Princess Maya Sat on a wooden chair with a pink hairpin on her hand as she starred at it ,she placed it on the desk beside her as she got up and went into the bathroom. Some minutes later, she came out and wore a pink gown made of fur at the neckline with a white shoe and put on the pink hairpin on her hair which corresponds with her outfit . Maya had stayed in the Eastern palace which was known as a cold and deserted palace in the kingdom for 18 years,with only her nanny Mari who was like a mother to her,her maid Mia, and her bodyguard and friend Ott,who'd do anything for her happiness. Being a princess, Maya was deprived of any royal rights and freedom a princess ought to have as she was considered a bad omen. She lived quite a stressnous life despite being royalty. Maya was born without the ability to feel any pain, she has never cried since birth ,which made people more wary of her.
"My princess, you're food is ready " Mia called out as she came in with a tray of food which she kept on the table and helped Maya to sit down
"Thank you" she said while sitted on the wooden chair
"There'll be a banquet in the palace two days from now... any idea?" she asked as she Sat down beside Maya
"I don't know" she sighed
"Beside the king would never summon u, so it'd be good opportunity to sneak out and check the other palaces out if possible, sneak into the party. " Mia said as Maya's face fell
"Why bother myself when I won't gain anything from sneaking into the party, what if I'm discovered like last time then you'd be the one to receive the punishment, I don't want any harm to come your way "
" I just asked to know if you had any interest or not ,but if you do ,then I don't mind the punishment I'd receive"
"I don't ...I'm good , don't worry "
"If you say so" Mia said "most times I wonder why you have to be treated so unfairly , I can't help it but think about you "
"Well I was born differently so I'm being treated differently,it's quite understandable for them to behave awkwardly towards me" Replied Maya
"You're the most beautiful, nicest, caring, and kind hearted princess ever,when it comes to beauty , you're peerless " said Mia with a smile on her face.
"What of Ott...I haven't seen him since today"
"The palace guards were summoned to the training ground in preparation for the banquet "
"What's the purpose of the banquet"
"Its to discuss the marriage alliance between princess Ooka and the Prince of Akegi(pronounced Akeg)
"I'd love to attend but....."
" You're meant to get married first, you're the first princess,this is so unfair for you" Mia said sadly
" I'm glad it isn't me ,I won't like to marry someone I don't love ,I need a man like the one's I read in novels, my Prince charming. I want to fall in love and get married to any man of my choice so I don't wish to get married soon."
"I thought you'd be sad after hearing this "
"Besides marriage would restrict me from going round the world"
"That's true," Mia said and brought forth a blue gown toward Maya "Nanny Mari told me to bring you this"
"What for?" She asked
"She said you needed new clothes least you catch a cold"
"She's so thoughtful" Maya said, holding the dress to her chest
"She said there'd be a puppet show at the street tomorrow night,not far from the rogue shop we went to a while ago "
"Really?"Maya stood up excitedly, I've been longing to see a puppet show "
" She knew you'd like it, she has prepared everything you'd be needing tomorrow, you don't 've to worry about anything"
"Can't wait for tomorrow" she said happily
" I'd be back " Mia said and left Maya who seemed very happy on hearing the news .
***
Maya took a bath, and put on the blue gown Nanny Mari had specially made for her , with a hoody to cover her face , she took her sachet which was a purse made by Nanny Mari and left the palace through a secret passage she normally goes out from. She got to the fence and jumped over it. She went straight to where Mari had kept a horse for her and mounted it. She had worn the hoody to cover her hair and face. As she rode, she kept her face down for her not to be discovered. She got to a halt on reaching the street, she got down and took the horse by the halter and walked down the street before placing the horse at a corner and continued on foot . She bought a lot of things and enjoyed the scenery with the little time she had . Her hair was packed in a buns style . She went to a store beside her to buy some hairpin and ask about the puppet show.
"Excuse me ,I heard there'd be puppet show in town today, can you direct me?" She asked with her head facing downwards .
"They couldn't make it today , but there'd be a storytelling soon,across the road, by the left, the third shop on your left. " the man replied, pointing at the place.
"Thank you sir" she thanked him and continued her walk to the place . She got to the store and stood like everyone else. Soon enough, the place became crowded.
"Once upon a time, there lived a princess who had never cried since birth, it was said she was cursed because she was born with a silver hair and purple eyes with the fairest skin of all. It was rumored she is the the most beautiful in the four kingdoms, not just the four kingdoms, in the world at large,but sadly, she was cursed. A day after her birth, her mother the kings most beloved wife died, which made them strongly believe that she was cursed. Since then,she was sent to the Eastern palace", the storyteller said . Maya adjusted her hoody to make sure it covered her face perfectly and bent her head even more.
" I wonder how beautiful she'd be " a man from the crowd said
"As the saying goes, seeing is believing" another man added
" I wish I could get a chance to see her just for once " a young lady said
"I saw her once before, she's very pretty and kind. I don't think she's cursed, she helped me when my kite got stuck on a tree some days ago , she told me to keep it a secret " a young boy of six whispered to he's mom which Kaa heard.
"When did you see her?" He's mum asked
"A few days ago , her hoody mistakenly fell off and I got a glimpse of her, she's very pretty"the boy added
" If only we could see her" the crowd murmured
"I've long heard of the cursed princess. I wonder if it's true or just a fiction, If it's true ,I'd like to see which beauty she is "Kaa said to Maro he's bodyguard
" I've no idea, but it seems true" Maro replied as Maya listened to their talks
"I guess we'd find out later " Kaa said
"I don't think there's something like the most beautiful lady in the four kingdoms, do you?" Maro asked
"I doubt tha. I haven't seen any beauty who has captured my eyes before and there 'll be none " Kaa said
Maya turned to leave as the storytelling came to an end . She mistakenly dropped her sachet and didn't notice it . Kaa picked up the sachet and ran towards her with Maro following him, Kaa ran quite fast that Maro lost track of him . Maya went to the place she kept her horse near the woods and dragged her horse behind her .
"Stop right there" a voice came from behind.....