Chapter Text
“Good morning, your highness,” The voice of my handmaid rings from the doorway as she swiftly enters my bedchambers, rousing me from my sleep. “It’s time to get up.” She draws the curtains wide, revealing the vast view from my point in the manor, then pulls the doors of my wardrobe open to prepare my clothing.
“Agnes…” I murmur, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I sit up, “I thought I asked you to knock before you come in.” She continues to twit about my room, ignoring my statement, pulling various articles of clothing out of my wardrobe. “Breakfast is prepared in the dining room, your father is expecting you down before it goes cold.”
Sighing, I begin to dress, Agnes helping me with the lacing in my corset and with my hair as I sit at my vanity. The dark, tired circles below my eyes don’t escape me as I prod at them with my cold hands, wishing they weren’t so prominent. “Sleep well?” She asks earnestly, her eyes meeting my own in the reflection of the mirror as her hands gently come to rest on my shoulders. I nod, my gaze averting from hers.
After a beat, she sighs and turns toward my bed to make it. Agnes knows I’m lying– she knows me too well to believe me, and I’m grateful that she doesn’t push the matter any further.
Thankfully, the food is still warm by the time I take my seat at the table near my father, and I feel his scrutinizing gaze following me. My mother’s gaze follows me as well, though infinitely more kind and warm than my father’s, and my kid brother is too absorbed in his meal to care to notice I’ve arrived.
“Nicole…” he acknowledges, “Nice of you to join us.”
“Good morning father.” I murmur, focused on the food in front of me. He clears his throat, placing his utensils down.
“You will be making an appearance to our court tomorrow,” My attention snaps to him, and I finally meet his gaze, “I have picked your new escort, and I expect you to treat this one well. He is one of the best we have.”
“Father!” I protest, putting my own utensils down now, “I told you, I don’t need an escort, I-” He stops me with a silent hand, his face serious.
“We are not having this conversation. I expect you to be there early. You need to start making a presence in our court if you are to inherit it one day.” He eyes me, and I’m sure he notices my lackluster appearance.
Without a word, I take my leave, leaving my plate nearly untouched as I storm out of the room nearly in tears. I can feel his gaze burning into my back as I retreat, the wooden door closing behind me loudly.
The quiet of the garden is disturbed as I find my place on a stone bench sat near a fountain, several birds flying away. My fists clench, then unclench as I try to find peace in the burbling water. Footsteps approach, and I recognize them to be Agnes’. It makes me furious, that I’ve never been afforded a moment of privacy. Agnes has always been with me for as long as I can remember, waiting on me. Dressing me, doing my hair, drawing my baths, interrupting my daydreams.
“You can’t send them all away, your highness.” She says calmly, taking a seat next to me.
“I…They all just…They’re men, Agatha. Always in my space, just watching me.” My voice trembles slightly as I speak, and the silence between us stretches. I don’t look at her, turned away toward a nearby plant as I inspect it. She thinks for a while, her gaze on me as she formulates her words.
“Your father just…” She pauses, carefully choosing her next words, “He cares about you. He worries about your safety, especially with the rising tensions in the kingdom.”
I imagine that a hole begins to burn into the leafy plant before me with how intensely I stare at it, but the thought vanishes when she speaks again, “Give this one a chance, your highness. I’ve seen some of his work, your father meant it when he said that he’s one of the best.”
–
The herald’s nasally voice drones in my ears as I stand before the hundreds of people in our court— the council, dukes, and nobels alike stand before us as my parents sit in their thrones behind me. Murmurs among the crowd don’t escape me, but I’m preoccupied with how the sunlight is nearly blinding as it reflects off of the floors in the throne room, and I squint.
“Now presenting the Princess’ newly appointed knight-guard,” My gaze focuses on the heavy doors, and I square my shoulders as I watch them slowly swing open, “Come to swear the oath of loyalty to her highness, Princess Nicole of Elarion.”
Sunlight reflects off of heavy silver armor as the newest knight assigned to me enters the doorway, the court’s hushed murmurs swirling through the courtroom as he silently makes his way toward me. I consider how quickly I can get this one to leave, or get kicked out. Perhaps I could beat my previous record of six months.
Through his helmet, I can barely make out his features, only able to see his eyes.
“Sir Valentine of Ontridge.”
He removes his helmet, eyes trained on mine, and I inspect his features. Tanned skin, high cheekbones, short curls that fall just above his ears, and dark, intense eyes lined with charcoal. He’s handsome, and I swear I recognize him from somewhere. Dismissing the feeling as an impossibility, I watch as my newly appointed guard kneels before me, placing his helmet onto the floor before drawing his sword.
My voice rings through the room, loud and confident, silencing any murmurs of the court, “Do you vow to protect me, in light and in darkness?”
He nods, voice quiet, “I do.”
“Do you pledge your loyalty to myself and this kingdom, without falter?”
“I do.”
“Do you pledge to draw your blade against anyone, should I ask?”
My father sighs behind me, his disappointment audible.
“Your highness, that’s not-” The herald starts, panicked, before the knight knelt before he answers firmly.
“My sword is yours to command, Princess.”
The room falls silent, all eyes on the two of us.
“So be it.” I say, removing the hefty blade from his hands, keeping my surprise disguised as I touch each shoulder with the sharpened edge. “In the name of our Elarion, I charge you with my protection, Sir Valentine.”
–
“How dare you!” My father roars, entering my bedchambers. Agnes swiftly takes her leave, closing the door behind her to keep the rest of the manor from hearing him.
He comes a mere foot from me, and I stare up at him defiantly, my face stony and shoulders squared. “How dare you embarrass us in front of my court in such a way! You are a disgrace to this family, child.” He turns away and paces in front of me, face scarlet as he takes a deep breath to calm himself. “You could not have just recited what you were told, you simply had to defy me. I can’t-” a knock at the door cuts him off, a small mercy.
“Your Majesty,” Agnes slowly peeks her head in, taking half a step into the doorway and bowing her head, “I apologize for the interruption, but her majesty requests your presence.”
He sighs, not turning to look at her, instead keeping his gaze trained on me. “We will continue this conversation later.” He grumbles, turning away and storming out, the door slamming behind him.
“I apologize for the interruption, your highness, but your knight guard is here to begin his duties.”
“No need to apologise, tell him to come in.” I remove my crown from my head, placing it in its case on my vanity and sighing. “And Agnes,” I say, “You may take your leave for the evening.”
“But–”
“Please.” I say with more force, not wanting to argue.
“Yes, your Higness.”