Chapter 12: Roland

Roland wakes up the next morning with a groan. Today is the day I have to see that wretched cobbler again. Who raised that woman to show absolutely no respect for men at all? I'm royalty for goodness sake. Didn't they teach her manners at school? Well, no matter. It's too late now. I'll just go get the shoes, pay her, and then all will be done. I shouldn't have to see her again after that, right? He gets up, putting on a gold crown with his light purple waistcoat, darker purple tailcoat, yellow bow tie and off white pants.

While doing paperwork in his office later that day, he zones out from reading and his mind drifts to the cobbler's face when she was in the dungeon; how those piercing light blue eyes of hers bore into the depths of his soul, searing him with an image he'll never forget.

Every morning for the next few days, Roland can't seem to get her face out of his head. Every time he gets out of bed and slides his feet into his slippers, his thoughts immediately drift to her. Though he tries to shake them, he just can't.

Flashback

She looked up at him. Those icy eyes. They weren't afraid as all of his prisoners were. They were calm. Sad, but calm. It was an odd experience for him. He was so used to fear behind people's eyes whenever they looked at him. But she was the only one so far that showed no fear- only courage. !t amazed him, really. He watched her walk into the throne room that day. She held her head high and carried herself with a grace and confidence unlike anything he had ever seen. But when he looked up at her, that's when he felt all oxygen leave his lungs. He fought back a gasp for air. He had to consciously hold his mouth shut. His brain was screaming at his heart to slow down its rapid beating. He dug his nails into the armrests of this throne. She was easily the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in all his years. Her curtsy to him was flawless. He was secretly amazed at how perfectly she had already mastered that art. Oh he had never tried to curtsy, but he knew enough to know that is was always harder than it looks. Everything is. But she had done it so gracefully and with radiating confidence. She was as graceful as she was beautiful.

"Oh, daddy!" a sing-song voice says, pulling Roland out of his mind. Finally. Roland looks up from his paperwork, already knowing who the voice belongs to.

"Yes, Amber?"

"I really need to ask you about something."

Roland holds in a sigh. "I would love to help you, sweetheart, but daddy's a little busy at the moment."

"But it's urgent, daddy!" Amber whines.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I just can't right now."

Amber huffs. "You never have any time for me!" she says turning around.

"Amber, that's not what-" Roland stops when the door to his office slams shut. "…I meant," he says to an empty room.

Later on at dinner, Roland and his children are sitting at the table and all is quiet. Roland is looking down at his plate, pushing his food around. He takes a couple bites and looks up at his children. Both of them have frowns on their faces and Roland exhales softly and looks at his children. "You don't feel like eating?" he asks them.

"No," Amber says.

"Not really," James replies.

Roland has an idea of why Amber is upset, but Roland finds himself turning his attention to James. "How was your day, James?" Roland asks.

"Not brilliant," he replies in a dull voice.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

James shakes his head and Roland sits back in his chair. He runs his fingers through his hair and moves his feet. He looks down at them and sighs, realizing he still has the slippers on. Her irritating face enters into his mind once again and Roland let's out a grunt of frustration.

"Stupid cobbler," he mumbles out.

"Cobbler? Did you say cobbler, daddy?"

Durn, she heard me, Roland thinks. He sighs. "Yes, Amber. What about it?"

"Well, actually, that's what I came to talk to you about earlier today. I need a new pair of shoes."

"Impossible Amber. You have a hundred pairs in your closet right now," James says.

"That's right. Why do you need another?" Roland asks.

"Oh, shut up James," she says.

"Why? So you can manipulate people into giving you what you want?"

"Enough!" Roland yells. The twins froze when his voice echoed off the castle walls. "We do not talk that way in this household. Apologize, both of you, now." Roland says staring them both down.

"Sorry James," she sighs.

"Sorry, Amber."

"I still don't understand why you need another pair of shoes, Amber," Roland says. "You have so many already."

"For the same reason you needed a new pair of slippers."

"I only use one pair of slippers. You have a hundred more pairs of shoes you can choose from," Roland argues. "What's one more pair?"

"They're just shoes, Amber," James says.

"They're not just shoes. They-ugh! Never mind!"

Amber abruptly stands up from the table. The chair slides on the marble floor loudly and she practically stomps out of the room, fists clenched at her sides. Roland looks at James and James looks at him. They both shrug and continue on with the rest of their meal, which consisted of pushing food around their plates.

The next day, Roland still can't get that cobbler out of his mind. It's like her face is etched in there somehow. After the children return home from school, Roland hears a knock on his office door and groans. "Come in. You will anyway," he says with a grunt.

Roland looks up and sees Amber poke her head through the door. "Daddy?"

"Yes, Amber. Come in."

Roland sees his daughter furrow her brows as she walks in and closes the door behind her.

"Can I ask you about something?"

