Just a quick PSA, I will not be using old English in this story. I know that some of the phrases I'll use wouldn't have been around in their time period, but I'm choosing to ignore that.
Emmaline darted around the corner of the corridor, being careful to remain unseen. She had a black cloak folded in her basket along with a book, a pair of boots and some gold, which she definitely didn't steal from her father's chambers.
She fixed the cloak and book so that it covered the gold. She didn't want to take any chances of people guessing where she was going.
See, Emmaline wasn't allowed out of the castle. Her parents have always preached to her that the peasants in the town are below them, that they must keep their reputation and status.
Emmaline was the complete opposite. She's always loved visiting the village, although they only went rarely for business. About five years ago, at the age of twelve, Emmaline started sneaking out of the castle once a week to go into the village.
Emmaline peered around the corner, and when she saw no guards, she picked up her dress and dashed to the next hallway, only to smack into someone.
"Emmaline?" A proper voice says and Emmaline looks up to see her mother confused amd mildly annoyed.
"Hello, Mother." Emmaline smiles in an attempt to not look suspicious.
"What on earth are you doing?" Queen Margaret questions indignantly.
"I'm going to spend the day in the gardens," She lies and the Queen raises her eyebrows.
"Really?" She asks and Emmaline nods. "Well, just stay away from the walls."
"Yes, mother." Emmaline nods and the Queen walks past her.
Emmaline breathes out a sigh of relief amd continues her journey outside, stopping just in front of the ivy covered garden wall. She takes off her heels and slips on the boots from her basket. She laces them up quickly and stands up straight in front of the wall.
She slides her basket up around her elbow and grasps the ivy, beginning the familiar climb. She soon makes it to the top and drops the basket over to the other side before hooking her leg over to jump down.
Emmaline brushes the dirt from her hands and smooths her skirt before taking the cloak from her basket. She shakes it out and pulls it around her body, mostly covering her dress. She quickly braids her dark hair and ties it with the ribbon she keeps tied around her basket.
Emmaline sighs again, a smile on her face as she picks up her basket and starts on the walk to the village. She carefully steps over tree roots and rocks, reaching the village in a few minutes.
She pulls the hood of her cloak up over her head and steps onto the busy cobblestone street, searching for someone to buy from. She spots a bread stand and hurries over.
"Bread, miss?" The man offers and she nods with a smile and hands him a coin. He takes it and hands her the loaf before she goes on her way.
She takes a small bite as she walks, looking away from where she was going for a second when she bumps into someone. She looks up to see a girl with a dirty dress that looked more like rags, her blonde hair tied back to reveal more dirt smudged on her face.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Emmaline apologizes and the girl raises her eyebrows.
"You talk weird," she notes and Emmaline takes a step back, slightly offended. "Too proper."
"Sorry?" She tilts her head in confusion, not knowing what to say to that.
"Do you come from the castle?" The girl asks and Emmaline's eyes widen. "You look... fancy."
"Oh, yes, I'm uh... I'm one of the maids there." Emmaline lies and the girl grasps her wrisy and begins dragging her down the street to a small house, which was barely big enough to be considered a house.
The house had two rooms, surprisingly, and the girl took her into what Emmaline assumed was her room. The girl shuts the door behind them and turns to Emmaline with a serious look on her face.
"You're the princess, aren't you?" She asks and Emmaline quickly shakes her head.
"No, no, I'm not the princess. I don't even know a princess." Emmaline lies, and mentally face palms herself. You're pretending to be on the castle staff Emmaline, of course you know a princess!
"Yep, you're the princess." The girl laughs. "Emmaline, is it?"
"Yeah," Emmaline sighs, knowing she's been found out. "And who are you?"
"Anna," the girl nods.
"Well it's nice to meet you, Anna." Emmaline says and Anna shakes her head with a laugh.
"God, it's no wonder I figured out who you were ten seconds after meeting you. You act just like a royal." She chuckles and Emmaline squints her eyes.
"No I don't." She protests.
"Yes, you do. You're polite, have a proper accent, and your clothes look expensive." Anna lists and Emmaline frowns.
"I've been doing this since I was twelve, how has no one figured it out yet?" She questions and Anna shrugs.
"Not a lot of people pay attention to the kids around here." She explains and Emmaline nods.
"I probably need to get back to the castle now," Emmaline says.
"Oh, hold on." Anna holds a hand up to stop her before grabbing a basket and taking a piece of clothing out from it. "Take this."
Emmaline hold up the fabric to see a dress similar to Anna's. Emmaline looks up at Anna with a shocked expression.
"I can't take this," she shakes her head and tries to give it back to the girl. "I have enough clothes, you need this."
"No, you need it to blend in if you're going to come back," Anna pushes it back to Emmaline. "Consider it a gift from a friend."
Anna gives the girl a smile, which Emmaline returns. A friend, Emmaline thinks. I've never had a friend before.
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I'm really excited to write this, I hope you guys liked it!
Love you all lots!
YOU ARE READING
Beyond the Castle Walls
Romantikcover by @BubblTee Princess Emmaline Kensington is not a very proper girl. Despite all her teachings by her mother, she just can't be satisfied in this life. Since she was twelve, Emmaline has been sneaking into the village. What will happen when sh...
