Chapter Text
Dreaded Visit to the Town
(Lucette's P.O.V)
My twin's voice, which is quieter but yet slightly higher and the same as mine, only says, "Good morning Lucy, just lay down my food on my bedside table. I still need time to properly get ready...." as she turns to her dressing table so she can properly get ready, leaving the door just wide enough for me to enter. Her room was dimly lit by a single ray of sunlight coming out of the closed curtains. It wasn't much but enough for me to maneuver around her room without bumping into something. She must have overslept yet again.
Paloma Riella Britton, my younger twin sister yet the wisest of us two. If, by a rare chance, my feelings get the best of me, I know that I can rely on Paloma to be a shoulder to cry on; without feeling a feeling of vulnerability or shame overcome my body. She has the same warm, comforting aura that mother had before she passed away, but I worry how her good-nature towards the world could be exploited by the terrible people. That's why I make sure to keep an eye on her whenever possible.
I set the tray down on her bedside table like she instructed and make my way over to the curtains, opening it up to let the sunlight enter the room. I hear Paloma right beside me wince at the blinding light entering her room as she finishes doing a poor job braiding her hair. I disregard her actions and just stare at the unforgivable mess her hair is. She proceeds to do her makeup- which is too light for her complexion- and proceeds to break the silence with some small talk, “Sorry you had to bring me breakfast agai-” but she stops when I groan in utter aggravation.
“How many times will I have to tell you to do your hair properly? The twin sister of the crown princess can't walk around the palace looking like she just fell from a tree.” I coldly interject, still a bit irritated about what happened this morning. Paloma’s face turns into one of unease as she finishes applying her makeup. She puts on her glasses and turns to face me, now fully visible to my view.
“Another terrible morning I assume?” she stated, fully aware of what mornings at breakfast is like. The grim look on my face softens into one of shame for my sudden actions, “I'm sorry for snapping at you. Father and our stepfamily get into my nerves all the time.” I apologized, but not without adding, “But still you need to take better care of your hair, we have to uphold our image as the princesses of Angielle, remember?”
Paloma sighs with my last statement, disheartened. “Yeah, I know Lucy… I should eat my breakfast before it goes cold!” she exclaims, walking over to were the tray was placed. Why do I feel that I may have forgotten something...
(Meanwhile back at the Dining Hall...)
(Agatha's P.O.V)
I was waiting outside the door to the dining hall, waiting for Imelda to finish breakfast. After Lucette left, I finished my breakfast as well. I wonder why Imelda is taking so long to finish up, she usually is the first to finish breakfast unless… oh dear lord, I hope she isn't doing what I think she's doing. I just hope it isn't like the snake incident again. I hear footsteps come to a stop. I didn't need to turn around, knowing full well who the individual is.
“You’re up quite early today Fritz. I'm guessing your father gave you some errands to run for him?” I questioned as I finally look at him. Fritzgerald Aiden Leverton, son of Sir Alcaster, smiles sheepishly at me as he responds, “Yeah, the usual. I'm assuming Princess Imelda is still in the dining hall with the rest of the royal family?”
“She is, and you can tell what chaos is about to unfold any minute now.” we sigh in union, already dreading what is about to come.
Fritz and I have been training together for over three years now. Around that time, he was appointed as the personal guards of my two elder sisters. At first, I was completely against the idea of anyone besides myself to be any of my sisters’ personal knight, even going as far as to argue with the king and Sir Alcaster over the topic. I managed to at least become Imelda's personal knight since she is never allowed to leave the castle, but I, unfortunately, wasn't able to also be Lucette's and Paloma's guard. Sir Alcaster used the excuse that I was still a knight in training and that I wasn't qualified to protect my own elder sisters just yet. Honeslty, how dumb does he think I am? I can smell bullshit from a mile away on that excuse.
Fritz glanced at my injury from last night, and snickers a bit seeing that I have used a new bandage. He asks, “So, how far have you gotten this time during the training session this morning? I doubt some small injury kept you from keeping up with the rest of the knights.” Knowing fully well what my answer is, I leaned against the door, eager to tell him all that I could still do while injured, “I was able to take down five in a row at sword combat. What about you?”
Fritz gives me a proud smile, “I was only able to take down four today; that’s quite impressive, managing to do all that while injured. Guess that makes us tied again for this weeks challenge, huh?” Oh yeah, the challenge. I guess we've tied again since we both have now taken down nineteen of our fellow knights this week. Honestly, I'm not amused by this. On the contrary, a bitter taste fills my mouth.
