Just Like a Farmers Daughter
1047 Words
As Cassandra went through the videos from yesterday's press there was suddenly a knock on her door.
" Come on in". With that two stern faced palace attendants arrived at her walked in.
“Lady Cassandra,” one said, bowing stiffly.
“Her Majesty has arranged for your royal training to begin immediately.”
“Royal training?”. Cassandra blinked, still in her pajamas.
“Yes. Etiquette, diplomacy, public speaking, history, and… comportment.” as she spoke her gaze lingered on Cassandra’s messy bun as if it were a national crime.
“You will be expected to master them before your official engagement ceremony.”
" Great, just great ". Cassandra groaned, She hated lectures back in school and this sounded ten times worse.
__________
The training hall was lined with mirrors, polished wood floors gleaming beneath crystal chandeliers. At the center stood Lady Irene, a woman in her fifties with an expression sharper than a sword and posture straighter than the palace pillars.
With Just one look at her Cassandra could tell that she was trouble.
“Lady Chase,” Lady Irene said crisply, her voice like a whip.
“I am here to turn you from a common girl into a princess worthy of Cordelia. This will not be easy, and frankly, I doubt your potential.”
“Wow. Just as I thought, she is definitely no Good.” Cassandra whispered softly to herself.
A faint twitch in Irene’s jaw betrayed her irritation as she could still hear with Cassandra had said.
“We shall begin with posture. Stand.” she commanded
Cassandra stood.
“No, not like a farmer’s daughter in a market,” Irene snapped.
“Shoulders back, Chin lifted, Spine straight.” she commanded yet again
Cassandra exaggeratedly puffed her chest out and stuck her chin high.
“Like this?”. She asked staring at Irene with mockery in her eyes
Gasps rippled through the room, A few younger attendants stifled giggles making Irene’s face turn red from embarrassment.
“You mock the Crown!”. she hissed harshly.
Cassandra bit back her laugh, then softened her tone and said.
“I’m sorry. I’ll try properly this time".
But the day only grew harder.
She dropped a teacup during etiquette practice, spilled ink on royal documents in calligraphy class, and tripped twice while curtsying.
By the time lunch arrived, Lady Irene looked as though she might faint from despair anytime soon.
“This is hopeless,” Irene muttered.
“The Prince will be humiliated if you appear in public like this.”
“Or maybe the problem isn’t me, it’s that you expect me to transform overnight into some stiff, perfect doll and I’m not a doll.” Cassandra said
“Irene you were purposely making things hard for her. I saw it just as she said you can't transform her over night into what she isn't.”
Hearing this voice Cassandra turned sharply.
Saviour stood at the doorway, tall and composed in a charcoal suit. His eyes flicked briefly to Cassandra before fixing on Lady Irene.
....“Your Highness,” Irene stammered, bowing low.
“Forgive me. I was only—”
. . “You were belittling her,” saviour said coolly.
“That is not training. That is intimidation.” The room fell silent.
Cassandra’s chest tightened from shock, she was unsure of what shocked her more saviour’s presence, or the fact that he was defending her.
Saviour strode forward, his gaze never wavering.
“Lady Chase will learn. But she will do so on her terms. Do not mistake her patience for weakness.” Irene bowed again, pale.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Saviour turned to leave, his coat sweeping behind him. But before he reached the door, Cassandra blurted,
“Wait.” He paused, glancing back.
“Thank you.” she smiled genuinely for the first time since she arrived in the palace
“Don’t misunderstand my action,” Saviour said flatly.
“I did not do it for you. I did it for the Crown.” And with that, he walked out proud.
She wasn’t sure what was more confusing: his words, or the way her heart had skipped when he had stood by her side.
_____________
That evening, Cassandra sat in the palace gardens, trying to clear her head. The roses glowed under the lantern light, the fountain trickled softly, and for once, no cameras or attendants surrounded her.
It felt peaceful and she couldn't help be think of her saviour had defended her in front of Irene.
“Thinking of ways to escape already?”. A voice startled her. Cassandra spun to see a young man lounging casually on the stone bench across from her.
He had tousled blond hair, mischievous green eyes, and a grin that looked far too comfortable for palace grounds.
“Who are you?”. Cassandra asked warily.
“Aroan ,” he said with a mock bow.
“Second cousin to the royal pain you’re supposed to marry. Some call me the prodigal son of Cordelia’s nobility. You can just call me Aron.”
“You’re a prince too?”. Cassandra asked blinking softly
“Hardly. More like the spare wheel nobody wants. Which makes me useful to damsels in distress.” He winked.
“I’m not a damsel in distress.” Cassandra said frowning
“Of course not,” Aron said smoothly.
“You’re the accidental princess. Much more interesting.”
Cassandra stiffened, He had said it so easily, like it wasn't a new thing, the whole kingdom already whispered it behind her back.
Leo leaned closer.
“A little Word of advice, Cassandra Chase watch your step. Not everyone in this palace wants you here.”
“What do you mean?”. Cassandra asked, it wasn't like she didn't know that there were people who wouldn't like her but he said it like someone was out to get her.
“You’ll see soon enough.” Aron said grinning as he strolled away
Cassandra stared after him, unease prickling down her spine.
The palace was beautiful, The palace was golden But the palace was also a battlefield And she had just realized she was standing in the middle of it.
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- Writer
