Redone - Hope you like it :) Please R&R
Evelyn's POV
'Walk slowly – you are never to run – it is not appropriate for a princess and a future queen…' my governess droned as skipped lightly along the garden path, examining the exotic plants and animals that our messengers had brought from faraway lands.
'Margaret – I'll do as I please – you may leave' I tried to ignore her as she continued to tirade behind me.
'There are many, many young ladies in Finwele who would be honoured to hold the position that you do in the palace, and yet you throw it around carelessly as if it were a dishcloth…' the lady ranted on.
'Margaret, I hope you know that it is not your place to talk of such matters' I said curtly, 'you are simply my governess'
'… I don't know why the King and Queen even bother bringing you up – they care for you like their own daughter and yet you don't obey them… your 16th birthday is coming up soon and you will be introduced at court – you must be taught to behave'.
'Margaret. You may depart' I said with a little more force, before she finally seemed to hear and trotted off.
I might have to explain a little here… I'm a princess. Okay, now don't go off thinking that I'm a prissy little girl with puffy ball gowns and sparkling tiaras. None of that. My name is Evelyn, and I was adopted by Queen Genevieve and King Ferdinand as their substitute daughter, when both my parents had passed on, and because they did not have a daughter of their own… Quite a complicated story…
I live in the land of Finwele in the royal palace with the King and Queen and their son, Prince Aubrey. Aubrey was the nicest 'half' brother and the only person I felt I could ever trust in the castle. Ever since my parents had passed on and I was adopted, he had been the most caring and thoughtful person in the castle – the only one I felt I could talk to. He wasn't like the King and Queen, he didn't try to change me. But now he's away on a royal peace declaration trip to Fingryre and wouldn't be back for months… It seems that all the people I love seem to be taken away from me… sooner or later…
Anyway, on my 18th birthday (in a mere two years) it seems as if the King and Queen wish to marry me off to the Prince of Alutheria – Pedro – who looks as if he may be half pig and other half pelican… I suppose there are only two reasons to why they would wish to marry me off like this – 1. I would be off their hands and 2. They would finally be able to make a peace agreement with Alutheria – something that hasn't happened in years. So I'm going to be handed off as a peace agreement – how wonderful. Of course, when the idea was first proposed I would not stand for them to betroth us – I secretly had the naivety to hope that some other handsome prince would come sweep me off my feet and I would never have to see the sagging wretch of Pedro the Third again.
I might not be the 'girly type' who cares about what they wear and how they look constantly and has to wear puffy dresses all the time. But I really do have to admit – I'm a hopeless romantic. Aubrey would often tease me for the countless fantasy and romance books that cluttered my chambers. It seems that because I know that I'll never have a romance of my own, I'm obsessed with reading about others… tragic tales about damsels in distress and heroes in shining armor… You would have thought that life as a princess was glamourous…
But in my world, there were no handsome princes and knights in shining armor… It wasn't fair that princes had their pick of brides out of the various princesses throughout the lands who were paraded before them, but we had to simply go with whomever chose us – whether we liked it or not… I'd rather be a commoner… at least you'd get to fall in love…
It was out of pity – it was out of pity and guilt that King Ferdinand and Queen Genevieve chose to care for me – or that was what I believed. My own mother had passed on a very long time ago – I could hardly remember her face, I could hardly remember anything about her except the love I knew she felt for me. She wasn't a big part of my life and it feels like I don't really miss her much because I never really knew her… But there are times that I do regret never knowing who she was…
My father was a childhood friend and an important Duke who fought alongside the King during one of our kingdom's most vicious battles and was one of the King's most trusted and most loyal advisors. During the recent war between our nation and Stromlin, he was commissioned to fight for the King, even though he himself cautioned the King that it would be too risky for his battalion, that a lot of good men might be killed and opportunities to do better would arise soon. But he was forced to fight anyway. Whenever the King talked about my father, there was regret in his eyes – I could see it… but it was already too late… there was nothing neither I nor him could do now for my father… for me…
He was killed, and it was the King's entire fault. It was his fault that I was an orphan and somewhere I didn't even want to be, with advantages that I didn't even want to have, and with riches with which I had no use of… So I suppose it was out of guilt that they took it upon themselves to care for me… but I resented them… It was their entire fault and I didn't plan on forgiving them anytime soon…
Margaret's POV (the governess)
I stood in front of the King and Queen –
'Genevieve, do you think we made the right choice in taking her in?' the King addressed the Queen.
'Of course we made the right choice Ferdinand – how do you what would have happened, where she would have gone if we had left her to fend for herself – there was no one else out there for her – how would she have survived?'
'I suppose…' he became lost in his train of thoughts.
'… and I suppose you could say that it was your duty – Duke Roland was one of closes friends and advisors – don't you think you would be repaying him for everything he ever did to you by leaving Evelyn to the streets?' the Queen admonished.
'Yes, yes… I suppose…'
The Queen gave an angry little breath of disdain and turned to her ladies in waiting.