"Well isn't that fantastic, the injured knight in training is still able to keep up with Angielle’s greatest knights! Just how is that possible if I'm not yet qualified to be an official knight..." I sarcastically grumbled.
Fritz lifts his hand up and hesitantly pats my head, "There’s no need to pout, Aggy. Surely my father will take notice of your skills on of these days!" He chirps at me.
I swat his hands away from my head, which saddens him a bit, as I huffed and protested, "Here’s the thing that irks me about Alcaster’s lack of acknowledgement of my skills, Fritz. You, his very own son, and I are to this day tied on our swordsmanship. You're one of the best knights in Angielle next to your father! I may still be in training, yet no one can deny that I am on the same level as you. Of course, Sir Alcaster doesn't want to admit the truth, now does he? He thinks I haven't noticed his behavior whenever someone mentions my promotion, but I know that he is trying to keep me not only from receiving my title as a knight, but also from furthering my training. Maybe if he stops being offended over my teacher doing a far better job than him as a knight, then he might just as well make me a knight!" I finish, then I growl in utter frustration.
Fritz clears his throat to get my attention back on him. It’s normal for me to rant on about my frustrations as Fritz barely even pays me my attention and zones out; he’s already heard the same rant for many years now. We stand in an awkward silence which is soon broken by Fritz's voice, “Anyways, it's been a while since I last saw you or any of the princesses’ smiles, not to mention how I rarely get to speak to you nowadays...” He muttered, saddened by what he said.
I look away from him, a bit irritated that he is thinking of such things, “And it matters because..?”
He pauses for a moment, seemingly he's unsure on whether or not he should say something. He then responds in a soft voice, “I’m only worried about you all; you know you can always come to me if something bothers you. After all, you mean more than a friend to me, Aggy.” He smiles, almost sympathetically. I swear, if he is thinking about what happened a year ago is going to make me weak, then he is absolutely wrong.
‘“Well, I won't take up any more of your time, I'll see you and your elder sisters at ten.” Oh right, the trip to the town. Just greaaaaaaat …. Simply remembering how we got forced into this trip is enough to bring me in a bad mood.
As I’m about to bade farewell to Fritz, we hear a terrible scream from the dining hall. Well, that sure took longer than expected. Fritz and I barge into the dinning hall, hand ready to unleash our sword. We are unsurprisingly greeted to a scene of utter chaos.
(Imelda's P.O.V)
“Imelda! When will you stop doing such despicable acts towards your family!? This is unacceptable behavior from you!” Shouted my old man for the twelth, or was it the eighteenth time this week? He's still shouting and I continue to give zero fucks cause them bitches had it coming from a mile away.
Just a little recap, after Lucette left, Agatha finished her breakfast and stationed herself outside of the door to wait for me. Her and Fritz must have bumped into each other and had a little chit chat, after all, when Emelaigne started screaming like the little pussy she is, they barged into the door with their hands over their sword ready to beat a bitch up.
False alarm, Emelaigne found a rat tail in her salad that I placed in there. I feel bad for the poor rat, having to lose its tail only to end up in this blondie’s plate. Anyways, Rod immediately ran to her side as she starts to sob like a wimp, and Ophelia looks down at her plate terrified upon discovering the dead cockroach I placed in her food too. HAHAHA TAKE THAT YOU HOOOOOOOE!!! Pardon me for the sudden outburst. Anyways, it's too bad Rod didn't get to see the worm that is currently wiggling out of his plate. Oh, it fell off the table… welp, I guess I’ll have to try next time.
So, now my dad is pissed off and I'm pretty sure Rod is glaring the fuck out of me. I look over at what Fritz and Agatha are doing, so far Fritz awkwardly takes the plates with the dead critters back to the kitchen. Agatha is making her way towards me and our dad, hopefully, to calm him down so I can get away. I snap out of my thoughts when the old man screams, “Listen to me when I speak to you, young lady!”
“Honestly, you're mostly bitching over a small prank while hurting my eardrums than speaking to me. I'm surprised you haven't lost your goddamn voice with how often you scream.” I barked back, wanting to leave as quickly as I can. Dad’s scowl becomes worse at my comment, but thankfully my big sis walks over to save the day!
“Your Highness, you should try to remain calm about the situation. Shouting isn't going to solve anything. You should go comfort the queen and princess and then properly lecture the princess once everything has settled down.” She stated, calming our dad down a bit. He nods in response.
