THE CURSED PRINCESS

The Celebration and Calamity Package

"We are going to be busy today but I'm happy to be." Agatha smiled as she smiled at Shanna.

"It's a big day for the queen."

"It's also a big day for us."

"Let's get this meat salted and cooked before the chef comes here to shout at us."

"I'm happy the queen is pregnant."

"I can't wait for the child."

"Imagine how the celebration for the child would be if the party to celebrate her pregnancy is like this."

"I can imagine it. We will be super busy."

"But it will be super fun."

"I don't doubt that it would be."

"Let's do what we are meant to do.

This isn't even a big party. The king is only celebrating with high officials and friends. When the royal offspring is born, the party would be extended to the whole kingdom. That would be super big."

"I can't wait to play with the child."

"Play?" Agatha snorted. "Do I need to remind you that you are a kitchen maid? You don't get to play with the children of the king."

Shanna pouted. "I should have been a court maid instead of being a kitchen maid."

"It's not too late for you."

"Are you serious?" Shanna asked, her eyes bulging out with surprise.

Agatha snorted. "Don't be ridiculous. You can't be a court maid so focus on your position as a kitchen maid. You might get asked to take the food into the main quarters and serve the kids if you are on your best behavior and the chef likes you."

"Or maybe I can work harder and get promoted so I don't have to spend my day cooking in the kitchen."

"What will you do if you don't cook?"

"I will supervise the cooking and spend my free time watching the royal offsprings play."

Agatha shook her head. "It never ceases to amaze me how much of a dreamer you are."

"You don't have to be amazed. It's good for everyone to dream."

"Keep on dreaming then but don't forget to focus on your reality. You are a kitchen maid who might get her head chopped off with a knife by the chef if this meat turn out badly. Keep your mouth shut and keep working." Agatha sighed, clicking her tongue at Shanna. "You have a long way to go before you become a proper palace maid."

Shanna sighed and rolled her eyes. "You can be mean at times."

"I'm not mean. I'm realistic."

"Do you think the queen might give birth to twins?"

"I don't know and I don't think of anything asides my work. How would I know what the queen would give birth to when I don't stay in her belly?"

"I bet you think about Brood."

"Don't tease me." Agatha snorted, fighting a smile from blooming on her face at the mention of Brood. "Focus on your work."

"Yes, senior." Shanna gave her a mock salute.

Agatha shook her head in amusement as she looked at Shanna. Even though the girl never took anything serious, she thought she was adorable.

She would never tell her that though.

******

"I think the blue gown looks good on you, your highness."

Diane smiled as the court maids dressed her, the joy in her heart spilling to her face. She doubted she could ever stop smiling regardless of what happened to her.

"And you should wear the golden necklace that the king gifted you last month."

"That is shiny." Diane gasped. "Isn't that too much?"

"That is why you should wear it. It's a celebration." Cora said.

"What would I wear when the child is born?" Diane asked. "Don't make a fuss over me."

"We all know that the king would buy you dozens of jewelry as gifts before the baby is born. You can wear any of that then. You should dress as regally as you deserve to, your highness. You've waited for this day for a long time. You deserve to enjoy it to the fullest."

Diane smiled. "I deserve to. Make me the most beautiful woman in the land." She told her maid.

"You are already the most beautiful woman in the land, your highness." Cora said and the other maids nodded in confirmation.

Diane chuckled. "Now, I understand why the king thinks you are all full of flattery."

"We would never be full of pretense towards you, your highness." Cora pledged.

"I was only pulling your legs." Diane laughed.

"It's good to see you being in a happy mood and being your usual self, my queen." Cora beamed. "I'm relieved I won't have to watch you torture yourself with trying to get pregnant."

"What if I do that after the birth of this child?"

"I hope you won't have to do that again. I was tortured watching you torture yourself."

"I don't think Arthur would let me do that as well. Let's not talk anymore about the struggles we both went through. It's a day of joy so let's celebrate and forget about the past."

"I agree with that, your highness." Cora nodded.

******

"Your highness."

Diane smiled as she walked into the midst of the people gathered to celebrate with them, loving their attention on her.

"Come here, my love." Arthur said, beckoning to her with his hand.

She moved towards him, sitting on the throne beside him. The party started in full gear with everyone laughing and eating as they toasted to the health of the queen and her unborn child.

Diane had never had so much fun as she had that night. For the first time in years, she felt free to celebrate without a twinge of sadness lurking in her heart.

"Thank you all for coming." She said, hours later as she watched her guests depart for their houses.

Arthur pulled her into his arms and they walked hand in hand towards their chamber.

"How do you feel?" Arthur asked her.

"I feel good. Thanks for throwing a party for me." She replied with a grin.

"I thought you would appreciate it since you barely attended any party or social events in the past few months. I wanted to make up for everything that you missed."

"And you did."

"I'm glad you liked it."

"I loved it."

The two of them got to their bedroom and settled in bed, cuddling against each other after having their bath.

"No, not my baby." Diane cried from her sleep. "Don't touch my baby!" She screamed.

"Diane, wake up." Arthur whispered, shaking her.

Diane gasped as she woke up from sleep, the expression on her face haunted. "My baby." She groaned, touching her belly with terrified hands.

"Relax, it's just a nightmare." Arthur said, pulling her into his arms and petting her back to sleep.

Hours later, Arthur woke up in panic at the sound of Diane's high-pitched scream. He rubbed his eyes as he glanced at her, wondering what was wrong.

His heart sank low in his chest at the tears on her face and the despair in her eyes. He let out a haunted groan, knowing that something was wrong even before she said a word.

"I lost the baby." She whispered weakly, glancing at the pool of blood on the bed.