Dear Brother, I Have Arrived

Growing up in a castle is not all it's cut out to be. That much I can tell you without a hint of hesitation on my end. Leaving was the most eventful point in my life. Believe it or not. Though I do miss my wacky older siblings, and a few quirks of the castle life, leaving was the most auspicious decision I ever made.

Returning was unimaginable.

That is, it was unimaginable until I found myself in an outlandish carriage, one powered by two flying horses— royal flying horses, might I add— and all of my personal and important belongings shoved into the compartment beneath me.

Funny how but a few moments can change your life, eh?

I placed my elbow on the windowsill and allowed my chin to rest unceremoniously on the perched limb.

Apparently, Tilly has been keeping in touch with both Roland and I— not that she'd bothered to tell me anything about the reports she's been giving him on my "wellbeing". For my brother and I have failed, to put it simply, in keeping track of one another.

Though I may not have the slightest clue as to how Enchancia or her king have been, I can take a pretty good guess. Knowing my brother, it isn't hard to picture the situations that have arose and how he's handled them: with lots of assistance and creative resolutions that is. With all of this confidence in his ability, I never really felt the need to check up on him. Ergo, I haven't bothered with the tedious task of polite conversational letters.

However confident I am in his abilities to run the kingdom, I have no doubt in my mind that he's remained ever the dependent recluse, not to be mean or anything. He has the infamously hereditary adventurous spirit, just like my sister and I, but he's always… channeled it differently. Very differently indeed, I thought with a shudder as my mind drifted to some of his more inventive ideas back when I was still in the castle. And, if he applied them in the real world… on his own… with no one to interpret them into a bit cleaner of a proposition… let's just say he wouldn't last very long. Neither would his kingdom for that matter.

So he tends to stay put on his jewel-encrusted throne with his golden chalice in hand. (At least, that's how I picture him when I think of his status: the red royals' cape and all.) So one could place the blame of our lack of contact on my shoulders, considering no one ever really knows where I am.

No, I don't go on magical adventures like our eldest sister does. I simply don't see the joy in it. Never have, never will. Losing my life for an apple pie or chocolate cookies? No thanks. I tend to sit in one place until too many people gravitate towards my general direction, then I drift to another where less people know about my royal ancestry, or me in general.

You could say I like the simple life. That would be the nice unembellished way to put it. Whereas the blatant truth lies within the fact that I'm just the antisocial kind of person. Kind of a nice change to the stereotypical royal, no?

Why would I find the need to speak when both of my older siblings are better at it? Who would want to talk to the total weirdo when the semi-weirdos are around? Especially the soon-to-be king! Get on his good side while you can! I won't blame you, in fact, I encourage you to do so! Don't waste your time on me! Waves hand. Nah, don't mention it. I don't want to talk you either.

…Scratch that last part… I might get smacked for the mannerism…. Or the lack thereof…

Anyway, that's why I was always hidden in the back— well, that, and other, more prominent reasons that I'll save for when you get to know me better. Don't want to leave a bad impression on the readers yet now do I?

I saw the massive pink castle come into view. My home— Correction: My old home. I lost my breath for a second as I saw how green the kingdom lied behind it. It looked like those unearthly dreams you have of perfection as a kid. Of course, it was obviously this green during out father's rule— but there was never a peace-filled air such as this attached to it. Roland was doing a good job, I could just tell; even if I couldn't see the actual kingdom yet.

As my mind drifted, so did the carriage, and the kingdom suddenly came into view. My thoughts were confirmed. It was as perfect as I had imagined it to be under my perfect brother's rule— I couldn't help the venom that came with the thought, so I changed the topic of mind to that of a more curious one.

If Tilly had been a boy, it would have been hers— though, undoubtedly, I couldn't possibly see her on a throne, all day, every day. She'd probably drive the royal adviser crazy with her magical disappearances.

That brings me to something else that has taxed me greatly in the past: And I did check multiple times, but there are no sorcerers in out ancestry. None. So her disappearances are completely rational… somehow.

