Chapter Text
It was a warm spring day, and the local market was bustling as always. Coco ran through the streets, weaving around people and looking at stalls with wide, curious eyes as she passed. She laughed as she strayed from the cobblestone underfoot and off into a small field, running up to a particularly large tree and settling into the shade.
She pulled out a roll of sweet bread from her bag, ripping a piece to try. She took a large bite and squealed happily. “Ah! So good!”
“Must you talk to yourself?” A voice from overhead grumbled. Coco looked up towards the unexpected sound and gasped. Sitting in the treetops was a girl about her age.
“Oh! Im so sorry. I didnt realize anyone was here.” Coco stood and dusted herself off. She was quiet for a moment, deep in thought, before ripping another piece of bread and holding it out to the other girl. “Would you like to try some? It's really yummy!”
The mysterious girl squinted at the offered food before jumping down from the branch she had been sitting on. She hesitantly accepted the bread and took a bite.
Coco grinned as she watched the other girl's eyes light up. “See? Good, right? The stall that sells them bakes them fresh right there!” She pointed towards a stall with a red tent.
“I see…” The girl looked at the tent, then back at Coco. “You’ve been to this festival before, then?”
“Mhm! I come here every year,” Coco smiled and tucked her hands into her pockets. The other girl looked back at the festival.
“Alright then…” She took a deep breath, “Show me around.”
“....eh?”
Coco tilted her head to the side, confused. The girl huffed and crossed her arms. “You said you come here every year. You probably know where all the good stalls are. So, show me around.”
Coco blinked before lighting up and taking the other girl's hands. “Really? Like… a tour guide?”
“Sure, I guess,” The girl tugged her hand away and wiped it on her cloak. “If that's how you want to look at it.”
Coco giggled excitedly and took her hand again, pulling her towards the festival.
___
The two girls wove through the crowd, running along the path hand in hand. Coco would occasionally pause in front of stalls and ramble excitedly about their wares.
“Oh! This is the one where that bread was from! And that one over there by the corner sells these really fluffy knit hats and gloves during the winter, but in the warmer months, they make stuffed animals! My momma got me one last year.” Coco grinned and pointed to a stuffed cat. “Look! That one kinda reminds me of you.”
The girl scoffed, her face flushing slightly. “Exactly how does a plush toy resemble me?”
“Well,” Coco hummed and tapped her chin, “it’s got fluffy black fur, like your hair. And its expression is all grouchy.”
“I am not grouchy.” She scowled and crossed her arms. Coco just giggled and pulled her along to another stall.
“But you’re at a festival, and you haven’t even smiled!” Coco tilted her head, “Festivals are supposed to be lots of fun.”
The girl sighed and shrugged. “…it is…a little exhilarating.”
“See?” Coco smiled before gasping and stopping in front of a particular stall. “Oh my gosh! Roasted strawberries! These were my favorites when I was super little!”
“What’s so appealing about some roasted fruit?” The girl squinted.
“You have to try them! They’re so warm and sweet and tasty!” Coco pulled out two coins and handed them to the vendor, who handed her back two skewers. Coco handed one to the other girl before taking a bite of her own and squealing happily. “It’s so good!”
The other girl hesitantly looked at the skewer before taking a small bite. Her eyes instantly widened, and Coco clapped excitedly.
“Good, right? Festivals like this have the tastiest snacks!”
“It’s…passable,” the girl feigned indifference. Coco smiled and sat down on a nearby bench, patting the seat beside her. She gasped and turned to face the other girl.
“Oh my gosh! I didn’t even ask your name! I’m so sorry, that’s so so impolite! I’m Coco.” She stuck out her hand.
The girl looked at Coco's hand with a look of hesitation. She shook her hand slowly before quickly pulling her hand away and wiping it on her skirt. “…Agott is fine.”
“Agott!” Coco smiled as she echoed her name. “That’s funny, I think I’ve heard that name somewhere before. Have you maybe been to my mom's shop before?”
“I don’t think that’s quite right.” Agott sighed.
Coco rubbed her chin, but shrugged. She looked around the festival grounds before her gaze settled on a patch of wildflowers. She clapped her hands together before hurrying over and picking a handful.
“What now?” Agott raised an eyebrow and followed after. Coco sat in the grass and patted the spot beside her.
“My momma showed me a fun trick you can do with wildflowers! Hold still.”
She began weaving the flowers together into a chain before leaning over and trying it around Agott's head. Agott reached up and gently touched the soft petals.
“A flower crown?”
“Do you like it?” Coco smiled excitedly. “Oh, you can’t see it…here!” She pointed to the nearby stream. “Come look!”
Agott stood and walked over to the water, peering at her reflection. She touched the crown, and a tiny smile pulled at her lips.
“It’s…very pretty.”
Suddenly, two knights came running past. Agott flinched and pulled her cloak over her head.
“Excuse us! Coming through!” The knights barked as they looked around. Their gazes scanned the crowd before landing on Coco and Agott.
“Damn it,” Agott hissed, “we have to go, now.”
“Huh? But why-“ Coco was cut off by Agott pulling her by the sleeve. The girls broke off into a run towards the nearby woods, Coco being practically dragged.
“Where are we going?”
“No time to explain,” Agott whispered as they ducked behind a tree.
The pair panted as they caught their breath, and Coco looked around frantically.
“Why are we running? Was it those guards? Did you do something bad?”
“Calm down.” Agott pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’m not a criminal, I just don’t want them to see me.”
“But why not? The guards are there to keep everyone safe.” Coco frowned.
“You wouldn’t understand.” Agott clenched her fist around the fabric of her skirt. “If they found me, they would-“
“Found you.”
Agott yelped as a hand came from behind the tree and grabbed her by the cloak.
“There you go again, sneaking out and causing a fuss. Do you have any idea the trouble you’ve caused for the queen this time? Your tutor looks away for a half a second and out you go through the window!” The guard scolded. Agott huffed and crossed her arms.
“…sneaking out? Tutor? …queen?” Coco blinked.
Then it clicked
“Princess Agott?!”
“And just who is this you’ve roped into your little scheme?” The guard narrowed his eyes.
“Leave her out of this,” Agott grumbled. “She had nothing to do with it.”
The guard looked the young girl up and down. Upon deciding she posed no threat, he huffed a sigh and turned back to Agott. “Queen Adina will be having a word with you straight away. And you can forget about leaving the palace anytime soon.”
“So it is.” Agott frowned. She turned her attention back to Coco. “I’m…sorry for the trouble. Here.” She pulled out a coin and pressed it to Coco's hands. “…for the strawberries. Thank you. I suppose I did have fun.”
As Agott was led away, Coco frowned and waved goodbye. Agott walked silently with a knight at either side of her. People turned to stare as they passed.
“Take that ridiculous thing off your head. It’s unbecoming for a princess.”
Agott grit her teeth and removed the crown. She looked down at the crown before her expression firmed. “I’m keeping it.”
The knight looked annoyed, but didn’t argue. “If you absolutely must, your highness.”
___
When Agott arrived in her room, she collapsed in a heap on her bed. Her mother had barely said a word to her when she returned. Just a simple ‘I expect more from you’. She clenched a fistful of bedsheets.
Her eyes landed on the flower crown on her dresser, and she smiled sadly. That girl from the festival…she had been so cheerful and kind.
Part of her hoped that somehow, one day, she might see her again.
But what were the chances of that? It would take a miracle.