The Vengeful Princess

Chapter 8: A Royal Date

The events of last night seemed like a hazy dream. The more I attempted to remember, the further it seemed to slip away like distant memories from another life. The remnants of drunken dances and stolen grazes still lingered in the air. 

I had slept soundly last night and even woke with a smile on my face this morning as Ella and Ivy came into my room to dress me. I practically floated out of bed and across the room. 

"Someone had a good time last night..." Ivy giggled as she made my bed.

Ella chimed in, "I don't suppose it had something to do with a particular prince...?" She glanced over to royal blue coat that was still draped over the chaise lounge, untouched from my first morning in the palace.

Lightheartedly, I sent them a joking glare, "Shhh, both of you!"

My eyes betrayed me by following Ella's gaze, landing on the coat I still had to return. Perhaps at a later time... 

I tore my eyes away, focusing on Ella through my vanity mirror. "Do the Princes often attend events with the working class?" I fiddled with my earrings, attempting to create an image of indifference.

"Prince Alex frequents our parties regularly, while Prince Charles only makes an appearance occasionally. I think that Prince Alex enjoys what little sense of normality he can experience away from the judgemental eyes of nobles."

"But what about the King and Queen? Wouldn't they forbid him from attending such events?"

Ella sighed, "Oh yes, they have tried to stop him in the past but he attends them anyways. They seem to have accepted that while he is still only a Prince, it doesn't hurt to have him interacting with his subjects. Of course, when he becomes the King, such behaviour wouldn't be tolerated anymore."

"I suppose that's only fair." 

The room lapsed into a peaceful silence as Ivy continued with the daily housekeeping chores and Ella began to braid my hair. My heart warmed at the thought of Alex and his obstinate determination to be one with his subjects. He would make a fine king one day. I found myself glancing at the clock, counting down the hours to our date. Where was the messenger he was supposed to send?

Ivy wandered over to the vanity as Ella finished pinning back stray strands of my hair, tutting as she examined my wrist, "Why do you wear this same old bracelet everyday? Why not switch it up today?" She began to fiddle with its clasp.

"No!" I snatched my hand away as if I'd been burnt. 

Wear this bracelet on your wrist until the day you can wear my ring on your finger.

That was what Nico had said to me, the night that he proposed, the night that everything had briefly fallen into place before completely falling apart. The past four years I had not taken the bracelet off, not even once, as if still waiting for his ring to replace it. It had become a part of me, a part of my body, something that was unconsciously connected to me. The ruby glinted as it caught the sunlight, still as beautiful as the day I first donned it.

Nico.

It was that tiny detail, the silver encased rose wrapped around my wrist, that sent me crashing back down to earth. 

♕

Angry voices reverberated around inside my head, each louder than the last, making it impossible to comprehend any rational thought. The war inside my mind was no longer simply about Alex. Half of me yearned to at least consider releasing the burden that I carried while the other half chastised the very idea. I needed somewhere quiet to think. I had contemplated visiting the maze but there was a high possibility of bumping into Alex, who I desperately needed to avoid whilst I collected my thoughts.