I crawled to the seat across from mine and stuck my head through the little window to speak to the coachman.

"How far are we from it?" Despite my seeing it, it could always be my head messing with me— as it does more often than I would like.

"About five minutes, ma'am."

"Ah." I sat back and heavily sunk into my preordained seat.

I wonder if Roland is expecting me right now. I know that he knows I'm coming; Tilly told me so. And she usually keeps him pretty well updated on my whereabouts, since, after all, she can actually find me with the assistance of that little magic map of hers. I absentmindedly stared across a new scenery. Scorn crossing my brow as I thought of Tilly's many magic accouterments.

The carriage swerved and, suddenly, the castle was infinitely larger in my view. My eyes flew wide as I drunk in the magnificence of it. Once we were nearer, we looped around the towers a few times for show— and, I'll admit, I couldn't quite hold back my gasp of awe.

Then we landed and my spine jolted, not quite readjusted to the sensations of riding in a flying coach. It took a few seconds for me to reassure myself that we were safely on the ground once again. This gave time for someone to rush out of the castle, looking more than a little perturbed at my sudden arrival.

"Miss? Are you alright?" A tall, thin man asked as he ran the back of his gloved hand over his perspiring forehead. He had opened my door and offered me his hand politely. I faintly recognized him to have been the new assistant back when my father was still king… Baileywick, was it?

"Indeed." I answered swiftly, commandingly, and authoritively. Oddly enough, and even after so many years, my lessons still seemed able to take over my behavior— or maybe it's just being back in the castle's menacingly intimidating presence that's wearing on me.

I grasped his hand gently, but firmly, and used it to lower myself from the highly-raised carriage.

"Welcome, Madame." He smiled dutifully. "The royal family is in the throne room awaiting your arrival."

I nodded, swallowing roughly as I drunk in the front entrance, remembering it distinctively after so many years and all of the emotions attached to it.

To say the least, they weren't pleasant ones.

"Sir! She ran away again!"

"Don't you think I know that? I wouldn't be out here otherwise!" He thundered angrily to the panicked servant. "Child! Come back this instant!" He shouted even louder, knowing she had little choice once she heard his booming roar of a command. The trick was getting her to hear it.

The little girl, mere steps outside of the entrance, heard the command faintly and the pull stopped her in her tracks. She stopped moving, her legs locking up and rooting her to her place.

She fought the fear. She really did.

But there was no hope.

She was quickly seen and seized. Every time, drug back in clumsily by the guards, or her father's grip on her hair, that godawful entrance flooded her vision until she lost her way to the fear.

Failed. Again.

"Hello? Are you alright—?" He waved a hand in front of my vision, waking me from my trance.

I placed my hand gently on Baileywick's, making him drop it to his side and correct his posture. "I'm fine." I said throatily once again, offering no facial expressions of any comfort.

He looked at me curiously and I looked back at him severely. "Indeed you are." He agreed, not sounding convinced in the least.

I moved to grip my dress and to ride it up so that I could ascend the stairs, but stopped as I realized that I couldn't do that. Not here.

I delicately lifted the skirt with the tips of my fingers and glided up the marbled white steps. The door was opened and held open for me as I entered breathlessly. I didn't need a guide, but it was the routine to wait for one.

So I did.

These things had been drilled into my head as a kid to the point that they were the only things that I knew. Luckily, that wasn't the case anymore.

But who knows what kind of king Roland has been sanded into over the years? He could have ended up as strict as our own father for all I know.

I sure as hope not. Pray not.

I'll leave right this minute if he has.

Ah, but that's not right. Not possible. Not our defiant Roland. He always did things his own way, so sure that if he didn't do it personally, it wouldn't come out right.

I smiled at the thought of him and father warring it out, as he was a teen when I was a child. He was my role model and not much else otherwise, not even a friend when I needed one the most. Maybe that's why I avoid the castle, because I hold a grudge against him.

Really now, I'm being immature, how can I hold anything against him? He's running such a beautiful kingdom, there's no excuse for my not sending word to him other than my own thoughtlessness. No excuses. None.

