The Imprisoned Princess

Chapter 2

My Mother dismissed her attendants and sat down on a nearby bench. My Mother was a beautiful woman, I had to admit. She had beautiful olive toned skin and dark brown hair. She always wore dark, bold colors. Her dress today was a peacock blue with silver accents.I stood there, waiting for her to speak. You were not allowed to sit in my Mother's presence unless she asked you to, unless you were my Father. Since the King was considered a higher rank than the Queen, in my Father's presence, it was my Mother who needed permission to sit. These were the rules. Everyone below my Mother's rank had to stand in her presence. Everyone below my rank had to stand in mine, and so forth. 

"Now, Neoma." My Mother started. My Mother rarely used my name. She hated it. My name had been chosen by my Father for his maternal grandmother. My Mother felt the name was too common,though considering her feelings about me and my appearance, maybe common suited me. "Tonight is the ball to celebrate your eighteenth birthday." 

She said. 

"Yes, Mother." I responded. She looked me over coldly. 

"I trust you understand what is expected of you." She said, flicking away a bug that had landed on the bench. 

"Yes, Mother." I said obediently. While outside I seemed calm and reserved, inside I was screaming. Screaming that I didn't understand. That I didn't want to marry someone I didn't know. That if anyone really cared about making me happy on my birthday, they would not make me attend this ball at all. I couldn't say any of that though. To complain or speak out of turn to my Mother would be unforgivable. If I was rude, Milena would pay the price. Since I could heal quickly, physical punishment was quickly over. I could heal from a lashing in hours. Yes, it would still hurt, but once healed, the pain would be over. My Mother learned when I was young that beating me wasn't effective. So she started having Milena beaten instead and I was forced to watch. The other servants were sometimes beaten too but Milena had been with me since birth. My Mother knew I was fond of her and she used it against me. 

"Good. I expect your best behavior tonight. Embarrass me in any way and you'll regret it." My Mother said nonchalantly. 

"Yes, Mother." I said. I knew this was no idle threat. 

"Now go. Just looking at you tires my eyes. So pale. Really my dear, perhaps I should require you to spend more time in the sunlight." She said. This was a common threat. We both knew that time in the sun would only cause my skin to burn. I didn't tan. A few times, at outdoor tea parties hosted by favored nobles, I was forced to sit outside for hours. I did my best to stay in the shade but my pale skin was beet red by the end of the day. I still healed quickly. Far quicker than any human could. The next day, I was no longer red. Instead my skin was peeling. By the third day, the burn was gone entirely. My skin was back to it's pale tone as if the sun had never touched it. Even if the damage healed, it still wasn't something I enjoyed. 

"As my Lady Mother wishes." I said, calling her bluff. I knew she wouldn't want me red and burnt at the ball. It would reflect poorly on her. She acted annoyed. 

"You may go now." She said formally dismissing me. I curtsied again as my Mother's attendants rejoined her. Then I turned and headed back inside the palace. Once I left my Mother, Milena rejoined me. She was careful to stay out of my Mother's sight when she could. 

"Did she tell you anything about the betrothal?" She asked me. 

"What do you think?" I asked, annoyed by the question. Milena knew better than anyone that my Mother would never tell me anything important. 

"So, what did she say?" Milena asked. No other servant would ever be so bold with me but Milena was special to me and she knew it.  

"To behave myself, or else." I said. 

"That was it?" She asked dumbfounded. 

"Essentially." I finished. 

"Where are we going?" Milena asked as I weaved through the castle passages. 

"The library." I said. I loved to read. It was one of my only joys but I rarely had much time. Reading had been the one part of my studies I had always enjoyed. Today was the first time I had been to the library in months. One good thing came with my birthday. Since I was now eighteen, I no longer had lessons during the day. Soon, my Mother would assign me duties as princess and future Queen. I had been taught these skills my entire life and now it would be my chance to show what I had learned. I would also be busy for the next several months with wedding preparations. While I would make very few decisions regarding the festivities or guests, I would be required to attend meetings with my Mother as well as fittings for my dress and new wardrobe. Not only that but my intended would be expected to court me during our engagement. We would always be chaperoned and our meetings would be limited, but this was the only time we would get to get to know each other before the wedding. For now though, I just wanted to escape in a book. We arrived at the library and a groom opened the door for Milena and I. I went to a couch and sat and a servant came with lemon water and asked what book I would. I had decided on Pride and Prejudice. My Mother mocked me for reading human romance novels but I couldn't help myself. Love was so different for humans. They found love themselves, it wasn't chosen for them. Our kind have mates. One wolf who we are destined to be with. Our other halves. It all sounded so romantic. I sighed. The royal family didn't have the luxury of mates. We married for strength and diplomatic reasons. Love was not a consideration. 

  The servant returned with my book and I thanked them, asking to be left alone for a while. Milena would retrieve me when it was time to eat lunch. The servants faded into the background, giving me the illusion of being alone. I settled into my seat and started reading.

 After what seemed like only a short while later, Milena was there to fetch me for lunch. I sighed as I laid down the book, not bothering to mark my place. It was unlikely I would have any time to read anytime soon.