The Coward's Daughter [An OUAT Fanfic]

A (Breakfast) Date With Destiny

Y/N sat up on the pile of mattresses, she'd grown used to the perilous height and incessant swaying in the 8 hours she'd been lying awake on the tower of a bed Queen Narissa had made for her.

"Good Morning Maleen." She mumbled, beginning to crawl towards the ladder.

"May I... ask if you slept well your highness?"

Y/N stopped as she descended the ladder, her eye twitched in frustration.

"How do you think I-" she started to say but thought better of it. "I slept fine Maleen, well not fine, but that isn't your fault."

"Breakfast today is sausage, porridge and fresh pears from the garden. The queen hopes it will be to your liking." Maleen told her as she landed with a thump.

"Oh it'll be to my liking all right." Y/N mumbled, she checked the room's mirror, she had deep eye bags and her hair was a mess.

"I've been assigned to be your lady's maid while you're here Princess." Maleen said softly, "I apologize we're unable to find you a more noble lady-in-waiting at the moment, but I shall do my best. Shall we start by getting you dressed for breakfast?"

"I'm sure you'll make a lovely lady-in-waiting Maleen." Y/N answered. "You've done a wonderful job so far, yes please help me get ready."

Maleen smiled shyly and walked towards the wardrobe.

"I'm afraid the dress you came here had been ravaged beyond repair by the rainy conditions, but your tiara is in perfect shape. The other maids and I found some old dresses previous guests had left behind, they are a touch out of style but in good condition and should fit.... if you wish to have new ones made I will alert the tailor."

Maleen opened up the wardrobe and Y/N peaked over her shoulder, several dresses were hanging inside.

She couldn't understand what Maleen meant by out of style, they were beautiful! She pulled each of them forward and looked at them.

What should she wear? What would Narissa want to see? What did princesses even wear to breakfast? She stared at each of them unsure, before she had a brilliant thought.

"Maleen?" Y/N asked, "I'm feeling very bold today... why don't you pick a dress for me?"

"Me?" The young maid asked, "Are you sure your majesty?"

"Yes."

"V-very well then." Maleen leaned into the wardrobe and began sorting through, until she pulled out a pale green dress, rich with lace. "How's this one m'lady?"

"Perfect." Y/N smiled.

Maleen then helped Y/N dress, styling her hair and applying cosmetics. It oddly reminded Y/N of when she was young, playing dress-up with Morianne, her childhood friend.

This mission wasn't all that different, in a sense. She had to play one massive game of pretend with the Nottingham Court.

***

By the time she was dressed and headed to breakfast it was almost noon.

So far Y/N had learned two things about being royalty: it took you a ridiculously long time to get dressed and you were to eat breakfast far later in the day than reasonable.

Maleen led her through a pair of glass doors to a garden terrace, surrounded by wisteria trees. At the sight of her Florian rose from his seat and bowed.

"Good morning Princess! Please sit down." He gestured to one of the wooden chairs.

Y/N curtsied and sat down, fighting to keep her eyes open.