51(Full Summary: First in the Blessed Princess Series: Princess Reanna, first in line for the throne, has reached marriageable age and it's time for her to settle down with her betrothed. As the future queen, this doesn't bother her. As the princess cursed with the improper attitude to be a suitable princess, this is a large problem for her queen mother. Reanna doesn't know how to be delicate, demur, or deferential. When she accompanies her betrothed on a hunt, she doesn't even know how to be sensible and run from the very large, injured lion that she stumbles upon.
Aurelius was cursed by a very powerful witch and takes the form of a lion during the day. However, no matter the pelt he wears, he is still a human man underneath. A human man that is very drawn to the fierce, strong willed princess who is determined to protect and help him no matter what people say to her.
Passions rise quickly between them, but Reanna is engaged, planning her wedding and Aurelius can't even show his face as a man any longer. Despite the obstacles, they can't stay away from one another. Reanna is determined to see Aurelius's curse broken, and Aurelius is determined to keep his hands off of the crown princess. Facing a betrothed determined to hunt the forest's lion, a mass murdering madman, and the powerful witch who cursed Aurelius in the first place, who shall get what they are determined to have?)
Chapter 1
To look at the cloak, one would be forgiven for immediately thinking that the wearer was a common girl. The cloak had been purchased from a common chop with a relatively small amount of money for the sole purpose to concealing the wearer. A large, voluminous hood could be pulled low without obscuring the bearer's vision too badly and the heavy, thick brown cloth gave the impression that the woman hidden underneath might not be more than a simple peasant girl.
Usually, the wearer also took the time to make sure that every other aspect of her appearance was better blended than it was tonight. She simply hadn't had the time to go that extra distance in order to hide herself.
So, if you looked closely, you could see, with each step, the heeled boots that clicked on the stone road embroidered in gold with pearl buttons up the side. As the cloak was kicked up from the power of each angry footstep, it also revealed, underneath it, the brilliant amaranth red of the gown she wore beneath the dull cloak. Golden lace from her petticoat peeked out under the wide skirt. She was keeping her hands elevated, holding the hem of her cloak against her palm to keep it from pulling up, but the arms of her gown could still be seen. It was a very thin mesh that was pulled tight against her arms and pulled over her hands with her thumb pushed through a hole to keep it in place. She had taken the time to remove most of her shining jewelry, but the diamonds and gold flakes painted onto her fingernails like the most expensive and miniature of canvases was still quite obvious.
The wind blew through the twilight darkened street, nearly pushing back her hood. She barely managed to grab it in time to prevent her long, golden hair from escaping. Unlike her rings, she hadn't had the time or ability to remove the elaborate, jeweled hair net holding up the half bun on the back of her head or the long, dangling earrings twinkling at her jaw and neck.
Luckily, it was dark and most of the city's inhabitants were either busy eating supper or ignoring the girl after a cursory glance didn't immediately reveal the hidden wealth beneath the brown cloak.
She wasn't going very far. Her sisters wouldn't have been foolish enough to put too much distance between themselves and their guards. Then again, she also didn't think them so foolish as to sneak out on this night of all nights. If their parents found them, especially their mother, they were all going to be in such trouble.
The girl knew her sisters well. They had their favorite place in town and she knew that the three of them would rather be there than anywhere else. At least the owner of the pub could be trusted to be discreet and keep an eye on her errant sisters.
The tavern came into view. Unlike the closed businesses around it, the windows were filled with light this time of night. She could hear laughter and raucous music spilling out of the cracked front door along with the smell of ale and food.
The girl pushed on the door and stepped inside deliberately. Angrily. She shut it behind her and glared around at the pub, hands on her hips.
There were a lot of men and women here tonight. Laughing, talking, and having a fine old time. Good-natured, hard working people that were just eager to end a long day of labor with a pint of ale and some spirited dancing.
The tavern, The Blessed Pot, was a favorite haunt for the girl and her sisters. The good people, the tasty food, and the upbeat atmosphere made it a fun place to go to when they snuck out. Sometimes, the girl even joined her sisters here.
But not on this night!
It didn't take her long to locate her sisters. She only had to follow the sound of pealing laughter and the scent of expensive perfumes that managed to be an undercurrent even through the food and beer. And, once she followed the sounds and scents upstairs, she spotted the three instantly.
It wasn't hard to find three princesses in full ball gowns amongst these everyday people.
They had worn their cloaks, similar to the angry girl's, but they had discarded them upon entering the pub. One was tossed over the rail looking down into the room. The other two were out of sight. The three sisters were on full display. Like peacocks in a hen house.
Nastasya, the youngest and plainest of the four, was wearing a full skirt gown that pinched at the waist and was woven with golden threads around the aquamarine fabric. The trailing sleeves of white lace were studded with pearls at the end and had fallen up around her elbows as she talked and laughed with expressive movements of her hands. She hadn't removed her golden jewels and the aquamarine gemstones and golden lace twinkled in the bright firelight. Her long, ashy brown hair had been elaborately braided and pulled back into a bun that had a full net cast over it to hide the locks. Her face was coated in make up that was designed to make her breathtaking. Despite all of that, Nastasya looked like a hen that had borrowed a peacock's feathers.
Across from her at the table, Larissa managed to look just like her, and still completely different. There was nothing plain about the second youngest princess. Her long, straight brown hair had tiny braids hidden in the locks with ribbons and bells tinkling at their ends. The gown she wore was a pale sort of cream, meant to draw attention away from her. Her silver jewelry and winking emeralds were the only spots of color besides the hazel eyes that all four sisters shared. Despite her attempts to dress plainly in relation to her sisters, she still managed to be breathtaking.
And, to their eldest sister's great annoyance, the second oldest sister was there as well. Seated on a table and talking merrily to her siblings, she almost appeared to be in perfect condition. Andromeda's strawberry blond curls, twisting down to just past her shoulders, had been pulled back and set into a golden comb encrusted with diamonds, pearls, and sapphires. Her body was thin and delicate and her dress matched. The royal, swirling purple fabric was airy, like a dream, and was weighted down only by pearls at her sweetheart neckline, the mesh at her wrists, and along the hemline of the skirt. She was laughing, her hazel eyes dancing, but their eldest sister could see, when she moved her hand, the bruises against her palms.
The eldest sister was so done with them tonight.
Marching over, she reached up and threw back her hood. Her long golden curls burst forth from from inside and fell like a waterfall of sunlight down her back. The glittering make up over her eyes was the brightest mauve and gold, the hazel orbs flashed in anger as she looked over the three defectors.
Reanna was the eldest sister and it showed in the regal way she carried herself. In the way she looked at her younger, disobedient sisters. Unlike her siblings, Reanna wore, just above her brow, a golden filigree circlet with golden leaves, studded with pearls and red tourmaline gemstones. A royal crown for a royal occasion. At least her sisters had had the forethought to leave theirs at the palace. Reanna would have as well, but her hair was interwoven into it and she couldn't pull it off on her own.
As soon as her hair was revealed to the world, the bright golden color caught Andromeda's attention. She stiffened and Reanna saw her lean over and whisper quickly to her sisters. The men that had come close to the princesses quickly drew back when they saw that Reanna was in no mood to join the merriment tonight.
Her sisters, however, all gave her bright, wide, innocent smiles.
"Evening, Rae!" Larissa greeted jovially. She held up her mug. "Come to drink with us?"
Irritated, Reanna jerked the mug from her hand. None of the contents spilled because Larissa had drank it so much that it sloshed without danger. Reanna slammed it down onto the table beside her, uncaring of the couple trying very hard not to make it obvious they were staring in the corner.
"What is wrong with you three?" Reanna demanded to know, her hands on her hips as she glared over their heads. "You didn't even bother changing! What are the odds, you think, that mother won't hear about this?"
"Oh, they won't tell," Andromeda laughed. "These are our friends. Right?!"
Her question elicited a loud outcry of support and laughter from all around them. The three princesses laughed but Reanna continued to glare until they stopped. Each of them looking away from her, Nat pretending to drink from her empty mug.
