I had made 3 mistakes.
The first was to sleep exposed to the elements.
The second was sleeping on a rock solid floor.
The third was sleeping with Elliana.
It was a trifecta of pain. The ground was freezing cold even through the blanket and my body ached where bony limbs dug into hard rock. The rock won that battle. Elliana had managed to circumvent this uncomfortable inconvenience by settling down on the only soft object around: me. Any garnered body heat was more than cancelled out by the knee in my groin, elbow in my stomach and, most importantly, the teeth firmly sunk into the base of my neck. It created not only a circular bite mark but also a small pile of drool which I wiped off with disgust.
'Ugh, aren't princesses supposed to be graceful? She sleeps like a fucking stray dog.'
I jostled her awake a little less gently than was strictly necessary. She merely groaned and curled up a little more tightly on top of me.
"What time is it anyway. Feels too early." she muttered.
"I think we were just up too late. It doesn't look very…." a hint of panic entered my voice "Elliana, what time does the gala start?"
"Around 6, why?"
"Well what time do we need to start preparing?"
"...Fuck."
She swore, the first time I had ever heard her do so.
"Fuck." I echoed.
There was no time for goodbyes as both of us struggled to scramble out of the tower and back onto the roof as quickly as possible. After a split second of hesitation I didn't even bother trying for the route through the stables and leapt off the roof. The palace was only 3 stories but from the roof that translated to more than 40 feet of height, all gone in an instant before I slammed into the ground with a clumsy roll. My feet and legs hurt but not as much as I thought they might. I had never tried jumping from that kind of height before. A second later Elliana followed my lead and we both sprinted off our separate ways.
I arrived at my door panting lightly but otherwise unfatigued. Some tiny part of me held onto the foolish hope that my absence might have gone unnoticed. I was quickly disillusioned.
"Where the hell were you?!" my mother screeched the moment I walked through the door. I couldn't get a word out before she continued in a panicked voice.
"We thought you'd been kidnapped or killed or-"
"I'm fine Ma. I just fell asleep in the gardens while looking at the stars."
"You are very much not fine! It's 2 in the afternoon and we have to be ready for a gala in just a few hours. Amber, get him cleaned up. You haven't bathed yet either, correct?"
Amber grabbed and hauled me to the bath and a minute later I had been divested of all my clothing as she scrubbed my hair.
"Do you care to explain how you got a bite mark on you shoulder?"
She raised an eyebrow.
"It was uhh….uh - a raccoon."
"Really now? I wasn't aware racoons even lived in Aema. The desert hardly seems like a raccoon's preferred habitat. Also a bit of an odd shape for a raccoon bite."
"Well - I mean i-it might have also been a horse."
"Which you mistook for a raccoon as any reasonable person would?"
"Exactly!"
"If you weren't 9 years old I would think that you had a lover." she said dryly.
"What kind of lover bites you?"
It seemed like a ridiculous conclusion to make.
Amber laughed.
"Sometimes I forget that you're only a kid. By the way, I don't suppose you have an explanation for this either?" She poked the muscles that had developed on my shoulders.
"For what?" I feigned ignorance.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Amber sighed.
If I had thought that the outfits for the banquet were as devilishly complicated as was physically possible, I was proven wrong a thousand times over now. The clothes for the gala were so so much worse. Each seemed more elaborate and byzantine than the last. The only saving grace was that my mother had forced us to rehearse the process of putting our respective cloth contraptions several times. We ended up needing every spare minute for all the primping, cleaning, and fixing that my parents insisted was necessary.
When we eventually arrived at the main hall the atmosphere was remarkably different from the banquet several months ago. It barely looked like the same room anymore, the torches having been replaced by thousands of brightly burning oil wicks in the chandeliers far above our heads.
The floor was clear of tables leaving it looking far larger and more empty, with the tables for food arrayed against either wall covered by pure white table cloths.
The entire room felt light and elegant rather than the jovial boisterous warmth that characterized the banquet. The food reflected that as well, more a selection of hor d'oeuvres and appetizers meant to be held on a plate while guests were commingling. My immediate instinct was to rush directly to the food but Mother's lessons had drilled the proper procedure into my brain. We were first greeted by a butler, in this case Hawkins, who I gathered was something of an important figure among the servants. Even the nobles seemed deferential to him as he checked their names against the guest list.
