Heavy is the Crown

8

Anetra's heart pounded so hard she could've sworn the princess could hear it against the metal chest plate. "Y-You were wanting me to be here?"

"You walk by almost everyday and it was so frustrating to never see you up close." Marcia gazed at her in wonder, leaning closer. She studied Anetra as if she had never seen another girl before, starting to raise her hand to her face but holding herself back. "But now you're here and you look as if you stepped out of my dreams..."

Anetra could hardly speak, too shocked by the fact that she was face to face with the princess she had been adoring for so long. "I-I do?" She stuttered out, trying not to make it obvious that she was completely starstruck by her.

Marcia nodded quickly, her eyes practically sparkling. "What's your name?" She asked. "I've been dying to know what it is."

Anetra looked away, finding it too hard to look her in the eyes. It was so much easier to interact from far away. "Anetra..." She answered, struggling to keep her voice from cracking. "M-My name's Anetra."

"Anetra." Marcia repeated with a smile, and just hearing her say her name made Anetra swoon. "That's a really pretty name. I'm Marcia, but I think you know that already."

Anetra watched as she scooped up a squirrel that had crawled into her lap. She felt like she was sitting beside a fictional character who had stepped out of the books she'd read to Kerri and Bosco. She almost felt as if this wasn't real. "Y-Yeah-" She stuttered again. "I-I...wow you're so pretty-" She slapped her gloved hand over her mouth as soon as the words left her mouth.

Marcia giggled and blushed, standing up with the squirrel resting in one of her arms as she held a hand out for Anetra. "Would you like to walk with me?"

Anetra wanted to immediately say yes and take her hand, but she controlled herself and looked back at the castle. "B-But what about the ball? Aren't you supposed to find someone to-"

"I'm supposed to find a suitable man to wed, but I really don't want to." Marcia sighed before Anetra could finish her question, a bird landing on her shoulder. "It was my mother's idea, I've been kinda forced to take part. I'd much rather finally get to know you."

Anetra wouldn't dare turn that down. Especially when she had been dying to do the same thing. So she took Marcia's hand and stood up from the fountain, following her lead with her helmet tucked under her arm. She wasn't about to risk being caught by anyone.

Marcia moved her hand up to hold onto her arm instead, her fingers tracing over the metal parts of the costume. "You said you're a blacksmith?"

Anetra nodded as she let her lead the way down a cobblestone path. "Y-Yeah. It's not the best job, but it's something."

"You must be really strong then." Marcia said, gazing up at her. "Is that where you and your friend are always coming from when I see you?"

Anetra nodded again, almost overwhelmed by the large plants around her and the beauty of the girl beside her. "It is. My friend actually built the costume for me so I could get in here tonight-"

Marcia smiled. "I like it. It's perfect." She said, reaching over to trace her finger over one of the flowers in the helmet. "The flowers are a nice touch."

"You can thank the younger kids I live with for that." Anetra said, gaining some control over her stuttering. "They wanted to help too."

"My little sisters are like that too." Marcia said, holding onto Anetra's arm a little tighter. "They mean well, but sometimes they get a little too wild."

"So do Bosco and Kerri." Anetra smiled a little, starting to find it a bit easier to talk to her without overthinking it. She seemed a lot more normal than she expected. "That's their names. I guess they're like my little sisters even if we aren't blood related."