Chapter Text
Wishing on a star was not something princesses do but I did not care, I liked watching the star fall and I loved the feeling of hope when I wished for something like a pony or for the flowers to bloom in the garden. It was all in good fun, sometimes I would wish to be able to see the outside of the castle walls, it would be amazing to be able climb down the ropes that connected the clouds to the below but I knew that would never happen. My parents would never let me down there, they feared something bad would happen to me or that I would speak to a scum bag as they called them. With one last glance at the sky I made a silent wish to be able to see the land under my home and closed the curtains.
The room seemed to get darker and I couldn't help but smile at nothing. I really liked the way that the shadows would be visible in the night, Nix's body was moving slowly and I could tell she was having a peaceful dream. I pulled the blankets and put them over myself resting my head on the pillow lightly.
Even from my room I could hear the maids downstairs cleaning the tables and setting the table for tomorrow morning. The butlers leaning against the walls listening to their watch tic as they counted the hours till they had to wake me up. I could hear the knights armor as they walked around outside, stomping their feet on the grass to make the effort to scare off the people that tried to climb the ropes and steal our things. I sighed in defeat and buried my face back into my pillow in hope to drown out the noises of the outside world, just like I've been doing for the past nineteen years.
“Princess!” Someone called from outside, rubbing my eyes I finally realized that it was just a dream. Stretching my limbs and sitting up I called back to the butler that it was okay and that the maids could come in. Two thin woman walked into my room with pure grace, one had long brown hair that was tied up in a ponytail, and her body structure was that of a model, she was tall and skinny. Her name was Lily, her parents named her after the kingdom and raised her inside of the castle until she could work. The other one was blonde and her hair was already going white, she was one of the oldest maids in the whole castle, she was also Lily’s mom. Miriam had been in this castle since my parents were prince and princess. Everyone called her Mimi, it was a name given out of pure love. Both of them filled by bath and took out my clothes no matter how much I insisted that I had two arms that were functional, but they just said that it was their job and they were happy to do it. In an hour or so I was already dressed in a blue dress that looked like it was made for a special occasion, it reached my ankles and was decorated with tiny white flowers that resembled the lilies that grew in mom’s garden.
“Oh, you look lovely.” Mimi gushed pulling on the bottom of the dress and fixing the ruffles. I just blushed at her compliment and brushed her away claiming how okay I was.
“Did you take your medicine princess?” Lily asked quietly looking at my bed side table. The glass bottle laid untouched and full of small white tablets. Shaking my head I waited for the scold that Mimi had in hold.
“Princess you know those medications are keeping you healthy you need to take them every day because if you don’t…” The look in her eyes made me want to curl up in a ball in the corner of the room. She gently pressed her hand to my cheek. “Lilia we don’t want to lose you. You’re the princess no one in this kingdom wants you to die and those medications are keeping you alive so please drink them.” I sighed in defeat and grabbed the bottle, twisting it open and drinking the three tablets inside. Mimi smiled at me and put the white sandals in front of my feet before stepping back.
“What’s the occasion?” I asked, drinking the water Lily had brought in. Both maids looked at each other and then back towards me.
“There seems to be someone coming here. We don’t know who we were just asked to get you ready.” The brunette explained, motioning to my dress. I sighed and nodded stepping forward and holding my head up high and composing my body like my mom had taught me. Mimi and Lily stepped back and waited for the bell that summoned them back to the kitchen. I stepped outside and walked downstairs to the table just to be faced with a dirty, smelly man. He had his head down and his curly hair was moving as he breathed in and out. His shirt that I suppose was white at some point was now full of what I though was dirt, his pants full of cuts and poorly patched.
“Pardon us princess.” The knights gushed pulling the man away from me. I held up my hand to stop them and kneeled to the man’s level, gently raising his head. “Princes-.” I cut them off moving my hand up and putting it over my lips to silence them.
“Can you hear me?” I asked the man, pulling the tissue out of my shoe and cleaned his face. His eyes snapped open and he leaned forward making me fall back on my bum.
“Princess!” The knight on the right raised his hand to hit the man but I gently pressed mine over his arm.
“It is okay, I frightened him don’t hurt him.” He slowly lowered his hands and nodded slowly stepping back. “What did he do? What caused him to end up in our dungeon?”
