Fake Princess
CHAPTER 4
My parents rarely call me during the day. They devoted daylight to Thorvaldor's reign, not to chatting with their only princesses.
When I looked up, I realized that Devan & Ronald were looking at me. So I smiled, this time a little tense, then stood up. I glanced at Devan at a glance & he was already beside the bench, rolling up the map casually.
“ I don't know how long they want to talk to me,” I said to Devan.
“ But I will look for you after we finish.”
Devan puts his shoulders, smiling. “ Don't worry about me,” he said, then left, a whistle hovering in the air accompanying his departure I know Devan had no trouble comforting himself during my departure, it doesn't matter if I go for two hours or two days. With a smile that is always ready and smart speech, the son of the Earl of Rithia is the favorite of the palace. No matter what form of entertainment, Devan is always eager to partake in and is ready to laugh at himself if it fails, even his various tricks & silly jokes do not damage his reputation. I know many palace dwellers who think Devan's greatest skill is his ability to make me, the loner princess, feel relaxed when she is nearby.
I followed Uncle Ronald across the park, matching his slow steps. The palace loomed before us. The windows on the top floor sparkled in the morning sun. The residence of the Thorvaldor royal family has not changed much over the last century, reluctantly adding a wing or tower here and there. The lack of change made me both comfortable and upset. On the one hand, it feels good to imagine my ancestors once sleeping in the same room as me, on the other hand, it feels good to imagine my ancestors sleeping in the same room, have none of them managed to find a way to make my sitting room feel warmer in winter? Even so, the building is grand, which rarely bore me, & this is my home.
I asked after we entered. Maybe my hair looks like it's just been used as a bird's nest, because the wind only takes a few minutes to make it fall apart, and I've been outdoors since morning.
Uncle Ronald was doubtful. “ They said they want to see you as soon as possible, Your Majesty.”
I bit my cheek deeply, then nodded” Alright.” A moment later, I deliberately walked a few steps behind Uncle Ronald, then swept my hands over his hair as he did not look. Without a mirror, I don't know if I'm making it look better or worse, I can only hope my hair looks deflated instead of sticking out like a nimbus cloud around my head.
“ Please wait a minute,” I said slowly as we arrived in front of the giant oak door that opened into the Hall of Thorvaldor. Sighing deeply, I tidied up the front of the dress, fixed the location of the belt made of silver chains on top of my little hips, and swept the hair one last time. Thorvaldor Hall is a state hall, where coronations, public assemblies, and various official affairs take place. The room is large enough to accommodate hundreds of people on the ground floor, and features a balcony. If my parents want to see me here, it must be an important matter. There may be a diplomat from a neighboring country who turns out to be carrying a daughter or son who must be accompanied, or it may have something to do with a recent feud between two noble families fighting over ownership rights to several mines in the north.