Author's note: Thank you so much for the reviews!

Disclaimer: CSI isn't mine.

Lady Adelaide

Sara strolled silently in the garden, her mind full of thoughts. What was she going to do? She didn't know. She hoped that she could find the answers to the million questions she had in her head. What was going to happen now? Was the deal still on? What will happen to Prince Gil? What will happen to her? What will happen to Princess Jacqueline?

She didn't know.

The sun shined brightly and the birds seemed so merry, singing on the branches of the trees in the garden. The garden had been cleared earlier of the decorations and the things they used in the supposed "celebration". In a way, Sara was happy that she didn't have to marry someone like Vincent. He wasn't what she wanted, and besides, she didn't like his personality. Sara could only wonder what Jacqueline saw in him. On the other hand, she was saddened by the fact that she didn't know Vincent at all. She didn't know how his mind worked, and she didn't know if he would continue with their arrangement.

A trumpet played in the background, and Sara turned around, expecting to see another royalty behind her. But that was before she realized that there was no royalty behind her simply because the royalty must still be entering the castle in the main grounds.

She swished her skirt—a beautiful gray one with white embroidery at the sides—and started walking to the main grounds. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and saw Dorothy.

"So…how are you, dear?" Dorothy asked. "You must be shaken up from the events that happened yesterday."

Sara smiled ruefully. "Shocked is an understatement."

"I can't believe the Queen would do such a thing."

"So did I, Dorothy."

The two reached the end of the stone hallway and walked to the main grounds. Dorothy stopped and scanned the grounds for the expected carriage, but found none.

"That's strange. Where's the carriage?" she asked.

Sara shook her head, "I don't know."

Suddenly, the gates opened and a royal blue carriage designed with silver rolled in.

"Oh no," Dorothy groaned.

"Why?" Sara asked.

"That's Lady Adelaide's carriage. We hate her."

Sara raised an eyebrow in response, "…because…?"

Dorothy smirked and turned to face her. "You'll find out soon enough. Come on, we better meet her or she'll freak out."

Dorothy picked up her yellow skirt and started sprinting near the carriage. Sara followed, managing to avoid tripping in her high heels.

The carriage door opened, and a beautiful lady climbed out of the carriage.

The lady had beautiful long red hair as red as an apple, and a figure as slim as a model's. Her eyes were the color of chocolate, and her nose was pointy in a way that fitted her. She was dressed immaculately, her gown a beautiful violet, and upon her head; a silver tiara adorned with diamonds and sapphires.

Upon seeing her, Sara and Dorothy both bowed.

Lady Adelaide picked up her fan from behind her and started fanning herself with it. Her fan was the color of sky blue, with white designs on its sides.

"Lady Adelaide," Dorothy said, "it is our pleasure to see you here again. What have we done to have you as our fine company for today?"

"Stand up," Lady Adelaide commanded. "You, what's your name?"

"Dorothy, ma'am."

"Donnie, go and fetch me Queen Emily. She and I have matters to discuss," Lady Adelaide said, her voice oozing with disgust. "What is this? Your castle is such a mess! Have you no shame to your kingdom? And what will the people say? Go. Fetch me Queen Emily."

"It's Dorothy, ma'am."

"I do not care. I can call you whatever I want. For all I care, I can call you my name! But, I will do no such thing. I am the epitome of beauty, and of course, I will not taint my name with your face. I am much more wonderful than you will ever hope to be."

"Yes ma'am," Dorothy said, standing up. "I will be here shortly, madam."

"Well," Adelaide raised an eyebrow, "what are you waiting for? Go! You see this beautiful head? It is now being filled with strands of white hair. Go now!" She ordered.

Dorothy bowed and ran to the castle, not even caring if her skirt got muddy.

Sara stood up. "Milady, how can I be of service?"

"Bring my bags. Have them brought to your finest guest room," she said. She looked at Sara up and down. "What is your name?"

"Sara, milady."

"Well Sadie. Go and bring my bags. I also expect my daughter to be waiting for me. I want to talk to her."

"…Yo-you-your daughter?" Sara stammered.

"Yes, my daughter. Are you deaf? Were you born with no ears? Didn't you hear what I said? My daughter! Now go!"

"Yes ma'am," Sara said and ran to the castle. Upon entering the castle, she saw Dorothy waiting for her at the side.

"I thought she ordered you to fetch the Queen?"

"She can wait."

"She is awful," Sara paused. "Who is her daughter, by the way? She told me to summon her daughter."

"Oh. That. Her daughter is Princess Heather."

"But, Princess Heather is so kind. How come her mother is…well…that?" Sara asked.

"Lord only knows, dear. Lord only knows. Besides, I don't even care. I would prefer Princess Heather the way she is now than be like her mother. That would be a travesty. I can't even imagine it," Dorothy said. When they finally got to the stair case, Dorothy spoke. "I have to go. I would really prefer it before she orders my head on a plate."

"Go," Sara said. "It would be such a shame if your head were on a plate. You're too wise. Such wisdom shouldn't be wasted."

Dorothy sighed. "Yes, such a shame. I have to go before she goes all freaked out, and says 'off with your head!' Bye Sara."

"Bye."