"On tonight? Of all nights?" Reanna continued to glare around them. "I didn't even know you had gone missing until an hour ago!"
"Well, we haven't been here much longer than that," Andromeda said sheepishly.
"That's not the point! The fact is that you're here at all! The delegation from Rhamnus leaves today and all four of us were supposed to see them off!"
"Why?" Larissa grumbled, leaning onto the table unhappily.
"Because their king is still a bachelor and the grand chancellor was supposed to bring news of the three eligible princesses back to him. Which is very difficult to do when the only princess that remains is the only one that is ineligible." Reanna might not have been so irritated if she hadn't already explained this to them. Twice.
"I am not eligible," Larissa reminded her.
"He's been missing for three years now," Reanna said, her voice softening only slightly. "He's gone, Rissa. You need a new betrothed. As do Nat and Andy. Which you can't obtain if you aren't there to meet the prospective men."
"The king wasn't even there," Nat reminded her with a grin. "Just his people."
"Exactly. They are going to bring him news of the three of you for marriage prospects. And you three left before the band needed their first break."
Andromeda chuckled behind her hand. Nat stood up, touching Reanna's arm.
"Calm down, Rae. Andy has no desire to be queen of anything, much less Rhamnus. And Rissa is still waiting for her betrothed to return."
"Which he will," Larissa said firmly, gesturing with her mug.
"So what's the point of staying?" Nat finished.
"Even if they said no, you might have been considered," Reanna shrugged off her arm. She was in no mood to be placated.
Nat actually laughed. "That's a good one. As if they would consider me."
"I would marry you if I was king of Rhamnus," Andromeda beamed at her.
Nat smiled back at her, still laughing. Andromeda's betrothed died before he had hit puberty, before they had even met. Larissa's betrothed had gone missing three years ago. And Nastasya's betrothed had called off the marriage when he had met his plain faced future-wife. Only Reanna's betrothed remained. As heir to the throne of Poseidonium, hers was the most important. However, she still wanted to see her sister's happily married and starting their own families.
Rhamnus was a very powerful kingdom kingdom taking up the entire northern side of the continent. It was so massive, in fact, that the other three kingdoms could fit into it with room to spare. They were a wealthy, happy people. It would be a great burden and honor to be made queen of that nation. Reanna felt like all of her sisters were equal to the task.
But it wouldn't happen if they refused to show themselves before the king's advisers!
"Come on, get up!" Reanna snapped, jerking her hand back towards the door. All three of her sisters groaned. "Oh, don't give me that! You don't really think I'd let you stay here! Do you know how many lies I had to tell tonight to the king's men? Get up! Let's go!"
Reanna snapped her fingers, ordering her unhappy sisters to their feet. They did so reluctantly, grumbling the whole way. Even as they were throwing their brown cloaks over their dresses. Reanna pulled payment for their drinks – for the whole pub's drinks – from the coin purse tucked into the folds of her gown and tossed it onto the table.
"Move it!" Reanna ordered, annoyed with them. "We have to get back before mother finds out."
"She's not going to find out," Andromeda laughed, walking past.
"Not unless you told her," Larissa grinned, wagging her eyebrows as she followed.
"Don't tempt me," Reanna growled, jerking up her hood as Nat strolled by.
The four girls, with impeccable manners, thanked everyone, including the owner for a good time. And, despite the way Reanna had ended their night, the owner and patrons were still happy to have had them there. The princesses had been there more than a few times. Usually it was a lot of fun. It was also a good way for them to interact with their people in an informal setting.
Tonight though, Reanna was just in no mood.
She continued lecturing them on the walk back to the palace. About their carelessness in coming here in full gowns and jewels. Their foolishness in leaving the ball early in the first place. Annoyed that they hadn't at least told her where they were going. Though, she could admit, if they had she wouldn't have let them go.
The palace, accessible from a long, winding road through a fabulous garden of flowering trees, was surrounded by an impenetrable stonewall. Impenetrable everywhere except for one spot on the far west side. Hidden behind one of the gardening sheds, it was possible to climb ivy up to the top of the shed then, if one were brave enough, jump across to the dangling flag pole and, from there, shimmy over to the stone wall and pull yourself up. It was a route they had found when they were young and impetuous and they had used it many times to come back from sneaking out.
It was a difficult exercise while wearing full ball gowns, but it also wasn't the first time they had done so. Reanna went last, waiting for Andromeda to be pulled up onto the wall by Larissa and Nat before jumping across herself.
No one worried about someone breaking out of the palace, despite the princesses' tendency to do so, and the other side was a shadowy corner of the courtyard behind an old, dry fountain and hidden by a series of trees that they could climb across and down.
Again, difficult in full ball gowns. When Reanna dropped to the ground, she had to pick leaves and small twigs from her hair. Though part of the reason they wore cloaks was to protect their clothing from this very trek.
"Get walking!" Reanna ordered, ushering her sisters along. "I still can't believe you three!"
"Shh!" Nat laughed, snickering. "The guards will hear us.
"You don't have to tell me that," Reanna growled from between her teeth. "Though if that bothered you, maybe you should have done something about the rope you left dangling from the tower!"
"It wasn't dangling," Larissa frowned. "I tied it to the stable posts."
"Well, it was untied when I found it. And swinging in the breeze. You're lucky I'm the one who came across it first."
"I told you!" Andromeda shoved her sister gently.
Larissa shrugged. "Fine, Nat can do it next time."
"There is no next time!" Reanna snapped. "You three climbed out of a tower! I can't believe you let Andy do that! What if she had gotten hurt?"
"Oh, come on," Larissa snickered. "Like we would have let her get hurt. Besides, it's the shortest tower."
"It's still a tower, Rissa!" Reanna looked at her agape. "The height doesn't really matter when it can be defined as a 'tower'."
"We did it once before."
"Yes. As children!"
"We were at least fourteen. Well, one of us was."
"And we weren't wearing full ballgowns. What if Andy had fallen? What if any of you had fallen? What would I do with one less sister?"
"We love you, Rae!" All three of her sisters sang at the same time, beaming at her.
"I love you, too!" She snapped angrily, pointing to the empty horse stall that was connected to the rope she had tied off to the roof when she found it earlier. "Now get up there before someone sees us."
Laughing, Nat put her foot on the old rail of the empty stall. She pushed herself up and over, her fluttering white petticoats flashing her stockings and fine shoes as she climbed up. She turned around then to help up Larissa. Then both of them with Reanna pushing from below helped Andromeda climb up after them.
By the time that Reanna had joined them Larissa was already untying the rope. She smiled and passed off the end to Nat. She nodded at her then held it taut so Larissa could begin climbing. Her dark cloak helped hide her in the dark night, but if anyone looked close they would still be able to pick out the shadow moving against the stone.
When she was halfway up, Nat passed the rope to Reanna. She then turned and lowered herself down so Andromeda could climb onto her back. She did so with a grateful smile. Nat stood up and took a second to adjust her elder sister.
Andromeda's skirts climbed up an improper amount showing her creamy stockings when she locked her legs around Nat's waist. Her arms circled around her shoulders, being careful not to cut of Nat's ability to breath.
"Ready?" Nat smiled at her.
Andromeda nodded and, with Reanna holding the rope steady, Nat began climbing. She moved much slower than Larissa because of the extra weight.
"I'm sorry about this," Andromeda said regretfully as she watched Nat struggle just a bit to get both of them up the rope. In a full gown, it was made that much more difficult.
Nat's smile was strained but genuine. "Don't worry, Andy. Mother's made me wear dresses heavier than you."
"If I was stronger..."
"You're fine just the way you are, Andy. Isn't that what you always tell me?"
Andromeda smiled and rubbed her cheek against Nat's for a moment before leaning back and letting her sister focus on climbing.
Reanna continued to watch from below until Larissa climbed back in through the window they had escaped from. Only then did she begin climbing herself. Reanna was always last and so, unlike her sisters, she didn't have someone to stabilize the rope. Putting her feet to the wall she half climbed, half walked up the side of the tower. The added difficulty of the dress slowed her ascent, but no more than it had when she had climbed down earlier.
