Yearning for the Prince's Attention

Last night, when I had opened the door, the full moon cast its light on the floor as it peeked through the tiny space above the grand windows. It reflected on the pale, marble floor while I heard the breathing of the guard as he slept on a chair.

Is it just me, or this place isn't all that heavily guarded?

I had ventured out of the room and gazed at the round, white, glowing moon in contrast with the dark, bleak sky. The sound of my footsteps was loud as I walked on the tiles.

Recalling how I had stood under the moonlight near the crashing waves at the beach with my family, I was silent, and my heartbeat stopped for a second.

A life I could never return to!

A distant howl resonated in the air, the sound of a wolf. It made my skin crawl as I froze in front of the window. My white nightgown flowed in the soft breeze that blew from behind the window grills.

What if I’m not safe in this life either? What if Cassius is no better than Kevin?

I sighed and listened to the crunching sound of my slippers as I walked back. Turning the key in the lock without any sound proved difficult. The metal of the key clinked as the door creaked open.

Swallowing, I entered and locked the door behind me.

I lay down in bed, with my sheets covering me, and closed my eyes. Still, I couldn't sleep. I yawned while awake and sang a lullaby for myself.

Soon, slumber took my senses, and I didn't wake up. 

Hours later, the warm sunshine painted my skin through the crevices in the curtains.

I can’t deal with an unfair life again! Surely, he can’t be like my ex-boyfriend.

I got ready, clicked on Comet’s screen, and yelled, “Morning!”

“It is five in the morning! Return to your bed, please,” said Comet, floating and snoring.

Her dress was a white nightgown now, with a nightcap. She rubbed her eyes.

“Comet,” I said.

“What?”

“At what time is breakfast?”

“You merely think of eating.”

“Yes. Now, tell me, please,” I said, clasping my hands together.

“8 in the morning. However, I would suggest making yourself useful while you attend the palace. They do not appreciate those who overstay their welcome.”

“Okie dokie, wake me up at 10 minutes to 8!” I said.

I zipped straight back into bed.

“Who do you think you are? The Queen?” said Comet.

I sat up when I heard this.

She went inside a pixel treehouse, turned on the light, and went to bed.

“Ugh, sorry, no need to yell.”

I lied down again and stared at the plain ceiling.

If it doesn’t work out with the prince, I should make my escape somehow. It shouldn’t be too hard to get hired at a dress shop with my skills.

After what seemed to be ten minutes of darkness, Comet finally stopped yelling as I opened my eyes.

“Huh? Is it 8 AM?” I asked.

“No.”

I got up at once and jumped into the bathroom. I began to brush my teeth.

“It is a quarter to eight,” said Comet.

“Ugh, seriously, Comet?” I said, mouth full of toothpaste.

I walked out of the bathroom, toothbrush in my mouth.

“I would laugh, but my lethargy does not allow it,” said Comet, closing her eyes.

She talked from a balcony in the treehouse.

“All you think of is sleep,” I said.

“Indeed. We could be sisters in sin. Gluttony and Sloth… Your daily fragment is ready!” said Comet.

I gargled and washed my face. Then, I dried my hands.

“Okay!” I said, returning and touching the screen.

A rock cracked into pieces and split into four colors: red, blue, pink, and green.

“Choose one,” said Comet.

“Blue, of course.”

“Not a good choice. Pink is best,” she said.

The blue crystal shard landed in my clasped hands and dissolved in the air.

“Uh, what just happened?” I asked.

There was a pop-up on the screen, “You have received a sack of fabric!”

I thought I would never be a fabric hoarder again.

I tore open the bag.

“What am I supposed to do with these one-yard pieces? Such ugly prints!”

“Hehe, that is why you always choose pink! Oh, it is breakfast time! Goodbye.”

I can’t go to breakfast looking like this!

I spun the wand, and it transformed my outfit into a white blouse with black trousers.

Wrong era! What will they think of me? Well, it could be worse.

After combing my hair, I left the room. The young maid appeared and eyed my clothes. Her eyes narrowed and her nose wrinkled.

“Princess Amelia invites you to breakfast.”

“Thank you very much!”

“Hmm.”

Stuffing the key into my pocket, I smiled, and we passed the hallway.

Bright light cast shadows behind the flower vases, and a large piano sat outside of the room. A bundle of sheet music lay on it, and I heard the voices of women talking in a variety of voices.

The maid held the door open for me, and I slipped into the room.

“Oh, Janessa, come in,” said Princess Amelia.

“Great. It is a pleasure to be here,” I said.

The women in different kinds of Victorian dresses whispered to one another.

They’ve never seen a girl in tight pants; I don’t blame them. Wait till they see modern outfits, oh wait…

“Dear Edith, Prince Cassius must have lost his mind!” whispered a woman.

A woman with white hair whispered back, “He will soon forget this wench.”

Edith's face had a stiff smile, and she waved her fan around. Her hair was blonde and in curls, and she wore a blue dress.

Wasn’t Edith the girl that the old geezer mentioned? It looks like I’ve got competition. But is she iconic?

One of the women said, "Please, you may sit next to me."

She had brown and purple coloured hair and wore a grey dress.

“Thank you!”

I had some scrambled eggs and jam on toast, with a cup of tea.

The table was narrow and covered the whole length of the room. Our dishes were placed atop a pink tablecloth with matching napkins.

