Today is the day.
It is the day Camilla goes to the Solarnelle Palace to meet the Emperor and Empress, the day she sees her executioner face to face, the day she has to fight and fake everything just so that she can live to see tomorrow.
'I wonder what my executioner will look like...' Camilla couldn't help but wonder to herself as a bunch of maids helped her get ready. She can only assume that they all want her to at least look nice in front of the royal family and not bring shame to the Windsor family. They put her in a gorgeous ankle-length dress in color dark blue and white; some small designs were in gold thread, and the back of her dress touched the floor. She wore black heels, and they even touched her hair to make her look nice! The two fronts of her hair were left alone while the rest were curled, and half of it was up in a bun and down to a ponytail.
They put a slight blush on her cheeks and some lipstick on her. 'They're scared to make me look plain in front of the Emperor and Empress but have no problem making me look plain in front of my entire family,' it would be a lie if Camilla weren't a bit bitter about this situation. She didn't mind the plain clothes but would love to dress in fancy dresses and look beautiful.
Camilla looked down, stared at the vanity mirror, and glanced at her reflection. If she weren't dreading the fact that she would meet the crown prince, she would love how she looks right now. "We're done, my lady," one maid says, 'now you're even speaking to me correctly. I almost regret not being able actually to become the crown princess.'
"The carriage is waiting for you, my lady," another maid said, and Camilla nodded my head without glancing at the maid and headed out of the room. Camilla made it outside the mansion and went towards the carriage, only to be stopped by Oliver, "sis! Don't leave yet!" He yelled out to her. She stopped and turned around; she saw the young boy running straight at her at full speed while holding a small box. He almost tripped while running but kept his balance as he stopped before her.
Camilla looked down at him, "A young boy like you shouldn't be running at full speed towards a lady. She might run away from you," It sounded cold and like she was earnest, but truthfully, she was making a joke. Oliver seemed to realize that as he smiled brightly at his older sister. "Well, if a lady runs away from me, she isn't the one!" He exclaimed with a hearty laugh. "But, did you think you would leave without saying goodbye?" He questions with a raised brow, "I got you a small present!" He handed her the small box, and she gently took it from him.
She goes to open the box, but Oliver lets out a slight cough. "Open it once you get on the carriage," he tells her while looking away... he seems flustered. Camilla nodded, "Okay. I'll open it once I'm alone," she informed him, "it seems that you are the only one who came to bid me farewell." Camilla, for some strange reason, didn't feel sad or lonely. But, just as she said, their Father walked out of the mansion and towards the two.
'What is he doing here?' What went through Camilla's mind as their Father stopped before the two? His cold expression looked at her: " It seems you are ready to go to the palace." Is that it? He isn't going to tell me not to embarrass our family again, right? She honestly thinks that her Father is hard to read.
Oliver looks up at his Father and crosses his arms with a huff, "What's with your expression, Father? I can tell that you feel sorry for telling her not to embarrass our family! Just say sorry already, and stop being awkward!" 'How... how can Oliver tell what our cold Father is thinking!? Are you a wizard!?' Camilla was beyond shock as she stared down at Oliver, "And you!" He then pointed at Camilla, 'What did I do!?' "You have the same expressions as Father and are always awkward around him. Stop being so awkward!"
'Are you a therapist?' Our Father cleared his throat, "don't do anything that will get on the prince's bad side," he said in a low and stern tone. He turned around, getting ready to walk away before saying, "Be safe. I'll send you letters." Oliver watched our Father walk away and shook his head. "What an awkward old man," this boy shows no fear. Seriously.
'I get it. Father isn't as bad as I thought. He's just a bit awkward with his feelings,' Camilla put her hand on Oliver's and ruffled his red hair. You genuinely show no fear around Father." Oliver put his hands on his hips and gave her a boyish grin. Of course not! I gotta be brave in front of the Father if I ever want to face any dangers in the world!" He proudly says.
Oliver then hugs Camilla, "Please be safe, sis. I'll make sure to write you a letter every day! I'll also become a great knight someday and protect you!" Oliver tells her without giving her a single glance. Camilla hugged him back and nodded, "I'll also write to you daily. And I promise I'll be safe." They let go of their embrace, and Oliver watches Camilla enter the carriage, and they wave goodbye to each other.
Upon seeing her little brother's shrinking figure and the mansion, she looked down at the small box in her hands. She opened the box, and what she saw made her happy. Her little brother didn't go out to buy anything expensive; he had no time. But this gift would always be far more costly than anything.
The little box contained a paper heart. Camilla knows for certain that her brother made this paper heart. She closes the box and holds it tightly in her hands while watching the scenery out the carriage's window.
'Life inside this novel looks so pretty,' of course, seeing the scenery of this place is very beautiful. She wasn't sure if it was because it was a historical setting. After all, this is inside a fantasy novel. Camilla closes her eyes, enjoying this short time of peace, before she gets to the palace, and her peace will be completely ruined.
She opened her eyes again with a yawn and realized she had gone to sleep the second she closed her eyes. She wanted to rub the sleep out of her eyes but didn't want to ruin the makeup. She looked down at her lap, and a golden light reflected through the carriage window and onto the skirt of her dress. She looked up from her lap and looked out the window, squinting her eyes shut for a second because of the bright light.
There. She recognizes this exact place from the novel description, The Solarnelle Empire. An Empire is famous for how bright and lively it always is. An Empire that shines like gold and is the home of the Sun God. The Royal family is even more famous as they are the direct descendants of the Sun God. Each child born with royal blood has the power of the sun and the Sun God's protection.
Camilla looked at how lively everyone was and noted how they looked busy, 'is it because the crown prince and I are supposed to get married?' She wasn't exactly sure what it was but, she is finally here. Finally, at The Solarnell Empire. A place that would be her own personal hell. Welcome to The Solarnell Empire, Camilla.