The days following the grand ball were a whirlwind of activity. Rumors spread faster than wildfire through the empire, and Lilian found herself at the center of a storm. Her beauty was now the talk of every noble household, and with it came a flood of marriage proposals and curious whispers. Despite the chaos, Lilian had managed to find a semblance of normalcy in her daily routine.
One morning, Lilian awoke to the familiar sound of chirping birds outside her window. She stretched, feeling the soft weight of Celeste curled up beside her, and pushed herself out of bed. The room was already filled with the soft light of dawn, and she smiled at the thought of starting a new day.
Her first task was to sift through the endless pile of letters that had accumulated over the past few days. As she sorted through them, her eyes widened at the sheer number of marriage proposals. There were so many that they practically formed a small mountain of parchment on her desk. Lilian raised an eyebrow at the extravagance of some of the proposals. One particularly grandiose letter promised her a "kingdom of endless beauty" and a "library filled with the rarest tomes." It was signed, "Yours in eternal admiration, Duke Horatio."
Lilian chuckled and picked up a few of the letters. “Well, I suppose if I ever need kindling for a fire, these will do nicely.” With a mischievous grin, she made her way to the fireplace, where she tossed the letters into the flames. The crackling of the paper and the warm glow of the fire brought a sense of satisfaction. “Who knew marriage proposals could be so useful?”
After her unconventional use of the proposals, Lilian decided it was time to take on a new project: gardening. The idea had come to her while reading one of the many books she’d recently acquired. She imagined herself in a serene garden, surrounded by blooming flowers and fragrant herbs. It sounded like the perfect antidote to the whirlwind of social expectations she was facing.
With Celeste trotting beside her in her sleek black cat form, Lilian ventured into the palace gardens. She had already managed to secure a small plot of land, and her maids had set up a charming little greenhouse for her use. The air was crisp, and the scent of fresh earth filled her senses as she began her gardening tasks.
Her first challenge was planting seeds. Lilian carefully dug small holes in the soil and planted a variety of seeds—roses, lavender, and herbs she’d read about in her books. As she worked, Celeste playfully batted at the loose soil, her tiny paws making it difficult to maintain order.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Celeste, if you keep that up, we’ll end up with more weeds than flowers,” Lilian scolded gently, trying to stifle her laughter. The dragon’s antics were endearing, and despite her best efforts, she couldn’t help but find the sight of Celeste’s furry little paws in the dirt amusing.
After a few hours of planting, Lilian was covered in dirt from head to toe. Her hair, which had once been perfectly styled, now resembled a bird’s nest. She stood back to admire her work, her face beaming with pride. “Well, I suppose this is a start,” she said, brushing her hands off on her skirt. “Now, let’s hope something grows from this.”
Later that afternoon, as Lilian relaxed in the garden with a cup of tea, her maid Natalie approached with a stack of new letters. Lilian’s heart sank slightly at the sight, but she resolved to face them with grace. As she opened the letters, she noticed a few more marriage proposals, each more elaborate than the last. One letter included a delicate silver pendant, while another offered a “custom-designed palace wing.”
Natalie, always cheerful and perceptive, noticed Lilian’s exasperation. “Your Grace, if I may suggest, perhaps you should simply enjoy the garden today and let the proposals wait. After all, it’s not every day you get to plant your own flowers.”
“Good idea, Natalie,” Lilian replied with a smile. “I’ll just enjoy my tea and leave the rest for another day.”
As the sun began to set, Lilian and Natalie enjoyed a relaxing evening in the garden. Lilian sprawled out on a comfortable blanket, and Celeste curled up beside her. The quiet hum of the evening was soothing, and Lilian felt her worries melting away.
The tranquility was broken only by a playful disturbance: Celeste, in her dragon form, decided to chase a particularly daring butterfly that had fluttered into the garden. The sight of a dragon clumsily pursuing a butterfly while Lilian and Natalie laughed was nothing short of delightful.
“Celeste, you’re going to scare it away with all that noise,” Lilian called out, though her laughter betrayed her amusement. “Maybe stick to catching fireflies.”
As night fell, the garden was illuminated by the soft glow of lanterns, and Lilian found herself lost in thought. The day had been unexpectedly fulfilling, despite the pressures of her social standing. The simple pleasure of gardening, the warmth of the fire, and the companionship of her dragon and maid made her realize that she didn’t have to let the expectations of others overshadow her own happiness.
That evening, as she settled into bed with Celeste curled up beside her, Lilian felt a deep sense of contentment. The challenges she faced were far from over, but she knew she had found a way to navigate them with grace and humor. The upcoming days promised more adventures, but for now, she was at peace, ready to face whatever the future held with a smile on her face and a dragon by her side.
The fire crackled softly in the hearth, and Lilian’s eyes grew heavy with sleep. She knew that, despite the chaos and the endless proposals, she was carving out her own path in this world—one filled with laughter, love, and a touch of magic.