I've also heard that he's taken wife from one of his own people, not someone of the "orthodoxed" family.

It's better this way in my opinion.

That's also my reason for coming here. I have yet to meet the bride, my new sister-in-law. Miranda. A name well suited to the throne: Queen Miranda.

Unable to take much more time in my own mind, I brushed my guide's hand off of the throne room's handle, not the proper thing to do, but I could see that he didn't mind. He just laughed it off breathily as he stood at attention to the side. I opened the door just large enough for me to enter through.

There, in the throne room, my eyes connected with that of my brother's instantly. And, almost as instantly, his face lit up into my favorite grin. I flushed and released the door altogether, leaving the servant to close it.

I crossed my hands in front of my lap as I stared up at him. He rose to his feet with a great deal of anticipation riding in the air.

"Emilia!" He cried out giddily, spreading his arms wide as he ran at me full speed.

Wait a second… Full speed?!

"Roland…" I warned warily as he grew ever nearer. "Don't—!"

I was tackled in a big hug and lost my footing instantly. Roland kept me up and against him as he smothered me in an overzealous hug.

"You have to visit the castle more often than this!" He laughed as he released me after a strong shove, curtesy of myself. I scowled at him scornfully and he laughed sheepishly.

"Queen Miranda." I addressed graciously with a dip of my head as she approached at a much more appropriate speed. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Miranda is fine, if you please." She added, raising a delicate hand to dismiss the title, her voice much more bell-like and kind than my own. "And I hear that Amber and James haven't even met you before. The pleasure is indeed mine." She laughed good-naturedly.

The truth is… I didn't know Roland had had kids until years after they were born.

Maybe I should strive a little harder to at least keep up with them somewhat. I certainly can't do any worse than what I've been doing.

"Well, Roland and I weren't all that close as kids…" I trailed off, not wanting to continue too deep, I even saw my brother flinch at the mention. "And he is sixteen years older than I."

"So you're still in your early twenties?" Miranda looked bewildered.

Suddenly an arm was slung around my shoulders and a body was at my side. "She speaks so formally you would never guess. Am I right?"

I shrugged out of his grip and closed my eyes, not liking the familiarity of it all. "This castle holds too many memories." I murmured, slightly fearful, but breaking out of that mentality and scolding myself straight quickly afterwards. "Where are the kids? I'd love to meet them."

Miranda turned around and, upon realizing that they were not there and that there were cries of laughter off in the distance, took off after them. "I'll be back with them momentarily." She added as a second thought before exiting the room altogether.

I noticed that Roland was silent for once and turned to look at him. He was watching me with a sad look on his face and a slight bit of worry in his tone. Perhaps he heard what I said?

"You sure that it's a good idea for you to meet them?" He asked, completely dismissing the thought. "I mean kids… they aren't completely up-to-date with what is the proper level of what they can and can't do. They let things slip."

I smiled a rare smile at him, reassuring him. "It's fine. It's not like they are just going to pop up and start ordering me to do things." He cringed slightly at my bluntness with my own curse. "Plus, they're one of the bigger reasons that I came. I can't not meet them."

He sighed and deflated. "I'm sure you expect me to stand here and keep an eye on their eloquence…"

I smiled and crossed my palms behind my back, straightening my posture further and smiling largely.

Two blondes ran into the room excitedly, pausing halfway across in shock. They gaped at my features and I frowned in confusion. "Hello?" I asked politely.

A littler girl skittered in and grabbed her knees momentarily in order to catch her breath. "Don't leave me like that!"

I watched her and thought of myself slightly with Tilly and Roland growing up. I blinked back confusion as she revealed her features to be much more along the lines of Miranda's.

"Uh… Roland?" I whispered.

"Hm?" He looked at me pleasantly.

"How long have you and Miranda been together?"

"A little under half a year. Why—? Oh." He looked at brown-headed little girl and then dropped his voice as well. "Step-daughter." He filled in.

