The Forgotten Princess

Chapter One

          “Are you sure this is right?” I ask the maid who is helping me into a dress that is worth more than my entire town.

          “His Grace would be pleased if you attended dinner this evening, and we can’t have you showing up to a royal dinner with a sewn together dress, can we?” She smiles at me.

          I look at myself in the mirror in disbelief. I was being transported to this castle in order to endure my punishment for stealing a loaf of bread, and suddenly I am being treated as a queen.

          “Is this a trap?” I ask her.

          “Why do you ask, my lady?”

          “Is the prince aware that I was sent to his presence for theft?” I whisper.

          “The rumors state that you stood before the prince and demanded to fight for your freedom. No doubt this is his way of entertaining that notion, yes?”

          She may be right. After I stood up and said I was there to present my case, the prince waved the guards away and walked me to the main hall, presenting me to his servants. This was probably just a game to him. He’s going to dress me up and hear me out, just to kill me.

          “Is the prince a good man?” I ask my maid.

          “He is the best man that Arcadia can ask for, my lady.”

          I exhaled the breath that I wasn’t aware that I was holding in.

          “What is your name?” I ask her.

          She bows her head to me, treating me like royalty and not like a peasant. “My name is Hannah Grace, my lady.”

          “You don’t have to call me that,” I laughed. “God knows I am no Lady.”

          She lifts her head with a smile. “I am aware of your social standing, my lady. However, Prince Kayden has brought prisoners to the castle before, and some have been women, yet none have ever received this treatment. I will not be at fault of treating a guest such as I would treat a prisoner.”

          “You are so kind, Hannah.”

          “I am nothing but a woman, my lady,” she fiddles with a few more tugs of my dress before smiling widely. “There, finished.”

          I turn and look at the end result. “Dear Lord,” I gasp. My reflection looks nothing like I do. My hair is actually brushed and tamed, framing my pale skin and highlighting my blue eyes. The dirt has been scrapped from the skin on my shoulders from lugging around dirt covered fabrics all day long. My skin is polished, all but shining in the reflection.

          My eyes have been highlighted with a brown shadow to allow the blue to pop out. My cheeks have been pinched and glowing pink. My lips have a sour taste to them with the red smear Hannah’s added.

          “I look like a royal,” I whisper.

          “You need to look as such, for you’ll be dining with them shortly,” Hannah says, factually.

          “Dining with whom, exactly?” I ask.

          “Well, everyone, I presume. The Prince has asked for the best of plates and food to be well prepared. We’re treating this dinner as if the King himself will be present.”

          I gulp. King?!

          “Do not fret, my lady,” Hannah assures. “Prince Kayden would not harm you, for I believe he has a soft spot for such a pretty lady as yourself.”

          “That is bold,” I say, straightening my shoulders. “I am no royal, I am nothing but a commoner.”

          “A commoner that I was asked to prepare like a queen,” she says with a bow before exiting my chambers.

          I look at myself in the giant mirror one last time. I look as if God has spat royalty at a peasant.  I barely know how to walk in the shoes I was placed in, let alone sit in this dress. I don’t know why it was asked of Hannah to prepare me so, but I know I won’t have any answers until I face this dinner tonight. If it is my head they want, they will take it while I am looking like a queen.

          “The Gracious Prince Kayden,” a voice announces as the doors open up. I look up to see Kayden appear before the backlit window. He looks in my direction and smiles.

          I blush, praying that I’ve pinched my cheeks enough for them not to stand out. He glides gracefully across the hall, taking a seat next to me.

          “May I?” he asks me.

          “Is this custom?” I whisper. “Aren’t you supposed to sit at the head of the table for trial?”

          “Trial?” he laughs. “This is dinner.”

          “My Lord, please, I beg of you. I need to know my fate,” I plead.

          “Please,” Kayden smiles and lifts a hand. “Call me Kayden.”

          My eyes widen. Calling a prince by a formality is a punishable offense. Maybe this dinner was a trick after all.

          “My Lord,” I bow, lifting my dress ever so slightly. “I am well aware of those rules that were set upon the kingdom by your father.”

          “Ah,” he sighs. “Well please, I beg of you, will you do so if your Prince asks so much of you?”

          I narrow my eyes at him, seeing his lips lift into a small smile.

          “As you wish,” I pause. “My Lord, Kayden.”

          He laughs out loud, brushing his hand through his hair. “I admire your fire,” he says softly. “It burns so brightly inside of you.”

          “Lord Ashton,” the voice behind me announces. I turn my head as Kayden raises from the table beside me.

          A man, whom looks to be the same age as Kayden, starts his way over to us, eyeing us very deeply. He is taller than Kayden, though not by much. His broad shoulders clearly showing his strength as a fighter. His dark blonde hair is kept short, with eyes just as blue as Kayden’s. I stand, weakly, as he approaches.

          “Cousin,” Kayden says, taking Ashton’s hand.

          Ashton stares at me. His narrow eyes suddenly widened, as I see them search my figure.

          “Kayden,” he says, never looking away from me.

          “Yes, Ash, exactly what you’re thinking. Silence now, Cousin.”

          “My Lord,” I bow towards him, ignoring the pit of familiarity forming in my stomach. “Do I know you?”

          His forced smile starts to form through a troubled face.

          “My Lady,” he bows his head to me. “Forgive me, for I have not introduced myself.”

          “Seems to run in the family,” I said without thinking, causing Kayden to laugh.

          “I am Ashton, cousin of Kayden, the pleasure is all mine.”

          “Oh no,” I say, blushing as he takes my hand. “Please, the pleasure is clearly all mine.”

          “Doubtful,” he smiles at me.

          Just as I’m about to reprimand him for treating me with more respect than I should be shown, the door opens loudly, and in walks a man with a funny hat, clearing his throat.

          “All rise. His Majesty, King Zion of Arcadia.”

          I bow my head as the rest of the room fills with sounds of everyone getting to their feet. The king himself enters the room, surrounded by guards as well as his wife, Queen Amaryllis.

          His presence is powerful, causing a room full of useless chatter to stone-cold silence in a matter of seconds. He walks with my grace and authority, looking about the room as if there was a threat at hand.

          “Be seated,” he says, taking his seat at the head of the table.

          The room obliges, quickly taking their seats but remaining ominously silent.

          “What accords have brought forth such a large banquet?” The king asks.

          I look around the room, thinking the same thing myself. This isn’t about me becoming a prisoner, this is something else.

          “If I may, my Grace,” Kayden says, standing from his seat.

          “Ah, my son,” the king nods. “As you were.”

          “If I may introduce to you, Father,” Kayden says, taking my hand and pulling me to stand beside him, with a table of curious onlookers glancing now in my direction. One man does a double take, looking to his companion and whispering furiously. Queen Amaryllis narrows her eyes at me before throwing her hand before her mouth and inhaling a rather large gasp.

          “Lady Kennah, Princess of Sierra Verona.”