The Lady-in-Waiting

Chapter 8

Lucinda

It was a very windy day in Lopegin. Way too windy to use my powers. If I used my powers, it would be too dangerous. I could make a tornado by accident! I look up at the gloomy sky. I remember there being a storm in the weather forecast, but the darkness reminded me of the sad thought orbiting my head. These last few weeks without the constant publicity of being the heir to the throne have given me a lot of time to think. What if Collette never finds me? What if I never become me again? What if Zora marries George? Although, for the most part, I don't think I would care if she married him. I may have met him, but I still barely know him. But from our conversation, I can tell that he would mind being married to an evil fairy. And he deserves way better than Zora. He's too nice for her. Honestly, Zora deserves no one. She can die alone for all I care. That evil witch ruined my life and my chance at a great future!

As I process my anger, I feel puffs of air coming out of my ears and then look at my hands and gem, which are glowing. I guess that's a thing I can do on accident. I didn't know powers could reflect emotions. My train of thought stops at a halt as Eli opens the goose pen and all the geese start honking. I will never be able to drown them out no matter how long I'm Zora.

"How can you even like geese?" I ask Eli. "They're so loud."

"I don't," says Eli. "At least since I got this job."

"Well, I'm starting to understand why you don't," I say.

Eli laughed. I am not used to making jokes or getting laughs. As a princess, I am supposed to rule my country with much focus and seriousness. Father suggests that I start on this "seriousness" as soon as possible, but I still enjoy a good joke every once in a while. I look down at the brown geese waddling near my ankles and spot one that looks the same, but all black instead of brown.

"Eli, what type of geese are these?" I ask curiously.

"Swan geese, King Edward's favorite type," he tells me. "He must like geese if he even has a favorite type."

"What's this one?" I ask, pointing to the black goose.

"I don't know..." Eli examines the goose. "I think it's a black swan goose. I didn't know those were a thing."

"Okay," I say.

The black goose stares at me with its beady eyes. There's something off about it...and its hot pink eyes. I can't put my finger on it. I watch its look move to my necklace, which is the current form of my royal gem. Does it want something? It squawks loudly.

"Do you know why it's squawking like that?" I ask Eli.

"No," says Eli. "Did you hurt it?"

"Of course not," I say.

After getting inside, I head to an empty sitting room to take a breather. What was it about that goose that was so off-putting? As I think about it, I hear footsteps coming near the room. What if it's Zora? I can't think of any way to hide myself. A woman approaches, but it's not Zora. She has blonde hair in a ponytail. I sigh with relief. It's just Colette, my fairy godmother.

"Colette!" I exclaim quietly.

"Lucinda!" she exclaims. "I'm so glad I found you! An entire palace and they make you work in the yard?"

"It was Zora's idea," I sigh.

"Of course it was," says Colette. "I am so sorry I haven't been able to help you more. I'm supposed to be the head of the Norillian Fairy Godparent Association."

"It would have been nice to have your help," I admit. "But I've been okay."

"That's good," says Colette. "Now, if you remember our phone call from a few weeks ago, you'll know what I'm here to do."