A royal settlement

Chapter 2||The weight of expectations

SONG:LOST BOY -RUTH B

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PRINCESS ÉLODIE DE VALOIS

The black sedan rolled to a stop in front of the orphanage, its tires crunching over gravel. Sophie and I sat in silence, the tension between us almost palpable. Outside, the paparazzi were a sea of flashing lights, eager to capture our every move. I forced a smile as we stepped out, every inch the graceful princess the world expected.

Inside, the orphanage felt heavy with the scent of damp stone and something deeper, a sadness that clung to the air. The headmistress greeted us with a stiff nod, leading us into a room filled with children. Most of them watched us with wide eyes, their curiosity tinged with wariness.

In the corner, a young boy sat alone, his face streaked with tears. Without thinking, I made my way to him, kneeling beside him with a gentle smile. "What's wrong?" I asked softly.

He sniffed, wiping his nose. "I'm scared. I don't want to be alone."

My heart ached at his words, so simple yet so heavy with truth. "You know, even people who seem to have everything can feel lonely too," I said. "But you're not alone, Théo. I see you. And I promise, I'll visit you whenever I can."

His eyes searched mine, and after a moment, he nodded, a small, tentative smile tugging at his lips.

"And until then, I want you to remember something very important. Being lonely doesn't mean you're not loved. It just means you haven't found your place yet. But you will, I promise."

I squeezed his hand gently before standing, feeling the weight of his trust settle on my shoulders. As we left, the cameras resumed their flashing, the moment with Théo already becoming just another image for the world to consume. Sophie remained silent beside me, her gaze distant as we drove away from the orphanage. I glanced at her, wanting to say something, to bridge the chasm that had grown between us, but the words caught in my throat.

"You were good with him," Sophie said suddenly, her voice startling in the quiet car.

I blinked, caught off guard. "Who?"

"The boy," she replied, her tone flat. "Théo."

Oh," I said, unsure of how to respond. "He just needed someone to listen. It's not much."

Sophie's lips twitched into something that might have been a smile, or perhaps just a fleeting ghost of one. "More than most would give."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I stayed silent. Sophie had always been the quieter one, more introspective, but since Étienne's death, she had retreated even further into herself, her world a fortress that I couldn't breach. I wanted to reach her, to bring her back to the sister I once knew, but I didn't know how.

When we finally returned to the palace, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the manicured lawns. The palace was as grand and imposing as ever, but to me, it felt more like a prison with each passing day. As we stepped out of the car, the guards dispersed, leaving us alone in the fading light.

"Will you be alright?" I asked Sophie, watching as she wrapped her arms around herself, as if to ward off the chill in the air.

She nodded, her gaze still distant. "I'm fine, Élodie. You don't need to worry about me."

But I did worry. I always worried. With a sigh, I gave her a quick hug before heading inside, where Matilda, my maid since childhood, was waiting for me.

Back at the palace, I found myself alone with Matilda, my faithful maid since childhood. She helped me out of my coat, her familiar presence soothing, yet the heaviness in my chest remained.

My marriage to Monsieur Laurent was looming closer, a fate sealed with indifference. A man I'd never met, chosen not for love, but for power-a transaction, not a union. My life was no longer mine; it was a pawn in my father's game, a duty I couldn't escape.

As Matilda prepared me for bed, I thought about the children like Théo, about my sister Sophie, lost in her own world of grief. If I walked away, who would take care of them? Who would see them?

"Do you think I'm strong enough for this?" I asked Matilda, my voice barely a whisper.

"You're stronger than you know, Élodie," she replied softly. "But remember, strength doesn't mean carrying the burden alone."

Her words comforted and unsettled me all at once. As I lay in bed that night, the weight of my duty pressed down on me-my marriage, my people, my family. I was trapped in a life I didn't choose, bound by expectations that seemed impossible to meet.

And yet, even as I longed to escape, I knew I couldn't abandon those who needed me. Not when so much was at stake. So, I closed my eyes and prepared to face another day, carrying the weight of the crown and the dreams that would never be mine.

So I stood there, a princess with a crown of thorns, staring into the night, wondering if escape from this gilded cage was even possible.

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I can't wait to update it next I hope you guys liked it
It was so hard tbh trying to think of a good plot especially when she's a literal princess and I honestly don't know much about that life
But I hope you enjoyed anyways and I'll make sure to update next