the crown

an imposter

My mom was one of the palace maids. the emperor fell in love with her, and later, the emperor made her one of his concubines. the emperor has to marry off a daughter or the next-door empire or there would be a war. At the age of ten, my parents told me that I was going to be the one to marry the future crown prince and my education to be the future empress started there.

Soft tapping on the door woke me up.
"Your Royal Highness, I've come to get you ready."
"Come in". I sit up on the bed.
The maid comes in with a pitcher, a towel, and a bowl. I washed my hands and face before heading towards the bathroom to bathe, using a rose scent which was my favorite. She picked out one of my simple dresses, green with a teal bow, and then she tied my hair half up.
"Your royal highness, the emperor invites you to breakfast." said the maid while putting away the final strands of my hair.
"Tell him I'll be there soon." I say, closing my eyes to think.
The emperor inviting me to breakfast is weird, and he never does this unless he has something important to say. As I made my way downstairs, to the dining room, looking outside at the garden. Once I got down to the main dining room, I saw Benjamin and William peeking from the side of the wall.
"Sister, did father invite you too?"
I nodded, "I hope I don't have to stay long." i said going towards the end of the table.
"Greetings to the sun of the empire. may the sun ever shine." I bowed to the emperor, moving over to my seat across from the twins.
"Right on time princess Matilda. I have important news to share with everyone."
Even the concubines were here.
"The crown prince has invited Romeo to go to Ibatia in three days. He wants you to go there to meet his family and tour his empire. He says it'll be for a Month."
Everyone stopped in the middle of what they were doing.
"f-five days? t-that's so-soon." i said, "not be enough for me to get ready! I'll have to pack half of my wardrobe!'
"It took a while for their letter to get here, Matilda. I'll have your maids start packing immediately." he said, beckoning a maid to him after.
"Oh! This is wonderful news! My baby, my little Matilda! That crown prince is surely enamored with you, soon you'll be married!" Madame Dahlia, my mother was excited on my half, making me smile, but not for long.
"I don't think that he will be a mom, we barely know each other and I've only been preparing for 7 years. I don't think that's enough time." i say, looking down at my plate. Soon enough, I'll have to leave. I finished the dinner, bidding my father goodbye. I head back in the direction of my room, stopping at the first floor windows that look out to the back garden. Walking into the garden, I sat down at the fountain, looking at my reflection. I'm sure he'll like me, I mean what's not to like?
"Your royal highness, princess matilda, I'm here to inform you that i will be your personal knight during your travels to Ibatia." I looked over and there was a knight, on one knee. A pretty good looking one too.
"You may rise. What's your name sir?" I wrapped myself in a shawl that I had been carrying, studying his face. He had black hair, and eyes that seemed to match. He seemed like he was from the north.
"Elijah your highness." He lifts his head and stands up towards me, staring at me.
"Alright.'' I got back up again, heading back to my room where I originally wanted to go. I heard Elijah following me even though he wasn't very loud. I reached the doors of my room and entered. I called for the maids to bring me some tea while I read. It was a fragrant rose tea.
"What's my schedule for today?" I asked the maid while she was pouring my tea.
"You have a tea party with Madame Dahlia," she said, finishing pouring the tea
"Would you like to change before seeing Madame Dahlia?" I nodded my head, taking a sip of the tea. 30 minutes or so later, I finished a chapter of my book and it was time to go visit my mother. Elijah was sent out of the room as I changed into a purple dress that went over my knees. It had embroidery on it and I paired it with amethyst accessories. She left my hair down, with a barrett.  Elijah came back in and stood by the door.
"I'm ready." I stood up, Elijah moved from the door and I walked out to see mother. I got to her door and knocked. I heard my mothers voice and I entered.
"Matilda! Come sit!" she said with a huge smile. My mom is the most beautiful woman i've seen, she has curly red hair with brown eyes. She was a palace maid.
"Hi mother! What did you call me to your room for?" i sat down next to mother, she then pulled me onto her lap so i could lie as she plays with my hair
"Just to spend time with you before you leave. Who knows, you might stay, then I won't be able to do this any more to you "I rolled my eyes at her suggestion that I might fall in love with the prince.
"I heard that he's a monster mother, do you think i'll fall in love with a monster?" I looked up at my mom who was gently braiding my hair. I don't think i could ever leave my mom.
"I'm sure he isn't matilda." she keeps playing with my hair, i close my eyes, letting the drowsiness wash over me. With that, another night passed, two days until I had to go.