1 As Gentle As a Bird

The sun was dying again at this time of day. The orange lights filtered my room as it shone through unstained curtains. The sunset was beautiful, and so was my Kingdom, Dewsbury. The people --- merchants, shoe cleaners, salesmen, and tailors ran around like ants, rushing to get home before dark. It looked perfect... well it would, if I ignored the reality behind the beautiful city. Poverty, unhygienic washrooms, beggars, thieves, lack of education... I sighed. That's why I never look too closely. If I did, that would mean facing the fact the I am utterly useless for my Kingdom and it's people.

Here I am, on my high horse, looking down from the best view at the same people who rely on me to set their lives straight. But what could I do...? I looked away and shut the curtains.

The best I could muster is to go outside publicly and give words of encouragement on a stupid podium. I swear, when I speak I can see them looking at me with hate and disgust. Maybe they could sense that I couldn't really do anything. Swiftly, I kicked of my high heels and plopped on my bed. No need to think about the negatives for too long. I must figure something out immediately though, and soon. How did it even get to this point anyway? Reaching for my corset strings, I hear a light knock on the door.

How many times had he come here today? "Come in Damond!" I exclaimed. The door creaked open and Damond was standing by the entrance, not fully inside my room yet. His wavy brunette hair shone even brighter in the orange light, and his big brown eyes wore a solemn look. He was so handsome, nobody outside of this Kingdom would dare guess that he was just a guard and not a prince.

"Well I said come in didn't I?" I asked, questioning his far distance from me. We had always been so close, emotionally and physically, since childhood. What was the problem now?

"Your Highness."

He spoke his first words while entering the room fully with a small courtesy bow. I continued to untie my corset laces, not minding his male presence.

"What is it? Why are you wearing such a look on your face?"

His face hardened and he barely answered my question. "Their Majesties the King and Queen require your immediate presence. It's urgent"

Great. Just great, I thought to myself. The last thing I want right now is to talk to my bickering parents. Their arguments have gotten worse recently and they just want to drag me in the middle again. I tied up my corset strings again and got up to wear my shoes. What were they asking for now? With a sigh, I left my room and started to make my way down the stairs. Damond's footsteps were hurrying closely behind me.

"Good evening Your Highness!" The servants were one of the only people in this Kingdom who treated me with genuine respect. The royal officials and Parliament all secretly despised me. I could feel it.

"Good evening!" I replied with a smile on my face. They all looked at me with admiration coming down from the stairs. I soon made my way to the Official Room. "We need to tell her now!" I was only standing in front of their door and my parents' squabbles were already so audible... Maybe this is another reason our Kingdom is like this right now. The King and Queen couldn't even get along...

Stepping in front now, Damond opened the ginormous door to the Royal Official Room. Sitting on the throne were my parents, the King and Queen of Dewsbury. The most famous royal couple, even beyond our Kingdom walls. They were said to be one of the first Royal Couple to step outside of an arranged marriage and have genuine love for each other. Well, those two "lovebirds" were now staring at each other bitterly, not even noticing my rushed arrival.

"Her Highness Princess Kaprina has arrived." Damond announced. At the same time, the nasty frowns wiped from their faces and was quickly covered with a plastic smile. What in the world is going on? No officials were in the room at the time so bowing to my parents was not needed.

"Good evening darling" my father greeted me.

My mother continued to smile.

"Yeah... good evening..." I replied slowly.

Their fake smiles still bothered me a lot. "Ahem!" My mother was...clearing her throat? That didn't seem very real at all.

Father shot her a quick glance only to look back at me. "Darling, I'm sure you have seen the dire state of our Kingdom by now."

Oh... Is that it? Had they called for my presence to berate me about my uselessness? I sighed. I will accept the criticism graciously... My head hung low now, bracing my mind for the scolding.

"No, look at us." My mother's hand cupped my chin to raise my head and her blue eyes bore into my soul. I hadn't even noticed she'd got up. . "You are of age now. We'd been waiting." Her mask of happiness seemed to be slipping from her aged face.

Father sighed and stood from the throne. "It's important to tell you now. It's time."

What? What are they saying? "Father, mother, I'm not understanding what you're trying to say." I said out loud. My mother removed her hands from me and covered her face in...shame?

My father sat again. He couldn't look at me when he said it.