I’m genuinely confused. Am I in England or something? Most of these women look British or at least European. Neither Amelia nor Cassius looks like them. People have some funky hair colors going on, too. The girl next to me probably dyed it.

The girl asked, “I am Yuko, and you?”

This girl has a Japanese-sounding name! Where am I, exactly? She could be a foreign guest.

“I’m Janessa, pleased to meet you,” I said.

“The pleasure is mine. What brings you to Saphyr?”

“I came here by accident,” I said.

“Ah, I see. Nice. As for me, I was sent here to reason with the Pixie community with help from Shimmerpoint,” said Yuko.

“Oh? What’s going on?” I asked.

“They want a higher wage. However, the pixie leader said that they are doing well with the pay they are receiving.”

Edith said, “Pixies are such a nuisance. We should cut down their pay even more.”

Yuko said, “Now, that is completely false.”

Yeah, Edith isn’t iconic at all. Just lame. It won’t take me long to win the prince’s heart.

After breakfast was over, Edith rose and said, “Janice, darling, wait a little.”

I proceeded to leave while Yuko began talking about pixie rights.

“I agree…”

Edith appeared in front of us with a scowl on her face.

“Janice, I thought I told you to wait!” said Edith.

“Edith, her name is Janessa,” said Yuko.

“Of course. Janessa, wait right now!”

I turned and looked into her eyes while my eyebrows knitted together.

“Yes, what is it, Lady Edith?” I asked.

Yuko tugged me by the arm.

“Let us go for a stroll near the gardens, shall we? I have something you will adore,” said Edith.

I curtseyed and said, “Thank you, but I'm afraid you do not know me well enough to know what I adore. Still, I'm grateful."

“Ugh, Janessa, why are you so rude about it? I am simply offering you a present.”

“I apologize, I must attend to some… chores,” I said.

“Spoken like a true servant,” she said.

“If it’s paid work, there’s no harm. No need to undermine them. I doubt you could ever do half of their daily chores.”

She began laughing like a maniac and said, “You truly amuse me, Janessa.”

“As do you. Goodbye,” I said.

She turned away at once, fanning herself.

I think I’m finally nailing this fake, formal language. I still need to use fewer contractions.

Yuko and I began talking about the weather situation in Angelpoint when the maid said, “Excuse me, madam.”

Her flaxen, blonde hair was in a ponytail.

“Oh, yes, what is it?” I asked.

She called me madam?!

“Thank you for standing up for us. I was wrong about you. Please forgive me,” said the maid.

“It’s alright. It’s the truth, after all.”

She smiled and said, “Well, enjoy!” before she left.

“You too.”

Yuko gave me a card with a phone number.

It looks like there are phones in this world, after all. But I guess they must be landlines.

“I must go now, the meeting will start,” she said.

“Goodbye!” I said.

“Goodbye,” she said.

I asked the maid whether there was a place to read.

"The royal library is not far from here," she said.

I followed her directions, out of the building, and across a road. The green grass covered the whole pavement, and wildflowers bloomed in nooks and crannies. Bees buzzed in my ear, and I flinched all the way until I saw the building.

Climbing up the steps, the lights turned on as I walked in. A man was fast asleep in his chair.

After walking around for some time, I found a book cover with a shirtless man.

I wonder if this is smut.

I spent two whole hours reading it, trying not to change my facial expression.

All of a sudden, a man arrived and walked to my table. I looked away from him, but he passed me an envelope.

“This from Lady Edith,” he said.

“Oh?!” I said, trying to hide the book’s cover.

He nodded and left.

Janessa,

I was taken aback when you did not look at my gift, let alone accept it. However, I suppose it is because we are not acquainted with each other.

I am Lady Edith, soon to be engaged to Prince Cassius as per the agreement between our two Kingdoms. I wish to pursue our friendship as you appear to be close to Prince Cassius, so that I may learn more about him from you.

You may have misunderstood me, so I humbly request that you accept my offering of a scholarship for Costume Design at the most prestigious Snowstar Institute of Fashion. You may think I do not know you, but I heard much of your dressmaking magic when I last met Prince Cassius.

Meet me tomorrow at 6 PM in front of the Golden Theatre.

Of course, I planned to show Cassius this letter and ask what he thought of it.

Maybe I should’ve stuck to my promise, as I fell from the sky. Perhaps I will never be worthy of anyone’s love, even in my second lifetime.

I left the book on the table, and my gaze was on the floor for the whole time that I returned to my room.

Placing the letter on my table, I tapped on the screen several times.

"Comet."

"Yes? You have returned."

"Do you have any idea where Prince Cassius might be?"

"I am afraid not."

"Hmm, I see."

I summoned a needle, a hoop, and embroidery floss.

“Oh, embroidery. Why not use magic?” asked Comet.

“Well, that won’t show much effort…”

Taking out the handkerchief, I embroidered a series of purple lilies and blue orchids along the edge until my hands cramped.

When will I see you again? Am I doing the right thing? I don't want to interfere in their relationship! I should speak to the prince and sort it out.

I tied the securing knot and cut the thread. Sighing, I stared at the handkerchief for quite some time.

My heart is telling me that it's alright. Is it, though? The prince doesn't seem interested in Edith. It'll be alright soon, I can feel it.