“Fiona! Fiona!” Hermina called from outside the younger princess’s door. Seconds later, Fiona appeared dressed in a glamorous arrangement befitting her princess title. Her hair was neatly combed, and the only ruffles in her dress were intended as part of the fashion. Hermina smiled, but the blue princess could still see the shock on her sister’s face. Even weeks later, she had not gotten used to her little sister’s new fashion or attitude. The younger princess didn’t blame her.
“What is on the schedule for today, Hermina?” Fiona asked politely as the door slid shut behind her. Her Needaimus, Sun, rested gently on a blue shoulder, and her silky black hair was pushed to drape over the other.
“We have a small banquet to host with other officials around Quenth. It is customary for all the royal family to be present.”
“Of course! When should I arrive?”
Hermina paused a moment before telling Fiona the hour. Most of the family had made a habit of telling Fiona to arrive 2 hours before the planned time—a fact the young blue princess had only recently discovered, much to her shock when she showed up a half hour after the given time. She knew her elder sister was pondering what to say. They had all picked up on the fact Fiona was trying to show up on time. Hermina finally settled on an hour, which Fiona could only guess was still early, based on her current track record.
With the time set, the princesses departed the room; Fiona walked on the left of her sister’s floating chair as they made idle banter—Hermina took most of the time to gossip about things in the castle—and at a fork in the corridors, they split up and went their separate ways. Fiona took a deep breath and headed to her next destination—the sealed door of Gwyn’s room.
After returning from their trip, Gwyn retreated into the room and did not come out. As the weeks passed, they all wondered if he ever would. To make matters worse, he had liquified the border of the door and made it solid with the wall, making it impossible for anyone to get in or out without using excessive force. Some advisors had decided it was best to leave him be, but Fiona wasn’t a perfect princess yet, and she didn’t have to listen to everything the advisors said.
She began her daily routine with three knocks on the door. Fiona shouted to the Nonpareil, “Gwyn, it’s me!”
There was no reply from inside, but an empty tray by the door and signs of a section being liquified and solidified by it told her he was alive. “Why don’t you come out? There is going to be a banquet today?” she said.
No reply.
“I know it was hard in Nun, but we can’t keep sulking forever…. You should at least talk about it. If not to me, then someone else. I can go get anyone you want! We’ve all exchanged contacts and have been chatting about all sorts of fun plans!”
“Go away, Fiona.” The voice was hoarse and rough—almost inhuman. Fiona frowned, and her head fell low. She stared at the floor.
“Alright,” she answered softly, “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” With her last words, she left the door and ended their routine for that day. Sliding her blue hands down her hair, she pondered when life became so complicated.
***
Fiona found Donn and an advisor talking in the center hallway of the castle. The blue prince leaned casually on a column as he listened to his alabaster companion read off a list of problems.
“So, you see, we’ve had many issues as of late. It seems the staff has grown ever warier after our King’s passing away, and I think that anxiety is building.” Fiona overheard the end of the report as she walked in close. Donn made a nod to his sister while rubbing his chin.
“And you think we should postpone the banquet because of this?” he finally asked.
The advisor, a thin and tall Aqueenian man, nodded.
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“We may find pushing such joyful events so soon will lead to greater troubles down the line.”
Donn shook his head and crossed his arms.
“I understand your concerns, but this is a traditional banquet; I think we would have even more problems by canceling. Especially so last minute.”
Fiona looked back and forth between the two men. Each had a posture of being closed off, Donn with his arms crossed and the advisor with his hand firmly buried in his pockets, and both had flat expressions that could not betray any emotions. She wasn’t sure if they disliked each other or if their manners were part of the castle’s internal politics—it had only been a couple weeks since the blue princess started to pay attention.
“I was looking forward to the banquet this year!” Fiona eagerly added, paying no mind to the mood of the other two in favor of her participation in the talk.
The alabaster advisor sighed as his head drooped. Then he beamed a smile at Fiona, the same expression one might give a young child who said something obvious to an adult. Fiona didn’t like that expression.
