Heavy is the Crown

9

Marcia was up early in the morning even though she had gone to bed late. She sat in bed with her sketchbook, flipping through all of the pages she had filled with drawings of Anetra to finally perfect all of them now that she had seen her up close.

She sketched the scar over her eye on all of them, finding it somehow made the once stranger even more attractive to her. She longed to know her even more. She wanted to know what was underneath the layers of the knight costume. She wanted to know exactly who Anetra was without it. And she hoped she'd find out soon. Because she had chosen her, and she was determined to convince her mother that this was the right decision.

There was a gentle knock on her bedroom door before it opened. Aura stepped inside, a smile on her face as she closed the door behind her. "What happened last night?" She asked excitedly, her voice hushed in case someone could be walking by. "I saw you leave the ballroom with someone."

Marcia smiled, gazing down at her drawings of Anetra. "It was her." She couldn't hide the absolute happiness in her tone. "She was the knight."

Aura almost choked, her eyes going wide. "You're serious?" She asked. "There's no way you managed to find her out of everyone."

"I can hardly believe it myself. I got so lucky." Marcia couldn't stop smiling as she completed one of the sketches. "She was so sweet. She's the one I choose."

Aura's expression turned to a worried one. "How's your mom going to feel about that?" She asked. "She was kinda set on you finding a prince."

Marcia had been trying not to think about that, even though she knew it was impossible to escape. "If she wants me to be happy, then she'll approve of my decision." She said as confidently as she could. But she could tell her friend saw right through it.

There was another knock on her bedroom door before it opened again. "Princess?" Amethyst called for her. "Your mother is asking for you."

Marcia bit her lip. She had been hoping for a little more time to prepare what she would have to say to convince her mother that Anetra was the one. She took a deep breath, closing her sketchbook and tucking it under her arm before she pulled herself out of bed.

Aura walked with her to help ease the tension she felt, but her nerves just grew. They walked down the corridor filled with paintings of the kings and queens before them, and Marcia felt as if they watched every step she took. Like they were judging every decision she made for herself.

The silence throughout the castle just made her even more anxious. She wished the twins were awake and running around to at least take some of the edge off or distract their mother for just a little bit. She stared up at the large door to Queen Isabelle's room, holding her sketchbook tightly.

"You can do it." Aura encouraged her. "She's your mom, she'll understand."

Marcia hoped she was right. She opened the door and took one more shake breath before stepping inside.

Her mother was out on the balcony again, silent and waiting for her. Marcia tried to hide her nerves as she approached and stepped out with her. The cold air sent a chill up her spine, making her shake.

"I was told you were seen with someone." Queen Isabelle said the moment her daughter stepped out on the balcony. "Who was it? What was he like?"

Marcia was at least expecting her to ask if she had enjoyed herself first. She sighed, leaning against the vine covered railing in front of her and looking down over the kingdom. "...She."

Isabelle was silent for a moment. She looked down at her daughter with a raised brow. "What?"

Marcia avoided her gaze. "...Sh-She. It was a girl I met..." She said, her voice just barely above a whisper. "H-Her name is Anetra. And I-"