Larissa was waiting for them when they reached the top. She reached out and took hold of Andromeda, pulling her in ahead of Nat. Then she turned back and helped her as well. Both sisters grabbed the end of the rope hanging from the window – tied off on Larissa's enormous, four poster bed – and began pulling to help Reanna come up.
The eldest sister appeared over the windowsill and lifted herself up and over. Even as she was putting her feet down to the ground, Andromeda was curling up the rope that Nat and Larissa were hurriedly pulling inside. When the last of it cleared the sill, Reanna closed and latched the window. The panes were clear, rimmed in expensive colored glass that turned their room a rainbow of lovely colors when the sun was up.
"See?" Larissa smiled at her. "Nothing happened."
Almost as though to prove her wrong, the double doors to their room were pushed open by a pair of servants, making way for their mother. The queen walked quickly inside, wringing her hands as her eyes flashed with a mixture of worry and anger.
"Girls!" She snapped.
The younger three groaned as Reanna let out a long sigh of regret.
She really had hoped to get back before their mother had noticed they were gone.
Queen Melania walked quickly through her daughters' room. The tower bedroom that they had begun to share after each one began her monthly bleeds. A tower that men were forbidden to enter, even the male servants of the castle. Only their father could walk here.
They had been living here for a long time. The large room was 'cut' in half by a series of three steps that led to the upper room. Reanna and Larissa had their beds up there. Andromeda and Nat's beds were on the lower half of the room. It was filled with all manner of things that each daughter considered important so it almost looked like the room had been cut into fours with a small area in the center around their studying desks that contained pieces of all four of them.
Andromeda's bed, to the right of the entrance, was pushed under the large north window giving her an unparalleled look at the stars. The gossamer canopy tied to the posts of her bed sparkled like the night sky and her pillows were placed at the foot instead of the head of the bed so she could look out at any time of night. There were charts on the walls that Andromeda stated were star charts but looked to Melania like nothing more than dots and lines on large parchment papers.
Across from her bed, Nat's side of the room was pure chaos. There were papers and books everywhere there was a flat surface, including the bed itself. All except the body shaped space where Nat would lay her head at night. Since their previous steward had left, Nat had been running the palace staff by her own request. The job spilled all over her room.
Up the steps, just beside Nat's bed, Larissa's quarter of the room was covered in discarded gowns, shoes, and jewelry pieces. A result of her long day preparing for the ball that she had barely attended for an hour. The chest at the foot of her bed was open and a random assortment of clothing was spilling out of it. Her jewelry case was open and sparkling beside a candle. The book she was currently reading was set on her bedside table, ready for her to pick it up again.
Across from her bed, set as far from the door as it could be, Reanna's bed was immaculate and the space around it neat and tidy. The maids hadn't been through here yet, she just kept her area that spotless. Even as she had been dressing for the night's events, she had been cleaning up her area while she did so. She didn't have a canopy, like Nat, but she did have a large, beautiful painting of the castle itself created by a master artist hanging over her bed.
The candle beside Larissa's bed was the only source of light in the room. The four girls were very obviously trying to be clandestine about their night out. But Melania hadn't raised them for twenty years not to learn something about them.
"Climbing from the tower?!" She gasped, looking at the rope Andromeda had tried to hurriedly push under Larissa's bed. "You snuck off into town again! What were you thinking?! You were supposed to see off the delegation! The four of you are in such trouble."
"Actually, mother-" Nat started.
"This was my fault, mother," Reanna said quickly, stepping forward. "They were only following me."
"Reanna?" Melania blinked in surprise. She had thought she had seen her eldest downstairs amongst the guests. "You snuck out of the castle with them? Wearing your crown?!"
Reanna lowered her head guiltily. "Yes, mother. It's my fault. I take full blame."
Melania let out a short, agitated breath. "Really, Reanna. How long are you going to keep doing this? You are no longer a child. It's time you stop acting like one."
"Yes, mother."
"And you let Andromeda climb a rope! And jump the palace walls? What if she had gotten hurt? Ah! Look at her hands! They're covered in bruises!"
Andromeda quickly hid her hands behind her back, too late. The proof of her efforts this night in holding onto Nat had already been seen.
"You're right, mother. I was careless," Reanna said, her head still bowed. "I accept whatever punishment you deem necessary."
Melania let out a breath, crossing her arms. She was still wearing her ballgown, though her bright blond hair was as frizzy and agitated as she was. Proof that she had been looking for them longer than she let on.
"Reanna...This is ridiculous. This can't be allowed to continue. You're far too old to be going to taverns and sneaking out from home. Your focus should be on becoming queen!"
"Yes, mother."
Melania turned from her. "Your father and I will discuss what should be done for your punishment. The four of you are all confined to your room until I say otherwise."
"What?!" Larissa cried out. "But I have a meeting with my tailor tomorrow!"
"And it's the new star season!" Andromeda bemoaned. "You can't deny me the new season!"
"I can do what I like when you are disobedient," the queens said primly to their complaints. "Maybe think about the star seasons and tailors the next time you want to sneak out. I'll have your lady's maids sent up so you can undress."
"We can undress ourselves, mother," Nat grumbled as Larissa threw herself down onto her bed, crossing her arms in anger.
"You are all going to be ladies soon. With proper husbands. You should get used to being undressed by your lady's maids," Melania said, turning. "Reanna, your father and I will speak to you tomorrow."
"Yes, mother," her eldest said.
The queen walked primly from the room, nodding to the servants that waited outside. One came forward and took the rope Andromeda had tried to hide. Then they all left, closing and locking the door behind them.
Reanna turned with a glare. "The three of you are in so much trouble!"
"Love you, Rae!" Her sisters sang out again with bright smiles.
"I love you, too!" She snapped, crossing her arms. "And whatever onerous chore she sets me tomorrow, you three are helping."
"Of course!" Andromeda laughed, flinging her arms around her neck. "Come on, Rae. Help me take of my gown."
Reanna nodded, pulling her over towards her bed. Larissa was already helping Nat with the tiny pearl buttons going down the back of her gown. The four of them had been helping each other dress and undress since Larissa had moved into the room with Reanna. It was just easier than using the army of lady's maids at their command.
It didn't take long for Andromeda's affection and Nat's cheerful personality to pull Reanna out of her foul mood. Larissa read to them aloud from her book until Andromeda fell asleep, because she always fell asleep first. The others weren't far behind her.
Reanna was the last awake. Looking out the window that was closer to Larissa's bed than hers. She could see the far edges of the city from here, but little else. Well, that and the forests to the east. From this distance though, they were just darkness meeting up with the mountains at the far horizon that broke up the expanse of stars.
She fell slowly to sleep, not at all worried about whatever punishment her parents would conceive for her in the morning. Both of her parents worried a great deal, but neither of them were harsh or unfair in their discipline.
The morning came with their usual lessons. Their governess must have been told of their night's adventure though because she was unusually focused on etiquette and decorum. Though even Nat, as the youngest of them at seventeen, was very well familiar with both concepts. None of them really needed a governess, but until they were married and were moved from this room they would continue receiving lessons from the elder, overbearing woman.
They were halfway through relearning table manners – and being annoyed that their breakfast was the tiny nibbles she would allow them in learning – when a servant came telling them that Reanna had been summoned before her parents.
Resigned now to receiving her punishment, Reanna stood. Her sisters all smiled at her, grateful and supportive. It wasn't the first time she had taken the blame for their missteps, even if she wasn't the one that had misstepped. However, it also wouldn't be the first time that the other three would help her with the punishment she would be set.
Since she had no formal meetings today, Reanna was dressed down. The cotton dress, dyed a dull sort of yellow, was made brighter by her hair. The dress itself had only two thin straps hanging on her shoulders, but her arms were covered by the white shirt she wore underneath it that ended in butterfly sleeves at her elbows. Her hair had been pulled into a side knot and held in place with a elaborate silver comb decorated in diamond daisies.
