Lucy roams the castle, alone. The night air blows under her skirt, causing it to ruffle and sway. She twists her fingers nervously, trying to understand, once again, why she was here. In this big castle, all alone. Her parents were back in Paris, her younger sister was in Ireland, married to a man that she truly loved, and as for her little brother, he was probably as good as dead. The damn war had made sure of that. She was alone, sent off by her parents to give her, her best chance, but now that wasn't the case. She hadn't met a prince and she didn't get married.
She was never going to get her happily ever after, like in the stories that her papa used to read to her before bed. She shakes away the happy thoughts as she walks down the stone steps. She sits down on a stair and looks up at the full moon. It had been five years since she had last seen her family, and that thought was running through her mind every day before this night had finally arrived.
Lucy looks down at the ring that she is twisting around her finger. It had been a gift from her mother. Her mother had given it to her the eve of her departure. It was a silver band with a blue sapphire in the setting. Lucy closes her eyes, tears streaming down her face. She brings the ring to her lips, kissing it. "I love you, Mama," she whispers softly.
"Are you alright?" a voice asks behind her. Lucy jumps, startled. She looks over her shoulder to see Prince Grant walking towards her. He steps down the stairs, no longer dressed in his formal wear. Lucy offers him a sad smile, tears trailing down her cheeks. Grant walks down and sits beside her on the step. He notices the ring in her hand and his gaze shifts from her weeping eyes to the ring. "You didn't answer my question." Lucy looks over at him, still twirling the ring in her fingers.
"I am fine, Your Grace. You shouldn't be sitting on the ground, it's far to dirty for you," she replies, fighting back the cracks in her voice. Grant looks at Lucy, watching as she stares at that ring.
"I do as I please. Something seems to be troubling you. What ever could be the matter?" he asks. Lucy shakes her head, and tilts her head back to look at the moon once again.
"My parents...they sent me away when I was seventeen. They thought that they could give me my best chance. So, they sent me here...to get married to a prince. They had heard rumors that the Queen had a son who was looking for a young wife. That wasn't the case though." Grant nods his head slowly, entwining his fingers together.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. "I wish that there was something that I could do." Lucy shakes her head, still crying.
"Unless you can get me back to Paris, I would say that there is no way you can help me." Grant looks over at Lucy and sighs heavily.
"You're from Paris?" he asks. Lucy nods her head and gives him a small smile.
"The country side, yes. We lived on a farm with very little land. My mother worked in the house, my father would run errands for other farmers for money, my younger brother would work out in the fields, and me and my sister would help our mother around the house." Grant stares at her.
"You have siblings?" he asks in wonder. Grant had grown up an only child. Grant watches Lucy, waiting for her to answer him. She clears her throat and glances up at the moon again. She nods her head.
"An older sister and a younger brother, yes." Grant begins to play with his fingers, wanting to ask, but not sure if it would be appropriate.
"Where are they?" Lucy glances towards the forest.
"My older sister, Gabriella, is in Ireland with her husband...probably with child once again...and as for my younger brother, I don't know. Henry was drafted into the war sometime ago and I haven't heard anything from him since before my parents sent me away."
