I am the sixteenth princess. An obvious side character to the soon-to-be Empress of the kingdom of Valore. What I did didn't matter as long as I didn't taint the imperial family name. I, Princess Amicielle Sophia Le Valora, lived in my own castle, in my own world, with my own pace. Occasionally appearing in the capital's palace for the occasional royal gathering.
"Cecil," I called my personal maid out of the blue while I had my daily tea session at the green house. She stood beside me, who-knows-where she usually fixates her eyes, as she waited for my orders.
"Yes, Young Princess?" she responded while bowing her head.
"I am bored." Taking another sip of my chamomile tea, I glanced at her.
There it was. The disgusted expression that showed me her what-the-heck-do-you-want-me-to-do face. With her right brow raised, her thick lips pursed, and her nose scrunched, she sighed.
I placed the tea cup down just to cover my gaping mouth after letting out a short gasp. "Is that how you respond to a princess?" I raised my brows, pretending to be shocked with what she did.
"Young Princess gave me the permission to be candid with her. I can respond how ever I see fit depending on the situation."
"Shut your trap, I'm bored, Cecil," I protested while reverting my attention to my tea cup.
"Would you like to travel to the nearby town, my princess?" she suggested. "Or would you like to continue annoying me with your boredom?"
I chuckled. I played a few pranks on Cecil numerous times, most especially when I was bored. I closed my eyes for a moment, remembering the fun times as I was giggling to myself. Attempting to take another sip of my drink, my head began to throb.
"Do we have medicine—" I spoke, but stopped midway. "What?" I thought to myself in panic. I frantically looked around, my hands trembling. My shaking hands matched my palpitating chest as I tried to process what was happening around me.
Cecile was nowhere to be found when I opened my eyes. I still held my tea cup, but upon taking another look, I now held a thick white cup with a smoky, roasted aroma. It was a smell that should have been soothing, but it didn't do anything to calm me.
My heart beat doubled—tripled as I tried to pull myself together. I took deep breaths while I observed my surroundings, composing myself, thinking of what to do, and how I got here in the first place.
The buzzing chatter filled my ears.
I was in the middle of a crowd. I sat at a wooden, brown chair with a wooden, brown table in front of me— just like everyone else. At least most of them. Some were lined up at the corner that was located in front of a long table, waiting to talk to a girl with a green apron. Those who were seated also had their own cups, others the same as mine, some are in a thin, see-though tall cup of various sizes. Their drinks also varied in colors, some were brown and others were pink, white, or cream.
"Brewed coffee for James!" A husky voice called out, and I assume, the man called James stood up in response. The young man who also wore a green apron handed the so-called James a transparent cup from behind his table.
Was he not royalty to have his drink served to his table?
Then, it struck me. Everyone was dressed differently. Women wore a different type of pants. Never had I seen such a sight in our kingdom. I was not wearing my ruffled, puffy, emerald dress. Instead, I wore a blue sleeveless undergarment, or so I thought it was, and black pants with a somewhat rough, blue fabric.
My face flushed. I was embarrassed to wear my undergarment in public. However, no one even batted an eye. Instead, I also saw one or two girls who wore the same. Just of different color. Some even wore tops that barely covered their bosom and revealed their navels.
Was I dreaming? I can't be, I was just in the garden, wide awake. My head began to ache. I closed my eyes and massaged my temples. What was happening?
I flinched at the sensation of someone touching my back.
"Ciel? Ciel?"
"Cecil!" I flinched when I saw someone familiar, with worry spread across her face, in front of me. I blinked multiple times to clear my vision—to ensure that I was back to reality.
"What happened? Are you feeling ill?"
I hesitated. "Nothing..." I would definitely sound insane if I told her the truth. "Did I scare you?" I smiled.
"Yes!" she responded in frustration. "I hope that took your boredom away." Cecil rolled her eyes as she reverted to her original position. Staring at whatever she was staring at earlier.
"Was I out for a long time?"
"What are you talking about? You just closed your eyes. Then you just suddenly held your head. It looked painful. Are you sure you are not ill?"
So, that incident didn't affect the present time, nor did it take as long as I had felt it.
I forced a laugh to assure Cecil. Perhaps it was just a short hallucination that felt like minutes. However, everything seemed so real. I couldn't have dreamed of something I had never seen in my entire life. Either I was out of my mind and I was in the path to becoming crazy, or I was blessed with the most creative brain.