Evelyn's POV
I stole out of the confinements of the palace… I needed the solitude, the anonymity – the palace life was draining me – and there was only one place that I knew would help me to do so. Taking quick strides, I reached the town centre in no time and pulled the cowl of my cloak further over my head – I had to make sure no one recognised me here, it was too risky – this time I might be kicked out of the palace for good.
The town centre seemed to be bustling with life – this life, this atmosphere filled me up in a soothing and most relaxing way. I gazed around; drinking in the sights around me, for today would be the last day I would get to see all of this for quite a long time, in a few days time court was leaving for the winter castle in Esterworth.
'Hello Sarah!' I called to the baker's daughter as I neared the warmth of the local bakery. Sarah was one of my closest (and only) friends and the only one in the whole town who knew who I really was. I had met her two years ago, but that was a story for another time…
'Well, Ev I haven't seen you in a while have I?' she chirped as she dusted the flour off her hands to give me a hug.
I pinched one of the buns lying on the rack to cool before putting down the money and turning towards her. 'You know what it's like back home; I swear Margaret is out to get me'.
'You can't be too sure of that – she seems like a nice woman – says hello every time she comes in, always prepared to have a chat'.
I threw her a scornful glance and bit into the moist warmness of the roll, I wasn't convinced. 'Anyway, I've heard from a little birdie that the palace cook's boy has taken a fancy to you' I said slyly.
'Oh that's nonsense – you can't always believe what you hear from other people' she said looking more than a little bit pleased and flustered.
'Oh but I believe thou doth protest too much my lady'
She blushed and leaned in secretively… 'Well… he has come in a few times - '
'- a few times? I've heard he's been coming quite a lot more than that!' I joked covertly.
She continued as if she had not heard me '- over the last few weeks and I do believe we shared a moment'.
'Other than both of your clear love of food' we giggled – 'Oh I am so glad for you Sarah – and so awfully jealous – how romantic it would be to fall in love, get married and start a family' I hopped off the bench and twirled around. 'But I suppose I have to resign myself to the fact that I will never have the chance. I will probably have to marry the awful Prince Pedro from Alutheria – he came to visit the palace only last year when the marriage was proposed – oh it was awful! You should have heard him' I said, imitating him 'Butler, this wine is too robust for my palate'.
'But I've heard that he is quite handsome!'
'Well the royal artists probably had to make a few major adjustments to his wide gaping mouth and round bulbous nose' I said breaking into another fit of laughter. (Yet inside, I was fraught with distress… How did the King and Queen ever expect me to marry that useless hulk of meat?)
'Oh Ev, are you leaving soon for the Winter Castle?' Sarah asked as she finally calmed herself down.
'I'm afraid so, the King and Queen have decided to leave to the Winter Castle early this year – it's been predicted that the winter's going to be cold around these parts this year round. I hope you'll be okay – I really don't want to leave, and Esterworth is so far away with not a soul to talk to.'
'I'll be fine – you just take care of yourself and hurry back'.
'I have to go now Sarah, the King and Queen will be looking for me soon. Take care of yourself as well. I'll see you soon'. I hope… I thought.
'I'll see you soon too darling… Take care' Sarah called after her as she hurried back to the castle.
Soon after she entered the palace walls, her governess was on her heels…
'Evelyn where were you? Not dallying in the gardens surely? You have lessons to attend. French is after Grammar and Royal History…' the governess trailed on.
'Yes, Ma'am' I said meekly, bowing my head and willing her not to see the dirt gathered on my skirts during my visit to town.
'Evelyn, what is that? Get changed, and then go to your lessons – your skirts as filthy! What have you been doing?'
I was not use – she had seen them… 'Um…' I mumbled as I sidestepped up the steps towards my room. 'Thank you Margaret!' I faked a smile and rushed off before she could admonish me further. But you had to give it to her – she had a sharp eye.
Author's POV
'Evelyn, please do hurry. We are going to be late and as you should now as a respected young lady – royalty is never late' reprimanded Queen Genevieve as she seated herself delicately in the royal carriage.
'Yes You Highness, I understand'. Evelyn meekly assured as she stepped u into the carriage with the Queen and King.
'No need for the formalities Evelyn,' the Queen softened a bit. 'You should regard us as you parents, you know that'. She looked at Evelyn with kind eyes that betrayed pity.
'Yes ma'am' she said stiffly as the Queen sighed.
'We both know that things have been hard for you' she said looking towards her husband expectantly.
King Ferdinand cleared his voice gruffly and replied absentmindedly. 'Yes, yes… must have been hard for you… but we are also trying our hardest to make you comfortable… hem, hem.'
Evelyn merely gave a crisp nod of her head to the King, so as to demonstrate that she had been listening, but she did not really care for their constant hasty apologies and excuses.
There was silence for the rest of the long journey, as the carriage rolled towards it destination. But Evelyn was seething inside, thoughts raging and swirling round and round in her head. It's all their fault and now they continue to play nice? But they are trying their hardest to make everything better…the smaller, less significant voice in her mind said. She shook her head. Looking towards the horizon she wondered, perhaps there were more opportunities out there…
Esterworth was yet to be discovered...
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