“I am happy to hear that, Princess, but these matters are best left to… more responsible members in our court.”
Fiona’s purple eyes narrowed, and she frowned, but Donn was the next to speak.
“I, for one, admire Fiona’s desire to take part in official events like this. After her long journey, it will be good for citizens to see her.”
The advisor shook his head and shrugged.
“I can see that I cannot convince you otherwise. We will do all we can to make this event go as well as possible. But.…” the alabaster Aqueenian paused as he looked at Fiona. He settled to shake his head and waved goodbye. “Take care that we don’t have unexpected trouble,” he added as he walked away. Donn’s brow furrowed, but the prince replied with a neutral parting, “Will do; good talking to you.”
Once the advisor was far enough away, the bulky prince made a face like he had eaten something nasty. “Why did Mother make him the head advisor?” he muttered.
“Is… that advisor so bad?” Fiona asked innocently. She tried to recall the man’s name but never had taken enough interest to get to know most of the castle staff—most hated her anyway.
“Advisor Vance Tempest,” Donn said, “I won’t deny his skill. He’s a great asset to the castle. He just rubs me the wrong way.”
“Oh,” Fiona replied. She didn’t know what else to say about the matter and left it alone. Donn shook his head and smiled at his sister.
“I’m happy to hear you are attending the banquet this year. I think last year we had to… cuff your hands and drag you there.”
“No, that was the year before; last year was when I pretended I was becoming a devotee of Crenussal and hid in the temple… before they kicked me out.”
Donn chuckled and waved to show Fiona should walk with him. The blue princess followed alongside her brother as they went through the castle corridors.
“Pardon me for my forgetfulness. It seems it is coming on with old age.”
“You aren’t even that old!”
“I’m afraid crown prince time differs from pranking princess time. The amount of stress might even cause me to get wrinkles!” Donn chuckled.
“You sound like a Netzian,” Fiona said as she shook her head and rolled her purple eyes.
“Speaking of Netzians, how is Gwyn?” The blue princess jumped slightly as Donn changed the subject. “Are you still checking on him?”
“I, uh, of course. He just doesn’t seem like he wants to budge. I’m thinking we should kick the door down and drag him out.”
“Hmm, it is difficult to say, but I will leave it to your discretion,” Donn replied, rubbing his chin. “I hoped to invite him to the weight room, so try to hurry.”
“You make it sound like we are short on time.”
“Time is always short for me, dear sister. It will be for you, too, once you see how taxing being a proper princess can be!” As the crown prince spoke, he and his sister exited the hallways to a courtyard where Donn’s driver, bodyguard, and fan club president was waiting. Fiona had always found the woman strange. Her chalcedony face was always shaped into a disappointed frown, but she led an army of enthusiastic fangirls.
“You’re late, sir,” the woman said sternly.
“Sorry, Aster, Fiona and I were chatting!”
Donn’s guard sighed. Long black hair swayed by her hips as she shook her head. Despite her face, she always was easy on Donn.
“Let’s get going; we have lots of prep to do!” the guard replied as she opened the side door.
“Well, let’s get going, Fiona,” Donn said as he slid his wide frame through the tiny opening.
“What?”
“To the banquet hall; we’ll help wrap up preparations before the guests arrive.”
“Oh. Alright.” Fiona stammered as she slid in next to her brother. “Is it normal for royalty to do this?” she asked once the vehakul moved. They were early compared to the time Hermina gave her.
“Not typically, but I think it lets all the workers know that the royal family appreciates them if we can come to help. The chances diminish once your schedule gets filled, so it’s good to go when you can.”
“I see,” Fiona said as she stared out the window. Their transport pulled free from the castle courtyard and quickly zipped across Lover’s Bridge just after the two sides snapped together. Once passing over, the bridge split and cut the castle back off from the rest of the sparkling city of Quenth. Donn and Fiona chatted casually as they waited to arrive at the banquet hall.