Acacia in Wonderland

Potential Difference

Hospitality was key in this castle. Since the moment I got here I have been treated like royalty. Everything was so pure and bright and the palace staff seemed genuinely happy. Every time I saw them smile I thought of the absolute terror on the palace card guards faces at the red castle. Everything was so different and yet so the same. Including Carter.

Carter was so polite and eloquent. After engaging in some light banter. He led me up to my room and had the palace staff bring me everything he thought I'd require. When I woke up this morning there was a note that appeared to be slipped under my door telling me to go to the gardens around noon. I rang the bell that laid on my dresser and asked if they had any garments I could wear for the day. But apparently a dress had already been picked out for me, in none other than white.

Once I was considered prepared by the palace seamstress I was set free and given the exact directions to the garden. The moment I stepped out I recognized it as my own. It looked  identical to the one I'd been working on before I travelled here. It was beautiful and yet so surreal. This made me question whether everything that happened here was because I dictated it. Would Carter look like Clyde if I hadn't wished he did? Did I meet him someplace in my normal life? I tried to think of anything to see if it would appear but it didn't work so I assumed I had just been going bonkers. As I continued to stroll through the gardens, my eyes met with none other than Carters.
   
   I made my way towards him and although he seemed perfect in every way I couldn't help but feel like something was off. Things seldom work out how you want them too and as much as I want to let myself get close to Carter, I also don't want to open myself up to the same heartache I feel with Clyde.

"Wow, beautiful. White suits you well." Carter said. Not exactly my first choice but I kinda like it too.

"Thank you, your highness. For everything. The place to stay, the dress, and the sense of safety. I am forever in your debt." I said, feeling truly grateful.

"Well first thing, don't call me your highness and secondly, you owe us nothing. I know if you had the resources to do so and someone in need came to you, you would've done the exact same thing." He said giggling along with the brightest smile.

We continued to stroll through the gardens and it was so surreal. Everything was identical to the garden at home. I felt extremely guilty throughout the whole walk, as I was here with Carter, who seemed in awe of me but I still couldn't get my mind off Clyde, who didn't even seem to care. It sucks that people often want what they can't have, when something so perfect is standing directly in front of you.

"Acacia is something wrong? You seem down." Carter inquired. But before I could explain myself a guard appeared, asking that the prince tend to a confidential royal duty. I was tempted to ask what it was but I also knew it was to early to start being nosey. I was with the queen of hearts for months, for all they knew I could've been a spy.

"I will have someone call for you, when dinner is served. But for now I must go. Feel free to stroll the gardens or to do whatever your heart desires." He said waving goodbye.

I decided that I would continue to walk through the garden as I found it to be really peaceful. But being the clumsy girl that I am I tripped over a garden gnome and landed by a white rose bush. But something was off. Why was there a red rose in the bush? I went to go pull it out, but before I could a miniature caterpillar crawled up and started speaking.

"Are you Miss Acacia? I have a message." He squeaked.

"Yes, indeed I am. What is it that you wish to tell me?" I inquired.

"The queen of hearts demands that you become an informant and share details of the white queens confidential plans. Anything that seems remotely useful."

"Why on earth would I do that? And why does she want this information anyways? The white queen isn't going to attack her or anything. There are no plans of war." I said, feeling all sort of unease.

"If you do not return something useful against her within the 48 hours, she will call war on the White Castle and innocent people will die. As to why she wants the information, she simply likes to have a one up on the competition." the caterpillar grinned.

"Okay! Tell her I will do it. I don't want to be responsible for the deaths of many." I said, sighing.

"Will do Miss Acacia."

He slithered off into the bushes and started to make its way back to the queen of hearts. As I thought earlier if things seem to good to be true it always is.