“Alright, but don't think you are off the hook just yet-” he stops when he turns to look at me… well, more where I used to be. While Agatha distracted our dad, I snuck past them and made my way towards the door. Before I leave, there is something I need to do. “Oh, blondie~!" Rod’s worm is crawling into your skirt.”
Another terrible scream of the blonde bimbo can be heard outside the door as I make my way back to my room. The last thing I hear after that is Agatha leaving the room as well and father screaming, “IMELDA!!!”
(Two Days Ago)
(Third person P.O.V)
The king stood up from his throne with his three eldest daughters having been called into the room. He cleared his throat and announced the news to his daughters, “My daughters, I would like you all to accompany Emelaigne on one of her town outings,” the room fell silent for a moment, a tense atmosphere keeping anyone from speaking.
Lucette was the first to speak up, clearly against the idea of leaving to town, “Surely you could send maids with her instead of us.”
It was apparent to the sisters that Genaro wasn't going to change his mind. He continued, “I would not have requested for you all to accompany her if I was going to send her with maids.” Agatha and Lucette became tense while Paloma only looked away, hiding behind the two princesses, “I only want you all to make an effort to get along with your new sister-”
Lucette rudely interrupted the king, aggravation apparent in her voice, “Step-sister. Emeleign is our stepsister.” Paloma and Agatha both exchanged worried looks to each other, all too familiar to this conversation is going to turn out.
The king furrowed his eyebrows, upset with the comment, and responded in a stern voice, “She is your elder sister, and you will treat her and Rod as if they were of your blood."
“The only elder sister I have is Sylvetta, but she's is gone now! Nobody, especially Emelaigne, is going to take her place!” Lucette barked back. Paloma placed a comforting hand on her shoulder to keep her calm.
“Lucette, let's not jump into any conclusions yet. Let him finish talking, please?” She pleaded.
The king nodded to confirm what Paloma said, “I am not saying that Emelaigne will be able to replace Sylvetta, but I am asking of you to treat her like she is family; as you did with Sylvetta.” Lucette sighs, but lets him continue, “Two days fom now, you will accompany her outside,” Lucette visibly tensed up, shaking from her pent up frustration. Agatha kept up her neutral expression, but even she was having a hard time keeping up the facade with the news of leaving the palace. Paloma, on the other hand, seemed conflicted with the news, but wondered about Imelda’s absence in the conversation instead.
Genaro sighs as he reminded them, "It’s been four years since you last left the palace. Ever since then, all of you have locked yourselves away or intentionally avoid being around other people." The princesses remained silent, avoiding eye contact with their father. The king continued, "Angielle was at the edge of war back then. But now the kingdom is safe and back to its former glory. I want you girls to see how beautiful Angielle really is..." Agatha and Lucette, who doubted their father's claims, only cringed at the words coming out of his mouth. Paloma awkwardly nodded her head, not really paying much attention but still somewhat listened attentively.
"Lucette, Paloma, Agatha… a princess must know her kingdom. Go with Emelaigne and she will show you three the town that you girls only ever see through your windows." Advised Genaro. The sisters soon caught on that Imelda was out of the equation, so it was only a matter of time that one of them brought up the elephant in the room.
Lucette raises an eyebrow with an aggravated look on her face, "Why isn't Imelda here? If Angielle is truly safe and gloriously as you claim it to be, then why aren't you including her in this conversation?" She questioned, knowing full well of the terrible excuse the king will make to keep Imelda cooped up in the palace.
The king sighed, expecting this was going to be brought up, "Imelda will remain in the palace, she will be focusing her time with her fiance while you all go to the trip with Emelaigne." He explains, with a hint of sorrow in his words. However, this explanation only infuriated the crown princess more as she objects.
"Imelda has never stepped out outside this palace, not even once! Why should she be forced to spend her time with her fiancee and not be right by our side during the trip!? You excluded her from every trip you make to the town with our step family, even when she begs to join. I will not be leaving my sister alone with that horrendous excuse of a fiancee all day without any of us there to watch over her!" Hissed Lucette, outraged by her father's unfair demands from them.
The king only gave her a stoic expression in return as he answers, "This is an order from your king. Are we clear?"
Paloma hurriedly gestured to Agatha to get Lucette out of the room as she responded to their father in their place, "We understand, your majesty," she assured before leaving after Agatha and Lucette.
Behind the opposite door, from where the three elder sisters left, was the tiny little princess sitting down with her ears at the door and legs close to her chest. Only a single tear fell from her face, her hands balled into fists, knuckles turning white; doing her best to handle the pain and disappointment she felt at her beloved father's orders.