"Ah." I smiled as I took the kids in, all of which were drinking in my appearance as well. "I know of Princess Amber and Prince James, aka the twins." I pointed to each as I said their names and the halted with my finger on the littlest one. "But I fear my list of names runs out on that."

They looked between each other excitedly, probably bewildered at my diction.

"I think you confused them." Roland snickered.

"I think you have some teaching to do." I mumbled back. "I'm sorry to say it but I do not know you name." I elaborated tiredly.

"Oh!" Her eyes went wide and her little lips made an o. "I'm Sofia!"

"Princess Sofia. Has a nice ring to it." I added politely reminding her to use her title, though I think she missed the hint. "I'm the sister of your father, your aunt Emilia. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Princess Emilia." Roland corrected. I cringed. "Payback." He sung.

"You're a princess too?"

"Technically. I am born of a king and queen." I muttered lowly. "But I am not too fond of my own title."

Amber whipped out her fan and gasped dramatically behind it. "Be proud of who you are!" She called out defiantly.

My teeth gnashed together and my hand reached out to grab Roland's sleeve as the panic rose and my control was stolen from me. My eyes went wide as my brother grabbed my hand tightly. "Just let it out. You're fine." He reassured with a failure of a comforting smile.

"I am Princess Emilia!" I yelled, my face aflame.

I whipped out my own fan and hid my lower face as I gazed down at Amber dangerously. So much for not being ordered around, eh?

"What in the heavens is going on here?" A thin figure asked in a low tone as he wandered into the room. The purple robe suited him.

"Hello Cedric."

"Hello Emilia." He answered routinely as he looked about the room, not paying much mind to his surroundings. I smiled like a child on Wassailia behind my fan.

He violently jerked his head back to look at me, his voice cracking as his eyes flew wide. "Emilia?!"

"Time has not been kind to you, dear." I folded my fan cockily and dropped my arm down to my side. "You look like a tired old man. Are you senile yet?" I mocked as his jaw dropped.

I frowned at the gesture. "Or a fish?"

I dropped my fan into my pocket as soon as he had wandered near enough and launched myself at him. "It's great to see that Roland hasn't fired you yet."

"Yeah yeah. Mock the old wizard. Why don't cha." He grumbled.

I laughed as he nearly tumbled over as our bodies clashed.

"You aren't as little as you used to be!" He wheezed as he righted us and released me.

"But you certainly are." I mocked at his thinness. "So, how have you been, is the evil—?" A hand was slapped over my mouth.

"Evil exorcizing been, she means." He looked at me in the act and lightly reprimanded me with his tone. "You can't go around giving people the wrong idea.

I smiled cheekily behind his hand— he felt it against his palm, I know it— and nodded seriously.

He rolled his eyes as he released his control over my mouth.

It sure has been a while.

Later that night…

"She sure seems close to Cedric." Miranda remarked as she brushed her hair at the vanity. In the mirror, she could see Roland sitting upon their bed with scroll in hand. He was probably reviewing tomorrow's plans.

"Ah, they were always closer as kids, mostly considering the age gap between the two of them being smaller than ours." He recalled halfheartedly as he studied the paper in his lap.

"I have a sneaking suspicion that you're hiding something about your sister from me— from all of us, Rollie." She smiled as she noticed his stiffening form, and continued to brush her hair casually. "It almost seemed as though you were trying to keep her at a distance from us during the first meeting and during dinner. I wonder why?" She inquisited cleverly.

Roland tensed, took a breath, and then set his scroll to the bedside before sitting up completely and staring at his wife's reflection in the mirror. His gaze was intense, as if debating whether or not it was wise to disclose the information Queen Miranda knew would spill this night.

"It's not like I have anyone to go tell." She added cheekily. "Anyway, wouldn't it be handy to have someone else aware of your situation in case something goes amiss. I do think you need a lady's opinion in this case. You and Cedric are not exactly experts on affairs of the heart. Especially a woman's." She finished pointedly, leaving no room for her husband to argue the decision.

