Emily
When I got back to the palace, no one seemed to notice what had happened and that I was gone. Or that Mary was gone... I ran up to my room and got into a dress because I noticed that no one recognized me without one. Then I asked a maid in the hall to get me a new maid. Then I recognized the maid in the hall.
"Eve?" I said with disbelief.
"Yes?"
"I haven't seen you since... well, you know. I never got to say thank you before you disappeared".
"Sorry for that, but I will be here for the next while".
"Really? That is awesome! Well, I will see you around then."
Then I hugged her and ran off. The new maid was in my room only moments later.
"Wow. The palace is fast these days"
She politely nodded.
"Do you need anything, my lady? Would you like to get ready for bed?"
"Yes, I would"
I got ready for bed and went to sleep. It has been a long day.
Ky
When I woke up the next morning, I thought about her. How she just ran out the door. I don't know whether to believe her or not. She just lost her sister... wait. The Princess does not have a sister. Was she lying about that too? I need answers. That is the only reason I am going to the Palace this early in the morning. Yeah, keep telling yourself that. But first... I wanted to make a quick stop.
Emily
I told my new maid to go get him. I can see him from outside my window. Dark brown hair, green eyes. My maid got me ready and she did a fantastic job. My hair now had dark brown highlights, and my makeup looks perfect. I picked out a long, flowy light purple dress. Honestly, I look beautiful in it. About an hour ago, I went to go get answers from Daniel Anderson. Surprisingly, he said he was sorry and that he truly didn't know where I was. He said he would fix it and make it up to me. Now I am waiting for Ky. I didn't think he would show up. He was shown to one of the many meeting rooms in the large palace with double doors. I wanted to make an entrance. Then maybe he would believe me. Then my maid came to get me.
"He is waiting for you, Your Highness".
"Thank you. You may take me now".
When I walked in, he was sitting on the couch. There were guards around. He looked at me, then looked surprised to see me. Then he stood up, paused, then I kid you not, bowed. Well, at least he believed me now. I rolled my eyes.
"Of course you believe me now. Everyone thinks of princesses as girls in pretty dresses".
"I...I..."
"Oh stop stammering. Sit down".
He sat down. I walked over and sat across from him.
"I came here looking for answers and now I have more questions".
I laughed.
"Well, ask away. I will tell the truth this time".
"You don't have a sister...was all of that a lie? The Shadow?"
"No, just the part about her being my sister. She was my maid. My most trusted friend. The only one I had left after..."
I paused. I didn't want to tell him that story. But of course, he had to ask.
"After what?"
I took a deep breath.
"Follow me"
I led him to the garden where we could have some privacy.
"Wow. This garden is beautiful just like..."
It was his turn to stop.
"Like what? Never mind. The story. Once upon a time..."
There was a little boy who was 7 and a little girl who was 8. They played together every day. The little girl loved having a friend. He was her first real friend after her parents were taken. She began to trust him. Then one day, she was outside playing hide and seek when she saw it. The Shadow came up to her and she screamed.
"Emily!" Screamed Kairum.
Kairum ran over to see what was wrong. Then he disappeared.
"I never forgave myself. It is my fault he is gone".
"Emmy it can't be your fault. Sorry, I meant Your Highness."
"Oh please don't call me that. I get enough of it from everyone else. Let's go back inside."
When we got back inside, he just sat and looked at me. Why can't any boy just have a conversation?
"I want to apologize. I'm sorry I didn't believe you before about being the Princess" He said.
"It's ok. I know how it must have looked to you. I mean, everyone in the Palace already thinks I'm crazy anyway, so that's not new".
"What? How could they not get in trouble?"
I laughed.
"You may not have noticed, but I am a very kind person. My maid, er, my old maid kept me updated on what they said. I just like to know. I wouldn't get them in trouble. So, any more questions?"
"Um... Your favorite flower? Was that a lie?"
"No, I love lisianthus flowers. They have beauty... I don't know. I just love them."
Then he surprised me. I didn't notice the flowers he had next to him.
"Light purple lisianthus flowers for my Princess".
I didn't know what to say. It was so sweet, even if he didn't believe me.
"Thank you. I... thank you. They are beautiful.
"Well, I better go. My job will not wait for me".
Job? I didn't know he had one. Of course, he did, though.
"Yes, as do I. Once again, being a princess is not all dresses and makeup".
We went our separate ways. I was smiling when I went back up to my room, so lost that I bumped into Eve.
"Eve! I'm so sorry".
I was still smiling, and she noticed.
"It's ok, your highness. What are you smiling about?".
I had to tell her. I had to tell someone and Mary...
"Well... I met someone... that I ran into..."
"And?"
"He's nice."
