Evolution of a Queen

The Truck

A week has passed since that incident. My eye has slowly started healing, but I still needed to wear the bandage. This past week both Prince James and my Mom have tried to speak to me, but I never responded to them. They didn’t need to see how hideous I was. Seriah never tried knocking on my door anymore. She did slide a goodbye note under the door that brought tears to my eyes, but she never knocked. I was happy that she respected my wishes and didn’t try saying goodbye in person again.

Today was the day I was leaving. I was excited to leave this hell hole. The food shipment was coming in today, and I sent a note down to the kitchens saying that I was coming down to help. In reality, I was hopping in the truck and escaping. Lucy contacted her sister, who lived outside palace walls and informed her I needed a place to stay. She was all too happy to accept. I wouldn’t stay too long, however, because she lived too close to the palace.

“Miss,” Lucy walked up to me with tears falling from her eyes, “Here are the clothes you requested.”

“Thank you, Lucy. Is Abby getting my ointment?” Lucy handed me the pants and loose shirt that the kitchen people use.

Before she answered, she tried to wipe the tears from her eyes, “Yes. She’s getting two weeks’ worth.” She sniffled, “Miss is this what you want? You’re leaving everything you’ve ever known. You’re leaving Prince James. He’s been asking about you every day, and he misses you.”

I laugh, “Who would miss me. I’m just an ugly little girl who couldn’t even protect herself from her father. This place is hell, Lucy. If I had left earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have suffered all I have since Prince James arrived. Prince James is better off without me, and I don’t want to be with him. He is the reason I look like this now. Let him go home without a wife. Maybe then my father will finally be destroyed.”

I turn my back on her and walk into my bathroom to change. I never felt comfortable in dresses, but the pants and shirt felt terrific to wear. I now wore a pair of black jeans and a white uniform shirt. I pulled on a pair of running shoes and looked at myself in the mirror. I liked how I looked in these clothes more than the dresses I designed.

Walking out of the bathroom, I saw that Abby had come back and was holding a pack out to me. “It has your ointment and a few changes of clothes. There’s also a little money hidden in here.” Abby walked up to me and put it on my back, “Now you have to hurry. The truck will be arriving in five minutes.

“I need to do one last thing,” I ran over to my chest at the end of my bed and unlocked it. I dug around for a few seconds before I found my paints and a paintbrush.

Walking over to the door, I opened it and stepped out. I knew that no one would be here because it was a little before breakfast. Everyone would be getting ready for breakfast. I quickly dipped my brush into the paint. I drug the brush along the edge of the door right underneath the handle. It wasn’t easy to see, but you would notice it if you were looking for a red streak.”

“Now I will be leaving.” I walked over to Lucy and Abby and engulfed them in a hug, “Goodbye my friends. I wish you the best lives possible.”

I didn’t want to say ‘I hope to see you again’ because that would mean I would be coming back to the castle. I was never coming back to this place. I wasn’t going to be fighting a losing battle anymore.

I stepped away and smiled at their crying faces one last time before turning and walking to my secret passage. This was going to be the last time I used it. I took a deep breath before stepping into the passage and closing the door behind me.

“Lilly! Thank you so much for your help!” The head cook, Sam, walked up to me, “We’re a little short-handed today because of breakfast.”

“Of course!” I smile at him cheerfully. I was glad I started coming down to the kitchens for my meals because no one was asking questions about the bandage. “I can help with unloading the truck. I don’t know where anything goes in the kitchens.”

“Alright,” Sam patted my shoulder, “The truck hasn’t arrived yet so come have some fruit and chat with me for a little bit. Everyone around here is too boring nowadays.”

I laugh at his words, “I doubt I will be much better kind, sir. But if you want to indulge in idle chit chat, then who am I to stop you?”

He chuckled and sat me down a ways away from everyone before setting down fruit in front of me. He sat down across from me and looked at me seriously, “You’re leaving, aren’t you?”

I froze and looked at him. After a moment of shock, I slowly said, “No why would I be leaving. I’m just coming to help you.”

“Lilly I have known you your whole life. You made it pretty obvious you were leaving,” Sam looked sternly at me, “You know better than to lie to me, Lilly.”

I sigh, “What gave it away?”

Sam laughed, “Well you’ve been coming down here every day for a week, you kept asking about when shipments would come in, and you have a backpack the day shipment arrives.”

I look pleadingly at him, “Please don’t tell anyone, Sam! I need to get out of this hell hole and get away from my father. He has said repeatedly that he wants to kill me, and I’m afraid one of these days he will.”

Sam put a comforting hand on my shoulder, “Lilly you misunderstand why I’m saying this. I will help you leave. I see you as my daughter, and I also know what your birth father has been doing to you. I’m supporting you, Lilly.”

“Truck has arrived!” Someone called, and the doors were pushed open.

Sam stood up and started giving orders, “Princess Lilly, Wyatt, Patricia, and I will unload the truck and put the food by the door. The rest of you will put the food away like every other week.”

“Sam!” I hiss at him, “What are you doing?”

“Don’t worry, Lilly. Noah and Patricia come with the truck once a month. If the King asks about you, he won’t be able to ask them about it.” I reluctantly nod and follow Sam out the door. As we exit, Sam calls Noah and Patrica over.

“What is it, Sam? We have to unload the truck,” Patricia looks coldly at me, “Who is this? Your girlfriend?”

“No, Patricia. This is Princess Lilly,” Immediately both bow to me, “Stop both you; she doesn’t like that.”

“Sam, why is she here and not at breakfast?” Noah looked at me in concern.

“She will be leaving with you. You will be dropping her off in town when she says and then forget that you ever dropped her off in town.” Sam looked at both of them sternly.

“But why?” Patricia looked alarmed.

Before Sam could answer, I did, “Because my father tried to kill me. I will not wait around for him to decide to kill me. It’s not safe for you or me if he ever found out that you helped me escape, so you must forget ever dropping me off in town.”

Patricia pulled me into a hug, “I’m so sorry, my dear. Of course, we will help you. Let’s hurry up and empty the truck so we can get you out of here.”