A ROYAL OBSESSION

Maya quickly discovered that the boy's name was Peter. Not only had they met in the market, but he was also her new neighbor, having moved in with his parents. Just like that, a friendship blossomed, and his parents welcomed her with open arms—far more than her aunt ever would.

It was a familiar routine: every evening, as soon as darkness fell, Eliana commanded Maya to fetch water from the river. Maya obeyed without question, gripping the heavy buckets in her hand as she stepped outside, the cold air biting at her skin.

Navigating the familiar, uneven path to the river, Maya hadn't gone far when she spotted someone waiting. Squinting, she realized it was Peter and her face lit up in surprise.

"Did you wait here for me? What if Aunt Eliana hadn't sent me for water?" Maya questioned as she approached him, and they began to walk together with the moonlight illuminating their way.

Peter chuckled. "Come on, Maya. It's routine now. If she didn't send you, then she must be sick." He glanced at her, looking for the smile he knew would appear.

Yet beneath that smile, Maya felt a twinge of embarrassment. Though they hadn't known each other long, he was already aware of her struggles: how her aunt mistreated her and sent her on endless errands. It was uncomfortable that he saw her life like this.

"Let me carry the buckets for you. I'm much stronger," he said, and before she could refuse, he lifted it from her grasp.

"Thank you," she managed to reply, her cheeks flushing as she tried to conceal her embarrassment, but he only found it amusing.

"Tell me, Maya. When are you going to stop putting up with all of this?" he asked.

"Huh?" She looked at him, puzzled.

"Why don't you just leave? It's clear your aunt and her family don't care about you and only use you as their servant. You spent the whole day washing clothes, sweeping floors, chopping firewood, and here you are fetching water," he voiced his frustration.

Maya hesitated at first. "How do you know that? You didn't see me."

"But I heard it. Your aunt is loud, and you can't stand up to her. You're always trying to please her, but you're the one who only ends up hurt. She keeps hurting you," he continued.

"I'm not complaining, am I? I'm strong," she tried to downplay her situation with a laugh.

"Stop lying to yourself. You're not strong; you're barely holding on. Seriously, I have to admire your resilience. But there's only so much one person can take. You've done enough, Maya. You can't keep living like this," he insisted.

Maya bit her lip before responding, "Thank you for your concern, Peter, but I owe my aunt. She took me in after my mother left and treated me well until that accident changed everything. Maybe one day, I can change her mind."

Peter shook his head with frustration. "You're so naive to think she'll change. Your aunt has it in her to mistreat you; she was just biding her time to show her true colors. And her coward of a husband? I promise I'll make him pay, one way or another!" His fist clenched, but she laughed, somehow reassured.

When they reached the river, Peter took charge, fetching the water and balancing the bucket on his head and another in his hand, while Maya carried one bucket as they made their way back.

"Are you okay?" Maya asked.

"Of course, I've got this," he replied, confidence oozing from him.

The walk home was quiet, but Maya couldn't help glancing at Peter. "Are you sure you're alright?" she kept asking.

"I'm fine! Stop treating me like a child, Maya," he said, frowning slightly. Once they arrived at her door, Peter gently set the bucket down. "Goodnight, I guess," he said, a hint of reluctance in his tone.

Maya smiled softly. "Thank you," she reiterated, watching him walk back to his house. Once she knocked, Eliana opened the door quickly. Her gaze fell on the three buckets of water before narrowing with suspicion.

"You're not being lazy today, are you?" she asked before allowing Maya inside.

The following day, once again, she was sent to fetch water—but this time, Eliana had doubled the demand. Six buckets awaited her.

Peter was already there, waiting. "Don't you have anything to do at home, Peter?" Maya asked as she approached him.

"Unlike you, I don't have a wicked aunt expecting me to complete a mountain of chores in a short amount of time. I don't have much going on, so I'm here to help little Maya, who has a lot on her plate," he muttered under his breath.

Maya rolled her eyes as they continued walking toward the river. "You brought six buckets today; your aunt must be generous," he remarked, grinding his teeth. "How do you manage to fetch it all at once and carry it back home?" he asked.

"I don't. I go back and forth each time," Maya replied, dismissing his concern.

"That's quite a lot, especially with the distance involved. Honestly, it's too much for you to handle, Maya," he said, feeling a pang of sympathy. "You deserve a prince to whisk you away from this life and into something extravagant where you wouldn't have to lift a finger."

Maya chuckled, "A prince? Isn't that a bit unrealistic? Who would want someone like me?"

"Everyone would want to be with you—everyone except fools," he asserted. "I would have come to take you away, but I'm no prince," he added with a light laugh.

"Still, you have a good heart, so it's as if you're noble at heart. It doesn't matter if you wear a crown," she replied. In her eyes, Peter was an outstanding person. Though she hadn't considered it before, if asked, she would want to be with him. He was gentle, kind, and always looked out for her. However, Maya would never guess that her future wasn't quite aligned with what she envisioned.

The two maintained their friendship, which only grew stronger over the years.

****

In what felt like the blink of an eye, four years passed, and everything has transformed. The kingdom of Vylonia now had a new king, bringing about significant changes—roads were improved, markets flourished, and the entire kingdom felt revitalized.

Maya, now nineteen, had also undergone her transformation. She had blossomed into a striking young woman, capturing the attention of many admirers. Despite the challenges she faced, her heart was filled with love. She had learned the importance of standing her ground. Also, she was no longer the naive little girl she once was.