Chapter Text
The village of Enchancia buzzed with activity and excitement. Kids rushed around playing games, the air filled with the sounds of people shouting at the market, and the warm sun beat down upon the village, allowing for a beautiful day. A royal carriage gracefully made its way through the streets, carrying the current royal family—King Roland and his children, Princess Amber and Prince James.
The princess fanned herself, her golden locks swaying slightly as she did. "Daddy, why are we here again? This weather is terrible for my hair! Plus it’s icky here."
James rolled his eyes at his twin's stuck-up antics. He turned to wave at some children playing ball as they passed. He liked the village; it was so lively and fun. Hearing his father clear his throat, James turned back to face him on the opposite side of the carriage.
"Because, Amber, as King, it is my duty to check up on my subjects. Besides, some of my advisers think it would be good to interact with the citizens more," he glanced at his daughter. Amber propped her elbow on the side of the carriage, placing her chin against her hand, still gently fanning herself with the other. "Yes, but why do I have to come?" she grumbled, side-glancing at the houses as they passed.
Roland, obviously hearing his eldest's complaint, turned around to the coachman.
"Stop here, please," Roland ordered as they calmly rolled to a stop, the horses pulling the coach, letting out a few loud huffs and neighs. The coachman opened the door, allowing Roland to step out before grabbing the princess’s hand and helping her down as well. Lastly, James jumped out, completely ignoring the coachman’s hand outstretched and ready to help.
The three glanced around at all the excitement happening around them.
The king let out a small confused breathy laugh. "That’s strange; normally, I get swarmed when I come out here."
Amber’s eyes wandered to a large crowd that seemed to be forming over near a house not that far. "I think that’s because everyone’s attention is elsewhere," she huffed, pointing with her fan towards the crowd. Her father turned to see what she was pointing at, where he noticed the largely forming group as well.
He let out a curious hum. "I wonder what’s going on over there." Roland started his trench forward, quickly pacing toward the gathering people.
Upon reaching them, he could hear shouting within the crowd. Glancing back behind him to his children, he saw James give him a shrug. Roland turned back, clearing his throat as loudly as he could, gaining the attention of many villagers.
"Oh, your majesty!" One of the villagers shouted, getting a lot more attention.
The king watched as several people moved to crowd him. "What is going on here? Please let me through!" he said as many of them started to part way for him. He heard several people shout.
"It’s horrible, your highness!"
"That poor girl!"
"Please help her!"
Shoving through the last few people who hadn’t heard the other person shout for him, he stumbled into a dreadful scene.
There was a little girl, she wore a dark purple dress, and her hair was an auburn color. She was gripping a doll closely as she held on tightly to the doorframe of a house, as several men tried to grab her and get her off. Her shouts of protest were being drowned by the older men speaking. Her rosy cheeks were stained with tears, leaking from her bright blue eyes.
Seeing enough, Roland felt his heart cry for the poor girl as he felt his fatherly instincts kick in.
"What is going on here?!" He shouted, catching the attention of the girl and the men. The crowd stopped chattering as well, and everyone stood frozen for a few moments.
Suddenly everything began to pick up again, as the men let go of the girl, one of them timidly approaching him. "King Roland, what are you doing here?" He asked as he carefully bowed to the man. Roland’s eyes wandered from the man to the girl; she was still gripping the doorframe and her doll, as if her life depended on it.
Turning back to the man in front of him, "That doesn’t matter. I believe I asked a question," he stated harshly. Normally he wasn’t this cold and straightforward, but seeing that little girl in distress was making his blood boil.
"Yes, your highness!" The man responded instantly, a nervous look in his eyes. He motioned towards the small building, "We were just repossessing this house and shop, due to payments not being met."
Roland raised an eyebrow as the man gulped, "And that requires you assaulting this young girl?"
Before the man could answer, the king simply pushed past him and made his way to the girl, who was looking at him curiously. She shrunk back as he got closer, her hands tightening around her small toy. Bending down, he made himself eye level with her, his dark brown eyes meeting her bright blue ones. A gentle smile found its way to his lips, “What’s your name, sweetie?”
The girl glanced away, biting her lip before looking back. She hesitantly mumbled out, “Sofia.”
Roland smiled softly at her, trying to help reassure her. “That’s a lovely name,” he praised. “Now, Sofia, can you please explain to me what’s happening? Why are they trying to take your house?”
He watched as she glanced down at her feet, avoiding eye contact with him, hugging her doll closer. He patiently waited as she seemed hesitant and nervous of him. It took a minute or two before she finally responded.
“My mother is a shoemaker, and she received a huge order of shoes for a few kingdoms over. She promised she’d only be gone for a week at the most,” Sofia paused, tears prickling in the corner of her eyes as she whispered the next part, “It’s been almost two months now. She never came back.”
Roland felt a pit form in his stomach as he stared at the girl. She couldn’t have been that much younger than James and Amber.
Then a thought struck him.
“Sofia, where’s your father at?”
That seemed to be the wrong question as those brewing tears began to fall. Sofia shook slightly as she seemed to try and muster up her response.
“He—” she softly stuttered, “he’s gone.” She continued to refuse eye contact as Roland bit his lip. This poor girl truly had no family if her mother was gone.
Roland stood up, not taking his eyes off the girl. A voice suddenly rang through. “Okay, enough of her sob story,” one of the men pushed by and grabbed the auburn-haired girl by the wrist harshly. Sofia, who had loosened her grip on the door while talking to the king, was finally ripped free from her house. She let out a scream of protest as more tears rushed down her face, trying to pry and twist from the man’s grip.
The crowd began their protests again as Roland’s brain finally caught up to what just happened.
“Release her this instant!” He demanded.
The man turned to address him, “But, sire, she needs to go to the orphanage and—” he was promptly cut off.
“I said release her!”
The man finally let go, causing Sofia to fall harshly on the ground. Roland rushed to help her up as she carefully accepted his hand. Looking around, Roland became lost in thought as he caught sight of his two children who had been watching the whole scene play out, angry and saddened looks on their faces. He instantly started to think of any solution to this problem, glancing back to the young girl beside him, her saddened eyes meeting his. When a, probably horrible, idea formed in his mind.
As Roland contemplated the situation, he knew this might be the best solution for the girl.
Bending down to her, as he had done just minutes prior, he began speaking, “Sofia,” he muttered softly, “how about this? Why don’t you come stay with us in the castle, and then you don’t have to go to the orphanage?”
Sofia tilted her head curiously, a hesitant look filling her eyes. “But I have to wait for my mother to come back,” she softly spoke.
A small but warm smile reached Roland’s lips as he found her response sad but still adorable.
"How about this?” He began, hoping she’d accept this. “You come stay with us until your mother returns, and I'll make sure to send people to find her. Deal?"
Sofia gripped her doll tightly as she was clearly contemplating this idea. Hesitantly, she nodded in agreement. "Okay, but I need to leave a note for her just in case,” she whispered shyly, glancing up at him through her lashes.
Chuckling softly, “Okay,” Roland nodded, standing back up. All the crouching was beginning to hurt his back.
“And you have to promise that no one can take our house," she looked up at him, a flash of bravery making itself known on her face.
Roland nodded, "You have my word, Sofia."