I was now afraid of blinking, let alone closing my eyes. But not doing those were far too impossible. It was better not to think too much about it.
"Young Princess," another servant called my attention.
"You may speak." I nodded.
Although I had already advised her to continue, my mind began to wonder. I was quite bothered with what she called me. I was nearing the age of eighteen this coming fall, but apparently, I would always be a young princess. Not unless I become an empress. Not that I had the desire to be one.
"Ahem." Cecil cleared her throat, pulling me back to reality.
"Duke Richard in the Kingdom of Monshire sent by Her Majesty has arrived. He is currently at the vestibule. Should I send him here at the castle green house?"
Great. My mother sent me another duke to ask my hand in marriage. They should just cut my arm off and marry it to their heart's content. Where's the romance? Where's that inevitable destiny that pulls me to my fated partner?
"Young Princess," Cecil called my attention. She always knew whenever I was not paying attention. "Your response?"
"We will be there." I smiled and dismissed the servant. I wouldn't want any pretentious man contaminating my sacred haven. A place where no one had set foot in, except for me and my servants.
"Please mind your manners," Cecil scolded. As my personal maid, a childhood friend, she was practically raised to be by my side. Aside from the head maid, she was the only one who could reprimand me. "Please don't chase him away like the last duke."
"I will try my utmost best," I smirked.
"Even the seventeenth and eighteenth princess is now engaged." Cecil sighed. She began nagging me while we walked towards the castle and into the vestibule to receive the newly arrived duke. "You are the second daughter of His Majesty and the first queen. They must have been lenient on you because you are their second miracle, but there should be a limit to this."
"You can lecture me for all you want, but I do not intend to marry out of obligation. I have my own dreams and visions—"
"Having a romance out of nowhere is out of the question, especially if you are cooped up in this castle. You never went out, not unless their highnesses were able to force you to attend a royal ball or banquet. Having a forbidden romance with a commoner is also a big taboo. You—" Cecil stopped.
"You're not listening are you?" She rolled her eyes.
"What? Were you saying something?" I smiled as sweetly as I could.
"I give up." She reverted to her professional self, with her back straighter than usual and a poker face.
"Oh, come on, Cecil. I know you're not giving up. It's actually your job to convince me marry some duke and settle down," I laughed.
Cecil didn't oppose because it was true. Again, she sighed upon our arrival outside the vestibule. "Might I remind you, please mind your manners."
"I'll see what I can do." Once again, I was back to being Princess Amicielle Sophia Le Valora who had obligations and not plain-old Ciel who wanted to enjoy her life.
"Your Royal Highness," Duke Richard walked towards me as soon as I entered through the oak doors. Then, he knelt in front of me.
I offered him my hand. He received it and kissed the back of my palms—a lot of duke does. I already had the urge to wash my hands.
"It's my pleasure to meet you." He stood up.
"Would you like some tea, Your Grace? Or do you prefer to have a stroll in the castle gardens?" I offered.
"I would love to have a tea with you."
Incorrect. Wrong answer, I already had my tea. That's an x mark on my checklist. My parents sent you, and that's another x mark.
"That would be lovely," I answered politely.
We began to walk to the tea room in silence. He was not quite talkative as the others. Should I take that as a positive thing? Or should I take that negatively?
I stole a glance from Cecil. She glared at me, knowing I was doing my mental checklist. She could guess how many checkmarks a duke had depending on what time my head would ache. I was actually infamous for being sickly. Only a few close people knew I was faking it, and that I am quite healthy.
Time began to pass in a slow manner while I continued to judge Duke Richard. I was about to act as if I was feeling unwell. But, my head began to throb for real. My temples were pulsing so hard that it forced me to move my dominant hand to my forehead.
Forgetting that I held my teacup, I dropped it on the floor. The sound of shattering ceramic filled the room. Then, it was followed by murmurs and concerned remarks.
"Young Princess!"
"Your Royal Highness!"
Everyone came to my side. Cecil held my shoulders as my head dropped on her abdomen. The room started to spin. I felt my body turn cold, but my head had a burning sensation.
The moment I opened my eyes after I winced in pain, I woke up back to the same, strange place.