The Name You Gave Me

Chapter 2 - Ice Cold Truth

"I can't believe it..."

"I told you that you would be a princess!"

I look to Portia who is excitedly bouncing on the balls of her feet as she speaks, her voice high with enthusiasm. My mind is still numb and I am now standing in the kitchen of my home with my aunt, her fiancé, my uncle, and my sister.

"Portia, give her some breathing room," Aunt Penelope says as she looks to me, her eyebrows furrowing with concern. Of course, she is concerned. I've only spoken four words since the ceremony. I can't believe it...

"I think she has every right to be excited, Penelope. As should Rohanna. This opportunity is huge. It could very well-"

"Lincoln! Listen to yourself! Rohana is probably confused and scared out of her wits and here you are agreeing with a fifteen-year-old child," my aunt snaps, to which Felix gently grabs her hand in means to calm her down. After she takes a breath, she looks back to me. "Sweetheart, you must say something. You are worrying me."

"Where is Emilio?"

"Pardon?"

"Where is Emilio?" I repeat as I look at my aunt. Emilio has always been there for me, so why isn’t he here with me now after the ceremony.

"The last I saw him he was with you at the ceremony," Felix says as he let's go of my aunt's hand and sits on the edge of the table.

"We got separated. And they skipped his name at the ceremony. What if something is wrong?" I question, feeling a million emotions and questions raid my mind. It didn't make sense for him to not be here.

"Surely they didn't skip his name," Uncle Lincoln states confidently, "The Counsel and the royals knows what they are doing. They've been doing this for longer than you've been alive."

I listen to my uncle and I want to believe him, but some foreign emotion that dances in my aunt's brown eyes causes me to hesitate to accept that peace of mind. Once she catches my lingering stare, though, she quickly smiles at me and nods.

"Your uncle is right, dear. We probably just missed his name," she says simply as she walks over and places her hands on my shoulders, "I am sure that you have nothing to worry about Rohanna. He is probably just with his family. Just write him a letter once you get to the palace." 

I nod as I look down at her and swallow back any hesitation or fear I have. I needed to be saying goodbye to my family in the little time that I had, not throwing around aimless worries.

"So, I'm going to be a princess..." I say quietly, my voice trailing off. I can hear a small giggle come from Portia's direction as she obviously tries to hide her excitement.

"Promise you will write me?" Portia asks. Right. My family probably won't be able to visit me for the year that I reside in the palace unless the king and queen allow it. I swallow thickly before I answer.

"Of course, I will. Every night. I promise," I answer Portia. Of course, I will write her. But even with that promise and the thought of me being a princess, I can still see that she isn't too happy with the fact that I have to leave.

"I'm going to miss you," she says as she comes and wraps her arms tightly around me, "I'm going to miss you so much."

I quickly hug her back, trying to comfort her as I nod.

"I know. And I'm going to miss you too. But don't worry. You have Aunt Penelope, Uncle Lincoln, Felix, and Emma. And I am sure that Emilio will check in on you a lot." I speak from my heart because I trust every single person that I had just named. 

I will only be gone for a year. While most people would be excited for such an opportunity, I can’t help but to feel disgusted with myself. I will be living in silk and lavishness, while my family will be struggling to merely get by. I had always wanted to be more than what my mother had been. But to be a princess?

"You're going to do great things, Rohanna...I know you will." My aunts voice is fragile, as if she is going to break at any moment. She had raised Portia and I since we were babies. We are her babies and now I am leaving her to take care of Portia by herself.

"Thank you, Aunt Penelope. I should probably start packing and-"

Before I can finish my sentence, a loud knocking came from the door. I furrow my eyebrows as I straighten up. It isn't Emilio. He would have just walked in. This place is just as much of his home as it is mine. Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Penelope share a look before he shrugs and walks over, opening the door. There stand two soldiers in uniform, their bodies stiff with authority. One of them I quickly recognize to be the Head Guard, Nicaise Woods.