“He stole from one of the visitors while they were on the elevator. Almost hurt the prince.” The knight on the left explained.
“Bull, the poor excuse for a man jumped out of his skin when he saw me.” The prisoner spat shaking the shackles that kept him tied. “Acted like a little posh little bit-.” The officer to my right slapped the man straight across the face making it move all the way. The sound sent a sickening chill through my spine and caused me to step back. The man make a tsk sound and looked me dead in the eye. “My, my you sure are a lot like they describe you princess Lilia, hot and it looks like you've never been touched-.” Again another hand hit his face and both the guards grabbed his arms roughly and pulled him to the dungeon. I stood in shock and blushing like a princess should never blush. Stomping my foot and shaking the blush from my face I made my way to the table where my mom and dad sat with another couple.
“Ah, Lilia you have arrived.” My father’s deep voice echoed through the dinner table, I nodded and curtsied at him and the other man. They motioned for me to sit down which I did since the shoes were killing me. The rest of the table sat down, the chatter was not as interesting as other times, they spoke about the economy and about how the trees growing in the below were gorgeous and blooming at this time of the year. “So the reason we brought you here Lilia was to talk about a very special occasion.”
“Yes father?” I placed the knife and fork in a cross shape to let the maids know that I had finished eating and rested my hands on my lap.
“The kingdom of Gilliam has agreed to sign a peace treaty with us…” That sounded wonderful actually, they had a good army and their warriors were the best at keeping the people from Below away from their castle. “But you will have to marry the son of King Finn, the prince Liam.” My pupils might have gotten smaller but I wouldn't know. I gripped the cloth of my dress tightly between my fingers and nodded slowly.
“Yes sir.” My father nodded smiling as if he were the happiest man in the world. I was trying to stop the shaking of my body as the man seated next to King Finn smiled at me. He had brown hair that looked dirty and a crooked smile plastered on his face. His brown eyes seemed to be looking at every inch of my body that was visible over the table.
“Amazing.” My mother clapped her hands together in glee and walked over kissed the top of my head. “I am so glad you accepted.” Like I had a choice. “This is exiting! I will set up your drive to the Sophos kingdom tomorrow morning.” I gave her the happiest face I could muster.
The rest of the breakfast was filled of obnoxious talking from the queen’s part and talk of war from my father and the king’s part. I just sat in my chair moving the food from side to side, it tasted good but my stomach didn't want to welcome any of the tasty pancakes that the chefs had worked so hard on. The breakfast was dismissed when my father grabbed the prince’s shoulder and pulled him away to the porch to talk about the marriage and my mother sat down in the porch chairs with the king and queen to talk about how I would dress. I took the chance and ran back to the backside of the castle. I kicked off my shoes and stepped into the Garden of Liliaphes. It was my mother’s she planted most of the trees and flowers here when she was a child, I kept on putting new ones here and there but the place was absolutely beautiful. I ran my fingers over the trees and breathed in the smell of roses and lilies.
“You look like your mother.” I turned to the voice just to be faced with Mimi. She stood straight in her ironed uniform, her smile was small and seemed to be getting smaller by the second. “She came out here all the time, said she wanted to be free and to roam all the Below. You are just like her, beautiful, graceful and so kind.”
“Mimi…” The smile that she held was worth a thousand gems. I walked over and hugged her tightly. “I don’t want to do this.” I whispered into her shoulder, she held me tight.
“I know sweetheart, the man doesn't look like a charmer, a bit goofy looking.” I laughed sadly and nodded. “’You’ll get used to him, get to know him, learn his dislikes or likes, take a book about that kingdom on for the trip. It won’t take long maybe a day or three it all depends on what road you take.” I didn't even want to answer since I was so drained of emotion, that marriage took a lot from me. And it wasn't even noon yet and I was already exhausted. Nix came running towards me barking in glee, she licked my face and went back to being on all fours. I kneeled to her level, rubbing her neck and kissing her head. She barked happily and licked my face again. Mimi patted my head gently and smiled softly. “It’ll all work out in the end, it always does for good people. Once you get anointed as queen I hope I am there to smile and watch as they out the crown on your head.”
She placed a soft kiss on my forehead and moved a lock of hair away from my face. “Thank you so much Mimi.” I whispered, smiling back at her. With one last smile she walked back into the castle fixing her blue skirt and beginning to walk with pure poise once again.