"Princess. Are you listening?" A woman asked, looking at the princess whose attention is somewhere else.
The princess and her tutor are in the garden house, looking through her different subjects and occasionally practising her magic with her.
They shifted from her room to the garden house at the request of the princess, which surprised the tutor. The princess never liked going out of the castle, not even to the garden the King gifted her.
The tutor turned to the direction of the princess's attention, looking at the peasant girl in a dress a little too big for her as she slept amid their presence, without a care in the world.
"Disrespectful." She spoke out, staring at the girl in disgust. "She is in the presence of the Princess who even moved out of her room at the request of a tour of the garden, while in the middle of her studies. Why she ought to-"
"Sophia." The princess cut in, a scowl on her face. "Learn to hold your tongue in my presence."
"Huh? Princess, you never spoke this way to me before. I knew it, that girl is a bad influence." Sophia glared at the girl, sound asleep.
"She's harmless. Don't worry about her. Now, where were we?"
"How do you know she is harmless, princess? She may just be pretending. How does even one get a ball into your room?" Sophia exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air.
The princess laughed, "It is a strange story. So, have you found what I asked for?"
"I am just your tutor princess. I shouldn't have to do this." Sophia complained, rummaging through her satchel.
"But do you have it?"
"Of course." She pulled out a few papers and handed them to her. "I take every job that you give me very seriously. When have I ever disappointed you?"
"Excellent. I knew I could count on you." The princess took the papers and began leafing through them, "So what have you found out?"
"From what the peasants told me, she is an orphan that arrived here seven months ago and is living in the abandoned hut of a farmer named, Everett, after he died in the outskirts of the town. They have seen her occasionally but she doesn't associate much with them. She only comes to buy the food and then goes away but she is coming to town more often.
"They all say that she is a gentle, soft-spoken girl who helps anyone she comes across.
"Some of the people wished to adopt her into their family but she declined every one of them, saying that she didn't want to bother them." Sophia scoffed, "Seems like a perfect person exists."
"So she does stay here." The princess flipped through the papers and threw them on the table.
"Why did you tell me to ask around for her, princess? Did you sense something suspicious about her? If that's the case then you shouldn't be keeping her so close to you."
"Sophia. What did I say about holding your tongue in my presence? Have you already forgotten what your princess told you to do?" The princess's scrawl became deeper.
"You will get old faster if you frown like that all the time, princess. Anyway, why are so interested in that orphan? If she isn't posing a threat then why is she here?" Sophia asked, staring at still sleeping, girl.
"There's something about her."
"Something? What do you mean?"
"I don't know either. But there is something so strange about her and it's not in a bad way. It's oddly comforting and I feel at ease in her presence. She doesn't treat with the fear of my father like everyone else does."
"Ok. Wait. But … Don't I do the same?" Sophia stood up in protest.
"You don't count. After all, you cower just from hearing the footsteps of my father." Now it's the princess's turn to scoff.
"With all due respect, Princess, anyone will be afraid in the presence of the King. I'm sure even that peasant will."
"Maybe, but she is the only one that relaxes me like this. Her eyes hold secrets I can't seem to unearth either but they hold no malice. Do you know that I haven't had any trouble falling asleep since she came?"
"What exactly are you planning, princess?" Sophia narrowed her eyes at the princess.
She usually gets like this. When an idea comes in her head, she will do anything to carry it out. It doesn't matter how realistic or plausible the idea is, she is willing to try anything.
And when she gets this look on her face, the look she has now, eyes sparkling and a sly smile on her face, nothing can stop her. The princess is a logical person. But not when she is like this.
Risks become obstacles and her ideas are always crazy with that look on her face.
"I am not going to tell you. Now, isn't it tea time? Call the maids." The princess began to stand up, gathering the papers in her hand.
"Wait, princess. Please tell me you aren't going to do anything reckless." Sophia called out.
"Of course not. I am only choosing to ask someone for their assistance. Just as you have always told me to learn to lean on others." The princess gave a smile and continued walking.
"I did tell you that but she's a stranger. You should lean on people you trust, only on people you trust the most."
"Well, I trust her more than anyone else so I think it's fine." The princess replied.
"Even more than me?" Sophia shouted, her blood boiling. How can the princess trust a stranger she met only two days ago as compared to me, who has been with her since she was a child?
How?
The princess stopped and looked at Sophia, her expression told her the answer to the question she asked. Thrown into devastation, she continued shouting.
"Then what is her name? You haven't asked her yet, have you? I'm sure she doesn't even know your name, princess. Only I and the King know your name. And you trust her more?"
The princess ignored her shouting and sat down beside Lillian. Her burgundy hair braided and clipped to her head while Lillian's ash brown hair is scattered all around the grass.
She looks so peaceful sleeping.
It'd be a shame if someone were to … wake her up.
The princess poked Lillian's shoulders several times before she finally woke up.
"Hmmm? What?" Lillian blink open her eyes, to see the princess frowning at her.
"Good morning. You do know that it is an insult to fall asleep in the presence of royalty. I should have you punished for this."
"Ah. I'm sorry." Lillian got up, rubbing her eyes. "Everything was so calming and I just fell asleep. Good morning."
Lillian smiled up at her, the threat flew right past her head.
"Hmph. I may forgive you if you agree to have tea with me." She pouted.
"Of course, princess. I would love to have tea with you. Where will we go?" Lillian asked, standing up. She dusted her dress and then held her hand out for the princess.
"The balcony of my room. I will call the maids to bring the snacks there." The princess refused Lillian's hand and got up on her own.
"You like staying in your room, huh? Well, I'm the same. Oh, can we have pastries?"
"Pastries?"
"Are you sure you are done with the tutor? She seems to be glaring at us." Lillian looked at the tutor and waved when they made eye contact. The tutor sighed and entered the Garden House again.
"Ignore her." The princess said, "Now, what are these pastries?"
"You know what? Let's bake. I'm sick of bread and I want to eat something else. Ok? Think I can use the kitchen?"
"Kitchen? I can ask the cook. What are you going to make?"
"You can help, princess. I'll just make a simple English Cake. It'll be so good with tea. We used to have those where I'm from."
"Alright. Let me watch you make this cake."
"Yes." Lillian skipped around, that nap really helped her. She's been losing energy so fast these days and also been feeling more and more lethargic with every hour that passes.
"You seem excited. Is it that delicious?" The princess teased.
"I may have missed it a little too much. By the way, princess. What are those papers?" Lillian pointed to the papers she held in her arms.
"These? It's about you. Since I was so curious, I asked people to find out more. Would you like to see it?" The princess gave the papers to Lillian.
"Really? You didn't have to work so hard. If there is anything you want to know about me, all you have to do is ask, princess. I am an open book." Lillian grinned, skimming through the paper.
"I will remember that next time I wish to know something about you. Maybe I will be able to find a proper punishment then. After all, you seem to be able to get on my nerves every minute you are with me."
"Don't be so mean, princess. It doesn't suit your pretty face."
The princess grabbed Lillian's cheeks and pulled at them, "There, that's another insolence. Tell me, what do you like?"
"Now I am very hesitant to tell you, princess." Lillian rubbed her red cheeks, a sheepish look on her face.
"I won't bit. Just tell me." The princess glared at her, trying to form a smile on her lips.
"Nope. You look scary. Oh, is that the kitchen?" Lillian ran inside the castle before the princess could grab her again.
"Tell me." The princess called out, huffing.
"Come on, princess. Let's get to baking." Lillian called from inside, running to the kitchen.
A smile formed on the princess's lips as she followed suit.