Miavel

Thud.

Grunt.

Thump. Thump.

Bang!

My eyes opened slowly in the darkness. I gazed around at the room, lit up by a bright moon. The fancy vanity in the corner to my left, the swirling design of the lamp on the nightstand and the working clock next to it on my right...

I sat up, wide awake, seeing the things I didn't know, the things I didn't own. It was when I spotted the door on the opposite wall, the one connecting our rooms, that I recalled where I was and why the room and belongings seemed so unfamiliar to me.

Right.

I got married yesterday…

Yesterday?

I glanced to the bedside where the sun and moon clock seemed to blink back at me. I tapped for the light to show the dashes between them, taking a quick moment to admire the way it lit up fully, unlike the one I'd had before. Fifth hour of night. Nope. That meant it was still today, with another hour left to go. We left the party at the first hour of night… why would I be awake four hours later?

Today had been exhausting. There was no way I'd wake up so soon unless something happened.

I vaguely recalled hearing some kind of noise as I was waking up…

But all that was surrounding me now was silence.

The quick rush of adrenaline faded and I curled back up into the sheets, bathed in the glow of moonlight. There was a sound I heard as I drifted off, like a door clicking shut.

When my eyes opened again, daylight streamed in through the windows and there was a polite knock at the door.

I held back a verbal groan and asked who was there.

“I’m Alecc Romane, Advisor and Aide of the King of Thera. His Majesty had some things he wanted me to tell you.”

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face before calling out for him to enter the room.

Not really surprised, I watched as a whole entourage trailed in after him. One of the ladies who helped me out of the corset last night walked in after him, giving me a smile and nod. The man was someone I didn’t recognize, but his bright smile was quite nearly contagious. He bowed respectfully in lieu of a verbal greeting as well.

“His Majesty has approved of these two people to aid you the most until he can vet more people to attend to you. These two are trustworthy.”

In silence, I stared at him, urging myself to not say all the things that I probably shouldn’t. Something along the lines of 'His Majesty shouldn’t be vetting my people'. Or maybe that, 'oh, is His Majesty that blatantly spying on my every move like I’m some criminal'? It wasn’t like he was going to find anything. I was here for peace, for prevention of war between our kingdoms. I came with nothing and I wasn’t about to destroy anything.

I kept it all in.

All of it.

I took the opportunity to shift my gaze to the two of them, a clear sign telling him to begin the introductions. Alecc nodded.

“You may recognize her, as I believe she helped you last night.” He gestured to the lady. “This is Lilia Millings. She will be your main lady-in-waiting. She works closely with the head maid as well as His Majesty’s maids and knows more about the palace than anyone.”

I nodded. “Hello again, Lilia.”

“Your Majesty, it’s an honor to serve you.” Lilia curtsied flawlessly.

“And this is Rogers, Lilia’s husband.” Alecc gestured to the contagious smile man, who was, in fact, still smiling.

I gazed between the two of them.

“Oh.”

A married couple. Oh, goodie. And the whole vibe of their relationship seemed very loving and warm… like the opposite of whatever was happening with me and Talyn right now, closed doors and everything.

“Rogers here has worked as an aide to both me and His Majesty on occasion. He knows the Royal duties as well as if they were his own. You’ll be in his capable hands for learning the ropes for your duties. He will act as an advisor to you as well.”

“Your Majesty.” Rogers bowed deeply, and I fell into the trap of the smile. I was smiling before I realized it and had to think back on what I wanted to do today.

And that was speak with Talyn.

“Hello, Rogers.” I turned back to Alecc. “And where exactly is His Majesty? Right now.”

Alecc shifted his weight uncomfortably and adverted his eyes. “He told me to tell you that he doesn’t wish to see you today…”

It wasn’t just me who was startled by that. Lilia and her husband both gawked at Alecc, who was skillfully evading all of our gazes.

“Oh, really?”

He flinched at my tone and cleared his throat before continuing to speak.

“Well, he said that after your ordeal last evening, you ought to rest the whole day. That he doesn’t want you to do anything strenuous.”

He cleared his throat again, clearly taking note of the way his words hit us all. Lilia and her husband were both making one of those faces that told me in an instant that everyone in the room had the wrong idea about his words.

Silently, I cursed King Talyn for his choice of words. He didn’t even say good night to me and he had the audacity to insinuate we spent the night in a shared bed, doing things we haven’t even come close to. I held back a pained groan of, well, just of pain. I ignored my flushed face and looked at Alecc.

“Tell him the rest isn’t necessary, but I won’t push myself today. Thank you.” Not holding back my slight frustration, I gave him a pursed grin and told him to leave if he had nothing else to say.

He didn’t and left, but not without a curious glance back at me.

When the door closed, I looked back at the remaining people.

Taking a deep breath, I rose from the bed and asked Lilia to get me a day gown of her choice before heading behind the screen in the corner.

“So, Rogers, if I’m supposed to rest today, does that mean we start on the Royal duties I’m going to need to work on, or…”

“Since this was rather short notice for both of us, I still have yet to compile all the necessary documents to begin.”

“Will you be ready to work tomorrow?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will leave you to your rest for today. I will get that document from Lord Malin today. I will.”

His response was immediate and happened just as Lilia joined me behind the screen with the dress and a chuckling backwards glance at Rogers. A bright yellow dress. I ran my hand over the fabric. Smiling, I nodded my agreement to Lilia.

“I think you’ll look lovely in this, Your Majesty.”

I nodded.

“It’s really pretty.”

