Chapter Text
Peaking through the slightly ajar doors of the throne room, Princess Carnelia watched as her father stared at their visitors. His expression was unreadable, making it nearly impossible to decipher what they had been talking about, but she was determined to figure it out. Looking around the room she caught sight of the visiting prince. He was a frail little man who never had an opinion of his own, and if he did he was too cowardly to voice them. Next to him stood his father King Yauktu, who held a hopeful glint in his one good eye. Before she could get a good look at anyone else she felt a presence looming over her. Turning around slowly, carefully to maintain her composure, she was met with the sight of a tall man clad in the armor of the Paladorne royal guard. He had a menacing look to him; someone who clearly took his job very seriously, but despite that he was still quite handsome even if she couldn't get a clear picture of his face behind his helmet. Smoothing out the nonexistent wrinkles in her dress, she gave her best authoritative expression. He may not be a citizen of Auravine, but he was a visitor in her kingdom, and he would be severely punished if he dared to disrespect her. Giving him a one over she decided to address him. "Good evening sir-"
"Aphid."
"Yes, Sir Aphid. May I inquire as to why you dare approach me as you would a common peasant?" Carnelia asked.
Aphid's eyes hardened ever so slightly before he answered. "I'm under strict orders not to let anyone disturb the royal conference."
"Well, you seem to be doing a poor job of that if I was able to sneak past you." Carnelia narrowed her eyes before continuing. "However I have as much right to be present in that room as your incompetent prince does."
"Watch your tongue, your highness! Just because you are a princess that does not permit you to speak of the crown prince of Paldorne in such a manner," Aphid snapped lowering himself so that he was only mere inches from Carnelia's face.
Carnelia was fuming, how dare he speak to her like that! Although he did have a point so she refrained from arguing. "I apologize for my rudeness, it shall not happen again."
Aphid eyed her for a moment before sighing, the tension in his shoulders releasing. Luna moth fairies were known to have a short temper and he would just be wasting his time if he lost his own on her. Straightening up he looked over her into the throne room for a moment before turning his attention back to her. "If you really do have a right to be in there why aren't you?"
Carnelia crossed her arms over her chest, her wings fluttering in annoyance. "They believe a woman cannot provide anything useful to their discussions."
Raising an eyebrow Aphid smirked down at her. "Huh, I could have sworn you were a little girl not a grown woman."
"Excuse you! I am nineteen years of age." Carnelia stood up straighter trying to hide just how frustrated she was.
Unable to stop himself Aphid let out a curt laugh. "Nineteen and you're still unmarried. You must be more undesirable than I thought."
Carnelia bristled at his remark, her wings flaring in indignation. No one had ever dared speak to her like this. Not nobles. Not commoners. And definitely not a brute from Paladorne. Right as she opened her mouth to retort the doors of the throne room opened causing both of them to stiffen.
Carnelia's father, King Ostir glanced between his daughter and the foreign knight standing too close to her. Clearing his throat he turned towards Carnelia. "I see your curiosity has gotten the better of you once again." Turning towards Apid he gave an apologetic smile. "Please forgive any rude behavior she may have had towards you. She can be a bit headstrong, not unlike her late mother."
"There is no need to apologize, your highness, she is far more refined than the princesses from Hiberhime," Aphid replied earning a laugh from both King Ostir and King Yauktu.
"Indeed, King Zenter and his family have never known how to act like nothing more than common folk," Ostir laughed patting Apid on the shoulder. "Yauktu wherever did you find such a hilarious young man?"
King Yauktu chuckled folding his hands behind his back. "He's actually my nephew. You remember my brother? Well, when he and his wife were killed Aphid here was only a child so I took him in and raised him as my own."
Carnelia's eyes widened as she looked at Apid. No wonder he had been so devoted to the prince, he was family. She should really learn to keep her mouth shut, if she had made him too mad he could have easily had her executed. After the three men walked away she turned to find the Prince of Paladorne lingering by the door, his hands nervously fidgeting with his surcoat. "He-hello Princess Carnelia. Would you like to um maybe uh join me for a walk in the gardens?" Carnelia could feel her eye twitching as he stumbled over his words.
Forcing on a fake smile she curtsied as she politely declined. "I'm sorry Prince Kastor, but perhaps another time. You see I'm quite tired and should really retire to my bedchamber for the night."
Kastor nodded vigorously as he muttered incoherently. "Oh right! Of- of course. I'm so-sorry, uh good night princess."
Rolling her eyes, Carnelia turned around and walked away without another word. She let out a sigh as soon as she rounded the corner, pressing her back against the cobblestone wall. First the brutish knight then the stammering prince, if the rest of this royal summit continued like this she didn't think she would make it out with her sanity intact. Glancing over at the windows that lined the opposite wall she watched as the moon began to peak out from behind the clouds bathing the empty castle in a pale light. The soft glow of the moonlight used to be a comforting thing but after her mother died it simply became a reminder of that horrible night. Sighing she looked away only to be startled by a maidservant bowing beside her.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she gave the silk moth fairy permission to speak. "Excuse me princess but Duchess Helio requests your presence in her bedchamber."
