Light Goldenrod

Mary had been rehearsing the lecture she was about to give me ever since we left the market. I could tell by how her lips kept moving the entire way back—tiny and quiet—with both her fists clenched like she was marching off to war.

And so, the literal second we entered my room, she exploded.

“H-Have you gone insane, princess?”

“Not any more than usual.” I collapsed face-first onto my fluffy velvet bed. Despite being a princess, my room was pretty basic, with a dark wooden desk in the left corner and a similarly colored dresser to its right. My bed took up over half the room by itself. Not that I minded, it gave the room a super cozy feeling. “At least we're finally home. You think the kids had fun, Mary?”

“E-Enough about that!” Mary tried to slam the door shut, though with her strength it barely creaked to a close. “What were you thinking… You know you can't use black magic in public!”

“But the thief needed to be caught!”

“You didn’t even notice that I saw at first!” Mary barked, face flushed red and unable to meet my eyes. “We could have worked together.”

“And that we did!” I summoned a flame on the tip of my finger and lit a nearby candle. “Magic exists to be used, and we used it to catch her.”

That was another reason I loved this place. There weren't any watchful eyes in here. Outside, I’d have to constantly fight the urge to simply light the candle with a flick of orange. Not in here.

Mary didn’t even flinch at my magic. “Ruby! Sorry, I mean—Princess Ruby, do you want the Church to burn you at the stake? You’re a Prisma.” Mary took a seat at the edge of my bed. Even with the anger in her tone, she still barely spoke above a whisper.

“Out here?” I gently scooted over and rested my head on her long, dark green hair. “I really appreciate how much you’re worrying about me, but this is Everbit! The Church barely has a presence here compared to Vertana.”

I shuddered just thinking about that place. Newspapers always carried stories about them catching other Prismas hiding in the streets. Those never ended well.

Just one last week showed drawlings of some poor kid they'd caught lighting a fire with her hands. They'd burned her like anyone else, clouldn't have cared less about her age.

“Thank the gods... I’m just worried about you, Princess. They have eyes and ears everywhere.”

“Eyes and ears that haven’t caught me yet!” I stretched, letting a stream of crystal blue water flow from my hands into a nearby cup. “Are you thirsty?”

“Yeah…” Mary gently grasped the cup and took a sip.

“Besides, not using what magic I have is such a waste! Isn't it amazing? I can dash faster than a racehorse and—”

I sank right into the floor mid-sentence, melted into my own shadow, and reappeared out from the wall.

Five feet up.

“Disappear whenever I want—Crap!”

A small pile of dust rose as I collapsed onto the floor face first. In my defense, black magic always focuses on the whole disappearing into the shadows part. None of my textbooks ever mentioned landings.

“Princess—”

“I’m fine!” I sheepishly grinned as my skin flashed a bright crimson. Thank you, red magic.

“I know it’s amazing, but—” Mary hesitated. “I want you to be safe, Princess. Even in a small country like ours, people could be watching. I know you want to practice your forbidden magic a bit more…”

“You can’t blame me for taking what few opportunities arise.”

“I know… If you want to, we could always expand the circle of people who know you’re a Prisma. Right now, it’s just me and your parents. It wouldn’t hurt to have your tutors—”

“Nope.”

“Why not? I-I’m sure we can—”

“No, I trust them, but I made up my mind.”

“But that would—” Mary sighed. “Gods Ruby, you’re so stubborn! First the chase today, then this.”

I felt a twinge of guilt at that one. “What we have now works. I don’t see a reason to change it.”

“It’s your choice, Princess…”

“You know, the royal scientists did a study once at the royal academy. Students that changed their minds on tests did way worse.”

“T-That study had a sample size of like five people. You’re impossible.”

“Thanks.”

“That wasn’t a compliment…”

I glanced outside. Stars shimmered in the clear night sky. Whenever we argued, breathing a bit of Everbit’s air always calmed me down. We were unmatched in that regard. Those stuffy diplomats that always came to visit my parents talked about how other cities had smog everywhere. “You never answered my question.”

Mary tilted her head. “What question?”

“Do you think those kids had fun today?”

Mary gently let the anger in her face go as she sat back next to me. “How could they not?”

“Then it was all worth it.”

The firelight flickered as the night’s air flowed inside. Why would anyone want to live anywhere else? I’m sure there's not another country with a sky like Everbit’s.

I poured myself a second glass of water and took a sip. Why does magic make such amazing water? The well water is nowhere near this clear, and as for the river? Forget it.

Mary glanced outside at the window, letting the breeze lift her hair. “It’s getting late, Princess. May I be dismissed?”

“Absolutely. I’m sure you’re looking forward to getting out of that stuffy maid dress.”

“I-It’s not that bad. My dress is made for combat, so it's super easy to move in.” Not that I could tell. From the outside, Mary’s black and white dress looked the exact same as any other maid’s, with its short frilly skirt and white straps. “But anyway, I shall see you tomorrow.”

With a slight curtsy, Mary opened the door, only to pause seconds later. “Princess, you have a letter posted to your door.”

“From who?”

“Your parents.”

You have got to be kidding me. The knights swore they wouldn’t tell anyone! “What does it say?”

Mary smoothly unsealed the letter with a leaf. She read the letter, then furrowed her brows in confusion. “It’s an urgent summons for tomorrow.”

“A summons? What time?” I asked, leaping to my feet. It had been years since my parents had sent an urgent summons. They wouldn’t do that for me simply breaking curfew. I do that like twice a week!

“Seven in the morning.” Mary gingerly handed the letter over.

“Too early for me…” That only made me more concerned. Neither my parents nor I were exactly morning people.

The letter was pretty short, written in my father’s familiar, fancy handwriting. “Dear Ruby. His royal majesty, King Richard, requests your presence at seven as the dawn rises. Please dress in formal attire. Best, Dad…”

“Yeah, that’s him all right. Name another noble who’d end a formal letter with the word dad.” I tossed the letter on my bed as I finished reading. “Short letter. Do you have any idea what it could mean?”

“I’m sorry, Princess, but I am just as lost as you,” Mary said quietly.

“Well, that's always fun.” With a shrug, I collapsed on my bed again. “It looks like we’re going to have an early morning tomorrow. Get some rest, Mary.”

“Yes, Princess. Have a good night. And… Please, don’t give me another heart attack tomorrow."

“Hard request. I’ll see what I can do, though.” I quietly watched as Mary gently closed the door behind her.

Well, I have always liked surprises. I summoned a small orb of water from my palm. It flew across the room, extinguishing the candles one by one until only moonlight remained. No matter what this summons is about, I’m sure tomorrow will be another great day.