Amnicity stared at the wall. The curtains had not been drawn for two days. She had no place to go since being banned from her garden. Apparently, a princess should not try to forcefully remove roses and other flowers from their beds. The pain did not really sink in until a couple of hours later. When she finally looked down, all she saw was a large wine stain smeared with dirt and blood.

Amnicity glanced down at her bandaged hands and blinked back tears. What am I to do now? Lady Toria felt so bad for me she did not even lecture me about the gown. She just removed it with Lady Elry and let me be in this bed. What if I leave and do something reckless again?

The thoughts brought on a new phase of tears as she turned into her pillow before staring at the wall.

What if I destroy your memory because I—I cannot do this. I cannot become Queen. I am not you—they loved you. They would cut flowers and wait as you painted and—

The walls were painted.

Amnicity turned to look at the ceiling. I am just a shadow of you. That is why Father has not even sent for me yet. He just hides away, afraid of what will become of us when I am married and take the throne from his shepherding. What if they decide we are not worthy and kill us before then?

The last thought made Amnicity's heart clench. She pushed it away. Amnicity did not want to consider politics or marriage at the moment. Her father had not been seen since the news of her mother's death arrived almost three days ago.

Perhaps she could leave. Look at black fabric and discuss how a royal funeral should occur—all the things she never wished to consider.

I would just need gloves to cover the remaining scratches.

Maybe if she moved, there would be a chance her mother would arrive before the funeral took place. The people of Tillen had not delivered her body as of yet. It could simply be a misunderstanding. Such things happened all the time in romantic literature.

Amnicity could hear her mother's laughter echoing through the hall at the joke. The corners of Amnicity's cheek brush her pillow as she smiled. Queen Christaline would provide a lecture for the flowers, demanding that her actual funeral be a rainbow of vibrancy. All the eccentrics Amnicity adored about her mother but stated with humility.

Amnicity wished she had not pressed her eyelids closed; maybe then the tears would not be felt running towards her ears. In a rushed motion, Amnicity threw covers over her face in hopes it would cure one of her ailments.

I cannot do this.

You are strong. They did what they could to protect us.

A laugh strangled its way from her throat at the thought that did not seem her own. This would be the moment history discussed how Princess Amnicity had become touched in the head.

Korak Fallyn would be pleased. Well—she would just be sad that she did not cause it.

The sound of the doorknob and wood door moving paused Amnicity's thoughts.

"Princess Amnicity," Marie's voice called.

"Leave me."

"We wish we could, Princess," Lady Elry's voice stated.

"I am in a state of mourning. Leave me."

"There is a matter of state you must attend to," Lady Elry continued.

Amnicity let an exacerbated sound out underneath the covers before speaking. "Leave the love note on my desk."

"Tillen has refused to release your mother's body to the guards sent by High General Lessure," Lady Elry stated, leaving the room in silence apart from Amnicity's abrupt movement to sit up and remove the covers from her face.

She pushed strands of hair away from her face. "What? Why? Does the King know of this?"

"Henry has had difficulty getting His Majesty to eat anything, let alone make such a decision," Elry sighed.

"So, he sent you to make this my issue?" Amnicity gasped.

"Yes," Lady Elry confirmed with a nod. "You are to be Queen."

Amnicity bit her lip, turning her head away from the two ladies in question. Slowly, Lady Elry moved closer to Amnicity.

"Is it okay if I sit?"

Amnicity nodded. Lady Elry held Her Highness's hand comfortingly.

"I cannot imagine that this is easy, Princess. We would not have come here to even ask this of Her Highness if we had a choice. Nevertheless, at this moment, Tillen has shut its borders to us. The people have taken arms and refuse to let our soldiers enter the city. High General Lessure believes we should use force to rectify the situation. He wishes to gain approval to use soldiers at this afternoon's High General Council. We need the Princess of Vetus, and our future Queen, to stop him and tend to the wounds of Tillen." Lady Elry's eyes pleaded with her.

Amnicity looked down at her hands. She let a finger trail along some of the cuts. "What of my wounds?"

"Use them to understand the people of Tillen," Marie murmured, taking Amnicity's hand to kiss one of the cuts. "The Princess has lost her mother. The people have lost their Queen, security, and the heavens only know what else."

Marie and Lady Elry stared at their princess as she detached her hands to rest them upon her lap.

