Chapter Text
An emerging light filtered through thick curtains, shining onto the adolescent's jaded face.
The haze from the morning sun was a disturbance to her, and she shifted in her silk bedsheets - softly groaning from her rude awakening.
Mornings truly were unbearable.
She adjusted her position on her four poster bed, stretching into a frustrated hunch and she smoothed back her short, dark hair.
The princess was alone, not an oddity - rather an experience that was becoming the new normal.
There wasn't much point in going back to her slumber, she figured. The girl stretched, feeling her nightgown press softly against her skin as she slid out of her bed. One careful step after the other, over the piles of books and papers, she ambled towards her windowsill. Her eyes glossed over the ethereal palace garden, kept attractive and proper as all royalty should be, and settled on the grubby kingdom bordering her own home.
The glorious Kingdom of Anakt.
She whipped the curtains closed.
༺ღ༒ღ༻
A slobbering hound barked from beneath the long table, begging for scraps of breakfast from those sat there.
The palace dining room was truly a spectacle to any eye. Every last area - from the polished floors to the breathtaking mural hand painted on the ceiling - was a marvel.
Banners with the kingdom crest were proudly displayed at every pillar of the room - Enclosing the table where the Royal family feasted.
To call this room quiet would be a gross assumption - at most times, it was deemed the loudest part of the opulent building - but there was a certain pleasure that could be found sitting near the candlelight on the comfortable chairs. A type of ambience that couldn't be found from the day-lit rooms that were free to roam.
In this room, pages were addictive. Flicking through countless stories was a constant joy, even if the book itself was mediocre in its quality. Novels even smelt better in this room. It felt like a courtship. A passionate love story between a good story and its devoted reader, lost in its charm-
“Sua? Sua! Are you listening?”
Every courtship had its third wheel.
The princess tore her eyes from her book, and forced herself to look upon her brother, who was stuffing a fork full of sausages into his mouth. She scowled, irritated by her constant interruptions today, and set her story aside.
“Yes, Ivan. I am.”
The prince wiped his mouth with his handkerchief, straightening in his chair opposite his older sister. His face sparked with mockery as his lips curved into a sneer.
“What did I say then?”
Sua rolled her eyes, any form of vulgar gesture was allowed between the siblings when they were alone. “Pray tell.” She grumbled.
“Aha… so you weren't. Just start with that next time.” Ivan grinned, picking up his fork once more to scrape at his scraps. “If you're interested now, I have some scandalous news from a little bird that sang to me this morning.”
“Uh huh… and I'm assuming your little plaything is that bird?” She raised an eyebrow, disinterested by what her brother's perception of ‘scandalous’ actually entailed.
“If by plaything you mean knight . Then yes.” Be waved his hand submissively, holding his fork underneath the table so his dog could lap at it. “Word in the village is that Durian has finally been arrested.”
“Durian? As in my Durian?” Sua's eyes widened.
“Oho, yours? And you say my knight and I have a strange relationship.”
“You know what I meant." She flushed, casting him a dangerous scowl.
There was a momentary quiet between them, Sua started to pick at the edges of her food. It didn't taste the same since their last chef hit the bucket, and she missed the time when her meals weren't burnt to the King's own liking. “... Is she okay?”
“She's been arrested for treason. Assisting in the rebellion.”
“Ah.” She was doomed.
As if picking up on her worry, Ivan offered her a reassuring smile. “She may be pardoned.”
“Don't give your father that much credit, Ivan.”
Blades took a form in her voice. His father She reminded herself. Feeling reassurance in her words. Not her own.
As if on cue, the door widened - And a tall, groomed figure glided into the dining room. Her eyes sharp and persistent like that of a dagger, and her mouth pressed tightly into a bitter grimace. She paused at the table’s end, taking a moment to look at her plate that was laid in front of her before taking her seat at the table.
This dark, brooding woman was none other than Queen Nigeh herself. Or, for Sua, she could be called Mother . She shut her insectoid eyes briefly, before lowering her head : letting her furred dress brush her chin as she nibbled at the meal.
The scions became silent when either of their parents entered their vicinity. Everyone in the kingdom knew Queen Nigeh was a force you wouldn’t dare reckon with, renowned for her brutal and austere judgement - and Sua knew that more than any commoner would.
The room froze in a frightened silence, only the sibilant sounds of the Queen eating her morning meal could be heard. Sua bit her lip, reaching for her book to drown out the intense and unruly atmosphere.
“Sua.” Her monotone voice pierced the atmosphere. “Straighten yourself. It’s most unladylike to slouch the way that you do.”
“Yes, Mother.” Sua mumbled, obeying and quickly fixing her posture to appear more satisfying to her mother.
Ivan remained quiet, the heir had very little business with his step-mother, though it was clear that Nigeh had resented him somewhat for being given the very title of ‘heir’ . It was common knowledge that Ivan was the youngest of the royal children, yet at the end of the day he was the King’s son - and since the King had wished it, he was the future of Anakt kingdom.
