Lillian made a golden ball and snapped her fingers, disappearing from the room and appearing just below the Princess's room. She could hear humming from inside.
The princess's room overlooks the common entranceway into the castle. Right now, many people are entering the castle grounds. So it won't be suspicious if a ball crashed in, right?
As the main character, I am relying on the power of plot convenience to help me here.
If this fails, Jasmine I'm sorry. I'll still try to avoid them from finding out who I really am
Lillian gripped the ball tightly and let the magic seep from her hand to it, making it vanish and crash into the room.
"What was that?"
Ok.
"Excuse me! Can you pass me the ball?" Lillian called out from below the room, people passed by, casting confused glances her way.
"Is this yours?" The princess called back, holding the ball out to her.
"Yes. Please give it back." Lillian struggled to keep eye-contact with the princess and pretend to be unfazed.
She is so pretty I can feel tears coming to my eyes just from looking at her. Her curly, burgundy hair flowing in the wind as she stared down at me. This is too much like a scene in a movie.
"Guards, seize her." The princess called to the soldiers patrolling the ground.
"Huh?"
Wait, what?
"Got you. What are you doing? Harassing the princess?" The guards grabbed either side of Lillian's hand and she was too surprised to do anything.
Huh?
They started dragging her to the gate, most likely to throw her out.
Wait. This isn't supposed to happen.
"Wait. Where are you taking her?" The princess called out.
"We were about to throw her out, Princess."
"Did I tell you to do that?" Her cold, amethyst eyes stared down on them.
"N-no, princess. We apologise for our mistake!"
They bowed their heads but they don't seem scared of her. Strange.
"Bring her to my chambers." The princess said this and went back inside.
"Yes, princess. Come, you." They grabbed Lillian and dragged her inside the castle.
This is so embarrassing.
Lillian hung her head and let the men drag her, they got stairs from the maids and other guards as they made their way to the princess's chambers.
"We are here. Stand up straight." One of the men knocked on the door while the other tried to straighten Lillian up.
When he grabbed her by her shoulders, Lillian began to panic. Her body shook and she started to pull away from their grasp.
"Let go of me." She kicked the man in the chest, letting him release her.
"Ouch! What do you think you are doing?!" He shouted, reaching for her again.
"Don't. Touch. Me." Lillian said, her voice low and threatening.
"What is going on here?" The princess opened the door and stared at the two guards, then at Lillian who had her hands wrapped around her, a look of fear and anger in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Princess. This girl-" The guard reached for Lillian again but the princess grabbed the sword from his belt.
"Don't touch her." She poked his hand with the sword. "You may leave."
"Of course, Princess. Then, excuse us." The princess handed the sword to them again and they walked away, glaring at Lillian.
"Are you ok?" The princess asked, looking Lillian up and down. "Looks like you are unharmed, come."
"Yeah. Ok."
"Sit." The princess pointed to the ground while she sat on the chair beside the window.
"Were exactly, your highness? There are no other chairs." Lillian asked through gritted teeth, rubbing her wrist.
"The floor. Or are you telling me to give you my seat?"
"No. No. It's nothing like that, Princess. I like seating on the floor. Love it." Lillian sunk to the ground, her ill-fitted dress sprawled all around her.
The two of them sat like that, staring at each other in very uncomfortable silence until Lillian finally cleared her throat.
"So, why have you called me here, princess?" She asked, not looking into her eyes.
"This ball. It's yours right?" She pulled out a ball from under the chair.
"Yes. Thank you." Lillian held her hand out but she didn't return the ball.
"What's a girl doing playing boy games?"
"What?" Lillian retracted her hand.
"Only boys play these type of games. Should you not be stitching or cooking? I didn't know peasant girls have this much free time." She mocked, her eyes still so cold.
What's with this girl? She's so different from what I expected her to be.
"Well?" She asked, glaring at Lillian.
"I … don't have any parents or family to look after," Lillian said, looking down.
"So you are an orphan. That would explain the attire and how filthy you are." She snickered.
I had to roll in that dusty, dirty room just to appear more worn out. I even scraped my knee!
You know what? Princess or not, I am not handing our beloved King over to you.
"I apologise for losing my parents, princess. But from what I heard, you lost yours as well. So I doubt it is appropriate for you to look down on me because of that." Lillian blurt out those words before she realized it.
"You are bold for a peasant." The princess said, walking to her.
Great. Lillian. Just great.
"Take it, and leave." The princess threw the ball to Lillian and turned away from her.
"What?" Lillian clutched the ball in her hand, confusion in her voice.
"Didn't you hear me? Leave?"
"But … Do you want to play with me, Princess?" Lillian smiled, holding the ball out to her again.
"Me? Play such boorish games? Ho-"
"I know a secret spot where no one ever goes to. No one will see you, Princess. Oh, what am I saying?" Lillian hit her head and turned away, "It is a boorish game. Not everyone can play it. Especially not the Princess. Now, please excuse me. I will be leaving now."
"Wait." The princess called out as Lillian's hand touched the doorknob.
"Yes, princess?" Lillian tried so hard to control her tone of voice, she could not let her amusement show.
"Leave through this exit instead. We wouldn't want people to see you come out of my chambers, alone." The princess walked over to her bookcase and pulled at the picture mounted beside it.
Behind the picture is a loose brick, which opens a secret passageway.
"Where does this lead to?" Lillian asked, looking into the dark tunnel.
Another one?
"The back of the palace gates. No one will see you there. Now go."
"OK." Lillian entered the tunnel feeling disappointed.
I guess there is nothing I can do now. Oh well, it wasn't for lack of trying. At least my conscience is clear now.
Lillian turned around, seeing the princess still there, she smiled and waved at her.
This is the best I can do now. Farewell.
"-en."
"Pardon?"
"Come again at a quarter to seven. Through this path. I will be waiting."
"Huh? You want me to come again?"
The princess sighed, "You are the one that called me to play. Now you are confused?"
A small smile graced her face, "Are you taking back your offer, now? Scared I will be better than you?"
"Ha! You wish. I will wipe the floor with you. Just watch me."
"Oooo~ I'm so scared." She scoffed, closing the wall again.
"Just wait, princess. I will come and we will see who is better." Lillian shouted until the wall shut, enveloping her in darkness.
"Damn, I got too excited there. Wait, it's pitch black. How can she send me down this-"
The tunnel began to light up from all around her. The faint lights came from the writings and drawings that filled it, ceiling to floor.
Pretty.
Lillian brushed her hands crossed the writings, wishing she could read them.
They hold so much sorrow, pain and happiness just from touching them. What could they mean?
Oh well, I'll just stay here until seven. If the common people saw me, it will get dangerous. In a place where everyone knows everyone, I won't blend in.
I hope it becomes seven fast. I wonder how Jasmine is doing.