Chapter One
"Princess! Princess Celeste!" Someone called inside the castle. I sighed. I was out for a stroll in the garden. I was sitting in a stone bench. I have always wondered why people don't call me by my name. Always "Princess!" or "Princess Celeste!" They don't like to call me by my real name. Which is Sienna. Princess Sienna Celeste of Mar. I asked my mother, Queen Sophia why people don't call me Sienna. She said it wasn't "royal" enough. Whatever that means. But she named me Sienna and she thought of it as royal. Or maybe because she liked the sound of Sienna. That is probably the reason why I have Celeste for a second name: for people to call me that.
The lady who was calling was Mistress Lillian, my old governess. She was standing in front the castle, her hands on her hips.
I curtsied. "What is it?"
"You mother, the beautiful Queen Sophia, has ordered your presence in the First Tower." She gestured her hand and it meant, "Go. Now."
I understood and left.
"First tower! Bah!" I grumbled as I made my way to the shiny marble stairs. The First tower is also called Sky Tower. Because it is the highest tower in existence. In the whole world. Unfortunately for me. The way to tower included thirty flights of stairs and five corridors to pass. I counted it myself. I rarely go to the Sky Tower. My gowns are embroidered with real jewels, gold and silver threads and is made out of layers of velvet and the petticoats are silk and voluminous. It is a man's load. And climbing with it means the train is dragged behind. And the train, being extremely heavy, acts like an anchor. So, you have to carry it and it is not like a feather. I wondered how mother gets here. It is here favorite place because it is the coolest and freshest room in all of Mar. Looking back, it is a silly question. Mother is always with her hordes of maidens. If she gets thirsty, a maiden will give her sweetened lemon juice. If she gets hot, another maiden will use a fan made out of peacock feathers to cool her down. And she probably didn't walk. She must have been seated on a cushioned chair that is carried by menservants. My mother and I are so distant that even I don't know how she manages to climb up thirty flights of stairs. I who am younger must have much more energy. But every time I see her go p and down, she doesn't sweat. And to her, sweating is a mortal sin.
I still have five more flights to go. I am tired and I need a rest.
"Princess! Princess Celeste!" Someone called inside the castle. I sighed. I was out for a stroll in the garden. I was sitting in a stone bench. I have always wondered why people don't call me by my name. Always "Princess!" or "Princess Celeste!" They don't like to call me by my real name. Which is Sienna. Princess Sienna Celeste of Mar. I asked my mother, Queen Sophia why people don't call me Sienna. She said it wasn't "royal" enough. Whatever that means. But she named me Sienna and she thought of it as royal. Or maybe because she liked the sound of Sienna. That is probably the reason why I have Celeste for a second name: for people to call me that.
The lady who was calling was Mistress Lillian, my old governess. She was standing in front the castle, her hands on her hips.
I curtsied. "What is it?"
"You mother, the beautiful Queen Sophia, has ordered your presence in the First Tower." She gestured her hand and it meant, "Go. Now."
I understood and left.
"First tower! Bah!" I grumbled as I made my way to the shiny marble stairs. The First tower is also called Sky Tower. Because it is the highest tower in existence. In the whole world. Unfortunately for me. The way to tower included thirty flights of stairs and five corridors to pass. I counted it myself. I rarely go to the Sky Tower. My gowns are embroidered with real jewels, gold and silver threads and is made out of layers of velvet and the petticoats are silk and voluminous. It is a man's load. And climbing with it means the train is dragged behind. And the train, being extremely heavy, acts like an anchor. So, you have to carry it and it is not like a feather. I wondered how mother gets here. It is here favorite place because it is the coolest and freshest room in all of Mar. Looking back, it is a silly question. Mother is always with her hordes of maidens. If she gets thirsty, a maiden will give her sweetened lemon juice. If she gets hot, another maiden will use a fan made out of peacock feathers to cool her down. And she probably didn't walk. She must have been seated on a cushioned chair that is carried by menservants. My mother and I are so distant that even I don't know how she manages to climb up thirty flights of stairs. I who am younger must have much more energy. But every time I see her go p and down, she doesn't sweat. And to her, sweating is a mortal sin.
I still have five more flights to go. I am tired and I need a rest.