Days had passed after Sir and Latossa left the household, every thing on my side was monotone, a daily repetition of what was before, nothing of any excitement. That, while undesirable, enabled me to wander with my imagination, I sunk to a deep level of my consciousness, and I began to find answers to questions I had ignored in the past, and among those questions, and of which was the most important and troubling to me, ‘what is pride?’

What is pride?

What is it, what is it that would push people to rather die that have it hurt? What would it be? Do I have it?

I found that I wasn’t able to answer this bunch of questions, and since Sir wasn’t there, I went to Mr Perses so as to ask him his assistance on this task.

Just as I go out of the room to do so, for I just woken up, I open the door to witness a peculiar dialogue between the sought one and aunty, there were in their discussion a hint of the same subject of my line of thought that I overheard. It interested me, ‘perhaps this conversation will enlighten me on some useful insights’ I thought to myself, and with new insights I was provided.

“For how long are we going to endure this humiliation, my prince?”

“Just for some more time, my good lady, he’s taking care of what’s rightfully mine, so I must take of what’s rightfully his.”

“Just so you know prince! It is insulting to my pride! It tears me up!”

“Oh, don’t be! It’s not like he isn’t doing any work! He helps me with the wood, he helps in doing chores!”

“The problem lies not in there! The problem lies in how he’s behaving! As if we’re his family, or god forbids, his equals!! And his master isn’t even present!! But I’ll endure it, prince. Just for your sake!”

“I appreciate your efforts, my lady. Now excuse me while I go fishing.”

He then got outside with his spear.

It would be evident that since then, I knew better not to warm up to them very much, and to make myself look helpful. But that wasn’t of much importance to me, for with that, I managed to answer my question. I thank Mr Perses and aunty, they helped, even if indirectly.

What pride is, an illusion, an excuse to commit whatever to let out the frustration of the fraud. The frustration resulting of being excluded or rejected, of not being recognised as wanted and of not achieving what is wanted. It’s what comforts as having a value in society, it’s the manifestation of neediness and imperfection.

This answer of mine seems to work, with it everything makes sense. I would like to discuss it with Sir.

I was prizing myself on what I thought a killer answer- by the way, this is an instance of my own pride, as if I managed to fill the depression that is caused by my belief of my lack of intelligence, that is, as if my hurt pride was healed- as I was doing that, I heard knocking on the door, did Sir arrive at last? I hurried to answer the door. And who was on the doorstep was by no means, Sir Periergeia.

Who was on the door an old lady, she was relatively tall and stood straight, she had reddish grey hair, her skin was a bit tanned, yet her pair of green eyes shone prominently upon her wrinkly face.

Upon seeing me, she gave to me a look I knew by it I had not to open that door, she immediately had her hand pinched my cheek, while whispering to me to lead her inside, in which I did, I knew how people in this land would treat me, and I feared that any kind of repulsion from me would disturb Sir’s plans.

I lead her inside, there she met aunty, who displayed a look of shock after that of concern.

“Long time no see, Olly. I see you’ve got yourself a slave. I wonder where my dear prince is, gone hunting I presume?”

“...Aadico.”

“Why, Olly, don’t we sit and talk? ‘Ey boy, prepare some tea!”

She screamed that onto me before kicked me to my fall, I was overflowing with frustration and rage that I was shaking, I struggled to hold back my tears, this is what Sir had to go through, this is what Sir meant, but I had to hold myself, for Sir’s sake. I did to her order, I got up and headed to make that tea.

“Olly, it has been some long time, I came to you for reconciliation, you were my one and only confidant, and so was I to you. Let’s let bygones be bygones.”

“What... what are you on about? What makes-”

“Your daughter and her fiancé came by house, they told me everything, my condolences about your husband and son, I understand your grief very well.”

“...”

“And, congratulations on that son-in-law of yours! Periergeia, that was his name! A handsome and fine young man he is! So generous he even left you his slave!”

“...”

“Oh Olly, you do remember why we disputed, do you? It’s an interesting tale in its own, that one. Way back in the days, I was married to a man I loved heart and soul named Oz Od Stegmum, he gifted me with a child that was my heart and his, his name was as his father’s, Oz Od Stegmum. Jr, he was beautiful, he had his father’s silky brown hair, and my stunning green eyes. He had skin so smooth and light, he had a small nose and red coloured lips, he was all I could ask for from this world. He played, ran and wandered without a care or concern, he eventually grew up healthy, and made friends, from whom was that little red-headed, half-freckled devil of yours whom he loved the most. I must say, he had been a good friend, a companion I could never had found better for my son, but once his delusions started twisting his mind, he polluted my son’s, and dragged him with him to his absurd journey! Oh, what pain! What torture that I had to endure, Olly! I had to be the one to take custody of the prince! You already had children! I had none! My husband died of shock, Olly! The shock that his one and only child was by no means close to him! I was left alone, Olly! All alone!”

“You weren’t able to take care of yourself back then! How the prince! You were still living in that ignorant village! You know well what they would have done to him! What were you going to do?! Lock him in your house for all eternity?!”

“But did you do any better? You locked him here for about 5 years in this old house your husband built! All he does see of the outside is either the sea in front of him, or the forest behind him! But, alas! This is not what I have come for! It’s at the least, truce. You have gone through so much, and so did I. Let’s clear what between once and for all!”

“...I have no objections then.”

“Well, wasn’t that easy, friend?!”

I came to serve them the tea, I was paying attention to the old lady, who seemed to enjoy seeing me flustered, I served them their tea. She told me to sit with them at the table, I obeyed, then they began to discuss several subjects concerning the change of time and generations, to which I wasn’t paying any mind, I was only cautious of the old hag.

She stretched her hand midway to reach the cup, took it back, then she ordered me to give it to her, I did, then she put her hairy nose on the cup, smelled it, then, out of nowhere, splashed its burning hot content on my face, broke the cup on my head, and started screaming onto me that it hadn’t a good scent. She then got up her seat, and started beating me like a carpet, and as she was doing that, Aunt Olly just kept watching.

What interrupted the witch was a slap from Mr Perses, a slap that broke what was left in her mouth of any teeth after it knocked her on the ground. He fortunately returned.

“WHO ARE YOU!! LADY OLLY!! WHO MIGHT SHE BE!! AND WHY DIDN’T YOU STOP HER!!!”

“Oh my!!”

“I can’t believe it... was I hit just now because of that insignificant slave? And who might you be!! You uncultured beast!! How dare you do this to me!!”

“Dear prince, forgive my foolishness!”

“The prince?!”

“I MADE AN OATH WITH THE MAN!! YOU DISGRACED MY HONOR!!”

“Pardon me, prince! Pardon me!”

In the midst of their long quarrel, the wicked witch, murmuring incomprehensible incantations, was crawling slowly while those two were exchanging screams, she made her way to the door. As she got outside, I renounced.

‘She’ll go away! What if she comes back? No way she’ll ever come back from a hit like that one?’ In the midst of this storm, Aunt Olly screams with all her might “FOOL!! SHE’LL ESCAPE!!! SHE’LL TELL THEM!!! THAT MY HUSBAND!!! THAT OXEN YENKING IS DEAD!!! HURRY AND STOP HER!!! HE WAS THE ONLY SHIELD THAT WAS PROTECTING US FROM THE SAVAGERY OF THOSE VILLAGERS!! HURRY!!”

Both me and the prince sprang behind her, however, she was far beyond reach, as she rode her horse and ran away.

After all that, in the end, I felt as if I failed my master, myself, and I hadn’t even retaliated.

Frustrated, bruised, and burnt, I relieved my tears, and bawled my eyes out, just like the child I was.