"CAIT?" I was supposed to meet my sister in the stables, so I know I'll find her there. "Cait! Where are you?" I  peeped my head inside to see her standing beside an asian boy with black hair and the younger girl from the lake...

"Cora!" Cait exclaims, pulling me in a hug.

I held her tight, then I let go to speak with the boy and the little girl. "Hi! I'm Cora! Nice to meet you."

"Cait and Cora..." the boy muttered. "Wait— Princess Caitlyn and Cordelia?" He questions, looking at us.

I frown. "Is there something wrong?" My eyes flicker over my sister and the boy.

His eyes widened, "I called the Princess a homeless lady!" He glared at Cait, "And you didn't fire me!"

I snorted, smiling at my sister. "Relax! We won't fire you!" I wave off his worries with a teasing grin. "Did he actually call you homeless?" I wasn't upset or offended, just curious.

Cait nodded, grinning.

"I'm Seylah!" The younger girl exclaimed, as she bowed. "I can't believe I'm meeting the Princesses!" Seylah squeals as she hugs Arden.

I grimaced as I looked at Cait warily. I feel guilty for blowing her cover by saying her nickname that Cindy and I always call her.

"Yeah... It's nice to meet you, Cordelia," he held out his hand for me to shake, surprising me, usually commoners bow but instead, he was acting as if I was just a random person he met off the streets, "I'm Arden."

I shook his hand. "You too, Arden, sorry if I cause any trouble."

"Sey! Your dad wants you to help me in the kitchen!" A girl yells out as she walks down the stairs. I gasped, turning to the redhead girl that I saw from the lake. My face went pale trying not to make it obvious that I wasn't looking. "You're the royal from the lake!" She announces as she spotted me.

Why are the gods against me today??

I flinched stiffly. "No! I wasn't at the lake." I brushed my hair back. "I don't recall seeing you at all."

Seylah shakes her head, "Oh my gosh! It was you! Where is your handsome prince? The one with the cute curls?!"

"I need to go!" I stepped back to walk out of the stables. It upsets me when people assume I'm with a boy. I didn't know how to handle the assumptions and the engagement sham.

"Cora—"

I just ran not caring where I was going.

✧˖*°࿐

"PRINCESS CORDELIA!" A voice called out for me but I didn't care, I kept running, "Cora!"

I didn't stop to breathe, I ran past the bushes and fountain. What the little girl announced to her brother and my sister was a reminder that my father has control over us. I will never be free to date another girl again. I wiped away the tears and sat down on a rock, the girl caught up to me and placed a hand on my shoulder, "Cora..."

I push her arm off my shoulder. "Please, just go," I whispered.

The girl frowned, "I know you don't know me, and that I gave you a hard time earlier but... I know that look."

"What look? I'm fine." I readjust my face so she wouldn't see through the cracks. Over the years, I learned how to hide the pain as my parents expected of me. My mother claims that I'm her favorite due to how elegant and perfect as a princess I am.

"That look you made when Seylah brought up your prince."

"He is not my prince!" Memories of my parents announcing my engagement made me furious. I didn't ask to be shackle with Fredrik and now anyone —including a little girl — thinks we're a couple.

She frowned, "And the face you're making now..."

My heart stops. She could see right through my facade. "It's nothing, okay! I had to marry that prince anyways." It baffles me to do so.

The girl sighed, "Look, I don't like royals and you're no exception but I get what you're going through."

She claims to hate me yet she gets my situation. What's so bad about her life that she relates to me? "You have no idea," I muttered sarcastically.

"Fine—" She gets up, "Whatever, I'm sorry for trying to help!"

"Wait!" I got up, I grabbed her arm turning her around. "I shouldn't take it out on you for wanting to help. But what can you do? The king has made his decision for me to get wed." I didn't want to say that I dated Xoie, no doubt she heard about it though.

"I can't, but I just want you to know that you're not alone."

I sigh, dropping her arm to stare at the ground. I didn't know what to say so I didn't. "Seylah... She's very energetic, she wasn't trying to be rude."

"I know. She didn't have bad intentions when she said it but it still hurts," it hurts that I'm forced to like that man and date him. It hurts that it was Fredrik I was on a picnic and not the redhead. It hurts that I can't be seen holding a girl's hand again.

✧˖*°࿐

I wipe my face before heading inside. I don't want my parents to notice something is off with me.

Dan stood up straight as I walked over to my door. "Princess," Dan said stiffly. "The king and queen ask for you and Princess Caitlyn in the king's study. I'll escort you."

I groan, wanting to rip the hair off my head. What do my parents want now?? "Okay," I said, not wanting to fight, and get Dan in trouble for defying my father.

Dan escorted me to Father's office. As he opens the door, I saw my parents and Caitlyn sitting on the couch, presumably waiting for me.

"Sorry I was late!" I walked in swiftly, and sat down beside Caitlyn. "What did I miss?"

"A loving family chat," Caitlyn said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes, crossed her arms. I notice that Cait has a red mark on her cheek,

I presume Mother must have slapped her and it makes me angry. "Oh!" I frown, hesitating to look at my parents. "Father? Are we in trouble?" I asked.

Our father shook his head, "No, of course not, we just had a chat with your sister."

"But why did Mother slap Caitlyn?" I pressed, clutching my sister's hand. "And why did you ask for me as well?"

"I—"

"Your mother didn't touch Caitlyn, stop being paranoid," he sighed, I looked at Cait and she shook her head, telling me to leave it alone, "You're both here because we need to discuss the details of your weddings."

Wedding details?

"What about it?" I bit my lip. My stomach winches with nerves, I wanted to avoid this altogether.

My dad rolled his eyes, "Your mother and Hyacinth are going to help you decide what your wedding dress will look like. It needs to be one of a kind, a dress of a princess, Hyacinth will draw the designs and then your maids will get your measurements."

I look at Cait and she looks at me. "That sounds easy enough," I chimed, giving in to my father. I hope Cait will go along with this without upsetting our parents.

"Yeah, I guess," Cait muttered, her voice trailing off.

"Good, Hyacinth and your maids are in the ladies room, they will make sure everything is accounted for."

"Are we excused, Father?" I asked, aching to get away.

He nodded. "Your guards will escort you there, to make sure no one disappears," his eyes trail over to Cait.

✧˖*°࿐
1293 words
written by cat and tori storiez0 <33