Sara walked up the stairs, and knocked on the guest door in which Princess Heather stayed at. The door opened and Heather smiled.

"I see you've met my mother," she said.

Sara started to bow, but Heather stopped her before she could. "Please, none of that. You'll be a Princess soon enough, once you become reinstated. No more formalities—unless we are in my mother's line of sight, of course, in which case, you should bow until your head reaches the ground."

Sara smiled. "How did you know I've met her?"

"I've been staring at the grounds, and I saw mommy dearest and her royal carriage. I assume she's been calling for me?"

Sara nodded. Princess Heather sighed. "Alright, you go ahead, I'll just make myself look more presentable."

"I'm afraid that I can't quite go back without you. Your mother might order the others to put my head on a silver plate."

Heather laughed. "Mother will do no such thing. She will put your head on a golden plate, not a silver one."

Heather finished with arranging her hair and smiled. "Well, let's go. I shudder to imagine what mother would think if we were awfully late."

Heather and Sara walked side by side. "So, if you don't mind me asking—no offense, of course—how come your mother's like…that?" Sara flinched. It came out way harsher than what she had heard in her mind.

Heather laughed. "She was brought up by a Queen and a King that were strict on traditions. She is a nice Queen though, once you get to know her. She just has that personality when she doesn't know a person that well yet."

"Do you have any advice to give me?" Sara asked.

Heather looked at her, confusion evident on her face. "Give you advice on what, exactly?"

"…On what to do and what not to do around her, of course."

"Ah," Heather said. "Sara, I don't think we have enough time to give you advice on what not to do. My only advice is this; never lose your temper, and always praise her."

They were at the main grounds now, and they saw Lady Adelaide with her beautiful fan, and a white parasol with blue birds stitched on it.

"…At last! My skin was beginning to wrinkle from all the time I was forced to wait here," she said. She turned to look at Heather and smiled. "Oh darling, you look beautiful as always."

Sara covered her face with her handkerchief and rolled her eyes.

"Now, young girl, prepare your finest guest room, and be quick! I do not like to be kept waiting here."

Sara bowed and muttered a "yes ma'am", and she picked up her skirt and ran to the kitchens.

The kitchen was full of muttering, and voices complaining. Sara opened the kitchen doors, and at once, the voices stopped. Once they saw that it was only Sara, they continued chatting and complaining.

"Hello Sara," Cheska said. "So you've met Lady Adelaide."

Sara sighed. "Yes, yes I did. Is she always that awful?"

Hope nodded. "…Always. If she isn't awful, then it's either someone's impersonating her, or she drank some potion."

Stella laughed. "Don't be so mean, Hope. She's not that bad."

"She once told me that I could use some hair potion and that woodland creatures lived in my hair!" Hope said.

"Okay, maybe she is that bad, but don't be mean," Stella laughed.

Amber smiled. "You know Sara, we hated her."

"…Hated? Past tense?" Sara asked.

Ruby nodded. "We hated her. Now, we're just used to it. We're immune to her insults by now."

Luna laughed. "We used to hate her so much we had a nickname for her royal blue carriage."

Sara took a seat on one of the stools. "…A nickname?"

Dorothy nodded from where she was looking over the cooking. "We used to call it the 'Royal Blue Doom'."

"She used to come here often?" Sara asked.

Ruby, Olivia, and Stella nodded.

Caramel smirked. "I just remembered. Once, when Luna was still a newbie here, she met Lady Adelaide at dinner."

Luna groaned. "Please…spare me the humiliation. I do not want to relive that awful moment."

Sara smiled. "What happened?"

"Back then, I didn't know that maids were expected to lift up their skirt a bit from the ground. I thought only Princesses were supposed to do such a thing. And so, Lady Adelaide made a point about me being a human broom. She said, and I quote, 'I applaud you for being such an environmentalist, saving your kingdom's beauty by cleaning litters piece by piece.' That was horrifying."

Amber smiled and continued chopping vegetables. "She was a horror but not anymore. Eventually, you'll get used to it, the more she does that, the less fear we feel."

Sara nodded. "I guess I'll just have to get used to her, then."

A pause.

"Does anybody want to help me clean her room?"

Sara walked briskly to the room with Shane, Faith, and Rose. In her hands were several bed sheets, and some rags.

"I still stand by what I said earlier. We should have picked blue bed sheets and blue curtains. She will have our heads," Rose said.

"Oh hush, Rose. She'll have to make do with these. If worse comes to worse, we'll just paint them blue," Faith said, almost dropping the curtains `

They turned a corner and Sara almost dropped the things she was carrying.

There, in the middle of the hallway, was Prince Vincent. He was wearing a blood red top, and black pants. His hand was running through his hair, a sign that he was anxious.

He turned to the sound of the footsteps, and immediately, Sara, Rose, Faith, and Shane bowed, careful to not drop the various things they were carrying.

"Prince Vincent, good morning."

Prince Vincent gave them a curt nod, his eyes searching for something, or rather, someone.

Sara kept her head bowed, wishing that the Prince didn't see her, or if he did, that he wouldn't notice her.

No such luck though, because after looking at their heads, Vincent tapped her shoulder. "We need to talk."

Well.

This was going to be awkward.