“You’re becoming unmeticulous these days.” Nigeh went on, setting her handkerchief on her lap before digging into her eggs. “Spending all that time without a maid truly is damaging your attitude.”
“Mother…” She groaned. “We’ve discussed this plenty enough.”
“And we’ll discuss it again. I’ve already spoken with the King about the matter, and he agrees. A princess without a chaperone is unnatural : especially when she refuses to wed.”
There it was. The same dull topic was burnt into the girl's brain by now. Since she had turned sixteen, their majesties had insisted on finding the princess a suitor, one from a preferably large kingdom, with wealth as their motivation.
Sua avoided her mother’s eye contact, she had met countless suitors over the years and none sparked any kind of interest in her. Either they were too narcissistic or too humble, too bold or too cowardly, too indifferent or too passionate. Most of them shared her mutual disinterest, up until her last suitor.
The most recent had been a young prince her age with shaggy brown hair and a small frame. Prince Acorn from Drasi Kingdom, a prosperous kingdom of much interest to the King. A month into their courtship he had professed his love for her and had quickly proposed marriage between them. She had rejected him - much to everyone’s dismay - though she was cautious to not offend or hurt him. She simply never felt the warmth he had felt for her. Even to this day she still received letters from him, pleading for another chance. At such times she became shameful.
“You know you cannot outrun betrothal forever, Sua. The King and I have entrusted you to choose wisely, but if you procrastinate any longer-”
“You’ll choose for me. I’m aware.” Sua retorted. She wished the floorboards would crack beneath her, sending her hurtling down towards the ground to her doom. Anything would be better than this discussion.
Ivan, sensing the friction in the room, hastily changed the topic. Sua was thankful to him for that.
“Say, where is Father anyways? Is he joining us for breakfast?”
Nigeh shook her head. “King Unsha is preoccupied with justice matters at this time. I doubt he’ll be finished until later in the day.”
Ivan swallowed, disappointment evident in his face. “I see.”
Suddenly, he got up and stepped away from the table swiftly. “Well, I have a jousting session with my knight around this hour. I suppose I’ll find Father later.” He motioned for his dog to follow at his heels, to which the Saluki obeyed - tail waggling as the heavy door slammed once more.
Sua decided to leave at that moment as well, she hadn’t the appetite for breakfast anyhow. She discreetly picked up her novel, and made a plan to spend the rest of her day to herself.
“A moment, Sua.”
Great.
Sua turned around, forcing a pleasant smile to her mother.
“I’m serious about this whole maid ordeal. You’ve been cooped up in your bed chamber without company for long enough - It’s insulting to our name. We’ll soon get you another maid, and in return you’ll start living up to your title. Understand, Sua?”
Sua let go of a breath she was unaware that she was holding. Repeating the regular words : “Yes, Mother.”
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Sua had been perfectly enjoying her own company. After six maids that ended their careers in crying or criminality, she had grown tired of a pestering servant that had to accompany her everywhere.
And yet, from her bedroom window, Sua grew envious of her brother, who was likely roaming outside of the palace. All he needed was his rowdy knight whom he had grown up with to protect him, the Young Till.
Without a chaperone, she was forbidden to leave.
Even then, she had only been allowed in her garden - Or on the pleasant streets of Anakt Kingdom, never the impoverished area.
The kingdom was too dangerous. Outside her home in the palace there were ruffians, treasonous traitors, drunkards and thugs. She hadn't ever walked there, and yet as of late she felt more and more of an urge to wander there. It wouldn't take long, she would be in and out in an instant.
Just to see what it was like.
Sua began to ponder. She started to plot.
Her mother did say it was time for her to leave her bed chambers, did she not?
Perhaps there was a way out the palace. She hopped from her windowsill to the door connecting her room to the empty Maid's room.
Six young girls had stayed there since Sua was little. And every time they left they would leave something behind. Be it a book, a trinket, or some of their old clothes before working for the Royal Family. Sua took a look to her side to make sure no prying eyes could see her as she carefully opened the wardrobe.
Perfect.
There, amongst the maid dresses and aprons, were some scabby rags. A pair of brown ripped and dirty trousers, a green tunic that was frayed at the sleeves. Most importantly, a long dark cloak.
It was almost humorous how things had worked out for her rash scheme, like whatever force that was looking down on her was aiding her in this whole ordeal. That was a positive sign, she figured.
Sua hadn't properly considered her idea before slipping out of her gown. She grabbed the trousers. A perfect fit. She hoisted the tunic over her head. A little baggy, but a fit nonetheless. And the cloak. It had reached her ankles, great for blending into the streets.
Was she really doing this?
Logic, her usual companion, was discarded in this moment, replaced by her unstable intuition.
She knew she needed a change. While her book was captivating, Sua longed to feel the air tickle her skin once more.
Soon she would have to wed, and time for mischief such as this would be punishable : Why not have fun now?
It wasn't like she had much of a life to lose on those streets anyhow.
She made her way to her beloved window again, checking for witnesses like a guard would an intruder. Then, using all her might…
The latch on the windowsill came undone.