"We are here to retrieve Rohanna Perez and escort her to the palace so that she may fulfill her duty of one year to the king and queen," Nicaise says. His black hair is cut perfectly and his dark eyes are emotionless and hard.

"Wait- I haven't had the time to pack my clothes," I quickly say. They had arrived so early!

"There will be no need for you to pack anything, Miss Perez. Your bedroom at the palace has been fully stocked with things," the guard on the right assures me. He is much younger than Nicaise and has curly, cotton blonde hair and pale blue eyes.

I hesitate and glance over my shoulder at my family. Portia is beaming at me, her eyes full of youthful hope. Uncle Lincoln and Felix are both comforting Aunt Penelope as she watches me with tearful eyes.

"You got this, mi princesa. Just don't forget your roots and keep you head up," my aunt says. Her words instill a slight newfound hope in me as I nod, fighting back tears.

"Tell Emilio that I'm sorry I couldn't say goodbye to him in person. I will write him first thing," I say quickly as the two guards usher me out of my home.

The moment that I step outside and hear the door slam shut behind me, I can feel that this is the point where my life is going to turn around. I had always hoped and wished for an opportunity to be given to me, and here one was, practically being handed to me on a silver platter. So why am I so nervous to take that first step?

"Are you okay, Miss Perez?" the younger guard asks as I let out a slow breath. Nicaise doesn't seem too interested in my wellbeing, in fact he seems to be in a bit of a rush.

"Kace, we don't have time to pamper our subjects. That isn't our job and we are already behind schedule. Let's get a move on, shall we?" Woods says as he leads us towards the sleek black car that is sitting out in front of my house.

"Yes sir. Sorry sir," Kace says as he shoots me an apologetic smile. His smile isn’t soothing, more like a crooked, mischievous grin. Needless to say, it's not what I am expecting and I like that.

When we make it to the car, Nicaise stops and turns, looking at Kace expectantly. At first, the younger male looks confused, but then it is like a light bulb lights up because he jolts forward and opens the back passenger side door for me.

"Miss Perez, after you," he says smoothly, to which Nicaise scoffs at.

I offer him a tiny smile of my own before I duck down and sit in the car. I am instantly hit with the smell of clean leather and perfume. My fingers run over the taunt material that covers the seats as I shake my head in disbelief. I'm not even at the palace yet, but the material that I am sitting on is nicer than anything that I have ever owned before in my life. It's even nicer than my home.

Home...

I glance out the window next to me and gaze at my home. It's small and rundown, but it was still home. I can see Portia peeking through the dusty and torn curtains with eyes as wide as saucers. As much as I am going to miss her and my family, my mind keeps going back to Emilio. I have never been the emotional one in the family, as that title always laid with Portia, but Emilio is my best friend. I had honestly been expecting him to come see me, especially after hearing about which job I had been assigned. Oh...If he were here with me now, I know that he would be laughing his head off. But the question still stood. Where is he?

"So now that we are in the car and aren't rushing...Are you okay?"

I jump ever so slightly from the sudden voice that sounds to the right of me. I glance over to see Kace trying to stifle a small laugh at my reaction. I must have been so lost in my thoughts about home and Emilio that I didn't even hear or notice him getting in and sitting next to me. Nicaise is in front of him and the driver sits in the seat in front of me.

"Uh-Yeah. Yes. I'm fine. Just shocked I suppose," I reply back to him simply. What else am I supposed to do? Open my heart up and spill my concerns about Emilio to a complete stranger?

"Well, you're not the only one who's shocked. I've overheard many conversations about how you defied all odds." He trails off and I notice Nicaise turning and giving him a stern look. "By accident of course. Because guards are not supposed to eavesdrop," he adds on quickly.

Now it's my turn to try and hide the small amount of laughter that bubbles pass my lips. Kace turns and looks at me quickly, but he seems rather pleased with my reaction. He sits back and sighs as he runs a hand through his curly hair.