She walked down through the palace, the low heels of her shoes clicking against the ground with each step. She had been told her father and mother would be waiting for her in his study. Which was where he usually went when he had to discipline his daughters. They overheard him admit to their mother once that it made him feel more authoritative to do it in there and the sweet eyes of his girls would be less likely to sway him to be lenient.
Reanna knocked politely before entering. She was trying to be demure and obedient, though both attitudes left a very bitter taste in her mouth.
Within, her father was seated at his desk, pushed up against the far wall so he could look down onto his kingdom whenever he pleased. He turned and looked up when she entered, pausing in the act of reading over one of the shipping reports from the coast.
Melania was with him, seated primly on one of his sofas. She was reading a book that she had placed down on her lap when Reanna had stepped within.
The queen, tall and lovely, had also dressed down. Even then, she still wore silk and lace. A queen must wear nothing less, as she would say. Her hair had been set in an elaborate braid held on with a flowered comb pressed just off center of her head.
King Linus was considerably shorter than his wife, and rounder besides. Melania stated that it didn't matter what a king looked like though. It was a queen that must be beautiful as well as a suitable leader, with emphasis on the former. Linus, however, was a good king. True and fair. With thinning brown hair that he could hide under his crown on formal occasions, though not now. He had been the one to give his daughters their hazel eyes.
He sat up straighter in his chair when Reanna stepped inside. She curtsied to the pair of them. Not deep, just enough to show the rulers their due respect before stepping between them.
"Sit down, Reanna," Melania said, gesturing to the sofa before her.
Reanna did so without comment. She found it was easier to play at being demure when she didn't allow herself to speak. Her naturally domineering personality had a harder time coming out when she kept her words to herself.
Her mother knew that very well about her eldest, most outspoken daughter and she nodded in approval of her choice. It was a good quality to have when she must defer to her king husband one day. A good queen had be able to bite her tongue when necessary.
Silence strung out between them for a moment. Melania waited for Linus to speak but, after a moment, it became obvious that he wouldn't. He wasn't ready to do this yet.
Well, Melania was.
"Reanna," she started regally, setting her book aside on the sofa. "You are no longer a child. It is time to put away childish things. Such as sneaking out. Or jumping the palace walls. A lady does not do these things. I've turned my gaze from it in the past because I wanted you to enjoy your youth. You are a lady grown now though, and I expect you to act as such."
"Yes, mother," Reanna said calmly. Waiting for the ax to fall...
Would it be lines? Would she have to do some sort of manual labor? That wouldn't be so bad. She really hoped that they didn't make her help in the kitchens again. She did so despise that particular chore.
"Your father and I have discussed it," Melania said, letting out a soft breath.
Here it comes...
"And we've decided that it's time that you marry."
Reanna, prepared to hear something more like a task, found herself sitting there in stunned confusion for a moment. Blinking at her mother.
"You are a grown woman, Reanna. Many girls your age are already married. The only reason you are not is because your father is...attached to you and your sisters."
Linus smiled sheepishly but without shame. Even when Melania gave him a long look out of the corner of her eye. She looked back at her eldest.
"And, of course, none of your sisters can get married before you. The eldest must be married first or it would be completely improper for the younger ones to do so."
"Um, yeah..." Reanna agreed, clearing her throat.
She had always known she would one day marry. Just like her sisters, she had been given a betrothed when she was just five years old. However, unlike Nat and Larissa, she had never actually met the man she would one day call husband. He was the second prince of Scabrosa, the kingdom just southeast of Poseidonium, and neither of them had ever seen the need to even exchange letters. They were to be married, it was already settled. What was to discuss?
However, just because she knew intellectually that she would marry, the thought of actually doing so was a surprising one. It threw her off kilter for a moment so that she had to actually clear her throat to give herself a second to gather her thoughts.
"Well, marriage...um, I suppose I am old enough now."
"Exactly," Melania nodded, pleased her daughter agreed without a fight.
"Well, she doesn't have to," Linus tried to say and earned a look from his wife.
"She's twenty years old, Linus. She's almost too old to be married."
"Oh, what is age anyway?" The king asked philosophically. "Kids are getting older and older these days. They like to stay young. Explore. See the world."
"That is exactly what I'm trying to prevent."
"But-"
"Linus, you are king and when it comes to running the kingdom I defer to you in all things. However, when it comes to our daughters, I am the authority. Do you not agree?"
"Well, you are a female..."
"Exactly. It's time for her to marry and begin settling down. Produce an heir of her own."
"An heir?!" Reanna and Linus cried at the same time.
Oh. Of course. Marriage necessarily meant that Reanna would be expected to bear children. Someone to take the crown after she and her husband chose to pass it on or died. Still, that seemed further a concept to her than the marriage idea had.
"B-But, Melania, my dove..." Linus dithered. "Surely we shouldn't rush into this. I mean, Reanna hasn't even met her betrothed yet."
"Then we shall invite him to come early and allow him to be part of the wedding planning. They may get to know each other then."
"But, Melania..." Linus's mouth moved but nothing came out. He wasn't sure how to tell her no to the idea and then give good reason for that no.
Simply, he didn't want Reanna to get married. At all. He knew she would live here after she was married and he would see her whenever he pleased. She would be queen herself one day, after all. But his other daughters might not be so lucky. Who knows where they would live once a husband had been found for them? What if he never got to see them again?
So he couldn't allow Reanna to get married. At least not so soon. Because if she didn't get married, then her sisters couldn't marry either. It would be entirely improper.
But Melania wouldn't be dissuaded. She had made her decision. She was tired of hearing reports that her daughters had returned to that blasted Blessed Pot again. She wanted them to grow up and be safe at home. And what better way than by marrying them off?
Besides, Melania and Linus didn't want to run the kingdom until they died. They planned to retire one day, if they could. And if they wanted Reanna to rule the kingdom in their place, then she needed a husband at her side. At least someone that could teach her the proper attitude that a wife should possess and not this unflattering masculinity that Reanna often displayed.
It was only Melania's hope that Reanna's betrothed would still want to marry her even after he met his stubborn bride. It wouldn't be the first time that a betrothed was turned away from their daughters because of the 'blessing' given to them by their godmother.
Reanna was staring into her lap, thinking quickly.
It wasn't like she was really opposed to getting married. She wasn't really looking forward to it either. It had always just been something that she was going to do one day, but never really something she spent time thinking about. If anything, she had just been relieved that her betrothal saved her the hassle and annoyance of courtship that the other girls her age were being forced to endure.
She could admit though, that this wasn't the sort of 'punishment' she had been prepared for when she woke up this morning.
"You have no complaints then, Reanna?" Melania asked when her daughter's silence continued.
"Because it's okay if you do!" Linus hastened to say. "We don't want you to feel like you're being forced into this marriage."
"No. No, no," Reanna shook her head before affixing a smile to her face. "Mother's right. Many of my friends are already married. And it's probably better to bring my betrothed here sooner so that he has more time to adjust himself to our kingdom and our ways before you two decide to step down and give us control."
"Are you sure, darling?" Linus frowned at her. "This isn't something you can back out of if you change your mind later. If you decide to marry..."
"It's fine, father," Reanna smiled at him. "Really. It has to happen someday and...well, there's no reason it can't happen today."
"There's a lot of reasons," Linus pouted.
"Very good," Melania nodded, proud of her daughter. "We'll send the official notice to Scabrosa that you are ready to begin the marriage process. I would recommend also sending off a letter to him with your own message. I know you two don't exchange confidences, but you should at least tell him yourself that you're ready and have agreed to this."
"Yes, mother," Reanna nodded. She could admit that it was probably a good idea. Honestly, she knew little about her betrothed besides his title of second prince of Scabrosa and his name. She didn't even know the name of his older brother!
Still, it wasn't like this marriage would happen tomorrow. It would take weeks just for the prince to travel here from his kingdom. Then probably weeks more to plan the royal wedding of the crown princess to the future king. There would be plenty of time to know each other then.