He sighed, looked at his wife with a smoldering gaze, and then let his eyes drift to his hands as he began his tale.

"I warn you now, it's a sad story of nearly 24 years packed together in a bit of a scrambled mess. And it revolves around that girl's life." He paused, not wanting to continue unless his wife's heart was really into it. Despite her confusion at the distant way in which he addressed his own sister's tale, it was obvious that she was. "Duly noted it really isn't my tale to tell and I don't really know all of it, but I see it desirable for you to know a little more of my childhood along with this. I will start with a single statement: I was not a good person."

The Queen's face scrunched up in a bit of distorted resentment at this. "However I may have not have known you then, I know you now and you are the greatest kind of person." She reassured him firmly. Now continue. She said with her eyes as she rested a hand on his own. She was now at his side and her attention was completely his.

"I was spoiled by my mother and the servants due to my father's commitment to his kingdom instead of his family. Tilly and I both were. But when it came down to some important meeting that the entire family was required to attend… I'll admit, I didn't act the part of a respectable young man." Roland scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Or future king." He paused for a long while, but Miranda did not press or rush him, it was evident that this was the ultimate struggle of his youth.

"Enraged, my father deemed our youngest sibling, who was still in the womb of our mother, the next head of the family. The next ruler of Enchancia. But he feared her coming up to be like myself and my eldest sister. Wild. Adventurous. Free. So he called upon a dark sorcerer and demanded an impenetrable curse to be placed upon her. Though, at the time, I believe he called it her blessing. The sorcerer agreed, but to certain degrees with certain payments included." He stopped, as if debating with himself.

"Go on!" Queen Miranda squirmed in her seat, the anticipation's effect evident in her being.

"Well, the unborn child was cursed to forever obey commands given to her. The Gift of Obedience, if I remember correctly. And she was born. As adventurous, wild, and free-spirited as his other children— if not more so— King Roland the First decided to take his own hand at raising her. She was crying endlessly for months. She attempted to flee thousands of times. She rebelled and screamed. All the while, Tilly and I fled to the opposite ends of the castle. I wanted to forget about my younger sibling, and I pretty much succeeded. Tilly wanted to intervene, being much more mature and braver than I, but mother always gave her valid justifications as to not go against our father's wishes." King Roland looked extremely miffed at the thoughts, almost as if the disturbances that still haunted his dreams became real once again. "As if fated, our father died the day after my coronation. Don't get me wrong, he was a great king. In fact, he was one of the greatest. He kept the villagers well fed and was constantly renovating the town to match the people's tastes and needs. But he was not well suited to raising a child. Because he was a king, his fist had too much control within its grasp. He was too controlling with his family as well. Or he tried to be. And, the day after I became king and our father had died of old age, Emilia was nine. Still much too young to rule. But the perfect age for our father's influence to be held over her. She was rounded out by the curse and our father's words which had forever limited her capabilities. "Don't ever"'s had already filled her que and she was almost too far gone. Her eyes… her eyes." Roland buried his face into his hands in despair. "I've never seen eyes such as those. So dead. Emotionless. Lifeless. They were horrific. So, not having much else to do, I tried to get along with her. But she was like a pebble that had once been a great rock on a riverside. She was rubbed down, too many parts of her gone. Too smooth, no character left to define her. She was raw." King Roland hadn't looked so perplexed and horrified in all of the time that Miranda had known him. Emilia wasn't the only thing that was raw, it seemed Miranda's husband was indeed still sore to the subject as well.

"So. I did the only thing I could. I sent her away. Not out of the castle of course, the curse would choke and hang her with her own hair if I had done that. And she was still my sister after all. I couldn't possibly do something so cruel." He looked at Miranda's face tenderly. "I sent her to the only place I could even think of without there being much danger. I sent her to our sorcerer. Of course, at that time, Cedric's father was the palace sorcerer. Goodwin the Great. He was rather old at this point and well into the training of his apprentice, aka his son. And I assigned them the task of erasing the curse. Which, as you can tell, didn't happen. The curse is unbreakable, as Goodwin finally told me before he left for Mystic Meadows." He looked away and pursed his lips to the side. "I would say that that's the end of the story. But there's a little more that I regretfully need to tell you. When I gave her up to the royal sorcerer, I also ordered something from her, exploiting the curse for my own image. I commanded that she stay out of sight of me and the guests of the castle."

