Summer 10

“Alright.”

Iskandar readily agreed, then added, as if he had just remembered something:

“Should I put the baby to sleep while you cook, wife?”

“Oh, yes!”

Right, the baby. There was a baby. The baby… 

Senita quickly grabbed the doll that Iskandar had placed on the floor and hugged it. Resting the doll’s head on her shoulder, she patted its back and said, “If you pat its back like this, it will go to sleep.”

This time, both the Prince and the Empress burst into laughter. In the long, fading sunlight, their laughter sparkled like gold dust on water. Young Senita was flustered by their laughter.

Do they like it? Are they having fun? Or am I doing something foolish? Maybe I said something I shouldn’t have said to the Prince. 

Their intentions were so lofty that she couldn’t easily distinguish right from wrong or correct from incorrect.

Unable to laugh along, Senita clutched the doll tighter with her trembling hands. The cloth doll, stuffed with cotton and shaped like a girl, pressed against her, clinging even tighter.

“Ah, yes.”

Iskandar extended his arm with a faint smile. He swiftly took the doll away. With a light tug, the doll easily detached from Senita’s embrace. Looking at Senita’s dumbfounded expression, Iskandar held the doll the way she had.

“Like this?”

His hand was so large that it covered the doll’s entire back. Senita blinked, looking at the doll, which had only its small head peeking out from between his fingers. The Prince and the doll—it was such an awkward combination. Yet the way he gently patted its back was slow and gentle, as if he were trying to soothe a baby to sleep.

Yes, Senita nodded slightly and replied softly. Her throat was parched, but she didn’t have the courage to ask for water.

The maid and the Prince continued to play smoothly. The young maid did her best to entertain the Prince. The Prince played along with her clumsy efforts, passing the time. The Empress found amusement in watching her son play with the much younger girl.

They had exhausted all the possibilities of playing house and were starting to get bored when the summer sun began to sink lower. Though night hadn’t fallen yet, the loyal attendants of the Malezik Imperial family busily lit the lamps, quickly dispelling the encroaching blue darkness. Once all the lamps, including those on the tea table, were lit, the room was bathed in an orange glow. The Empress gazed at the light for a moment and let out a soft sigh. It was a sign that she wanted to rest.

“I’m feeling a little tired now. I think I’ll lie down until dinner.”

Signaling the end of their play, the Empress rose from her seat. Iskandar stood up, and Senita quickly followed suit. She almost cried out in pain when her weight shifted onto her injured ankle, but she held it in.

Unaware of the child’s pain, the Empress smiled elegantly at Senita, who was standing awkwardly behind the Prince. Then, she left the drawing room.

“I enjoyed myself, thanks to you. Come again tomorrow.”

At those words, Senita felt tears welling up, but she held them back.

“That’s good, Senita.”

But when Iskandar said those words after the Empress had left, she couldn’t hold back the tears.

Tears streamed down the child’s face as she started to cry uncontrollably. She knew she shouldn’t be crying here, but her body wouldn’t obey her mind.

Why am I crying? Why can’t I stop? I don’t know. 

Something hot kept welling up inside her and spilling out as tears. Senita bit her lip and repeatedly wiped her tears away. However, instead of drying her face, her hands became wet too.

Iskandar watched her and let out a bewildered chuckle.

What was going on?

Dumbfounded, he stopped the attendants who were about to rush to the maid and knelt down himself.

“Are you crying?”

Meeting Senita’s gaze, Iskandar poked her cheek with his index finger. She whimpered and lowered her head.

Not accepting this, Iskandar lifted her chin with the finger that had touched her cheek. Tears welled up from her blue eyes beneath her wet lashes. It was as if rain were falling on a clear lake at dawn.

A faint smile touched Iskandar’s lips as he looked at her.

She was a pretty child. She was even prettier when she smiled. But she was pretty when she cried, too. She was just like a doll. A sparkling sugar doll melting away in her own tears.

He hated it when girls cried. Did his perception of crying change depending on the girl’s appearance? She was a fascinating girl, and it was strange. That was why he wanted to play with her.

“Why?”

“Sob, sniff…“

“Did you hate playing with me that much?”

Senita flinched and shook her head. Her bitten lips were bright red.

“D-Did I… did I do well? Did I do something wrong?”

Her choked sobs escaped between her barely uttered words. Her clasped hands trembled.

Iskandar carefully observed her pitiful appearance. The image of the trembling child filled his cold, golden eyes.

This insignificant thing is trying to hold back her tears in front of me. How pointless.

Amused by the maid’s struggle, he chuckled again. If he told her she did something wrong, she would cry even more, wouldn’t she? She was like a dam that would crumble at a single word. It wouldn’t be bad to watch that happen.

“…You did well.”

Instead of saying that, however, Iskandar gently cupped Senita’s cheeks. The maid’s tears wet his ungloved hand.

“She told you to come back tomorrow, didn’t she? You pleased Her Majesty.”

There’s no need to push her too hard just yet. She’s still just a child.

He thought that, at least.

“It’s truly fortunate, Senita.”

That you are a somewhat useful toy.

Iskandar smiled kindly at the maid who had faithfully performed her duty.

Then Senita, her eyes still wet with tears, smiled back. As her bright blue eyes crinkled, fresh tears streamed down her cheeks and landed on Iskandar’s hand. At the touch of the lukewarm tears, Iskandar’s lips curved into a relaxed smile.

He wondered whether Senita looked more appealing when she laughed or cried and wiped away her fresh tears.

***

The Summer Palace buzzed with news that Senita Findel, a young maid, had become the Prince’s playmate.

The story that the Empress had chosen a lowly maid as a playmate for her son sparked envy and jealousy among the servants. This was especially true for the young maids who weren’t much older than Senita.

Senita spent her days in a way that made them envious.

For the past few days, with her injured leg, she was carried by the Prince’s attendant as soon as she woke up and bathed, as she couldn’t appear before the Empress and Prince dirty. She was given fragrant oils for her hair and skin so she would be pleasant to dress, and soft bread and warm soup so she wouldn’t complain of hunger.

Then, the Empress, who woke up late, would appear and dress the bathed child in various outfits while chatting with her ladies-in-waiting. “This is pretty,” she would say. “That is cute.” During this conversation, not unlike dressing up a doll, Senita was adorned from head to toe like a noble young lady.

After being sprayed with sweet, fruity perfume and having cream applied to her dry hands, she spent time with the Prince. After playing house, they moved on to marionette shows, dice games, origami, and flower arranging.

The Empress would watch them for a while before always leaving first. Then, the Prince would praise Senita, have her clothes changed, and send her out.

Returning from playtime, Senita carried a clean scent, even in her maid’s uniform, and her cheeks were smooth and clear, free of blemishes and scratches.

Upon learning that Senita had become the Prince’s playmate, Gaspar treated her with the utmost care. Fearing his wrath, the other servants didn’t dare speak to Senita directly but gossiped amongst themselves.

Nora, overhearing their whispers, repeated her mantra every night:

It’s all temporary. Don’t get used to it. Don’t get arrogant. Don’t think it’s your place. It’s all fleeting. It’s just a game that’s valid for these few summer days. They’ll leave when the season changes. When they leave, remember where you belong.

“Do you understand, Senita?”

“Yes, Auntie.”

“You must never forget. Promise me.”

After Nora repeatedly confirmed this, she hugged Senita tightly.