With Natalya . . .
Everyone in the castle was bustling and working hard and quickly to prepare for the emperor's coming. Natalya on the other hand would rather sit in her library and read books all day then have lessons and get fittings for her wedding dress. One rare moment that she was able to have for herself, she walked out to the balcony of her room and just stared out into the garden, how she missed those days when she was younger, when she had just a little bit more freedom and would walk through the tall sunflowers, her favorite flower.
Oh how I wish for just one day all to me, she thought, no lessons, no one to tell you when to eat or leave or stay or how to live your life.
She looked up to the sky. What would it be like to be free? Free to try crazy things, free to do whatever you want. She looked back down to the garden, this time she saw her tutor, Alfred F. Jones, in the garden examining some flowers bushes. She blushed slightly, over the years of being taught by Alfred, her feelings had grown for him. At first she had tried to push them away, but his constant kindness towards her caught her heart, and she just knew that she was in love, no matter how much she wanted to deny it.
"If I were free," she said outloud, leaning against the railing of the balcony and keeping her eyes on Alfred, "I could marry whom I choose."
"I'm sorry my dear," a voice said behind her. Natalya turned around and saw her mother, Queen Katyusha. She was a widow due to the king dying of a infection.
"But it's vital that you marry Emperor Wang Yao, it is the only way to save our people."
Natalya hung her head slightly, "I know, it's my duty." Katyusha smiled and gave her daughter a kiss on theforehead before leaving to attend the preparations. Natalya stared out into the nearby village and sighed deeply.
What would it be like to be free . . .?
With Anya . . .
It was busy as usual in the dress shop. Anya scurried around the room, getting fabrics, clearing tables, and helping Elizaveta with anything. As she worked on a dress, she couldn't help but to look out the window which showed the mountains. Oh how she wished she could escape all this and travel Asia. She especially wished to see China.
Oh how I wish I could have one day all to myself. Not having to wake up with all this work waiting for me. A day without IOU's, uncompleted dresses that need mends and stitchings to be done.
A firm hit to her head knocked Anya out of her daydreams.
"Hey! Back to work! I'm not paying you to be off into the clouds!" her boss said strictly as she went to the front of the shop to see to the customers.
"Tch, if I was free, I would be able to go wherever I wanted to in Asia," Anya said outloud to herself.
"Heh, can I come along?" Elizaveta said playfully from her work station.
"Of course!" Anya said back with a smile. But she looked back to the mountains with a sad sigh, knowing that her dream of traveling would never come true.
What would it be like to be free?