Melania dismissed her back to her room. As Reanna was leaving, Linus stopped her to tell her that she and her sisters were no longer confined to their tower. He didn't want Larissa to miss her appointment or Andromeda to miss the new star season. Melania gave him a glare for the permission but didn't attempt to take it back. She figured she could give him that since she was about to start systematically marrying off his daughters.
Reanna walked back out of the office and paused outside the door. She let out a long breath, looking off down the hall that would lead to her bedroom.
A bedroom that wouldn't be hers after she married.
Married.
It was such a strange word. And she had just agreed to be a married woman.
She had to tell her sisters.
But, first, she had to write a letter to her betrothed. Cadmus.
When Reanna returned to her room, she first told her sisters that their suspension to their room had been lifted. Which she knew would immediately ensure that all three of them escaped. None of them liked to be locked up in the tower.
Just as Reanna had planned. With them gone, and the governess off duty, no one was around to watch Reanna as she walked around to her desk and pulled out her personalized stationary. Each of them had their own and Reanna's was a pale gold with stylized chrysanthemum flowers emblazoned onto the corner. It was expensive and only hers. Which meant it was probably suitable for her to send as a letter to her future husband.
She sat down at her desk, pulled an inkwell and quill from the top drawer and stared at the blank piece of stationary before her.
What was she supposed to write?
Dear husband...Dear betrothed?...To Cadmus...
Reanna frowned, leaning back. What was she supposed to write to her future husband? A man that she had never met and knew next to nothing about? She couldn't really act sentimental because she felt nothing for him yet. Was formal too distant?
Professional, Reanna decided. Their marriage wasn't a love match. Such a luxury was for the common man. They were royalty, destined to be king and queen, so therefore their marriage would be a partnership. A business. Children, while loved, would be products of that business. Destined to inherit their places one day.
So she would be professional. Queenly. Reanna was good at that.
Cadmus Alec Orpheus...
It was a very formal start, but it at least showed that she knew his full name. Which was pretty much all she knew about him. But, so long as he was a good king, that was all she needed to know. They could lead entirely different lives and so long as he ruled well, things would be fine. And, if he were sub par, she could do fine on her own. She was domineering enough to keep a man in line. Which would make her mother unhappy, but it would be better for the kingdom.
So Reanna continued the letter in that vein. She told him that she had decided it was time for them to marry and that she was extending the official invitation for him to join her here to begin the wedding preparations. Though the marriage was moving forward from this point, she also made it clear that she was going to be observing him while he was here to determine his eligibility to be king and, if she thought him unworthy of the title, she would call off the marriage.
However, she also made it clear that it would be judged purely on his skills as a leader. She was sure they would be friends and, after a lifetime together, they might even come to love each other in a friendly sort of way.
She signed it with her full name.
Reanna Raemonia Reatha Renee Rosalinda.
All of her sisters had alliterations for names. Their parents thought it was a fun way to name the princesses. Well, Linus had. Melania had gone with it because the king's word was law and a father was head of the household, even when that household was a palace.
All in all, the letter took up two pages of her personal stationary. Which Reanna judged to be an adequate length for a formal sort of letter between future business partners. Not too short as to say that she wasn't taking him seriously and not so long as to overburden him. It was merely an introductory letter.
It wasn't until she was folding it into an envelope that she realized that she probably should have included something about herself in it. He knew as much about her as she knew of him. It honestly just didn't cross her mind to speak of herself.
She felt strangely like she was interviewing a potential employee. She had helped Nat do it when she first became the steward of the palace and there was a need for new staff members. The feeling was remarkably similar.
Well, she supposed it was a job interview. She stood up from the desk, letter in hand. She had to take it down to her father's study and leave it with him so he could send it with the official messenger to Scabrosa.
Then she needed to go tell her sisters that she was getting married.
Andromeda was up in her observatory. At the top of the tallest tower. In a room that had once been attic space and was now her personal star gazing laboratory. She charted star courses. She researched the cause and effect of the planets on people. She had gutted the library of every book on navigation, the planets, and astrology and not a few other topics and had moved them up to her space so she could add, change, and remove pieces of it as necessary.
When Reanna joined her, after dropping off her letter, Andromeda was busy preparing for the night ahead. Her telescope, a massive marvel of glass and metal of her own design, took up the most of the floor, half of the walls, and the entire ceiling. Necessitating the removal of the ceiling itself so the telescope could be properly put in place.
However, because of wind, temperature, and a whole host of other things that gave Reanna headaches thinking about, it needed to be readjusted and focused daily. It was a constant effort to keep the stargazing equipment in perfect alignment.
Of course, Andromeda didn't do it herself. She had her own personal team of servants that she had cultivated and trained to serve her every need. They knew how to operate the telescope. How to keep her work space clean around her hectic mind. Most importantly, how to take care of the second princess.
"Rae!" Andromeda beamed at her when she climbed the last step into the observatory.
Reanna had to pause and catch her breath. "Andy...I just don't know...how you take those stairs multiple times a day."
Andromeda laughed, picking up one of her rolled up star charts. "Well, it's not so difficult when you take breaks in between. Sometimes people even offer to carry me."
She frowned then, pausing in the act of filling her arms with more notes and charts. "I really wish they wouldn't. I like doing it on my own..."
Reanna's hand touched her shoulder gently and she smiled at her warmly. "I do too. It feels that much more like an accomplishment when you can take all those stairs without help."
Andromeda smiled back at her. "Here, help me. I've got all of last year's spring charts out. I need them over by the telescope so I can reach them tonight."
Reanna nodded and helped her scoop up the parchment. Andromeda was talking to her about the star alignments for the spring. Which, apparently, was different for each of the seasons. It was a fascinating subject to Andromeda, but Reanna was only interested insomuch as it was something that Andromeda enjoyed.
"Are you going to stay up here late tonight?" Reanna asked as she helped her sit the papers down beside the chair that Andromeda would sit back in to gaze up through any of the multiple eyepieces that, she said, offered different magnifications.
"I plan to," Andromeda nodded with a smile. "I didn't get to gaze yesterday so I want to make up for what I missed."
"How much could the sky possibly change in two days?"
"Not much, but it never ceases to amaze me." Andromeda smiled, dusting off her hands before turning to Reanna with a smile. "I know you didn't come up here to talk to me about the stars. You three only pretend to be interested."
"We are interested," Reanna assured her with a smile that wasn't quite truthful. They did like it when Andromeda talked about the stars, but only because she became so passionate about the subject. It was fun to see her so happy about something.
Andromeda laughed, hands to her hips. "What did you want to talk to me about, Rae?"
Reanna hesitated for just a second. Then shrugged with a sheepish smile and said, "I'm getting married."
Andromeda reacted almost exactly how Reanna imagined she had. An exaggerated blink that was followed by a long stare.
"Married?" Andromeda repeated like she didn't know the word.
"Mother decided that it's time for me to grow up and take my husband. So we're writing to my betrothed in Scabrosa. We're going to start planning the wedding when he arrives."
"W-Wow," Andromeda laughed. She came forward quickly, wrapping her arms around Reanna. "I mean, that's great. Congratulations."
"Thanks," Reanna smiled, squeezing her back gingerly. You had to be very careful with Andromeda.
"Have you told the others yet?"
"No. I'm telling Rissa next. Then Nat."
"We should celebrate," Andromeda smiled, pushing herself back. "I'd suggest a night at the Blessed Pot, but I don't know that we should tempt mother that soon after getting caught."
"It's fine. We'll have an official celebration when he arrives, I'm sure."
Andromeda shrugged, still smiling. "Well, better than nothing. This is very exiting. I'll consult the stars to determine the best day for the wedding date."
"The stars can tell you that?" Reanna asked as Andromeda walked back down to her book alcove and began looking across the leather spines.
"Of course. The stars can tell us many things. I'll find the most fortunate day for your wedding."
"It's probably going to have to be soon."
"That's fine. I just don't want you marrying on a day that will bring you bad luck. Don't worry, Rae, I'll see that you have the stars on your side."