"So, tell me, what are you most excited for in the palace?"

"Well...Honestly the food if I am being honest. Or maybe the showers. I heard that the hot water is much better at the palace." When Kace begins to laugh at my response, I look at him confused. I am absolutely serious! There is nothing worse that eating bland beans for three nights in a row with plain bread and then having to take a cold shower. When he notices my confused expression, he just smiles.

"I was also a commoner before I was chosen to be a soldier. I was just laughing because when I was asked that question, I said the same things. With the addition of the beds. I was excited for the soft beds," he explains as he chuckles at himself.

So, he was a commoner as well? I feel myself relax at that thought because at least I won't be the only lower-class person at the palace who wasn't a cook or a maid. Of course, there is nothing wrong with people of a lower status who works at the palace. They are just doing their jobs. And as much as I have never been the type of girl worried about what people think of me, it wouldn't hurt knowing that I'm not alone. For a moment, a comforting silence hangs between us, but then Kace decides to speak up again. Honestly, he reminds me a lot of Portia in a way.

"I think you are going to make a great princess," he says, his voice holding no room for debate, "It's about time they have a commoner represent. Heck maybe you will even be chosen for queen."

I nearly choke on my own spit at his words. Queen?! What is he talking about?!

"Um...I'm sorry. But what?"

"Oh, you know, if the king and queen don't have any children and reach a certain age, they can opt to make one prince and one princess from that year’s ceremony into the new king and queen. And well, King Ryan and Queen Sarai haven't had any kids yet. If you ask me, I think they are beginning to look for replacements," Kace explains in a nonchalant tone.

How can he be so laid back about this?! I am already shocked coming into the palace as a mere princess, but now I am being told that there is a chance that I will be chosen to be queen as well? That thought honestly terrifies me!

"Kace, perhaps you shouldn't be telling her things that are not your business to tell," Nicaise says suddenly in a stern voice before I am even able to respond to him.

When he is reprimanded, Kace honestly looks like a child who was just caught stealing candy. He looks guilty, but not too affected by being chided by Nicaise. I let out a breath as that silence settles over us again, but this time I close my eyes and rest my head against the window. I like Kace, I really do. He is nice and reminds me of Portia with his endless babbling. But honestly, I just need some time alone with myself so that I can sort out my thoughts.

The ride seems to last a lot longer than it actually did, but I open my eyes just in time to be able to see us drive on to the palace grounds. Instantly my lips part to form a small O out of awe. I have heard stories of the palace looked, but they didn't even begin to give the actual scenery justice. The gates stand tall and shine. The grass is cut perfectly, yet still thick and lush green. The palace stands tall and grand, as if it is demanding that the rest of Cliden bow down to it.

"Wow..."

"Don't worry, the shock will wear of soon," Kace says as he watches me. I look over at him and raise an eyebrow.

"Really?" I question. A small laugh sounds from him as he shakes his head no.

"No, definitely not. I have been here exactly a year and it still baffles me," he replies with a twinkling in his blue eyes, "But if you think that the palace grounds are nice, just wait until you see the inside of the palace itself. It is absolutely grand."

The car comes to a stop and before I can even move to open my door, Kace is out of the car and rounding to my side. He opens my door and offers me his hand. I hesitate before I take it, but decide that he is probably, hopefully, someone that I can trust.

"Just don't let the reporters affect you. Look straight ahead. I am going to escort you through it all."

I find myself nodding as he lets go of my hand and begins walking slowly. I walk next to him as I finally focus on what is going on. Along the pathway to the stairs that lead up to the palace's main doors, reporters are lined up with cameras and microphones, surging towards me like hungry vultures. Their questions pierce my mind, interrupting any of my thoughts.

"Rohanna Perez! What were your thoughts when Sir Ambrose announced that you would be a princess?!"

