The Runaway Princess

Chapter 3

My dream started out fine. I was back at the palace getting ready for the day. My two maidservants, Lismo and Cula, were tying my hair back into an elaborate updo. I saw myself in the mirror and realized why this feels familiar, this was the morning of the day I left home. My stomach dropped as I glanced at Cula in the mirror, with the knowledge that I will never see her again. The dream continued and could be mistaken for any other day until lunchtime when I was in the dining hall.

"Ester," my father said. He was a big portly man with blotchy skin and light brown hair. I inherited my strawberry blonde hair from my mother, but my dark green eyes were from my father. "I've finally found a man for you."

He had told me many times that he would only shelter me till I was married, but I thought I would have another year at least.

"In three months we will have your wedding to Zephyr Soulier in town. He will be here in a month, and I want you to be your best to him."

The dream seemed to speed through me leaving the room and I became aware again in my room with Cula kneeling in front of me holding my hands.

"Ester, we have to get you out of here!" she whispered, glancing behind her. "The man you would be marrying, you would be his fifth wife this year. All have died mysterious deaths, and most while pregnant if the rumors are true. There are countless others who would back me up, so we must leave now." With that, she dragged me to the servant entrance of my room. The path out was a blur until the courtyard. There, the guards tried to stop us and we barely escaped their grasp.

Hidden in a dark corner, Cula turned to me.

"Ester, I'm not going to be able to leave with you." Tears rose up in her eyes. "You're going to have to get out of here on your own. I'll distract them, and you run. Get as far from here as you can. Get to the docks and find a ship."

"But then I'll never see you again!" I cried out. Cula opened her mouth as if to say something else, but then stepped forward, grabbed my face, and kissed me.

She pulled away just as fast as she had leaned in and ran out of the corner, making enough noise to gather the guards' attention.

I made a run for the exit, turning back only once to see them leading Cula forcefully inside. She met my eyes just before the door closed behind her, and I jerked my eyes away and began to run.