Reanna smiled at her gratefully. Andromeda was reaching for another book on the shelves before her, but she was still smiling at Reanna so she fumbled it. Reanna gasped and her heart sank with the path of the book as it fell. Neither sister could react in time to prevent the sharp spine from hitting Andromeda's toes. It bounced off of her shoe, but Reanna still heard the dull crack.
Andromeda screamed, the other book in her hand falling down and landing with a loud smack on its face beside the first. She crumpled over her foot, reaching for it with shaking hands. Reanna cried out and ran for her. She kneeled beside her sister, putting one arm around her shoulder and looking at her foot in fear.
"D-Did it just break?" She stuttered, scared.
"I-I'm fine," Andromeda assured her, breathless with pain. It didn't matter how many bones she broke, it always felt like pure agony every time.
"Here..." Reanna put her arms under her sister's body and lifted her up in her arms.
It wasn't difficult. Andromeda weighed very little. Carrying her was less cumbersome than carrying the large comforter from her bed. Andromeda was just so frail and delicate. The book that had hit her foot wasn't even that large. It wasn't the first time she had suffered from such a thing though.
Of all the cursed princesses, it was Andromeda that had received the worst 'gift' from their miserable godmother. The gift of a princess's expected delicacy of disposition and constitution.
Andromeda never died. No, their godmother would never give them such a curse. In her own way, she had actually meant it to be a blessing of a sort. A counter to the gift of queenly attitude and regal temperament that Reanna had been bestowed.
Andromeda was every bit the princess that Melania would have preferred to have. Demure, delicate, and deferential.
She was too delicate though. Too fragile. Andromeda sustained injuries on a worryingly regular basis from the slightest of forces.
Reanna set her down gently on her table, moving some of winter's star charts out of her way. She stood back, frowning at the way that Andromeda was hissing in pain over her toe. It was still secured in her shoe and Reanna wasn't sure what to do.
"I should go get a physician," she decided, looking to the tower exit. "Or maybe I'll bring you to him-"
"No," Andromeda stopped her, gently lowering her foot down. "It's fine. It just cracked this time."
"How do you know?"
Andromeda smiled sadly. "Once you break enough bones, you start to be able to tell the differences between the different kinds of fractures just by feeling them."
"I don't know, Andy..."
"It's okay, Rae," Andromeda took her sister's shoulder with a smile. "I have my staff here to look after me. And I can make my own splints now if I need to."
Reanna hesitated, frowning at her. Andromeda kept smiling, lowering her foot gently to dangle off of the table with the other.
Reanna often wished that she could take Andromeda's curse for her.
Each princess had been cursed on her name day. Technically, they had been given 'gifts' from their godmother, Oceane. But each gift was a curse that hurt each princess in a different way. None so much as Andromeda though.
Her curse of princessly delicacy, however well meaning, caused her such pain. She became sick easier, and the illness clung longer, than her sisters. It didn't take much to break her bones or bruise her fragile skin. She wasn't able to wear corsets because of the bruising and fractures it cost to tighten the lacing any noticeable amount. She didn't really need to wear a corset though because she was such a frail and wispy girl. Her dresses were always made of the thinnest fabrics and even her hair had to be shorter than the others' because it pulled on her scalp painfully when it became too long.
Despite the pain though, Andromeda could keep smiling. Keep living. In that way, Andromeda was the strongest of all four princesses. Reanna admired that about her more than anything.
Reanna caught up to Larissa after her appointment with her tailor. When she found her, she was downstairs in her preferred fitting room talking to the princesses' personal team of seamstresses. The women had been designing dresses for them since each princess came of age and had her debut into society. Larissa liked to work with her in order to make her designs.
Melania had put Larissa in charge of dressing Nat up so she was as beautiful as physically possible for her. A task Larissa took on happily. Mostly because that free reign over her siblings' wardrobe also meant that she could make sure that all of her clothes made her appear as plain as physically possible. Which was her way of fighting back against her own curse.
"Ah, Rae!" Larissa beamed at her when she walked into the room.
The tailor left after their meeting, but Larissa's own team of seamstresses and servants were rushing around the large room. Some carried yards of fabrics; silk, cotton, fishnet, chiffon, etc. Others were loaded down with ribbons, laces, buttons, and jewels made to be sewn into clothes. One woman had a box filled with spools of brightly colored threads and a cushion loaded down with needles of various lengths, sizes, and shapes.
Larissa was standing back watching all of them work with a sketching pad in her arms and a charcoal pencil in her hand that she used to draw designs that she wanted to bring to life. She waved Reanna over eagerly.
"I'm so glad you're here. Look at this. I've got a new design that I think will look excellent on you for the harvest ball."
"It's barely spring, Rissa," Reanna laughed even as she looked at the sketch.
It had long sleeves trimmed in fur and a wonderful draping effect that made the gown look like a cross between a robe and a dress. It would definitely be too heavy for Andromeda. Probably only Reanna, who was the tallest of them, could wear it to the best advantage.
"You can never begin preparing too early," Larissa beamed at her. "I'm thinking of warm, autumn tones for this. Gold, maroon, burnt orange, and brown. Like the falling leaves. I think the fur gives it a really nice touch. Do you think I should put more around the neckline? Maybe make a hood sort of thing? I don't know how well that will work with your hair though. We'll probably need to pull it into a tight updo of some kind."
"Whatever you think is best, Rissa," Reanna smiled.
"Oh, and I've got your new gown finished. I'm having it put upstairs on your bed. Fuchsia flowers with a gold and cream base. It looks fantastic. I've still got to finish Nat's gown though. And the spring ball is only a few weeks away. I'm actually worried I won't make it."
"I'm sure you'll do fine," Reanna smiled. She loved watching how passionate Larissa got about her designs.
"You say that every time!"
"Yes, and you do fine every time." Reanna, nudging her gently. Larissa smiled back at her, lowering her sketch pad down.
"Did you come here to see your gown? I can have them bring it back if you want."
"No, actually I've come to talk to you."
"Oh? What's the occasion?"
"I'm getting married."
"What?!" Larissa gasped, a huge smile breaking over her face. She laughed loudly, throwing her arm around Reanna's neck. "Rae! That's great! You've finally decided to go forward with it?!"
"Well, mother decided, but I didn't disagree with her." Reanna smiled when Larissa leaned back.
There was a new flush on her face. She was crying out in delight, holding her racing heart. She couldn't believe her sister was finally getting married.
"Rae! You have to let me design your gown," Larissa begged, clinging her sketch pad tightly. "I've always wanted to do a wedding gown. Please! Please, Rae!"
Laughing, Reanna, touched her shoulder happily. "You're really excited about this."
"Of course! I mean, I'm happy you're getting married, because that means that Andy can finally get married. And once she's married, then I can finally marry." Squealing, Larissa turned in an excited circle.
Reanna was grateful she did so because she missed the uncomfortable look on Reanna's face. Larissa was excited about marrying her betrothed and refused to listen to reason when people reminded her that he had gone missing three years ago. No one had seen or heard from him in years. It was just presumed by everyone, including his parents, that he was dead. Larissa was the only one who continued to hold onto a wild hope that he might yet survive.
"I've already got so many ideas!" Larissa continued, totally oblivious to Rae's thoughts. She pulled a new page onto her sketch pad and started quickly moving her pencil across the parchment. The sketch was just a bit untidy and wild from her excitement. "You like layers, right? Maybe here on the skirt with a sleeveless sweetheart neckline. And why white? Why must wedding gowns always be white? You look really good in blue. Not like a sky blue, but I'm thinking a deep, sapphire blue."
"I think white is traditional," Reanna laughed.
"Traditional is just a nice way of saying boring," Larissa gave her a look. She paused when she saw that Reanna wasn't nearly as excited as she was. "Unless...you'd prefer white?"
"Blue sounds wonderful."
"Rae...do you not want to get married?"
Reanna hesitated for a moment, actually thinking about the answer. "I can't say that I've got any feelings about it one way or another."
Larissa frowned, looking down at her sketch. "That's no way to think about your wedding."
"Well, I've never actually met him."
"I've never met my betrothed either, but I get excited about my wedding."
"Yes, but you've exchanged letters with him. I've never even thought about sending mine a note."
