Chapter Three

"One more minute…" a mustached artist said.

One more minute? I've been sitting here for days and hours and minutes to be painted. And yet, this artist, if you call this slow slug one, hasn't finished. He was the artist in this room. Every one of them, except him, has finalized the painting, added some finishing touches, left to dry, passed the thirty flights of steps and five corridors, and went home. Except for this one.

"Sir, if you may, please be quick. It is already nine o'clock and my curfew is nine thirty." I said annoyingly. I was beginning to feel extremely drowsy and I need my beauty sleep.

The painter fumbled on his tools, dropped some paint, and fidgeted. "Ye-yes, Princess Celeste. Finishing. Finishing." He stammered. He said finishing a tone higher than the rest.

"Sienna." I said. I wanted my real name.

"Pardon my , your Majesty?" He stammered once more.

"Never mind. Finish quickly. I am drowsy."

The artist shook his chair with his nervousness. My eyes were going to close when he suddenly yelled, "FINISH!" I wouldn't be surprised if he would dance around naked.

"Yes, yes, yes…finished. Now please leave it to dry like what the others that have gone before you did. I shall be leaving now. The maidens of my mother Queen Sofia, will attend to you if you have more needs. Goodnight." I said coldly. I had a good reason. I was sleepy, tired, annoyed and definitely angry about this marrying business.

I left the Sky Room, passed the thirty flights of stairs and the five corridors along with the rooms that I have to pass to get to mine. I opened the brown oak door, banged it shut, and ran to my dresser. There, I sat down on the chair and brushed my hair. Brushing my hair gave me time to think. If I wanted to think, understand or ponder about something, I brush my hair. It is a weird habit but it gives me time. This moment, I was angry. I clutched at my silver hairbrush that I felt my nails break. My eyebrows were always raised up but it was higher this time. I was really annoyed. Yes, I was always really annoyed but I have reached the maximum of annoyance.

"Why do I have to marry?" I said with a voice filled with anger. "And so soon!"

'Because you have too." A voice behind me said.

I spun around and saw my mother. She looked radiant. And she looked more peaceful than before. It didn't matter to me. I narrowed my eyes still.

"Barging in without knocking and permission is rude." I said flatly.

Mother laughed her gay giggle. "Since when did you bother about rudeness?" she elegantly choked out. "You yourself are."

I softened my look a little bit. "That is not the subject. Why were you here?"

"I just went out to look…" she paused, obviously in the verge of overwhelming emotion, "at the moon." Your balcony has a lovely view. No trees, towers, roofs, to bother the moon."

I sighed.

"Turn around dear so I may brush your hair."

I reluctantly turned around. Mother grabbed the hairbrush and started to brush my hair.

"Why do I have to marry so soon?" I asked.

"You know, the usual unworthy, bad image…butt there is also another reason."

"What?"

"You're a real princess."

"Oh please. Not another fairytale Mother. What do you mean a real princess? Ridiculous!" I said exasperatedly.

"It's not a fairytale, Sienna." Mother said with extreme patience in her voice, "It's true."

"Then tell me why."

"Well, real princesses have certain gifts. The gifts are beauty, grace and song. You were born with all those gifts too. But you see, a real princess must also have a gift from a fairy. The certain fairy that gave you a gift is…Rosemarie. She was a lovely fairy. Always thinking about good. And it was her first time."

"What gift did she give me?"

"The gift of outspokenness and free will. It was a good balance when you were young. But when you grew old…you became as hard as a rock!" I dropped my shoulders, "Anyway, a lot of people heard about the princess with all the qualities plus one. You are the only one actually. And ever since your first birthday, many kings and queens have offered their young sons to you.  I declined. I knew you were of free will so I decided that you will choose. Not all have this freedom. You are lucky."

"I would be lucky if I won't wed."

"Then, you are not." Mother kissed my forehead. "Goodnight, dear."

Then, she left the room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I woke up this morning and went to the Sky Room. Strange I haven't seen the paintings. When I got up there, I was panting but I knew it was worth it. I will see myself immortalized in a painting. I entered the blue, heaven-like room and browsed through the rows and rows of painting with the same face. When I saw the labels, I fought the urge to tear it apart. The labels said, "Princess Celeste of Mar, the Real Princess." I do not mind the real princess part. I was horrified that the world will know me as Celeste.

"Mother!!!" I shouted while stomping down the stairs. I was in an incredibly foul mood.  "Mother!!!"

"Dear me, Sienna! What is it again?" Mother said. I found her in the lobby. She probably knew I was coming. My voice bounce back from the walls and echoed throughout the whole castle. No one flinched anyway. It was usual.

"Mother! Haven't you noticed the labels?" I said.

"Labels? What labels? There are a lot of labels in the kingdom." Mother said stupidly. I clenched my fists.

"Labels! Labels of the paintings! Mother! They used Celeste! Not Sienna! What is with them!" I screamed. Mother sighed at one of the maidens who covered her ears.

"Sienna, darling, even if you complain and whine about that all day, nothing will happen. It's painted already and if you change it, you have to start all over again! Be considerate to the painters, will you?" Mother coolly said. She does not see the issue in here.

"It's their fault, am I right? They should pay for it! They are changing my real name for crying out loud! I will not live with the name Celeste engraved on my forehead! No! Never! Do you understand me?!"

Mother stared at me. Her eyes were narrowed. I think I overdid it. She was angry. And Mother was never angry before. "Alright, Sienna! Put a lid on it! I will not tolerate your foul, stubborn disposition any longer! I have spoiled you too much! If you can do nothing, then you cannot do anything! It's over and done! And if I hear another grumble, another whine, another complain, you will see yourself in a castle with the oldest king living!" Mother shouted. The maidens ran in all directions. Seeing her angry is…well…a catastrophe. "I am sick and tired of your attitude, young lady! I have given you the chance to make your decisions unlike other queens and you still think of a disadvantage! You are never pleased! You always complain! Stop the it, Sienna. Stop it! Now go to your room!!!"

I just stood there, eyes narrowed still. I was a little intimidated but I was too proud to succumb. "Excuse me? Are you telling me to go to my room like a little peasant kid! Who are you to tell me that?!"

"I'm your mother, I'm the queen. And I have every right to send you to your room! Now go!" she pointed her finger to the stairs. I was fuming. I grumbled and stomped my way up.

"And don't give me your childish tantrums, Sienna!" Mother called out.

I stopped and quietly went up stairs. But even if I wasn't giving of tantrums, I was still angry. Much angrier that I couldn't express it. I opened my door, banged it, locked it, and collapsed at my bed.  

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I know that Sienna is a big jerk in this chapter. I expect you all to be annoyed at her. Well, that's the point. Sienna is like the antagonist/protagonist all the same. And you shouldn't feel sorry for her. It's supposed to be like that. If you are not annoyed at her…I don't know what to say! Whenever I reread this chapter I just tell myself, you made Sienna a self-centered, annoying, teenage brat .It's your fault!!! But that is the point. IT says so in the summary. Let's just say that I am fed up with all the goody-goody-two-shoes princesses who grovel at their parents feet. Hehehe! Hope you like this chapter even if Sienna acts like a toddler!

Thanks a bunch to…drum roll please…Ellie, Little Comet, Ironic Paradise and fufie! And to Ellie, yup! I did get it from the Wolf Tower!

Cattily Yours,

Nayie

pS

Why cattily? Come on, everybody should know I love cats…  :o)