A Prince, A King, A Princess

Chap. 2

The nuns welcomed Ester inside and helped her to calm the children as they crowded around her.
She pulled the littlest one, Jane, from the floor when she held up her arms to be picked up and she was placed on Ester's lap.
"What story are you reading us?" Chimmed a little boy from beside her.
"Story? What story?" She said teasingly.
The kids all giggled a d protested her teasing, telling her she said she would read them a story.
She smirked and dug into her bag, "Oh! Do you mean this story?" She asked as she pulled out a book, bound in red dyed leather with the title, 'The Princess and the Pea' branded onto the front.
The kids all clapped and cried out in excitement as she opened the book in her lap and began to read, "once upon a time, in a far away land, lived a prince and his mother..."
The children all listened intently and when she reached the end of the story they all let out moans of disappointment that the story was over and began asking for another one.
Ester chuckled as she tucked away the book safe back into her bag and she shook her head. "I'm sorry children. I only brought the one! I'll bring two next time!" She assured as she sat Jane down onto the floor gently.
Jane took a fistful of her skirt and tugged gently.
She smiled down at her, "yes Jane dear?"
"Why aren't you married to a prince?" Jane asked softly.
Ester blushed and looked off nervously. It wasn't common knowledge to the people of the kingdom that their king had sold her off to be married to Satan, let alone to such small children.
"I suppose I just haven't met my prince yet. Maybe someday." She said as she gently patted Jane's little lollipop shaped head.
"I bet he's gonna be handsome!" Chimmed another girl behind Jane.
"And strong!" Said a little boy qith a hammer for a head as he flexed his noodle like arms.
"And he's gonna love you!" Said one of the older girls with a cracked cup for a head. "Which means you'll have to kiss him!" She said sticking her tongue out in disgust.
The whole room erupted into tiny protests and "ewwws", making Ester laugh brightly.
"Oh come now! Every girl dreams of meeting her prince charming and being whisked away to far off lands and seeing the world with their one true love!" She said, pulling her bag over her shoulder and giving a spin.
The kids laughed and moved to follow her as she walked towards the door.
Ester did love coming to visit with the children, they were all such joys to be around.
At the door one of the nuns stood  waiting and she smiled as the children all ran outside and left Ester there with her.
"Bless you princess. You really do bring such joy when you visit here." The little woman said, taking Ester's hand gently.
Ester shook her head. "Oh no it's a pleasure for me to come. I love the children dearly."
"A fine queen you'll make your majesty."
Ester stiffened a little. Yes. Just not of this land. She quickly chuckled and shook her head, making sure she didn't worry the poor woman. 'You're very kind sister. Thank you. I should be going. I have duties to attend to. I'll be back soon." She said before heading down the steps of the orphanage and past the children who all waved to her as she departed.
She decided to take the long way home, through the forest, needing some time to clear her head before returning to that cold castle full of expectations.

She sighed as the shade of the large oak trees covered her from the sun and cooled her back. She loved this little forest. It was peaceful here. The little lazy creek that ran along the cobble stone road she walked on babbled at her as it flowed just a little faster than her leasieruly pace. She could hear birds singing their sweet songs above her within the strong branches of the oak trees and even saw a few squirrels playing in the fallen leaves on the forest floor, chattering and rustling the foliage.
But for as peaceful of a place as this was her mind wandered to hell and its ruler. Satan. She had never seen him, never spoken to him, and growing up she had only ever heard two things about him. One, from her father, she was destined to be his bride so that the kingdom would grow and be prosperous beyond its wildest dreams. And two, from the church, that he was an evil and vile creature of pure cruelty who lived only to cause misery to those around him.
She came to a stop as she thought more on it. With each passing day she grew closer and closer to her 18th birthday, to coming of age. And there was truly no way out of this deal her father had made. And even if there was...she couldn't. It would only hurt the people of her kingdom. And she could never hurt them. She cared far too deeply for them.
But for every bit she cared for them she was so afraid of what fate she faced come her next birthday. And to be so afraid with no one to turn to but her own thoughts and God... it was so incredibly frustrating.
She felt hot angry tears fill her eyes as she stared at the cold stone at her feet. Why?! Why was this the path she had been set on?! Why did her father have to do this to her?! Why had God not protected her?! She had been devout her whole life, never once straying from the teaching of the church!
She growled under her breath in frustration and anger and kicked a rock as hard as she could into the woods to the side of the road, where she heard someone yelp in pain. "Ow!"
She gasped and dried her eyes as she moved towards the voice, not having even noticed there was someone nearby.
She stepped past the treeline to a small clearing where someone sat beneath a large willow tree, a book knock from their hand and laying on their lap.
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry!" She said as she stepped beyond the treeline to make sure they were alright.
As she grew closer she could see it was a man, dressed in dark purple pants and a white silk shirt with a crown hand stitched onto the collar with two letters. KD, by the crown.
He was rubbing his dice shaped head that had lavender colored palpets and now a small pink mark under his hand.
He looked up to glare at her but his face quickly shifted from anger to awe as she approached him...