"Oh, it's a he"
"Speaking of he's, I heard from a little bird that you aren't just here for me... so who's the lucky guy?"
"I can't tell you yet... you'll find out soon enough though. Now, stop changing the subject. Who's your lucky guy?"
"His name is Ky".
Immediately she looked alarmed.
"Stay away from him. He is trouble.
"You know him? I don't think you do, because he doesn't seem like trouble"
"He may not know it, neither do you, but you have to stay away"
For some reason, this made me angry.
"You don't get to tell me what to do anymore. I thank you for what you did for me, but that was years ago."
Then I walked away, my smile and happiness gone, replaced by anger and something else... something dark. And I... I liked it.
That night, I had a dream. Except, it feels so real. There was someone that looked like Ky, maybe his mother? I don't know. It was a wild guess. She had hair as long as mine, but a lighter brown and clear green eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Be careful, Emily. Ky is not whom you think he is. He is a danger to you"
"Why does everyone keep telling me this?"
"Because it's true. You have been warned..."
Then the dream changed. Now it was my mother talking to me.
"My darling little girl, please, be careful. It can't get to you, you have to fight it, don't let it get you..."
I was confused. Don't let what get me? The Shadow? I already know that. The dream changed once more. I saw that night in my room with my parents again. But something was off... it was something in the room. Something is here that wasn't before. I think it was the Shadow. There was something inside it, a bright, cloudy light. As soon as I saw it, it was snuffed out. Then Shadow took them. I heard a baby wail, but it wasn't me. I woke up the next morning terrified and confused.
After I got dressed, I decided to go into town and try to find Ky. Still a little confused by my dream, I bumped into Daniel Anderson.
"Oh! Princess, there you are. I was wondering if you would make an announcement today?"
"Oh, um, of course. About what?"
"With help from the council, we have decided that anyone under the age of 20 living alone will have to find another place to stay. We just have too many families that don't have anywhere to live, and it's a problem."
I have been hearing about that. No one is happy because we have so little land.
"Sure. When?"
"Now"
"Oh! Well, let's go!"
I would have to find Ky later. Ky. He lives alone... Now I feel terrible! I'm kicking my only sorta friend out of his home!
Ky
I wanted to go find the Princess again, but I had work. I worked at an orphanage, probably because I kind of felt like one. When I got there, everyone was in a hurry.
"Where is everyone going?" I asked one of the children.
The children know a lot more than they should. They hear a lot.
"I heard the Princess has an announcement! We haven't seen her in years!"
Emmy? What announcement? I ran to the Palace's Announcement Center. The Acting King was speaking.
"I owe you all an apology, but especially our very own Princess, Emily. She isn't sick. She is perfectly healthy and has been learning how to be the best Queen, which I believe she can and will be. Now, I have asked Princess Emily to give an announcement. Princess,"
Emily
I got up to the stand and looked out at the crowd. Towards the back, someone caught my eye. I'm so sorry Ky...
"I have recently been thinking about our people and how many of us there are. There are just so many, and not enough homes. So, I... We have decided that anyone under the age of 20 has to find a new home. I'm so sorry for all of you that this effects, but it is a necessary measure. We have been building some larger homes for as many as 15 people that this affects. Please go to your local Announcement Booth for more information."
Ky looked like he felt betrayed. I calmly sat back down. I know that this was a test of our only Acting, King Daniel Anderson. I have to at least look like I am calm. Composure is key. Daniel stood back up.
"Now, for our next item of business, it is in our future to have our very first Acting Queen! I am getting married. I know that it must come as a surprise, but I have loved Evelyn for years now. We will be celebrating in 3 days."
Wait, Evelyn? Eve? I can't believe it! Just then, she walked on stage. She was in a beautiful emerald green dress that matched her brown hair and green eyes perfectly. She was wearing an even more beautiful tiara with an emerald. I looked back out at the crowd. Then I saw Ky. He looked as if he had just seen a ghost.
"That will be all. Thank you for coming."
We went back inside, then I went straight for Eve.
"Eve! I can't believe it! That's what you meant by 'you will know soon enough'. I'm sorry for how I acted yesterday. It's just, Mary, she's gone. I was emotional."
"Oh, Emily why didn't you just say so? I'm so sorry. I know how hard these losses can be for you. You just need to find something that makes you happy, just like I said all those years ago."
"Well, I did find something, but I'm afraid I lost it. Or, him."
"Ky? He makes you happy?"
"Yes. He is... was my only friend left. At least I know he's alive"
"Emily, I'm so sorry. It's my fault. I know he might be trouble, so I decided that if you did something that made him upset, you wouldn't go to him anymore. The new houses were my idea. I will fix this, I promise!"
And then she ran off. Now it was my turn to feel hurt and betrayed. And talk about confused.
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