Queen Miranda gasped at this, her expression heavily livid at her husband.

"I know. It was appalling of me. But I had my father's reputation to uphold and to reach up to. Or so I thought. So I merely caught glimpses of her in the castle when she wasn't aware. Regretful of my brash command almost every day that I saw her blossom with some other characteristic. I mentioned this to Goodwin but he merely was able to get her into my presence with extreme formalities. It was the only way to work around the curse of my demand. He told me that the curse slips away with time slightly, and only if her own willpower increases as well. So I gave her the option of leaving the castle for her sixteenth birthday. She leapt at the chance. So I sent her away with a guide, who she managed to ditch at some point. And I haven't seen her since then." He laughed awkwardly. "That is. Until now." He didn't mention the reports from Tilly and how it seemed their dear younger sibling found herself in a new location every other month, he feared that would just unnecessarily bring his wife's wrath upon himself at his carelessness.

His wife stared at him, a mix of emotions showing on her deeply engraved features. The one Roland saw as the most prominent was the one that was of anger. She raised her hand up and, in what looked like preparation to a slap, was really just her stretching before jerking her finger into her husband's chest, instantly raving in on him about his wrongs.

He accepted it. He knew he deserved every bit of it.

But there was a deeply engraved sadness also in her tone, one that held her back from expressing any true anger.

He was an awful brother.

But he was going to change their relationship, he promised— after all, it was why he actually invited her to his home in the first place.

But how to do it was the real question.

Bounce back to earlier that day…

After the Castle Steward, Baileywick as I've come to learn, stole my brother and his wife away in "urgent business" and I had released Cedric in threats— I mean, promises— to pester—Ehem! Visit him up in his lair later, I stared at the children, blinking every so often in the stilled silence.

"So…" I began very unladylike. "What does King Roland allow you guys to do around here?" I began, toning down the complex diction quite a bit and praying no more outbursts would happen. Dang it! Why did Cedric leave? What if I'm made to do something crazy?!

James shrugged good-naturedly and I'll admit, I completely saw Roland in the gesture. "Anything we want really. Just… No breaking things."

I bit my tongue against the impromptu of such lose rules. And I sooo wanted to scream at my brother in that moment. "What do you guys usually do?" I asked again, trying to engage in a somewhat decent conversation.

Amber this time gave movement, directing my eye as she whipped her fan in front of her face overzealously. I was slightly miffed at the children and their freed actions. This is what it must have been like for my older siblings as well when they were growing up. "Well, we each break off into our own little thing and it usually somehow all clashes together in a big mess." Amber began with a bit of disdain in her brow. Disdain that, oddly enough, wasn't really directed at her words as they were at me in general. "I'm usually admiring some piece of art in the castle, Sofia usually plays with her animal friends or is dancing around with the servants, and James usually has something to do with whatever is newly broken around the castle." She made it sound as if she were the only proper one in the entire castle. I was sure she was just exaggerating and that the other two were about to voice their disagreement.

But, upon glancing at their small forms, I saw no argument in her tales. It was as if that's really what they did all day. For all I know, it might just be.

"Alright then." I denuded myself of any pretenses that I would usually have prepared. "Who wants to drag me along in their usual activities? I'm at the castle, nothing can be much worse than this." I mumbled the last part as they all shared looks.

"We can go visit Mr. Cee-dric if you want." Sofia finally concluded from the nonsensical stares of her siblings.

I nearly snorted at the mispronunciation of his name. Oh this is rich, I'm sure these kids drive him crazy. "I'm up for that." I smiled politely as Amber spun on her heel and James followed. Their noses upturned snobbishly. Sofia gave the two of them a confused look before turning to me and offering me her hand.

