A beautiful girl passes through the palace gates, face kind and approachable. She had to be back in her rooms before the ceremony. Her father specifically ordered her a dress for this occasion. She had been excited, a happiness in her chest that could not be quieted. Sarah caught up to her then. And even though the girl was late and would get a scolding from her father, she spent her time comforting the princess.
"I loathe going to these meaningless celebrations. Oh, my dearest friends, I wish you could save me.
"What's so loathsome about the ceremony. All the praise and attention will fall to you, the youngest princess and apple of the King's eye."
"And that's precisely that I dislike it. Everybody wants a chance at seeing me. There are riots on the streets for more public display of their princess."
The girl's eyes furrow. There have been riots on the street because of the floundering of wealth in the capital, but she does not dare contradict her friend.
"Isn't it so tiring when people love you more than you love them?" The princess smiles, doe eyes sparkling. She loved talking about this. About her popularity and the people's obsession with her. She loved to see everyone's eyes on her but pretended otherwise.
"I'm sure it's hard at times to concede your privacy, as well as adhere to social standards and expectations."
"And deal with the Sens as well. Do you know that the strongest Sens are already claiming me? Father is worried they'll start one of the biggest wars in all of Eshika history for me." The princess sighs dreamily.
"Of course I told father I would command them to stop. I don't want them fighting for me. I will use my power for good. Father says I may be so powerful I will take in two Sens." She giggles, then looks to the pale girl beside her.
"Why are you not responding to me? Do you dislike my company?" The princess's eyes tear up. Just when the girl turns to reassure her that she does love her company, that she is just late for the ceremony, that her father will beat her for being late and she'll never understand that, that she didn't wish evil upon her even when she has two Sens and the girl doesn't even have the power to attract a basic one, before guards loom from behind, followed by the Queen.
The girl instantly bows, though with her position it should only be a courtesy, the Queen would not accept that from her, no matter what.
"Your Majesty"
"Why have you upset my daughter?"
"I did nothing to upset Her Royal Highness-"
"I hope you are not calling the future Queen of Eshika a liar"
"No, Your majesty. That was never my intention. I simply wanted her to feel free to speak as she wishes without interruption-"
" Kneel down. Disrespecting any member of the royal family results in three lashes." The Queen says, ignoring the irony in her words. She knows the queen is mocking her, the smug princess knows, the entertained guards, who grab her roughly by the arms, know as well. And when they strip her back bare and start the countdown to the first hit, the little girl's mind lags on the evil thoughts that slip into her mind every now and then, when things get too much and her endless love of the world quickly empties. She wonders how quickly the court would fall into chaos if she let it slip that the Queen was planning to put her daughter and the youngest of the potential rulers as the heir to the crown, how everything would fall apart. How they would feel the devastation she carries with her all the time, like an untreatable tumor.
But like always, the little girl briskly recovers from these thoughts, the well of kindness in her heart filling up again after the drought. Too much. It fills too much, until the wasted water rises out of the well and runs down the ground. Until she turns around and interprets the princess's expression as guilt and not disgust. Too much until, the little girl forgives her mistakes and smiles cluelessly at the heir to the throne. When she turns back, the three lashes are already over, the pain barely registering.
But the well, the well is overflowing too much to go to waste, desperate for use. And so, when the little girl enters her father's chambers and he beats her as well, she happily uses the extra kindness on him too, absorbing his mistakes like they mean nothing. Like this is what she was born for. He bought her an outfit, to him her look good, and beat her in places that others cannot see, to make her look good. What else could she ask for from an imperfect being?
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The ceremony hall is easy to get to. Only a few floors below the royal chambers. The little girl goes there fairly early, her parents staying back to create a bigger buzz when they finally entered. They were all like that, all social and political power chasing. Greedy and violent in their pursuit. The bruises brushed against the little girl's fabric and she winces again. Hiding in a little corner, she reaches until her gown, an act her parents would whip her for if they saw and tries to soothe the pain away. The royal doctor had already treated the lashes on her back, but the bruises came later.
Catching her off surprise, the princess appears in the hall and stares at the girl, who quickly stops her movements and fixes her dress, all before the princess comes to stand at her side.
"Wow you look so beautiful."
"Really?" The girl says surprised the heir is giving her a compliment
"Yeah. You might pass for someone worthy now."
The girl does not let her smile fade or heart drop.
"I'm so bored dear friend and mother said you had to spent time with me when she commands it. That means you have to do whatever I say. You have to try to elevate my mood." She smiles strangely. "You know those warm pies?"
"What?"
"Those absolutely diecious pies the royal chefs make only for this ceremony every five years." The girl's mouth waters. She had never been allowed to eat it the last time because of how young she was. Even now she is too weak to be worthy of it. Still, she listens.
"Yes. What would you like me to do with it?"
"Take it."
"What!" The princess pouts. "Don't be so dramatic. I only want an early taste of it. And mother said you must listen to me."
"But its sacred food used for-"
"Shall I tell my mother you wish to not keep my company. Maybe you'd like working the fields over this hard life you're living." The princess says sarcastically.
"No, I will do what you ask of me."
She tries. She really does try to sneak into the grand kitchen and take a plate. But the place is too well guarded, the pie too precious. And when she finally got there, something took over her senses.
She had to try it. She had to. It was necessary for her survival.
Just when the little girl was giving into its siren call, the side door opened, guards filling through, behind them the Grand Viser, then... the princess, smiling. Caught with a bite almost to her mouth, she was considered guilty on the spot.
The girl never tried the pie. But she got to try the feeling of being locked in her chambers without food as a punishment for her behavior.
After all, they didn't have the power to throw her in prison.