"Amber, you know I try my best to be approachable to you and James, but I really don't know if I can help you right now."

"Are you upset with me about something?"

"No, why? Did you do something worthy of making me upset?" he asks with an arched eyebrow.

"No, I just- what are you upset about? The paperwork you have to do all the time?"

"No, it's not the paperwork. That cobbler in the village-"

"Cobbler? Oh, I'm so glad you mentioned him daddy, because I need a new pair of shoes."

"Amber, we already discussed this at dinner last night."

"I know, but I really, really need a new pair of shoes."

"Why?"

"Well, I wore them out and they're my favorite pair."

"Can you use another pair of shoes instead?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Could you use another pair of slippers?"

"No, Amber. I couldn't because I only have one pair of slippers. You have several pairs of shoes. I don't see the point of this."

"But daddy, these are my favorite. I only have one favorite."

Roland grunted in frustration and massaged his temples with his fingers. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Amber shook her head. "Probably not."

Roland sighed. "Alright Amber. You can have a new pair of shoes. Bring me your favorite pair and I'll summon the cobbler while you're at school tomorrow. Surely you can manage wearing a different pair for a couple days, right?"

"I'll try."

"Alright. Go get the shoes and bring them to me."

Amber squeals and comes around the desk to her father, giving him a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, daddy!" Amber squeals again before leaving the room.

Roland shakes his head and sighs. "How do I get myself into these situations?" he asks the empty room.

The next day, Roland sees the children off to school and watches them fly away in the coach. As soon as they're out of sight, Roland lowers his head and sighs. "Penny for your thoughts, your majesty?" Baileywick says.

"You don't want to know my thoughts, Baileywick," Roland says with a scowl. "Summon the cobbler again."

"That's going to be a problem, your majesty."

"What do you mean?" he asks sharply.

"Well, Widow Belthazar said that next time, you should come to her."

"What?" he yells.

"That's what she said."

"I will not go to her because I want something. If I summon her, she needs to come to me." Roland says with a growl.

"I will tell her if you want sire, but as you and I both know, she certainly has a mind of her own."

"Yeah, I hate that in a woman."

"She may choose not to help you at all."

Roland growls again. "Prepare the coach. I'll meet you outside."

"Yes, your majesty."

Roland turns and goes the opposite direction. He gets Amber's shoes and goes outside. He gets in the coach and heads toward the village. Roland looks around when they get to the village. The people all run inside their homes and shut the doors and windows like they're preparing for a snowstorm or something. Roland raises and eyebrow and watches. He spots one family looking out their window, but when he looks at them, they close the shutters. By the time the coach stops in front of the shoe shop, the streets look more like a ghost town than a village. Even a tumbleweed blows by as Roland is getting ready to step out of the coach.

"You don't even realize it do you?"

"What?"

"Have you ever actually walked or rode through the kingdom?"

"Of course I have."

"Then watch how happy everyone is. Watch how they dance and play in the streets. Or how they cheer and shout for joy whenever you ride through the streets. See if they have joy in their eyes and smiles on their faces. Watch and tell me when you see any of that."

That wretch in my behind was right! The people do fear me. Wait, did I just say she was right? Roland shakes his head. Maybe I like that they fear me. Maybe I don't like her because she doesn't fear me like the rest do. Roland shakes his head again as he walks up the door with the pair of shoes in hand.

"Your majesty?" Baileywick says.

Roland holds up a hand. "Stay there, Baileywick. I can handle this on my own."

"As you wish," Roland hears Baileywick reply. Roland walks up to the door of the shop and opens it.

Inside is the cobbler, working away on a shoe. Roland watches as she looks up from what she's doing. She sees who it is and looks down again, continuing her work.

Roland sighs audibly. "Baileywick told me that the next time I wanted your services, I should come to you. So here I am."

"What do you want?"

Roland holds up the worn pair of shoes. The cobbler puts down the shoe she is working on and stands up. She goes over toward him and looks at the shoes. "Are these for you?" she asks with a smile.

"Seriously? They're for Amber, or were. She wore them out."

"Like father, like daughter."

"Can you fix them or make new ones for her?"

"I can't fix them because they're too worn. But I can make new ones for her."

"She likes shiny things. No discount is required for these. I just want them done as soon as possible."

"As you wish, your majesty."

"Must I come back and pick them up or…"

"Yes you may come back and get them. Thank you so much for offering. The shoes should be done within a day or two."

"Is there any way you can make it sooner?"

The cobbler crosses her arms and cocks her hip to the side. "Sure I can, if you want to deal with all the other customers I have before I get to your precious princess."

"That's okay. I will be back to get them, though you know I'm not looking forward to it."

"Well, neither am I," she replies.

"Good day, Widow Belthazar."

"And to you."

Roland turns around and leaves the shop, getting in the coach and heading back to the castle.