Rapunzel's Sister (Rewrite) • Prince Jack x Oc

08 | Beneath The Blossoms

|08 : Beneath The Blossoms

"Quit slacking off! We must have these preparations done for tomorrow!"

The men got up on their feet, holding the instruments assigned to them with a firm grasp as they began rehearsing a tune.

The sweet melodic tunes blended with the town's bustling sounds, every townsperson was busy preparing the town for tomorrow.

Merchants entering the town with their products, Carpenters meticulously sculpting mini sculptures, dressmakers creating the finest pieces of merchandise, food vendors bringing in ingredients needed for their food, and of course, the florists in the kingdom bringing an array of flowers from nations to decorate the entire kingdom with it.

They knew this event was the perfect opportunity to make huge profits and they're not wasting the opportunity gracefully given to them by the royals that rule over them.

While the adults were busy ensuring this event went smoothly, the children ran along the streets holding a flag with the kingdom's crest, looking forward to the upcoming event tomorrow "I just can't wait till tomorrow!" One of the kids exclaimed skipping through the busy streets along with its companions who beamed up beside them "I can't wait to eat all the candy!" The children let out a loud cheer, very excited for that reason alone.

The royals took notice of their efforts, finding it endearing. The young princess stood by the window, resting her head against its frame, her eyes following the townsfolk below as they carried baskets of vibrant flowers through the bustling streets. Pastel blooms mixed with bold, radiant hues, slowly transforming the kingdom into a colorful and beautiful sight. The beautiful sight of the kingdom, instead of bringing the calm it once had, only stirred something complicated inside her.

The princess’s lips tightened into a thin line. Their excitement wasn’t for her. It never was.

Her gaze drifted toward the large floral arrangements being carried into the palace, each one grander than the last. The florists were working tirelessly to decorate the kingdom for the event—her sister's event. The sister who had been lost for so long, only to return as if time had never passed.

For years, the princess had been at the heart of the kingdom’s attention, learning what it meant to serve and lead, stepping into the role the royal family had prepared her for. It was what had been expected of her. Yet, it wasn’t long after her sister’s return that things had changed. Slowly, subtly, but unmistakably. The celebration tomorrow, the one she had once thought would be for her, was now for the sister who had been gone for so long.

It was a strange feeling, knowing that everything she had thought would be hers—the attention, the adoration, the role—was no longer hers to claim. She hadn’t asked for it, not exactly, but it had been there all the same, an unspoken understanding of her place in the kingdom. Now, with her sister’s return, all eyes had shifted away, and she couldn’t help but feel like a forgotten figure in her palace.

She sighed softly, her fingertips tracing the edge of the window frame. She should be happy—was happy, in some ways, that her sister was home, safe. The kingdom was rejoicing, as it should. And yet, deep inside, there was that lingering bitterness. Not enough to cloud her love for her sister, but just enough to leave her feeling hollow.

Tomorrow, the entire kingdom would celebrate, draped in the colors of flowers from across nations, every note of music, every cheer from the crowd meant for someone else.

Stepping away from the window, the princess tried to shake the feeling that had settled over her. She had her role, even if it wasn’t the one she had expected, and she would play it. She would smile and stand beside her sister as the kingdom rejoiced. But even as she prepared herself for tomorrow’s festivities, she couldn’t help but wonder—where did she truly belong in this kingdom?