Princesses #2
Footsteps sounded down the hall, and I glanced over a shoulder to see a somewhat familiar face—Princess Zuri.
I raised a hand in greeting as she scanned the sitting princesses.
Zuri’s eyes brightened when they met mine.
Her gown was a lavish shade of burgundy, and her hair swept off her shoulders as she hurried towards me.
Her tiny braids reminded me of silk thread.
“What a pleasure it is to see you again,” she grasped both of my hands in greeting, as we kissed each other’s cheeks.
“I’m relieved you’re here,” I replied.
“I didn’t have much of a choice.” She grimaced, as her eyes darted around the room. “Have you been waiting long?”
My hair brushed my lower back as I shook my head side-to-side. “Not long.”
“Are you going to sit with them?”
I pursed my lips. “It was an icy greeting. I’d rather enjoy the art.”
Princess Zuri snorted. “I’m not surprised, but I’m going to sit. Who knows what kind of trial we’ll face tomorrow.”
She squeezed my hands one last time before striding to the end of the bench and taking a seat.
Sitting beside the others, it struck me as odd that we were all in different colors, with no overlap.
The princess nearest the door wore only yellow.
The one behind her—only purple. Then there was Zuri in burgundy, and me, in green.
I mused, it must be a way to identify us.
It was strange how similar they all appeared too.
Their posture, long necks, and rigid spines—it looked uncomfortable.
Footsteps echoed down the hall again, but this time it was heavier— thundering like boots. The eminence of the noise bred importance and had the princesses on the bench rising immediately as the sound reached them.
But when Julian and Charles entered the room, the princesses reacted differently.
The one in yellow, closest to the door, gasped and covered her mouth, turning away from Julian.
The one in purple slumped back into her seat, facing away from them as if they didn’t warrant a moment of her time.
And Zuri, well, she did wonderful at hiding her surprise, but she too sat with slight annoyance as she fluffed out the burgundy fabric of her skirt.
Julian’s jaw worked side to side, and I couldn’t tell if he was trying to mask his anger or embarrassment. Charles cleared his throat, waiting patiently beside him.
“Good afternoon,” I called across the room and waved at them both. “It’s nice to see you two again.”
Julian placed a hand on his chest and looked behind him as if trying to puzzle out who I was speaking to.
“It’s Julian, correct?” I approached them and smiled. “I’m sure you probably don’t recognize me. I was a sodden mess the last time we met.” I reached out a hand. “I’m Princess Colette.”
He took my hand, meeting my gaze with a steely one of his own. “I remember you.”
There was a brush of hardened callouses against my palm and his eyes shifted from my face to our joined hands. The feel of my hand in his was familiar … but I couldn’t quite place it.
Julian squeezed lightly, releasing me, and my heart fluttered like a butterfly’s wings. “But my actual title is Lord Julian, Governor of the Heart’s Night Trials.”
The swish of fabric was comical as the princesses fled the bench and pushed against me to get closer for an introduction. I slipped out of the throng of chaos, my eyes never leaving his as the others vied for his attention.
“Ladies, ladies!” Charles announced. “If you would please give us some space, we will explain the rules.”
“When is the prince coming?”
“Can we talk to him?”
“Did he say why he chose us?”
They all screamed their questions at once. My nose wrinkled in disgust, it was abhorrent behavior.
“I am Governor Julian, the overseer of the trials. Each morning I will meet with you all one-on-one to ask a series of questions. The first trial will take place tomorrow, and then each remaining trial will take place every third day. After the trials have been completed, the Prince will look over my reports on each of you and make his final selection.”
I rubbed at the ache in my lower back. My muscles were knotted thanks to my atrocious sleep, and my thoughts drifted away to soft feathers, airy comforters, and the startling blue eyes of masked strangers.
I could still vividly remember how his thumb had felt on my lip, and the way my stomach had clenched in response to his nearness.
Charles cleared his throat loudly, startling me, and jerked his chin towards Julian. “The governor asked you a question, Princess Colette.”
My face burned with mortification, and I shrunk into myself. “I sincerely apologize. Could you repeat your question, please?”
Julian’s left eyebrow arched, and the skin of his scarred right cheek tugged with a twitch of his lips.
“I said—can you begin with the introductions? Your name and where you hail from, if you please.”
“Oh, my apologies, of course. I’m Princess Colette, from Silver Hills. And it’s a pleasure to meet you all.” I forced myself to look each person in the eye with a smile. But I was met with a sneer and scowl from the two princesses I had yet to be introduced to.
The princess beside me flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I’m Elizabeth.” She raised her chin. “And I’m from Swan Lagoon.”
Elizabeth swished her yellow dress back and forth. The gown made a hissing sound against the marble and I wanted to recoil from her. She had no doubt been chosen for her beauty, for I don’t think there was a princess in all the realms who could have matched her.
“I’m Gisela, from Black Wood,” the princess in the purple dress said.
She pinched the fabric between her fingers and scowled.
Her raven-black hair was half up, but the rest hung in loose waves to her waist. I was beginning to feel plain standing beside all these beautiful women.
But Gisela had a sharpness to her eyes. Coupled with the way she had centered herself in Julian’s line of sight, she was exceptionally cunning.
Zuri rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. “I guess we saved the best for last.” Julian’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline. “I’m Princess Zuri, of White River.”
I smiled warmly at Zuri as her gaze met mine. Zuri could have been chosen for any number of things like her confidence, humor, or beauty.
“Now that the introductions are made,” Charles drawled, grasping the lapel of his navy jacket. “You are free to have this day to explore and become familiar with your surroundings. All meals will be served in the dining hall, but you may also take them in your own rooms if you prefer.”
The rest of the princesses gazed about the room, looking anywhere but at the man speaking, or the one beside him. Except for me—and Zuri.
“That is all. You are dismissed,” Julian said flatly.
His eyes darted between each face, unwilling to look back at him. But when his eyes settled on me, I smiled and nodded my thanks.
“Have a wonderful day,” I bid him, before turning back to finish my examination of the art in the gallery.
Zuri took my left arm and walked with me to a painting of Wimberley I had yet to finish studying.
“So …” she whispered, looking over her shoulder. “Who do you think will win?”
I giggled, stopping in front of a painting of a grand castle on a hill. “You, of course.”
Zuri looked down briefly. “I’m only here because my parents forced me.”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, just in case anyone was listening.
“It’s not that I don’t want to be here, I would gladly perform my duties, it's just that—”
“You’re heartbroken,” I finished for her.
“Exactly,” she replied, looking at the painting of Wimberley. “This is such a marvelous place, with a rich history. It would be an honor to be Queen, but I would rather someone be on the throne that was actually in love with the Prince. He deserves happiness, too.”
I followed her gaze and sighed. “I honestly don’t know too much about this place.”
“But you would love him—when I could not.”