Wayward [The Princess' jewellery box]

Festivities [Extra chapter]

A crown, seems so light and fragile that some would believe that, with a simple swat it would fall and broke down, is contrary to everyone's belief as heavy as a large block of marble. Not quite literally, however, nobody could ignore the weight of responsibilities and pressure that come with the object desired by those ignorant people.

And nobody knows better than the emperor himself, not even the member of the imperial family had caught a glimpse of it. Despite this, the empress and princess, have on their shoulder, a similar yet different weight on their shoulders; should they let their masks crack, they would become the target of those who covet their position.

Being a member of the royal family and, paired up with the fact that, she is the sole princess, Ariana is used to being at the centre of the attention, be it willingly or unwillingly; the walls have ears and prying eyes.

To an achievement, she would receive superficial praise and hollow admiration. To a failure, she receives the most sincere mockeries and genuine sneer from people, who could probably do as good as her. A single wrong step, and all her achievements would be drowned, seemingly erased to a blank sleet, under a single failure on her parts, like a single drop of ink tainting a whole tank of water.

Do they perhaps see her as a blank canvas, waiting for the day when it would be covered in a dark and muddy paint? Probably. After all, they are like snakes, waiting for the perfect moment to crawl and devour whole their prey.

The princess is like a bird in a golden cage.

The day, her answer had wobbled for the first time, happen to also be her first meeting with Lucetta. Being the daughter of her parents, it was already a certainty that, she would be beautiful as well; the empress was a stunning beauty who seemed to be ageless and, the emperor was a handsome prince when he was younger.

Additionally, the surrounding adults did always tell her that she was a beauty among the beauties, even though, they were only flattery and bitter-sweet honey words in her ears. The few sincere words that she received were only from her two parents and her maids, but she never had any real friends, which is frankly saddening.

So when, for the first time, she had a peek at that little girl with pinkish-white hair and sage-green eyes, her heart leapt from her chest. She felt something she had never felt before, but what was it?

From what, her parents had told her, Lucetta because of some circumstances will live temporarily in the palace of the royal family. But, that didn't bother her, as for the first time she could enjoy her time, with someone that is actually of the same age as her.

At first, she thought that Lucetta would be like those snobbish girls that belong to high-ranking Houses, but the first impression she had is far different from that. She felt slightly guilty.

Lucetta is the first person to see her for herself and not just as a princess.

Sweet, straightforward, warm and also strong. Seeing someone so endearing, how can one stay away for too long? Won't you want to come, as close as you can, to someone shining so strongly?

Unlike Icarus, who wanted far too much and reach what he cannot— Even if Ariana did come too close to that star, the latter would never burn her or her wings, unlike how the Sun did to Icarus' artificial wings.

Staying with Lucetta, day after day, something blossomed in her heart. At first, she thought that it was only because of their friendship, but thinking over it, she began to understand that her feelings are far different from a simple friendship but love; a crystal pure one.

As you understood, Lucetta is Ariana's first crush and now love. Of course, she felt that it was too odd, so she kept it locked in her heart as she only felt such for Lucetta. Also, she knew that she coveted men much more than women: the proof of that is the creation of her jewellery box.

Though, she didn't want to drive away that feeling and, it was a good thing that she pursued it, because— Lucetta had expressed that her love for her is mutual and, became one of Ariana's jewels.

Even now, her love for a friend, and now lover, had never been extinguished and, is growing stronger and stronger by the day. She felt it and was currently basking in it. 

While her father, the emperor, was giving a speech, she scanned the crowd under where the royal family (her included) was, trying to find her beloved. She was delighted to find her near one of her jewels, but looking at their small interaction, she felt something growing in her chest... Something unsightly, though she didn't know what, and a sour taste spread in her mouth, she quickly dismissed it.

She will think of it later. Right now, she had to focus on her duties as a princess tonight; but she will discuss it with Lucetta for sure. 

ShE was delighted tO find hER near one of her jeweLs, but looking aT theIr sMall inTeractiOn, she felt SOmethiNg grOwing in her chEst...

Was Lucetta Archinoe, really present at the party? Nothing had proven that the woman of Scarlet was indeed present there, right at the moment they thought she was. Nonentity could have shown that she wasn't there, but the opposite is also true: it can't be proven by the regular way, and it can't be proven by the devil's advocate.

Moreover, nobody had noticed the anomaly and acted like they always did. What could have made them forget the existence of an entire person?