I looked at her a moment longer than necessary, faintly recognizing her gesture as one from my childhood, and reached out, gently taking her much smaller hand.

I was slightly moved at her kindness.

"Are you two coming or not?" James called with a hand to his mouth, the door to Cedric's tower wide open. I noticed his dark brow knitted in the middle.

Something was bothering him.

"Hurry up!" He added brutishly.

I ground my teeth as my body relinquished control to the little boy.

I was going to have to get out of here soon.

I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Knocking on the big wooden door, the kids stood at attention in front of it while I curiously lifted the jaded gargoyle's finger. Indeed, Cedric still uses the little compartment it seems— even despite the fact that nearly everyone already knows of it. Perhaps Roland has forgotten? Or maybe he just doesn't care anymore?

"Yes yes, what is it—?" Cedric stopped his rant abruptly and stepped back from the door to take in the lot of us with a bit of surprise in his widened eyes. I could tell he wasn't pleased with the company. I would have to ask about that later. "Whoo… There sure are a lot of princesses at my door today." He looked down at them and then up to me in question. I shrugged, my mirth at the visit died down at his disappointment in seeing us.

"I am not a princess." James argued before another word could slip past his lips.

"Well of course." Cedric agreed numbly.

"What're you doing in here that you're distracting us from?" I leaned around the doorframe to peer in suspiciously, a small teasing smile on my face. "Goodness me. This place is creepy. I almost forgot what it looked like." I leered at him.

Cedric rolled his eyes and attempted to close the door at seeing the pointlessness in our visit. Not wanting to cause any type of misgivings, I slid my foot away from its natural response of stopping the door open. I was back in the castle after all, etiquette is a must. There was a loud slam as the door slid in place and a few clicks as it was locked securely.

"See you later then?" I called out innocently on the other side of the door. There was little response other than a quiet grumble.

"So you and Mr. Cee-dric are close?" Sofia asked me.

"As close as they get I suppose." I shrugged and turned around to descend the steps once again.

"That's a very vague answer." Amber bit out begrudgingly. "Like all of your other answers as well." She muttered coldly.

I chose to ignore the second part, for any retaliation would result in encouraging such unladylike behaviors such as mumbling. "I suppose it is."

We exited the stairwell and, deciding that I was not a royal brat kind of person, excused myself to my room. Knowing where my old room was located, I wandered my way to it. Either my bag had been put in there or the guest room; in some way, I guess it will also help me define my current position in the castle. If it's in my old room, Roland is up to some usual mischief. But, if it's in the guest room, it means everything is clear that I really am only here to visit the new family members and then resume my favorite kind of life, the secluded kind. Don't ask for my logic, that's just the way it goes in my mind.

A prettily uniformed maid stood at a doorway, tediously inching my bag into the room as if it weighed a ton. I added a little skip in my step to hurry and get to her side.

We were in front of my old room, might I add.

"Oh!" I reached out and picked up the bag simply with none of the strain that she was exhibiting. "I've got it. I know my things can be a little heavy."

"No, no Ma'am. I'm sure I can get it in there. I got it this far after all without incident." She looked at me holding the bag and her eyes gradually widened to that of serving saucers. "Or you can do it fine." She mumbled with a lack of breath.

"And thank you for that. But I've got it from here." I dipped my head into a shallow curtsey. No, I was not supposed to curtsey to a maid but she was doing her job properly and I had to respect that.

"Well, then, if you don't need anything else I'll be going." She dazedly added.

I smiled at her dumbfounded self. She bowed lowly, making sure to get her head lower than mine had gotten. I allowed my features to morph into that of slight astonishment. I was impressed. You don't see many today who know what the procedure is when a princess bows her head to you.

Maybe Roland is doing a good job after all.

So. Here it is.

The start of the idea that has been plaguing my mind for quite some time.

I accidentally came across Sofia the First one morning and its been attacking my brain ever since. So I did something about it! Please let this have come out alright.

Until next time!