A young girl was being carried off the military battlefield and was pronounced dead. The screams of her denial could be heard as the vivid like dream of the scene made her scream louder ended with a gun shot.
"No! I'm not dead!" A scream can be heard in the halls of the castle. The young girl opened her eyes and breathed heavily. As the young girl looked at her hands then noticed the long light brown locks of hair falling onto her lap. She noticed her hands were a bit smaller like those of a young child.
'WHAT?!' she screamed internally as she breath heavily, running towards the mirror to take a glimpse at her appearance. Her hand hesitated to touch the mirror but she flinched from the cold surface radiating.
Suddenly the door open to reveal an old woman dressed in a nightgown looking shock but her presence seems off.
"What-...Princess Cecilia?!"
'Princess Cecilia?! I am a princess? Who is this old woman...and why did she sound shock?!'
The old woman walked up to the small youth examining her then proceed to slap her.
"You brat you made so much noise in the castle her royal highness the Empress is trying to sleep!!"
Cecilia felt a nose bleed coming on as she glanced up at the woman with blurry vision.
'My nose...and cheek. I don't get it am I Princess or a servant? This servant dare slapped me not even my own mother. I'm unfortunate to share the same name as this poor princess.' Cecilia thought as she looked up at the vicious woman.
"How dare a servant like you slap me!?" Cecilia managed to spit out before the nanny anger grew and she raised her hand again.
"Why you little brat!!"
A maid quickly rushed towards her side a girl with bright orange hair and green eyes shielded Cecilia from the hit.
"Nanny Martha, what would the emperor say when he figures out that princess Cecilia has bruises."
"Emily, you should know better to shield this bastard!! So what if she is the Emperor's favorite daughter he is not here currently! Our Princesses Clair will rule when this brat is out of the picture!" Screamed Martha as she keep hitting Emily as a group of maids come around watching the scenario.
"Drag this disobedient wench to the dungeons! Give the princess no food for 3 days and lock her in! If she tries to steal food beat her!" Martha glared as she walked away walking back to her quarters as Emily is dragged away.
"What kind of life this is for a princess!" Cecilia mumbled out loud as she heard the door close then locked. She looked on the desk and saw an arrangement of boxes but one caught her eye that she opened briefly.. It had the empire's crest. The Emperor's special crest was on it.
Cecilia opened the box to see a letter in the most gorgeous paper and writing.
'My dearest daughter, Cecilia. I hope all is well, I'm sorry I'm away for the holidays but, just for you I am coming back to spend time with you. I shall be coming back soon after this war ends. I shall return home on XXXX date.'
The letter looked like it was written not too long ago, Cecilia quickly ran towards a calender on the wall with a circle on a date.
"He's coming back in two days, no, I can't stay here! I-" Cecilia turn towards the mirror and saw her fragile body the form a 8 year old with bones showing. She is suffering from malnutritious and she knows it but she has to leave.
Stuffing a rotten backpack with items and clothes she looked back at the note. Only her newfound father cares for her, this poor princess couldn't get a break in her old life.
As Cecilia opened the balcony what greets her is the roar of thunder. She didn't flinch from the rain but she took her chances. The cold rain drench her as she walked out to the balcony barefoot and looked up at the sky. With hesitation she leaped off the balcony and caught a tree branch. The branch violently swayed back and forth as she shimmied up the branch towards the trunk of the tree.
As she got closer the wind shook violently little did she know someone was watching her. Cecilia went flying of the brank as she realized her mistake she flew down. She barely had strength to hold on the branch and if she fall, she might break something or somethings.
Cecilia screamed before she hit the floor she felt as light as a feather, comforting warmth and being cradled by someone. She wanted to open her eyes but the shock was too great from her malnourished body to keep awake. She will never know what kept her safe.
A figure in a cloak no more then the age of 13 left Cecilia on the bed and walked away as he looked back he remembered the face and hair of the youthful princess.
"Why leave when a show is about to begin tomorrow." The youth leaped off the balcony and walked away as he smirked in the distance.
As the morning draws near the sound of the castle bustling and servants panicking could be heard. Cecilia opened her eyes as she was still sleepy and weak she still wondered what saved her. Was it a dream?
"The Emperor is coming soon! We must prepare, for he is coming tonight!"
"Make his favorite dishes and get his fine garments!"
The sound of the keys jingled in the door as the head maid came in with two other maids.
"Grab the princess!!"
Cecilia couldn't protest she was shaking violently and scared of what might happen, she can't defend herself. The two maids quickly held her down as the elderly head-maid had a soup in her hand.
"Well Princess you are permitted to eat...." The elderly head-maid pour the soup down Cecilia's throat. "But eating has a price at the mercy of our empress and that price is poison."