Carnelian straightened her posture, Aunt Helio never summoned her this late unless it was serious. "Tell the duchess I will be there momentarily," Carnelia nodded dismissing the maid. Brushing out her skirts she began the long walk down the halls of the west corridor.
Her aunt had been a cold and bitter woman for as long as she could remember, she supposed it was most likely because her brother had inherited the throne despite her being the eldest and to add salt to the wound on Carnelia's sixteenth birthday he had announced that she would be the one to take the throne if anything should happen to him. Swallowing the lump in her throat she tentatively walked up the winding stairs until she reached the top of the west tower. Hovering her hand above the dark oak door she let out a shaky breath, she didn't mind being snippy with the visitors from Paladorne, her father often found her quick wit amusing, but Aunt Helio was the one person she dared not offend. Gently knocking she waited for permission to enter. "Come in," the sharp voice of Helio called. Pushing open the door Carnelia stepped into the dark room, the only light coming from the small cluster of candles on the desk. Walking over to the window where Helio sat, Carnelia curtsied low keeping her eyes on the ground.
"Take a seat child, we have something of great importance to discuss." Carnelia did as she was told sitting across from her aunt. "Firstly, would you like to explain to me why one of my ladies in waiting found this?" Helio held up a crescent moon made of silver that shimmered in the candlelight. Carnelia glanced behind her at her loose wings. She should have known someone would find her wing clasp. "You are a Noble lady and must take every precaution to protect your wings, they are a symbol of your role in society."
Carnelia's stomach dropped as her Aunt started at her with a cold calculating glare; she had been way too careless tonight and she could only hope that no one had noticed her little spat with Sir Aphid earlier, which would definitely send Helio into a rage. "I'm sorry Aunt Helio, I wasn't thinking—"
"No you weren't," Helio said sharply, standing up and setting the clasp down on the table with a soft clang. Her amethyst eyes bore into Carnelia, making her skin feel like it was on fire. Helio's heels clicked against the marble floor as she circled Carnelia. The room fell into a tense silence as Helio stopped behind Carnelia and placed a bony hand on her shoulder. "Stand." Carnelia didn't hesitate and pulled herself up on shaky legs. Running her hand down Carnelia's translucent green wings she inspected them for any damage before gently dropping them and giving a huff of borderline approval. "This will not happen again, you are lucky one of the men from Paladorne noticed otherwise they might have taken it as a sign that they could steal the throne from you."
Returning to her spot in her chair Helio let out a long sigh as she looked out over the cobblestone streets below her room. "That is not the only reason I called you here. There is another matter we must discuss."
Carnelia sat back down folding her hands in her lap and fighting the urge to ball up the fabric of her dress in her fists. "The Kings are not merely having a diplomatic summit, they are making preparations for your marriage to Prince Kastor."
The words hit her like a tidal wave and she struggled to sit up straight. Her father would never let that happen, right? Marrying her off to a Prince who could not even finish a single sentence without making a fool of himself, surely he had someone better in mind. "You can't be serious can you Aunt Helio? My father doesn't truly think I would be best paired with someone like him?"
The Duchess sniffed disapprovingly, a silent command to stay silent. "I do not know, nor do I care what the King thinks of this arrangement all I know is that this is the best decision he can make to secure an alliance with the Kingdom of Paladorne and as a princess, you will do what is expected of you."
Clenching her jaw Carnelia held back her argument. She had always known she would be handed off to someone in marriage to better her kingdom but there were many eligible young princes her father could have chosen from, why Prince Kastor? "If you must you may ask your father more about the arrangement when you two go for your morning walk," Helio added making sure Carnelia was aware of how she felt about the princess's need for answers. "Now off to bed with you."
Standing up slowly, Carnelia curtsyed low, retrieved her wing clasp, and then walked out of the room stopping once the door was fully shut. Squishing the silver piece of jewelry in her hands she could feel her eyes pricking with hot tears threatening to spill out at any moment. She forced a steady breath past the tightness in her throat. Crying in the hallway outside her aunt’s tower would do her no favors. If any servant happened upon her like this, it would be in Helio’s ears before sunrise and then she’d never hear the end of it. Carnelia straightened her spine and blinked up at the dim sconces lining the curved staircase. The castle felt colder tonight, as though the very stone was holding its breath around her. Carefully she set the wing clasp back into place, fingers trembling as she secured it. Married. The word scraped against her thoughts like broken glass. To Prince Kastor of all people. She descended the tower stairs slowly, each step echoing as though to mock her. When she reached the bottom and found no one else to be nearby she allowed herself a moment to breathe. She would have to marry him one way or another but perhaps she could find a way to Ovid him as much as possible. Folding her hands in front of her and putting on a fake smile she made her way to her bedchamber. She would make things work out in her favor, that she was determined of.