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.

How I stood there, remembering how I had stood under the moonlight near the crashing waves at the beach with my family.

A life I could never return to!

A distant howl resonated in the air, the sound of a wolf.

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

Swallowing, I locked the door and sang a soft song, so that I could sleep.

Soon, slumber took my senses, and I couldn’t wake up till the warm sunshine painted my skin.

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.

“Comet,” I said.

“What?”

“At what time is breakfast?”

“You merely think of eating.”

“Yes. Now, tell me, please.”

“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.

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

“Sorry, no need to yell.”

I lay back in bed and stared at the 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, 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.

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

“Ugh, seriously, Comet?”

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

“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.

“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.

“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.

Leaving the room, the young maid appeared and eyed my clothes.

“Princess Amelia invites you to breakfast.”

“Thank you very much!”

“Hmm.”

I smiled and we passed the hallway where bright light cast shadows behind the flower vases and a large piano.

The maid held the door open for me, and I slipped into the room where there were several women.

“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.”

Her face had a stiff smile, and she waved her fan around.

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 gestured to me to sit down next to her.

“Thank you!”

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

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 has brown and purple hair.

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 Eden?”

Hold on! Did she say this place is called Eden? That’s in heaven, right?

“I came here by accident,” I said.

“Ah, I see. I was sent here to reason with the Pixie community with help from Angelpoint,” 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.”

Amelia 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…”

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

“Edith, her name is Janessa.”

“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.”

“Thank you, but I am afraid you do not know me well enough to know what I adore. Still, I am grateful,” I said.

“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.

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 an address to write to.

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

“Goodbye!” I said.

“Goodbye,” she said.

It had been two hours since I had been sitting in the library, reading smut, trying not to change my facial expression.

A man arrived and gave me an envelope.

“This from Lady Edith,” he said.

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

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 thinks 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.

Comet couldn’t answer when I asked her where Prince Cassius was, so I spent the rest of the evening embroidering his handkerchief after summoning a needle, a hoop, and embroidery floss.

“Why not use magic?” asked Comet.

“Well, that won’t show much effort…”

I embroidered a series of purple lilies and blue orchids along the edge.

When will I see you again?