Amity and Enmity

Chapter 14

Day: 992

Days Left: 4883

Lives Saved: 5

Everyone gathered for food around the campsite, apart from Princess Alfreda who as usual remained in her tent. After giving the princess her dinner, Lili looked between the tent and then to the rest of the prisoners all circling the campfire, chatting away as they ate. She gazed down at her own portion of food, considering where she should eat. It had been a few days since she joined the others for dinner and it resulted in her remaining silent throughout. Perhaps she could try again?

However, once again, Lili found herself with no conversation, focusing on eating her meal as everyone else talked with one another.

What was the point? Lili questioned herself as she scraped her bowl clean and put it to the side ready to be cleaned by whoever was on the washing rota for the night. If she was going to eat with others, the whole purpose was to have a conversation and yet no topic came to mind, nor did she find any suitable point to enter into someone else's conversation. What was there to talk about?

Lili shook her head. Why was she bothered by what everyone else was saying? That she should finally have some fun, to do something that wasn't work? But Lili struggled to think of anything she had done in the past years that wasn't work-related. Well... there were moments when she had 'stress-relief activities' which would not count as work.

Sucking in a quick breath, Lili looked around and considered her options of who to talk to. Everyone had dispersed after dinner to return to their previous duties or conversations. Perhaps it would be easier now since it wasn't a whole crowd and instead one-on-one or in small groups.

Her eyes were drawn to Kai and Dex, both playing some sort of card game with three of the imps. Those two, especially Kai, were quite talkative, always having something to discuss. Lili considered them to be the best option for now and approached the group.

They paused their game as they noticed the royal bodyguard standing before them.

"Everything alright?" asked Kai. As he was distracted, one of the imps took a peak of his cards and giggled mischievously.

"It isn't our turn for guard duty, is it?" Dex added. "I thought that was yesterday."

"No, that is correct," said Lili. She paused, her strict posture breaking for a moment. "Carry on."

Dex and Kai shared looks of confusion before returning to the card game with the imps.

Lili next tried Calanthe and Ivette, the former brushing and braiding the latter's hair ready for bed. But once again, Calanthe and Ivette assumed that Lili wanted to talk about something work-related and she faltered, unable to bring herself to start a casual conversation.

It was the same with everyone; Oscar, Sumit, Calixte, and even the imps stood to attention like little pretend soldiers when she was nearby.

Was it this bad? Had she only ever conversed with someone if it was work to the point that everyone only ever thought that was all she would ever talk about? Lili considered Princess Alfreda, however, she was likely asleep, as was Corinna who retired to her tent early, likely exhausted from using her mask so much in the training session.

And that left only one person...

Rin sat on the outskirts of the campsite, her back against a tree as she read her book. "Can I help you?" she asked, barely glancing away from the page when she noticed Lili approach.

The royal bodyguard could sense an underlying bitterness in Rin's voice, not wanting to be disturbed. Lili swallowed, about to give up the whole operation and accept that she would never have a normal conversation with anyone ever. "What are you reading?"