"Rae, you shouldn't do it if you don't want to."
"I do," she assured her quickly. "It's an excellent time for me to marry and begin settling down. Just think of all the baby clothes you'll get to design when I have children."
"Well, yeah." Larissa still frowned. "Still..."
"I love your design, Rissa," Reanna hugged her gently, looking at the quick, unfinished sketch. "You can make it however you want, I trust you. There's no one with a better mind for fashion in the whole kingdom and you know what looks good on us better than we do."
Larissa smiled at the compliment, but there was still a shade of sadness over her eyes. She didn't want to think of Reanna not being as happy as she was about getting married.
Larissa couldn't say that she loved her betrothed. They were friendly and exchanged a certain amount of confidences in their letters – or they had – but there wasn't love between them. Larissa just considered herself happy that she could call her future husband a friend. Her parents had become friends after they were betrothed and love blossomed later.
Larissa knew that there were some women that loathed the idea of an arranged marriage. She heard some of her friends complaining at times about their chosen husbands – those of them that had been betrothed. Honestly though, Larissa felt only relieved that her husband had been chosen for her. It made her life that much easier.
Of all the four princesses, it seemed that Larissa was the one who was actually blessed. Andromeda and Nat felt their gifts were curses and Reanna considered hers neither a blessing nor a curse. Larissa's gift, from the outside, seemed the most like a true gift.
Beauty. Timeless and unbreakable. There was nothing that could touch her glory. Even if a large gash opened across her face, it would heal without a scar. And they knew that because once, as children, when they had been learning how to cross the wall Larissa had fallen. She had broken her arm and had a long wound from her temple down her cheek. It healed without a mark. Godmother Oceane had given her what many would consider a great gift.
But they could only see Larissa's face. They didn't notice the other things that came with it.
Larissa was beautiful, so people naturally began assuming that was all she was good for. She had started designing along with their tailor because no one else would let her do anything that might be considered a responsibility. They thought her dumb behind her pretty face. Most people assumed her to be narcissistic. And though Larissa did her best to downplay her looks – without making her mother angry at her clothing choices – it did nothing to help. Her beauty would shine through even a burlap sac draped over her like a robe.
But it could be worse than that. Her beauty was such that it could drive men from their minds. She had struck smart men dumb, made strong men weak, and turned good men bad. Some men lost control of themselves when looking at her. Thinking to possess her beauty, they lost their senses and refused to take no as an answer until a guard, or one of her sisters, forced him to.
It went even deeper than that. Larissa had few friends. She couldn't trust males not to want to possess her or take more than the friendship offered, so one would think she should be able to get along with other females instead. That was wrong.
Other girls became bitter and jealous of Larissa. The few that tried to get close to her eventually drifted away, unable to stand being in her shadow. Some of them hated her outright and did little to hide that fact.
A short time after her debut ball, a girl from a high class family had attempted to poison her and only the poison testers in the palace kept her from being harmed. The girl could have faced execution but Larissa pleaded for clemency, stating it was her curse that drove people to such extremes and not their own will. So the girl had been exiled from the city and was forced to live out in the country away from society.
Even after being spared though, the girl still hated Larissa. She had been spewing hatred and vitriol even as she was being forced to leave.
The army of seamstresses and servants that worked for the tailor had to be changed out on a worryingly frequent basis. Some couldn't handle the blow to their own self esteem at being forced to work with Larissa almost every day. One woman even became obsessed and possessive over her, as though Larissa was a jewel in a case to be claimed by the greedy.
Larissa's curse was beauty, and there was nothing she could do about it. There was nothing that could be done to her face that wouldn't heal back into her stunning visage. She had little friends besides her sisters, she couldn't trust men not to claim her or women not to hate her, and no one was willing to give her responsibilities because they saw nothing past her pretty face.
It was the gift given that was a blessing from the outside. But only once you lived the life having it did you realize that unwavering beauty was a large flaw. At best, Larissa was a piece of artwork placed on a pedestal to be admired and adored form afar. At worst, she was something to be claimed and owned by people who saw beauty and lost their own morals before it.
Larissa watched when Reanna left her fitting room. Her sister didn't appear to have a great deal of happiness about her own wedding. Which saddened Larissa. She didn't expect Reanna to love Cadmus, but she at least hoped they would be friends after all this time.
She frowned back at the sketch of Reanna's gown. It was still rough, half finished, but the beauty of what would be could still be seen. It would need more refining, and Larissa was already thinking of changes and additions, but somehow she didn't feel quite like making it any longer.
"Marriage?" Nat looked up from her books, startled. "As in...like, marriage?"
Reanna laughed, sitting across from her at the desk. "Yes, of course,Nat."
"Wow..." Her reaction wasn't nearly so excited as Andromeda or Larissa's. She sat back in her chair, lowering her quill over her books.
Nat was working as the palace steward, as she had been doing since the last man retired. She kept records of spending, servant pay, and supply tallies. She was in charge of making sure that each different aspect of the staff was functioning as it should. She was the one who hired new people when needed and helped their mother whenever there was an event to plan.
It all seemed very dull work to Reanna. However, Nat was just as interested in what she was doing as Andromeda was in the stars or Larissa was about designing and fashion. Though her passion for her task wasn't usually quite so obvious, it was one that she had petitioned their father to do on her own and had been doing it, and quite well, for about a year now.
Reanna knew, because she liked to receive reports from the people around her, that the efficiency of the palace staff had increased since Nat had taken over. The workers were happier, the palace was better run, and events always seemed to have something that made them all seem different and fantastic, no matter how traditional the celebration.
"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order," Nat looked at Reanna critically. "I'll have to begin planning a whole host of events. A welcoming ball, a series of formal teas to introduce him to the court and council, probably some informal dances and hunts, the engagement dinner, I still have to finish work on the spring ball...oh, and the wedding itself of course."
"I'll be helping you with that one," Reanna smiled at her.
Nat's eyes, which had become faraway, opened again to focus on her. She looked back at her sister and gave her a soft smile.
"You and mother really do enjoy giving me so much extra work."
Reanna shrugged helplessly with a smile. "Sorry. I wish I could have given you more time. You do have a few weeks while he travels here."
"Better than that time mother gave me three days to plan Lord Nereus's birthday celebration."
"That was one of your best."
"Oh, thank you."
"No, really. They still talk about it. I don't even know where you got a chorus of singing birds that could harmonize like that."
"Oh, that was just luck," Nat grinned. "I just happened to know the guy and he was in town. I really only used them to distract from the fact that I didn't have enough time to prepare a more complete entertainment set or get proper decorations."
"It worked wonderfully. The birds were all anyone noticed."
"I'll make sure your wedding is an even more wonderful affair," Nat promised her. "Something fitting for the future king and queen. And I'll make sure to create plenty of opportunities beforehand for you to get to know your groom."
"Thank you, Nat," Reanna smiled. She knew that her youngest sister would understand. Of all of them, Nat was the most like minded to herself.
By the time that Nat's name day had arrived, their parents had been prepared for Oceane's gifts and had learned that Andromeda's was actually far more a curse. They became afraid despite Reanna and Larissa's not having yet shown any downsides. However, one couldn't prevent a fairy godmother from attending an event. Oceane had been godmother to their royal family for many generations and she had given gifts to each prince and princess born. Their father's gift, one of even temperament and a caring heart, had been well received. No one was sure why, with this generation of royals, Oceane had suddenly become a curmudgeon.
To Nat, she had given what their mother believed to be the cruelest gift of all. Princess Nastasya was every bit the leader that Reanna was. She became interested in discussion on trade negotiations, economic fluctuations, and tax regulations and Nat and Reanna could and often did find themselves lost in such discussions for hours at a time.
However, the 'gift' she had been given was one of ordinariness. In direct contract to Larissa's beauty, Nat was cursed to be little more than a wallflower. She would never be ugly, but she would also never been lovely. Despite Melania's best attempts, the finest gowns Larissa could create, and the attention of the most talented stylists in the kingdom, Nat somehow always managed to look like she had accidentally dressed in someone else's clothes. Nothing really fit right and makeup didn't make her more than simply plain.
