Rapunzel looked out her window and watched as the sun slowly rose, filling every corner of Corona with life. This was one of those few moments that she got to herself, and she was determined to enjoy every second of it. But she couldn't. Her mind was buzzing, a headache already forming.
It had already been six months since Eugene had left, claiming that the life of a royal was too boring for him. Of course, he wasn't Eugene anymore. He was back to Flynn Rider. She tried to hold onto him, just to keep him around longer but it didn't work out. They would have been married by now if he'd stuck around. It was difficult to admit to herself but in the end they weren't right for each other. She had convinced herself that it was a girlish crush based solely on him being the first man she had ever met. It took a while but she eventually accepted this as fact. Certainly many women before her had had their hearts broken by him. Why should she sit around feeling sorry for herself?
Her gaze wandered from the moat surrounding the kingdom to the forest that lie just past it. He was in there, she was certain of it. What if he's alone? What if he needs help? He might not even be alive. Rapunzel sighed as the morning sun filled the kingdom with golden light. She knew he was fine. He always was. He'd come to visit her every once in a while, convinced that the two of them could still be friends. Each time she had to plaster on a smile and pretend that having people dress her up all day was everything she could hope for. As time went on, it became increasingly easier to laugh and his visits became more hoped for only for the comfort of talking to someone sane. He told her about his adventures and she told him about the silly kingdom etiquette. Of course, his stories were always more interesting. But for the last month or so she found herself wanting more than just stories of adventure.
Rapunzel recognized the feeling. That pull. It was the same sound that called her to leave her tower in the first place. Now here it was again, but this time she wasn't quite sure where it was pulling her.
There was a soft knock at the door, interrupting Rapunzel's thoughts. She turned her attention towards the heavy wooden door that separated her from the rest of the bustling castle.
"M'lady," called a gentle voice, "As I'm sure you're well aware, the sun has just risen and it's time to prepare for the day." Rapunzel had done this over a hundred times since she had joined the family. Her favorite dressing maid, Violet, would come in and help her into her clothes. A few other maids would arrive bringing jewelry, hair tokens (Not that she had many she could use, thanks to Eugene), and a small breakfast. After the ritual was complete and she was primped, she had the day mostly free to herself. Mostly. Sometimes she would be asked to attend a small event in the kingdom, and of course any ball held by the King and Queen she would have to attend.
It was difficult for her to go wandering the kingdom on her own. It was no problem when Eugene was around. The king and queen were confident that the man who had previously been the most wanted thief in all of Corona could certainly protect their treasured daughter. The pair would wander through city streets a few times a week, greeting townspeople and stopping in on local venues. Of course, when he left her, their little routine vanished with him. Now she wasn't allowed in town unless she had at least two royal guards with her, and they certainly weren't any fun. They didn't allow her to eat any of the village food without them tasting it first, checking for poison. She wasn't allowed to go into the pubs, despite being loved by everyone inside. They didn't dance with her or even really talk to her. She found that visiting the town wasn't as much fun as it had been in the past. Over time she simply stopped going, and townsfolk assumed she'd fallen into some sort of depression. They weren't entirely wrong.
Rapunzel allowed herself to be dressed in her gown. Fortunately for her it was stylish to be simple. The indigo colored dress reached just to her ankles, and although it looked bland and plain, she knew the fabric must have cost a fair amount. Only royalty could wear purple. It certainly wouldn't help her if she needed to blend in with a crowd. Honestly, she was starting to get sick of purple all the time. Maybe I can request a different color for tomorrow.
Rapunzel waited until all the other dressing maids left, and then she signaled Violet. Violet walked over to the princess. Although she was Rapunzel's favorite dressing maid, she was also very strict and intimidating. Rapunzel took a deep breath, and hesitantly asked "Violet? Do you think perhaps tomorrow I could wear a red dress instead of a purple one?" Violet gave her a stern look, but not one without kindness in the eyes.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I just can't do that," she said softly. Rapunzel's heart sunk a little. "I'm afraid that it'll take a few days for a new dress to be completed. But while I'm filling out the order, are there any other color dresses that might please you as well?" Rapunzel's face lit up when she saw Violet's smile slowly rise. Rapunzel wrapped her in a hug, ignoring the royal-to-servant protocol. Violet jumped a bit, and although she appreciated the friendly gesture, she knew it was not etiquette. She cleared her throat a bit and Rapunzel moved back.
"I'm so sorry Violet. I didn't mean to take you aback like that. I suppose I was just excited. And to answer your question I would love a dress in every color you have! Do you think Mother and Father will be okay with that?"
"I'm sure it will be fine, just as long as the dresses are proper length. You're quite lucky my dear. You live in an era where royal clothing is rather simple and relaxed. Some queens would spend hours getting ready every morning, and here you are, a simple half hour to do your toilette. Count your blessings, m'lady." And with that, Violet walked out of the room, her grace and balance only comparable to a queen's. Rapunzel knew how silly it was for her to be excited over new dresses, but she couldn't help herself. It was something different.
Wait. Something different. She thought to herself. If something simple as a wardrobe change can make me this happy, maybe I need to make a really big change. Maybe that's the itch I've been feeling. She made her way across the room to the window. She gazed upon the forest again. Yes, it was time for a change. Perhaps those new gowns had more use than she originally thought.