"Miss Perez, do you have anything to say to your family back at home?"

"How do you cope with such a bold status change in such a short period of time?!"

"Rohanna, can you please tell us how you are feeling in this very moment?"

"How are you feeling about not being as dressed nicely as the other princesses that were chosen?!"

My mind is reeling at the different voices, questions, and flashing lights. This sort of attention is, without a doubt, not something that I am used to.

"Just ignore them. Look forward and smile," Kace says quietly to me and offers me his crooked little grin.

I let out a shaky breath before I nod and force a bright smile. After a few more seconds of walking, I even go as far as doing one of those princess waves that I have seen girls do. Ew...This is definitely not me. But anything to please the drama thirsty media is worth doing. Short of embarrassing myself, of course. We finally make it to the huge front double doors of the palace and I hold my breath. This is it.

Two guards step forward and open the doors, revealing a grand marbled hallway. Two doors stand on the left side and three stand on the right, each being separated by huge white columns. At the end of the hallway, there is a spiral staircase that goes up and out of sight. The cream-colored walls hold paintings and pictures of previous royal families. It is airy, but in a way that causes the long hallway to seem more elegant.

"So, was I telling the truth?"

My eyes snap up when Kace speaks and I furrow my eyebrows.

"What?" I ask.

"Was I telling the truth when I said that the inside was way better than the outside?" He questions me with a knowing look. I let out a small chuckle as I nod.

"Oh definitely...It's honestly breathtaking. I have a feeling that my little sister, Portia, would faint if she saw all of this."

Kace nods understandingly before he motions with his hand to the rest of the hallway.

"Well, you are probably going to get lost a couple of times, but don't worry. The other eleven will as well. The first floor is pretty easy to understand," Kace begins, "To the left there is the ballroom and the waiting room. The ballroom is where most gatherings will take place. The waiting room is basically a large meeting room. It is also were visitors stay while waiting on meetings. To the right there is the main meeting room, the kitchen, and the dining room."

I nod my head as I listen and try to retain what he is saying. The ballroom and waiting room are on the left. The main meeting room, kitchen, and dining room are on the right. That won’t be too hard to remember. Right?

"Today you are going to be meeting the rest of the princesses and the princes. You will be in the waiting room until you decide to return to your room. When you are ready, just step out here and I will be waiting, okay?" Kace says to me. "Also, don't let them know that you are nervous."

I nod my head, realizing that none of the other guards are waiting outside the waiting room door, but ignore it. Is he pitying me? Or maybe it is so obvious that I am nervous that he can’t help himself. I let out a breath as he opens the door, revealing yet another grand room with five girls and six boys sitting in it. I recognize the girl, Lilura, and one of the boys, Aaron. But that isn’t what causes me to freeze in my spot. What does is what I hear as I stand in the doorway.

"I just can't believe that they actually let that pathetic commoner in here with us. You know, I bet they only did it so they wouldn't have an uprising. I even bet that her name doesn't even mean what the Counsel said," Lilura says with a smug look before she looks at me and feigns an innocent one, "Oopsies. Didn't see you there."

Everyone's eyes turn to look at me, causing the breath to practically be sucked out of my lungs. Instantly I turn and look at Kace, who is still standing behind me in the doorway.

"Okay, I am ready to go to my room now."

"Aw come on. You are a princess now. I am sure you can handle a little heat. Or are you too...common...to be around the fire," the red head says in a stuck-up tone.

I let out the breath that I am holding as I feel my own fire ignite in my chest. All of my nerves fly out that door as I slowly turn and fix my eyes on her.

"No, of course not. It's just that I don't want to dampen your fire with the ice-cold truth that you, yourself, are nothing but an ordinary higher-class girl. At least I have something special about me," I retort.

The last thing that I see before I turn and walk out is a shocked look that crosses over Lilura's face and slowly turns to rage. The last thing I hear is whispers from the others. Good. Now they know that I am much more than common.