Despite living in riches, despite being a princess my whole entire life, and even if I was the eldest in my family, this yellow dress was nearly bringing me to tears. New. Fresh. Bright.

It didn’t matter one bit how it would look on me. It was already so lovely just to see it offered my way.

It only registered when the dress flowed around me in waves and sandals were on my feet that I wasn’t wearing a corset. I stared, wide-eyed at Lilia.

“Corset…”

“I’m not putting you into anything without approval. We are not taking you from one ill-fitting corset to another.” She finished tying the strings of the dress in the back before taking me over to the mirror and adjusting my hair in a sort of waterfall over my shoulder.

I stared at my reflection, seeing myself in a completely new light. I’d always loved the bright bold colors that I’d never been given. No, they had always been given to my younger sister Tianne. I was to never outshine her. Never to steal the spotlight. I saw the reflection of myself smiling in the mirror. I felt taller, stronger somehow, just by putting this on.

No, I wasn’t just a princess anymore. I was a queen. I had… power. Just by being able to complete the duties of a queen, just given the opportunity, I had power.

Despite ruling over a kingdom, my father wouldn’t be able to push me around anymore. Tianne wouldn’t be able to take anything more away from me, no matter if she cried and begged for a single simple earring. I would be the one to decide.

I turned to Lilia.

“I love it.”

Lilia smiled brightly. “I just knew it would suit you.” Her eyebrows raised. “Speaking of a corset, a little bird told me that the most famous tailor on the continent was coming to fit you into a new wardrobe and corset.”

“You don’t mean…” I started, feeling suddenly awestruck.

“Yes, Madam Delaine will be coming tomorrow, just for you.”

My breath caught in my throat. Madam Delaine was the only designer who had free reign over everything she did and anywhere she went. How was it possible she was coming here, so soon, just to fit me in new clothes?

I burst into a laugh.

It was like some kind of dream. Miracles, one after another.

“What is it you would like to do today, Your Majesty?”

I let myself revel in everything that suddenly felt so right. Even King Talyn’s indifference didn’t bother me anymore. He could ignore me all he wanted. Just let this be real. Let me stay here like this.

Let me enjoy these moments.

Lilia began to list off several things. That I could rest in my room. I could spend time in one of the sitting rooms, in the library and read a book, take a short stroll through the outside gardens–

I cut her off there, a memory from yesterday sparking in my mind.

“What about the Emerald Room?”

Her eyebrows lifted again.

“The Emerald Room?” When I nodded, so did she, with a smile. “Of course, let me lead you there.”

I walked with her down the corridors, knowing a tour of the palace was yet to be arranged for me so I’d know this place by heart, but enjoying the mystery of which way we’d turn next was fun.

It was easy to speak with Lilia, despite my apprehensions that she’d run straight to King Talyn to tell him every little thing I said. As we walked, she satisfied my curiosity about the Emerald Room.

“His Majesty had it built the year he was crowned King. When asked why, he said a hunting trip inspired it and he demanded it be built as soon as possible.”

I smiled, imagining it. Such a serious and big man demanding that a room full of flowers be made? It was pleasantly strange.

“Does he go there often?” I asked her, just a little worried of running into him and ruining my festive mood. I’d hate to interrupt or intrude on his little garden. Especially, if it would make him angry. That wasn’t something on my bucket list. In fact, something like that might just end my chances of ever being able to check anything off of my lists of wishes ever again.

“Well, there’s only a handful of people allowed in that room, you know.”

That surprised me. I turned to her and she shrugged.

“Besides myself, the head maid, the two attendants who tend to the plants in the room as well as serve His Majesty, Alecc, and my Rogers while they’re there, I guess there’s only one other person left.”

That number of people were so few I was astonished. A beautiful room like that, he demanded it be built, only to then keep everyone out of it? No wonder the escort I’d been given yesterday was so surprised. It also suddenly made sense why he didn’t stay in the room. It was off-limits to nearly everyone. Just the caretakers and people close to His Majesty were allowed…

How important would the seventh person be?

“Who’s that?”

She chuckled for a moment, baffling me, before she ducked her head with a smile.

“You, Your Majesty.”

I froze.

My feet stopped moving.

“Are you sure that I’m allowed…”

First day, was I about to make a mistake by going somewhere restricted? What if Lilia wasn't who she seemed to be? What if she was told to get me into trouble? As if sensing my fears, Lilia took my hands gently in hers, massaging the trembles from them.

“His Majesty sent you there to rest yesterday before the celebration, did he not? In doing so, he granted permission for you to enter there.”

I pursed my lips for a moment. It made sense, it really did, but I couldn’t shake the quick fears so easily. I gripped her hands, searching for some kind of security.

“Are you sure it wasn’t just a one-time thing? I don’t want to intrude.”

And... for some reason, I really wanted to trust her.

Lilia nodded her understanding before speaking. “My Rogers told me this morning that His Majesty already told the attendants that you were allowed to use the Emerald Room.”

“Alright.”

I sighed. Lilia squeezed my hands once before letting go and leading me once more. After a few paces, she stopped suddenly and turned to me.

“Ah! I didn’t even answer your question, did I?”

I shrugged, but before I could mutter out that it was alright, she spoke.

“His Majesty only ever goes there when one of the flowers is blooming. What was the name again… Ah. The blue irises. I’ll point them out to you when we get there.”

“Thank you.”

Only when I was surrounded by the flowers and greenery once more did I rest well like I was told to.

His Majesty never showed up, and I was welcomed warmly by the attendants there.