No one noticed Nat. Some even called her the forgotten princess. At formal events, there were times when she didn't even stand with her sisters. Her parents wouldn't ever leave her out on purpose, but they didn't force her to stand if she didn't do it herself like they did the others. Usually when meeting foreign diplomats, but it was known to happen at events just for those in kingdom.
Unlike with Larissa, no one questioned Nat's competency. However, there were some that worked in the palace who didn't even know she was a princess. She dressed more plainly than the others when she didn't have to attend a formal event so she appeared little more than a normal servant. Some even complained that a girl so young was the palace steward.
"Suppose he's not suited to be king?" Nat asked, looking back at her books.
"Then I shall call off the engagement," Reanna shrugged. "Though that is why he's coming early, so I might get to know him before we marry."
"Wonderful," Nat beamed. "Well, then that's one less thing. Though he was raised as a prince, so I'm sure he's going to be well suited."
"Of course. Though there is a chance he's just a spoiled child."
"Like Lord Tyrone's son!" Nat laughed loudly.
"Did you see him at the party yesterday?" Reanna laughed with her. "He actually started telling father how he would run the kingdom if he were king. Criticized everything father does, cool as you please, and got offended when father pointed out all the flaws in his plans."
"He didn't?" Nat gasped. "Did he kick up a fuss?"
"Of course! Started screaming and throwing a fit like he was a toddler."
Nat cried out in regret. "No! We left before that. Ah. I can't believe we missed it."
Reanna continued chuckling as Nat sat back in her chair again. The two of them smiled at each other across the desk.
"You shall be queen soon, Rae," Nat said softly.
"I suppose I shall," Reanna looked up at the ceiling. Nat's plain office was down in the servant spaces with all the others. Her office was filled with notes, charts, books, and maps, but it was still very plain and common.
Honestly, Nat looked much more like she belonged here than in her own, opulent room.
"I will be happy to be your steward on that day," Nat smiled honestly.
"Don't you want for your own household?" Reanna frowned. "Mother still searches for a new husband for you."
"You and I both know no aristocrat wants a common looking princess. Especially not one that's fourth in line for the throne. Honestly, she'd have better luck looking for a common man to marry me. I think I'd like that, actually. Aristocrats tend to be so...snooty."
Reanna laughed. "Do you really think mother would ever allow that?"
Nat shrugged. "Well, then, I suppose I shall be a spinster. Maybe I will get a cat."
The two chuckled together.
"I don't care if you marry or not, Nat. So long as you're happy. If you wish, when I become queen, I can search for a common man for you. Since mother never will."
Nat smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Rae. I want your happiness, too, you know. Even if he is good king material, do not marry Cadmus if you cannot stand his personality. I don't want you to have a well run kingdom and a miserable life."
"I am not a martyr, Nat. If he will make me unhappy, I will do what I must. If that means calling off the wedding, then I shall do so."
Nat nodded, satisfied with the answer as the door to her office opened. An official looking man with a sheet of parchment in his hand stepped inside. He looked up from what he was reading then paused when he spotted Reanna.
"Princess Reanna," he bowed to her at the neck. "I did not expect you here. It is not often that you visit Princess Nat while she's working."
"Good evening, Giles," Reanna smiled at him. "I had an important announcement that I wished to deliver to my sister in person.
"Ah! Of course. Your engagement. Congratulations, dear princess. It is a most joyous day indeed. I have already sent the message in your father's name to Scabrosa. I imagine that it won't be long before we hear a reply."
Giles Loukas had been her mother and father's adviser for as long as Reanna could remember. He sat on the council and assisted them with anything that they needed. He often worked closely with both Reanna, who would do state business in her parents' place at times, and Nat, who worked constantly on palace business.
His large forehead was covered slightly by his elongated, straight black hair that was not quite long enough to pull back into anything. He was a thin sort of man, but no one would call him frail. He was very intelligent though and quite devoted to the kingdom.
"That's good news to hear, Giles. How long to you expect it to be until a return message arrives?"
"Well, a good messenger could reach Scabrosa in about a week, if he rode fast and hard. A day to rest, another week to return. Probably a bit longer than a fortnight."
"Which still won't be enough time to plan a proper celebration for his arrival," Nat grumbled. "Did you have business with me, Giles?"
"Yes. It's about his arrival party," Giles smiled at her. "Your parents want to use the large ballroom and plan for a large feast with a full list of guests."
"Of course they do," Nat grumbled. She looked to her sister. "Sorry, Rae, but can you...?"
"No problem," Reanna stood, straightening her skirts. "You two have a lot of work to do. If I can help at all, please don't hesitate to ask."
Smiling at both of them, Reanna left quickly. She had one last stop today.
In the back gardens of the palace, near a large pond and surrounded by marine plant life, there was a shrine for their fairy godmother. It had once held a statue in Oceane's likeness but she hadn't appreciated the tribute so it had been sunken into the pond.
Now what remained was a small fountain, large enough for a single person to stand before. It's contents bubbled up from underground then fell in two tiers. The first, smaller basin, contained the fountain that bubbled up. The second, larger basin beneath it that caught the runoff, came with a long stone slide into the pond.
People would leave offerings to Oceane here. Especially the royal family. Theirs was a seafaring kingdom and they lived and died by the ocean's whims. Oceane was said to get her power from that depthless force and looked after their royal family because she had chosen them herself to be rulers of this place.
Reanna had brought an offering today herself. A gift of truffles from the kitchen, said to be Oceane's favorite, and a cluster of pink and blue pearls. They had been placed into a small wooden bowl like a barge.
The bowl would be set into the very center of the top tier of the fountain. If it fell down and slid the length of the slide without spilling, it was said that Oceane had accepted the gift. If it was upturned and drowned, she had rejected it.
Reanna and her sisters had left many gifts here over the years. As yet, none had been rejected. Though Reanna knew it to have happened to others. Sometimes the gift was considered substandard or was something that Oceane didn't like. Rarely was it because Oceane did not like the person leaving the gift, though that was rumored to happen on occasion.
Reanna set her bowl onto the first tier of the fountain and watched as it spun gently in the current of water traveling up from above.
"Great Fairy Oceane," Reanna said formally, "as your daughter, I come requesting your guidance. I am going to meet my chosen betrothed soon and I will be observing him to determine if he is good enough for your royal family, to rule your kingdom. Give me the wisdom to see him clearly and to make the correct choice."
The bowl spun for a moment more. Then, as Reanna watched, it slowly drifted towards the edge of the tier. It hovered for a moment on the edge before being pushed over. It landed with a small splash on the second tier and, despite how much it looked like it should, it didn't tip. It floated towards the small slide and down to the pond without a single drop getting inside the little wooden barge.
Reanna watched it with quiet eyes.
Oceane had come to her on her name day, as she had all the princesses. To Reanna, she had given the gift of queenly demeanor. Which Melania saw as far too headstrong and impetuous for a girl. Reanna did things her way, was full of confidence, and had the ability to convince almost anyone into her way of thinking.
She wasn't, however, demure like a princess should be. She didn't understand lowering her head and allowing anyone to lead her around. This was her kingdom and Oceane had chosen to give her the head to lead it.
Which Reanna took to mean that she was the queen that Oceane wanted. Their godmother wouldn't give her this for no reason. So even if it annoyed and frustrated her mother, Reanna wouldn't attempt to change herself.
She would, instead, give thanks to Oceane for giving her this gift. For making her this way. She was happy as she was, even if she wasn't a proper princess. And if Cadmus was displeased with her attitude and outlook, then clearly he wasn't good enough to be king.
Reanna would accept no less than her equal as a husband. If Oceane was entrusting this kingdom to her rule, then she needed a king that would think as Reanna did. A strong willed man who wasn't cruel or domineering. Someone who could be both a fair and just ruler to his people and a loving father to their children. Let him have the wisdom to know what was right and the courage to see it through even when it was difficult.
Give him the temper of a fawn but the heart of a lion.