His professional demeanour cracked somewhat when he saw my parents, releasing a brilliant smile as he welcomed them. Once Hawkins had moved on to the next set of guests it was expected that we would wait near the entrance to be welcomed by our host. This might not have been quite so nerve-wracking if our host in question wasn't the King himself. I swallowed nervously as the man approached.
"Abrel, I'm glad you could make it."
The King sounded far more casual than I anticipated and rather than a bow or even a handshake, my father stepped forward and embraced him in a warm hug. I suppose I should have expected it from their friendly interactions at the banquet. The man also laid a chaste kiss on my mother's hand before continuing.
"I don't believe I have introduced Isabelle to my wife. We were married after the two of you left after all."
Isabelle was my mother's name and it felt odd to hear it from a stranger's mouth, especially when that stranger happened to be the King of Aema. As if through telepathy, the Queen seemed to sense the topic of conversation and walked over. She accepted a small bow from both of my parents before shaking their hands.
"I've heard a great deal about you from my husband. I understand you were close friends back in the day."
Both my parents nodded and fell into small talk with the Queen as the King moved to other groups of newly arriving guests.
"I must thank you for agreeing to teach my daughter. I do hope she is acquitting herself well."
The Queen seemed genuinely grateful but Father winced and glanced over at me, clearly still under the impression that I was unaware. After a moment's hesitation he returned her smile and nodded.
"She has proven to be a fast learner as well as a hard worker. I must say I am actually quite impressed to see such drive from someone so young."
The Queen seemed happy to hear it.
"I shall have to introduce her to your children later this evening. Would you mind if I had their names?"
"Evan, Amber, Calin, Jennifer, and Sparrow from oldest to youngest." Mother said, pointing to each of us in turn. The Queen greeted us and shook each of our hands. She seemed far more genial than I had imagined Elliana's Mother to be; kind in a maternal sort of way. Perhaps Elliana would mellow with age and motherhood but somehow I doubted it. One thing mother and daughter did clearly share was looks. I now knew where Elliana had gotten her large eyes, long, thick eyelashes, delicate face, and cheekbones from. I couldn't help but wonder if she would grow up to look as exceptionally beautiful as the Queen.
After chatting with my parents for a few more minutes she left to meet back up with her husband. We were finally allowed freedom to make our way over to the tables of food along the edge of the room where I immediately commenced heaping my plate with pastries.
It took another half hour or so before all the guests had arrived and started milling about, talking to one another. I knew that for many this was an important opportunity to build connections. Luckily such things were both irrelevant and unnecessary for someone of my age and I was free to wander, eat, and observe the other guests for my own amusement. A small orchestra had set itself up near the back of the hall and the moment they began playing all conversation petered out as everyone turned toward the far entrance, the one reserved for the royal family. At some point the King had disappeared and now he strode back into the room, this time with Elliana on his arm. She wore a blue brocade dress embroidered with golden thread. It was a marked change from the usual blouse and skirt or the trousers she wore for training. She seemed every inch a princess as she walked to the center of the room on her father's arm. The rest of the room looked on silently as the pair began to waltz in time to the music. When the song finished the King turned to his daughter and bowed formally.
"Congratulations on your 11th birthday my dear."
I nearly spit out my drink at his words. No wonder Elliana had been as busy as I.
'She chose to spend the eve of her birthday with me. No she probably spent the first few hours after midnight with me as well.'
For some reason the thought that I had been first before any other in her new year made me feel incredibly warm and more than a little smug. I still wished that I'd had some more forewarning about her birthday though so I might've been able to wish her well earlier.
As a new song started several more couples began to fill the empty dance floor. My eyes were glued to Elliana however as she approached some young noble or merchant's son and the two began to dance. I stared daggers into the boy's back as I walked briskly over to Mother.
"Who is that?" I asked, pointing to the boy.
"The boy? I haven't the faintest idea. It is customary for the guest of honor to offer dances to the more important attendees of an age with them. He is likely the son of some Duke or dignitary from a foreign nation deemed significant enough to garner her first dance, or second rather. It's quite an honor to be chosen though; that is why so many people have brought their sons along."
