Cursed Beauty ( A Sleeping Beauty Retelling)

Chapter 1

Liliana < Slerian Kingdom

"Your Royal Highness, a letter from the kingdom of Aumidora."

I nod in acknowledgment. "From Crown Prince Varant, correct?" I turn my head to my maid, Ksara, from where I sit in front of the vanity.

"Yes, my princess."

"Toss it with the others. Be sure to remind me to burn them all after supper." I wave my hand to the bundle of letters sitting beside the window sill.

"Yes, my princess." She replied with slight humor in her voice.
I face the vanities mirror once more, my face betraying my true emotion: annoyance. For the past several months I have received letters from princes claiming their "undying love" for me and their wish for my hand in marriage. Cowards. If they truly loved a woman who they have never met they would see me in person and tell it to my face.

"May I inquire on the... matter at hand, my princess?" Out of the mirror's reflection, Ksara placed the letter on top of the others and faced my vanity. Her hands clasped together in front of her dress, a habit for when she was nervous.

I smiled and picked up an earring from the chest of jewelry I kept, "Of course, Ksara. What is your inquiry?"

"It's just..." Ksara said, head lowered in unease. "I wonder what may happen if we keep putting these letters aside, your highness-"

"Liliana, Ksara. We have known each other too long for you to call me by my title. I only allowed it when you came in so you'd think I changed my mind." I loved teasing Ksara, after knowing her for nearly all my life I never tired of it.

"Oh, of course, your- Liliana. As I was saying, we keep putting the letters aside. Not that I am judging you. But I am growing concerned." Ksara's voice wavered, "I worry that when the time comes in a few months time we may never be able to save you, Liliana."

My smile drops a little. Her worries were not the only ones that were voiced to me directly. My father, King Alaric, has voiced them regularly during supper while I wait  for the clock to end his tirade. My mother, the darling Queen Carpera, has been less vocal than the rest of my family, but even she has begun imploring me to take the matter of wedding a husband more seriously. The worst, however, is my brother. While he is more redeemable in terms of being a charming and kind Crown Prince, at least compared to other princes who care for nothing then being a pompous fool, Crown Prince Brythan is more irritable: an overbearing and overprotective imbecile. I appreciate that Brythan cares for my well-being, but if I receive another lecture for simply wanting to meet a prince before accepting I might as well throw him off the balcony.  However, with my inability to actually find the time to shape my body into a warrior princess, that would have to wait.

Thankfully, Ksara would simply advise me, not try to force me, unlike my brother.

"Ksara, do not fret." I clipped on one earring and then another. I brushed my pale rose colored gown and sat up from my chair to walk to my concerned maid. "I understand your worries.I too am worried. I wonder what may happen once the matter is done and gone. But it will work itself out, and I am confident that all will be well in the end. Do you trust that Ksara?"

After a moment's hesitation, she nodded. "Of course. I'm sorry, Liliana. I just worry for your future, that's all."
I laugh and I take Ksara's hand in mine. "Well we are in the future, are we not? I mean just an hour ago was the past and hour from now it will be the future. I will have a future no matter what happens."

Ksara gave me a weak smile. "Of course, of course." She paused, contemplating. "If you would excuse me, Liliana, I must go retrieve supper." She let go of my hand and curtsied, and exited quickly.

I held the hand she let go of to my chest and sighed. It was honestly exhausting putting up a brave front to those I love. To show all that it would all be alright, that we could return to a time where the kingdom was at peace and full of life and vibrancy.

That was until the fairies came on the day of my christening, the day that changed me and the kingdom forever.

Erissa, the woman who ruined my life. Unlike the other fairies, who are genuinely admired by humans, Erissa had a plethora of dark allegations against her. Including but not limited to: thievery, manslaughter, practicing illegal spells and summons, unlawful possession of a questionable haircut,  flying while intoxicated, and several accounts of tax evasion. A few years before when  Brythan was christianized, she was not invited. After she realized that she had even lost graces with the royal family, she tried to clean up her act as best she could. Even that was not enough to pay for the crimes she caused. So when it was my turn she decided to crash right through the ceiling in the middle of the throne room. That was when she cursed me. She was gone as soon as she came, and no one for the past nineteen years has seen Erissa.

Fortunately, the other fairies gave me blessings as birthday gifts beforehand. Blessings of kindness, intuition, luck, all wonderful of course, but I really only use them to sneak into the kitchen. And beauty, always beauty.  I'll admit I'm starting to resent that one. Then comes Erissa and her blasted curse. My parents despaired until Anthurium, the oldest and most powerful fairy, stepped forward to give me not a blessing, but an alternative to the curse. That I would be woken by true love's kiss.

More specifically, true love's kiss from a prince.

I resisted the urge to bang my head into the wall just thinking about it. Honestly, I never knew why it was that specific. I wasn't even the next in the line for the throne. It just made my life more difficult. Furthermore, it was just plain silly.
After composing myself, I grabbed my gloves that were laying on the dresser and walked to the disaster that would be dinner in the dining hall.