Evolution of a Queen

Saying Goodbye

It took me a few minutes to be able to stand up, but finally, I was able to press the button on my wall that called my maids to me. When they answered, I told them to bring themselves and Doctor Emily. I warned them that I was in a bad state and I looked like a monster, but they didn’t believe me.

“Miss, may we come in?” Abby knocked on the door gently. She waited for my positive response and entered. She screamed as soon as she saw me and rushed over to my position, propped up on a wall.

“Miss, what happened to you?” Lucy had rushed over as well.

“My father happened,” I looked away in shame, I didn’t want anyone to see me.

“Princess, let me help you. I have more resources in my office downstairs. Let me take you there, and I can treat your eye,” Doctor Emily held her hand out to help me up.

“No!” I started crying heavily, “I look just like a monster, I can’t let anyone see me like this. I’m not sure I even look like a human anymore. He ruined me!”

“No, not yet,” Emily grabbed my shoulders and looked me in the eye, “If I treat it now your eye can be saved, but that’s only if you come with me to my office. It will scar, I’m not going to lie to you, but you won’t be able to see out of that eye at all if you do not come down with me right now. Now come with me, Princess Lilly!”  

I hesitantly looked at Abby and Lucy and slowly started to stand up. I fell back down immediately, so both Abby and Lucy had to help me stand up and walk downstairs.

When we got to her office, Emily immediately started grabbing things to clean my wound. It stung, but I never let out a peep. I’ve endured worse pains before. This pain was nothing. When she had my wound cleaned, she put a dressing over my eye and wrapped it up. 

“Princess, make sure to come down here and have the wrap changed every morning and every afternoon. Your eye should be healed enough for you to see out of it again in about two weeks if you get the wrap changed regularly.” Emily helped me stand up and ushered me out the door, “Now get going before your father finds you here.”

“Abby, did you bring my cloak?” I softly ask when I got out of the room.

“Yes, miss.” Abby helped me put on my purple cloak. It had a hood, so I was able to cover up how hideous I looked. 

When we got back to my room, I turned towards my two maids, “No one is to come in here. Do not open the door for anyone, not my sister, not my mom, no one. I will be taking all my meals in my room from now on.” 

“Yes, Princess,” Lucy walked up to me, “Princess, please sit down for a little bit and let me fix your hair. I know that’s one of the things that’s bothering you.”

“I’m done with being a Princess only in name,” I sat down in front of my mirror and glared at myself, “Cut it off. I want to look like someone to be feared. My father may not fear me, but so help me others will.”

“All of your hair?” Lucy looked at me in horror, “This side can still be saved!”

“Fine, shave just the left side and straighten out the right.”

I sat back and closed my good eye. The sound of a razor rang through the air. It felt weird to feel a blade run across my skin but not cut me. It took Lucy only a few minutes to shave the side of my head. When she was done, I was amazed. The air felt amazing, and my head felt so much more light. I’ve always had thick hair, so I always had what felt like weights on top of my head.

“Miss, I’m going to have to cut the right side as well as the back to around your cheekbone if you want it to look good.”

“That’s fine. My head feels so much lighter without any hair on my head, weighing me down. Can you please layer it and not just do a straight cut? My hair won’t look good if it’s just a straight cut” I didn’t open my eye when I spoke to Lucy. 

“Yes-”

“Lilly, why is your door locked?” I could hear Seriah banging on my door, “Let me in. I need to hug my sister and comfort her!” 

I could hear that she was crying, but I didn’t care. Go away!” I call out, “I’m hideous right now. Come back when I’m beautiful again!”

“What are you saying, Lilly?” She started crying harder, “You will always be beautiful, no matter what anyone does to you!”

“Please just leave me alone,” I started crying, “Leave me be. Father will do worse next time. He almost did bad things to you today. It’s safer for you to stay away from me. It’s safer for everyone to stay away from me.”

“No, Lilly! I won’t leave you alone right now. Let me patch you up like normal and comb out your hair. Let me be your big sister. Let me play music and dress you up. Things will go back to normal, and you won’t have to worry about anything again!” The doorknob rattled as she tried to open the door.

“Miss, I’ve finished your hair,” Lucy said softly enough that Seriah wouldn’t hear her. I nodded and stood up. I flung open my door and stood face to face with my sister. 

“What hair?” I cry out to her, “When have I never been worried? Seriah, I never let you see my worry before. I need to protect you from me. Father will never harm you, so you don’t have to worry. I will harm you with my emotions. I’ve hidden most for my wounds from you! I’ve hidden my true feelings from you.”

“Lilly, what happened to you?” Seriah cries out in horror. She tries to step closer to me, but I step back so she couldn’t.

“This was the last straw, Seriah. I’m tired, and I’m done.” I turn away from her.

“What do you mean, Lilly? What have I ever done to you?” Seriah was suspicious now.

“You have done nothing,” I turn towards her with tears falling from my eyes, “But I don’t feel safe here. I will be leaving when my eye heals. I’m not going to wait around for my father to decide to kill me. I almost died tonight, and I couldn’t do anything about it. I’m not going to wait around for the next beating because my father is upset about me stealing something that he feels you deserve.  I will be leaving for my safety and well being. If I stay any longer, then I will die, and the blood will be on father’s hands. If I stay, you will have a murderer for a father.”

“Where will you go, Lilly? You’ve never been outside the palace walls. You will be targeted because you look like me,” Seriah says this harshly, but I know she meant it to be kind.

“I’ll find somewhere to live. I won’t tell you because I don’t want our father using you to find me.”

“When will you be leaving?” 

I stopped and thought for a moment, “I can’t tell you that right, but you’ll know when I’ve left.”

“How? I want to be able to give you a proper goodbye.”

“No, you can’t do that. I will leave a red streak on my door using the paint mother got me. Now you have to leave before anyone sees you here,” I try to close the door but she stops it by throwing her arms around me.

“Don’t treat me as a stranger, Lilly!” She cries, “I’m going to miss you, and I can’t give you a proper goodbye? That’s messed up, and you know it.”

“It’s dangerous for you,” I say and hug her back, “Let this be our goodbye then. Please don’t knock on my door again. I won’t answer you. Abby and Lucy will become your maids when I leave, so please take good care of them. I love you, Seriah. Make sure to stay healthy. Have Prince Nathan take you away from here as soon as possible. Stay safe!” With that said, I quickly push her away and close my door. It felt like I was closing the door to my old life, and the next door I open will open into my new life.