Evan flanked my other side and chuckled.
"Why are you asking? You jealous?" he jibed.
"N-no! I was just wondering."
"No need to deny it. I am too, to be honest."
"Isn't she 6 years your junior." I deadpanned.
"Yeah but just imagine what she'll look like when she's older. I mean have you seen her mother? The legs on that woman are-"
He was interrupted by a smack to the back of the head from Amber.
"'that woman' is the Queen. I'm tempted to report your lascivious comments to her just so I can savour your execution." she said with a glare.
We were interrupted by a small cough behind us. I turned around to see a pair of supercilious eyes beneath a set of raised eyebrows.
"Elliana!" I exclaimed, barely hiding my glee.
My sister's elbow connected firmly with my gut.
"I mean, congratulations on your 11th birthday Your Highness." I remanded
Both of my siblings seemed aghast at my overly casual greeting but seeing that the princess made no issue of it besides a small smirk, they relaxed slightly. Elliana proffered a hand and it took me a good few seconds to figure out what it meant. Flushing with embarrassment at my delayed response, I grabbed her hand as she led me to the center of the hall. Behind me, I just barely caught my brother whisper "Lucky bastard." as I was pulled away. This was covered up by more mutterings from other guests, clearly none too pleased that the princess had chosen to offer a dance to a complete nobody over the many distinguished and eligible heirs present.
Once we were out of earshot and stepping to the music Elliana whispered in my ear.
"I apologize for the delay but it would be more than a little suspicious had I chosen you first, not even to mention that it would likely start a riot from these temperamental sycophants."
"It's quite fine. I'm just glad I got a chance at all. Congratulations on your birthday by the way, you look beautiful."
"Well I feel miserable. This dress is unbearably hot and I am grateful I trained with those sandbags as I am quite sure it is heavier as well. Thank you though. When did you become so adept at flattery?"
"Since you gave me something to compliment for once." I said with an evil grin.
"If our position was not quite so public I'd make you pay for that comment. No matter, I'm sure an extra lap or two will suffice to teach you a lesson."
She laughed at my pained expression.
The rest of the dance felt agonizingly short and we spent the whole time making barbs and jests at one another.
Walking back to where Amber and Evan stood, I couldn't quite keep the grin of my face.
"You two certainly seemed rather chummy." Evan muttered glumly.
"Who could have known my little brother was such a womanizer?" Amber cooed "Well at least one of you isn't hopeless."
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Evan protested.
I blushed at their teasing but couldn't help poking fun at Evan with my sister.
"I don't know, perhaps you should ask Morgan what we mean." I said with a giggle.
Amber caught on immediately.
"In fact, maybe you should ask Morgan another question while you're at it~" she said coyly.
Evan glared at us both balefully and huffed in indignation. I continued talking with Amber and working my way through the vast array of snacks until Jenny ran up and grabbed my arm.
"Come on! They're giving the gifts. You don't want to miss it do you?"
She tugged me forward, voice filled with excitement.
"What gifts?"
Jenny and Amber just stared at me incredulously.
"It's a birthday you dimwit."
"Oh right, of course." I let Jenny yank me over to where Elliana was graciously accepting gifts. She looked far more polite and stiff then usual, with a measured smile plastered onto her face. There were perfumes, dresses, shoes, rare spices and dried fruits, jewelery, and more. It seemed to be an endless procession of luxuries.
"Look! Look! It's Father. He must have a gift as well." Jenny hopped up and down trying to get a better view. Father said some words to Elliana that I couldn't quite make out before handing her a bundle of oiled leather wrappings. Delicately unwrapping the package, Elliana reverently drew out the contents, earning more than a few awed gasps from the crowd of aristocrats. It was a sword, not just any sword but an Aeman forged adamant sword. It likely cost upwards of 5 gold Aeman coins, nearly a decade's salary for a common labourer. Elliana's expression seemed trapped somewhere between awe and giddy elation. She glanced around the room as if looking to share her excitement. When her eyes found mine, for just a brief moment her grin grew even more brilliant. That alone made the whole night worth it.