Others are in pain too. Father cannot handle this. He knows the people would want to see me. They would more likely welcome me than Father. His blood is not as pure as mine. Well, if that even matters to them. He must know this. He must feel lost with Mother to help him gain the people's trust. To regain mother's body and put her to rest.

Amnicity clenched her fists and looked up to Lady Elry. "What do I need to do?"

Lady Elry smiled. Amnicity had only seen such an expression when she provided a lecture upon a subject of interest. An exasperated puff of air released from Amnicity's lungs as she turned to Marie.

"What?" Lady Elry questioned. "Princess, I have not even started the le—plan. I meant to say plan."

"Marie." Amnicity smiled, squeezing Marie's hand. "Please call for my bath. It seems that I must be properly prepared, and I am in disarray."

"Lady Toria is currently devising the proper wardrobe," Lady Elry stated, rising from the bed while removing a small note pad from the folds of her dress.

Amnicity closed her eyes, visions of beautiful black dresses filling her closet. The never-ending mourning of her loss to maintain public approval. It had hardly been bearable when her grandmother passed. This would be—it would be—no, simply no.

"I will only wear one black dress," Amnicity dictated. "Perhaps two, but please advise her to develop deep shades of plum and navy as well. It will not do well for my resolve to be continuously reminded of death."

Marie squeezed her hand, nodding. "I will inform her right away," she smiled, rising from the bed.

"Begin," Amnicity sighed with a wave of her hand.

Amnicity did not regret telling Lady Elry to begin. Lady Elry's words empowered Amnicity with a new purpose. The thoughts were no longer abstract possibilities but actions that would take place in a few mere hours. She would use these words like weapons to bring people to her side or subdue their malintent. Amnicity could not wait for a husband to take on the role of ruling her people. She had a purpose and place.

Princess Amnicity of Vetus would speak.

"Does the Princess understand?" Lady Elry clarified for the fifth or sixth time during her diatribe.

"Yes," Amnicity nodded, gazing down at the black dress Lady Toria put on her with a mixture of wonder and distaste. "Please tell me there is not a veil."

"It is tradition," Lady Toria whispered, staring at Her Highness in shock.

"It will not be worn during the council."

"The Princess should at least wear it within the halls. If not, there is a possibility persons will not believe Her Highness is respectful of Queen Chistaline's memory." Lady Elry looked towards Marie for support.

"She is right, Princess." Lady Toria nodded.

"Fine. It will be removed with ceremony once I am within the council chambers and only worn when required afterward."

"I will begin working on the guidelines of requirement." Lady Elry nodded, watching Lady Toria begin to place the veil over Amnicity's head with the help of Marie.

"I will be discussing these guidelines afterward," Amnicity confirmed, staring unwaveringly upon Lady Elry through the veil.

"If it is your wish—"

Amnicity interrupted Lady Elry with a clipped tone. "It is."

"Very well. If this is the tone the Princess uses within the council, I believe she will do splendidly," Lady Elry smirked.

"The veil made her voice even more foreboding," Lady Toria commented.

"Black has a way of doing such things," Amnicity sighed. "Let us go."

"All of us are to attend?" Lady Toria questioned in shock.

"Do you expect me to enter the den of gentlemen without my ladies? That would be quite improper."

"We are still the Princess's ladies?" Lady Elry asked in wonder.

"Yes, as future Queen of Vetus, I demand it." Amnicity waved her hand somewhere under the lace.

Lady Toria did well not to laugh when she thought of how it resembled a ghoul. There were times that a lady must remain serious.

"Then we better hurry before they begin their third glasses of wine," Lady Elry muttered, handing a short lace veil to Lady Toria before unceremoniously putting one upon her own head.

"There really is more of an art to it," Lady Toria sighed, adjusting Lady Elry's lace before walking to the mirror to place her own. "Sometimes this practice seems archaic, and at other times I envision a progressive style."

"Your divided positivity leaves us astounded. Shall we leave?" Lady Elry quipped with a hint of excitement in her voice.

"Princess Amnicity," Marie cued.

Amnicity turned from the doors of her balcony with a louder click of her heel than she intended.

"Let us leave," Amnicity agreed.

***

Poor Nici... Any thoughts on how y'all think it will go at the High General's meeting?

Last Edited: 5/31/21