was a big buffet. Honestly, I could've made it better because the spices were all so off. I was glad that Lissy enjoyed it though. She had the most fun frolicking around with young Amice.

The only part I was displeased with was when they performed the sacrifice. Although it was just a camel, I couldn't stand the sight of blood. Many kids, including Lissy, started crying at the sight and it was awful.

Why do they even do it anymore? I know grandma wouldn't have liked it. To think that the future princess in great grandma's prophecy would serve the same fate. It just pains me to think so. The people think what they know is the truth, although I might be the only one knowing the actual truth. Even if I said anything, no one would believe me. This brooch is the only proof I have, and I must protect it forever.

❇❇❇❇❇❇❇❇

We both sat back in bewilderment.

"There's no way it is what I think it is," Reynard broke the silence after what seemed like an hour. "There's no way."

I gulped. "Reynard, how can this be forged? Even by the looks of it, this diary is probably several decades old."

Reynard bit his lip as he gently pulled the diary out of my grasp and flipped through the pages, stopping occasionally at one to read briefly. I let him read in peace. He needed the confirmation, and he needed to reach the same conclusion as mine.

Mama Ruth was the Great Priestess's direct descendent.

There's written proof! And the brooch!

I picked up the brooch from the table and studied it once more. It held so much power which I hadn't noticed before. So it really was proof of the priestess's direct lineage. And more than that, it was her crest! A family crest.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Reynard grin.

"What?" I asked as I leaned forward to read what had made him smile like that. He was holding the first page of the diary open. The page which read:

"Ruthven?" I exclaimed, smiling at the book. "Huge discovery."

Reynard nodded as he shut the book, a grin on his face. "The most important."

I sighed. "What now?" I asked, helplessness washing over my eyes. "Mama will be back any moment now. How am I supposed to face her again?"

Reynard scratched his jaw. "Good question. Very good. I don't know myself, though."

I put my head down on the table and groaned into it. "Why does life have to be this way? Mama can actually save me from all this, you know? Here, she writes that what the people think is the truth actually isn't. I'm sure it's about the prophecy, which means that the prophecy people know is actually false! We need to spread the word, Reynard, we must-"

"Now, hold on, Your Highness," Reynard cut in, flicking a finger at me. "Hold your horses. There's no way it matters anymore. You're dead, remember? Even if people do realize the prophecy is fake, whatever can they do now? Save the princess? I think not."

My shoulders slumped down. He was right, of course. He usually was. I massaged my temples as I looked at the candle, focusing my ears on the distant sound of crickets.

"Sh*t," I mumbled softly. Reynard gave me an alarmed stare, at which I scowled and looked away. If only I could prove the prophecy's untruthfulness, I'd be free. But then again, as Reynard said, how would I explain my disappearance and the letter claiming my death? I'd be marked for treason, I'm sure of it. And then what? Straight to the guillotine.

I groaned once more, almost not hearing the little bumping sound coming from Mama Ruth's room.

"What was that?" I asked suddenly, lifting my head like an alarmed meerkat.

Reynard was all ears, too. He frowned and then looked into the darkness. We heard another bump and both of us jumped in our seats.

"Are you sure Mama Ruth isn't home?" Reynard asked as he slowly stood up.

I nodded, my eyes at the faint shape of the door. "I'm sure I saw her leave. What if it's a ghost?"

There was another bumping sound, and Reynard jumped in his spot. Despite our situation, I almost laughed out loud. "Nonsense! There's no such thing."

"Go on then," I gave him a little push, "open the door. I'm right behind you."

Reynard took a deep breath as he advanced towards the door and jerked back just as he turned the knob. We both waited in anticipation as the door creaked open an inch, and then something small scurried out from the bottom.

"F**CK! It's Whiskers!" I screeched as I dashed to stand on the low table. Reynard did the same, for he seemed just as scared as I was. "I forgot Whiskers!"

Reynard looked at me helplessly, sweat over his forehead. "What!? How could you--" His voice faltered as the large rat scurried all over the floor in blind darkness, knocking over a crate in the process. I could feel him right beneath the table and I was scared he'd jump on and chew my toes off, so I gave another shriek, holding onto Reynard for dear life.

"Let go of me, you crazy!" Reynard cried as he struggled to separate himself from my neck-throttling grip. "You're killing me! Oi!"

Amidst all this shrieking, Sven must've heard and come downstairs.

"What's happening?" his soft voice was to be heard over the wails. "Wh-What's going on?"

Two grown people standing on the table and a rat scurrying blindly on the floor; the sight must have been confusing as hell. Somehow, Sven must've put 2 and 2 together because he softly trotted downstairs, picked Whiskers up, and closed Mama's room's door after putting him inside.

"Um..." he mumbled awkwardly afterwards. "Okay, um, see ya'..." He didn't draw it out longer and went upstairs, leaving Reynard and me standing on the table.

Embarrassed, both of us got off and sat back down. A moment later we were both laughing.

"What the hell," he exclaimed as he wiped a tear off. "We shouldn't be laughing."

I took a shaky breath as I controlled myself. "Yes, yes, of course not, good sir. Not, considering our situation."

He gave a low chuckle before going silent. Then he reached into a drawstring bag tied to the side of his belt and pulled out some fabric.

"Here," he said, giving it to me. "I managed to retrieve some of your clothes from Aunty's house. She's dead worried about you."

My laugh's died out as reality dawned upon me. "Oh yeah… How's she doing these days? She didn't snitch on me to the guards, did she? I hope not."

Reynard shook his head as he pulled shut his drawstring bag. "No, I don't think so. She's just worried about your safety. But Cael's a whole 'nother problem."

I frowned. Cael? I had almost forgotten about him. "What's he done?"

Reynard shook his head and raked a hand through his black hair. "Much to my surprise, he seems to know everything. About you being a princess, I mean. And that we aren't actually together."

I bit my uninjured thumb in deep thought. "That's some smart kid."

"Yeah," Reynard laughed. "But he promised not to spill a word as long as I bought him two wooden horses."

I gasped. "That little rat. But then again, some kids are hard to persuade. It's good that he settled for something materialistic." What would we have done if he had asked for something impossible?

"Alright then," Reynard said as he stood up, pushing the crate back. "I'll be off. Mother must be missing me, more so since Rosa won't be home for the night."

I tilted my head, standing up after him. "Why not?"

Reynard shrugged. "Business stuff. Goodbye, then. Tell Mama I came by." He pulled his cloak off the hook. "Oh, and hide that diary very safely." He pointed to something behind me and I looked to see the red book sitting on the table. Before I could turn back to face him, he was off into the night. After noticing that the rain had slowed to a trickle, I carefully closed the door.. and went upstairs to bed.