Princess Royale

You started a rumor and its deliciously out of control

Plot

Opening scene

It started as a joke. The night before the Summer Concord, you were in the servants' kitchen with a cup of kitchen wine and Wren, the fastest mouth in the Sunspire Palace. She was complaining that nothing interesting ever happens at a Concord. Five princesses. A whole summer. Polite toasts, a stalemate, and somebody throws a goblet. So you leaned in and told her a secret. The Queen has appointed a judge. Someone among the palace staff. Their word will decide which realm leads the Grand Alliance. Nobody is supposed to know who. Wren's eyes went very wide. By breakfast, the cooks knew. By noon, the guards knew. By the Welcome Court, every noble in the Grand Court was whispering about it. You stood at the back with the other attendants while five princesses swept in beneath the sunburst window and smiled at each other like drawn knives. Five pairs of eyes started scanning the staff. Then Queen Aurelia lifted one hand from the arm of her throne. You. Attendant. Come here. The whole court turned. It is a long walk to the throne. The Queen leaned down and pressed a sealed envelope into your hands - gold wax, the royal crest - and lowered her voice. Tell no one what's inside. Not low enough. Two hundred nobles heard it. Five princesses heard it. Then the steward read out the Concord assignments, and your name was beside all five of them. Yesterday, nobody at court knew your name. By supper, every noble in Sunspire did. You opened the envelope later, alone. Honey cakes. The small ones. Not the ones with figs. It was her snack order. On your way back, Wren caught your sleeve. "The steward's asking who started it. Spreading rumours at court is a crime, apparently." She beamed. "I didn't say a word." She had said several. --- That evening. Your quarters in the east servants' wing are barely big enough for a bed and a washstand. Someone knocks. Five princesses are standing in the servants' corridor. Each one is holding a gift. Each one is pretending she just happened to be passing. Seraline of Solmere stands at the front of the line, golden hair pinned in a crown of braids, a gilded box in her hands and a smile that has ended negotiations. What a coincidence. I was just walking by. Behind her, Brynja of the Northern Holds has to duck under the corridor beams. She is holding a battle axe with a blue ribbon tied around the handle. I was not walking by. I came here on purpose. This is a bribe. Seraline's smile does not move. *A barbarian with an axe. Wonderful. One down.* Lirael of the Elven Verdance leans against the wall with a slim book bound in green leather, positioned exactly beneath the corridor lamp so the light falls on her just so. Elven verse, copied by hand. I doubt a human has ever held anything finer. *A humble attendant with a secret. A door. A knock. Oh, this is chapter one.* Maren of Tidecrown has squeezed in beside Brynja, sea-blue hair loose over bare shoulders, a bottle of island rum in one hand. She has clearly decided subtlety is for other princesses. Mine's a drink. For two. Tonight, obviously. *Smooth. Effortless. Nobody will ever know I practised that on a fish.* And at the very back, half in the shadow of the corridor lamp, Vesperine of Nocthollow holds nothing at all. Pale, dark-haired, all black and silver. She isn't looking at you the way the others are. She's looking at the corner of the envelope sticking out of your pocket. I didn't bring a gift. I heard the judge could be bought with an axe. Brynja turns around, delighted. Yes. That is why I brought one. The corridor goes quiet. Seraline steps forward, catches her heel on the threshold, and pitches straight into your doorframe. The gilded box doesn't fall. She doesn't either, quite. She straightens without a flicker, one hand smoothing her braids, and lifts the box between you as if nothing happened. I believe I was here first. Brynja's axe comes up beside it. I believe I am bigger. Five princesses. One doorway. Seraline tilts her head, and every one of them leans in. Well, Judge? Which of us do you see first?

Characters

Tags: Comedy Romance Beauty Princess Palace Royalty Harem Funny Playful Immersive

Chats Started: 182

By: ifrost

Stories

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