The Crown Princess

Chapter Three

Lilianna was just reaching for her bedroom door when it slammed open, causing her to jump back.  Addison had always been one to panic, and stress about everything.  Despite her calm outward appearance, Lilianna could only imagine what irrational fears were swimming around in that girl’s pretty little head.

“Where have you been?” cried Addison, yanking her sister by the hand, into the bedroom.  She closed the door behind them, and turned to look at Lilianna, her hands on her hips, eyes flashing, “We’re supposed to be having tea in ten minutes!”

            Addison was wearing mint green tea dress which was fell clear down to the floor.  The bodice was lacey and the sleeves went down to her elbows, edged with more lace.  The skirt was pleated and had tiny flowers stitched in pretty patterns around the bottom.  Her hair was pulled back into an elegant bun.  She looked perfect, as always.  She even looked perfect when she was angry.

“What are you staring at?” Addison questioned angrily, “we have to get you ready for tea—what is that on your cheek?”

Lilianna immediately covered the scratch on her cheek with her hand, “it’s nothing, Addy,” she said quickly.

“What happened?” Addison asked, leading her sister further into the room.  She began to help Lilianna out of her riding clothes, and then she gasped again.

“What?” Lilianna asked, surprised.

Without speaking another word, Addison steered her sister towards the mirror, “look at your arms, Lil.”

Lilianna looked into the mirror and sighed. Just what I needed: more scratches and bruises.  Feeling like she finally owed her sister an explanation, she said, “I fell.”

“You fell? That’s it?  What happened exactly?” Addison groaned.  She had laid out a lovely cream-colored dress with cap sleeves and a sweetheart neckline.  The light fabric shimmered in the light.  Addison walked over to Lilianna’s wardrobe and opened it, “well you can’t wear that dress.  We need to find you something with sleeves.”

After a few minutes, Lilianna was wearing an emerald green dress with gold accents, and loose sleeves that went clear down to her wrists.  Addison brushed her sister’s hair, and pulled it into a neat bun—nothing as intricate as her own, but they were running out of time.  She even found some powder to cover up the scratch on Lilianna’s cheek.  After Lilianna put on her shoes, she was deemed presentable and they left their bedroom.  As they descended down the stairs, Addison following closely behind her sister, she wrinkled her nose and made a strange noise.

“What?” Lilianna asked.

“You smell like horses,” said Addison.

The tea room was an elaborate, glorified, blue room in the center of the castle.  The walls were covered in paintings and there were little white shelves with antiques covering them.  In the corner, the Minstrels played a quiet tune, and a young man recited poetry.  In the center of the room, there was a small table that was decorated with all kinds of delicate sandwiches, cakes, and other dishes of foods that Lilianna couldn’t even begin to name.  The china on the table was engraved with gold and jewels, basically oozing wealth. 

King Adrian was seated at the end of the table on a large, red velvet chair.  He was a broad-shouldered man, with silver hair that curled around his head, beneath his golden crown.  He had an aura about him that just seemed regal.  His eyes were blue—kind and sincere, just like his daughters’.  Queen Estelle was seated on the other end, in a second velvet chair.  She was thin and frail, with short blond hair that was pulled back into a tight bun.  She had cutting gray eyes. There were two more empty seats on either side of the table, awaiting the princesses.