40 Chapter 40 - Lazy Cat

"Princess?" I heard his voice, smooth as silk, weave into the crisp garden air. Filled with mostly confusion and a tinge of worry, but not enough to move me from my current position.

I felt like a cat.

I was sprawled over a garden chair and basking in the heat of the afternoon sun. The scent of my half-eaten strawberry cake wafted around me.

I couldn't remember the last time I had been at such peace.

"Princess?" His voice was much closer now, worry growing.

But I just wanted a second more.

I knew that wouldn't be happening when I heard his footsteps crunching on the grass behind me. I listened to his sigh before he had even let it out.

"You can't stay here forever," he said, voice exhausted and exasperated.

"I'm a princess. I can do whatever I want" I whined, covering my closed eyes with my sun hat as I pulled it over my face.

I knew it was inevitable.

Princess' can't do anything they want, but I knew he was weak to my whiny side.

"Do I need to remind you that your coming of age ceremony will be in a month from now?"

Or he used to be at least.

"Oh come on Raph! Let a girl catch a break!" I pulled my hat away from my face and turned to him.

"I have let you catch many and I'm worried you've grown spoiled and don't call me Raph", he threw back.

His brown hair was the same as ever. Purple strikes stretching further up his roots. But he had changed over these few years. His body became much more built than his slender teenage self. Face less childish even when he was freshly shaved. But he was as handsome as ever. Apparently a total catch among noble women.

"I feel like you've been really mean to me since I've been growing up. I bet if I was still young you would've let me do whatever I wanted!" I complained. Less because I was serious and more because I was stalling for time.

He sighed once again. Looking older than his years for a moment.

"Princess, you need to leave. The last time you overstayed you quota here your father threatened to roast me over a fire like a pig".

Ah... Oh yeah... That was kind of funny and I wouldn't have minded seeing it again but Raphael looked pretty serious so I decided against it.

"I still have a few hours before I have to show up at the palace anyway so why are you so anxious?" I turned around to bask in the sun once more, but instead he pulled my chair down so it stood on it's hind legs.

"You promised to go shopping for our clothes, but you've made no plans to. I have no intention in looking like a fool while you wear one of your many frilly clothes", his voice the epitome of annoyed and I knew exactly why.

As engaged couples. Me and Raphael are expected to match our clothes whenever we go to balls. I, in all honesty, found that both cringe and too much work. I did on earth and I do here. Raphael on the other hand...

"But I don't want to push you around. Isn't it embarrassing having to match your clothes with a kid?" I thought my reasoning was quite logical, but he didn't.

"You aren't just a kid. You are the only princess of Blackburn. A treasure to both your father and this land. It's an honor to be engaged to you", I almost gagged at his words that he so obviously recited from some obligation.

"You know Raphael. If you ever fancy a girl just let me know and I can annul this engagement whenever you want" I must have repeated these words for the hundredth time because I could see the steam coming out of his ears.

"Its like talking to a brick wall", he muttered, loud enough for me to here.

"Amen to that".

"What?"

"Nevermind..." I sighed, deciding it was time I stood up and stopped hiding out in the gardens of Raphaels estate.

Yes. Here I was in Raphaels estate, just as the original plotline said i'd be. Mother, as written, forced these holidays on me and I much obliged.

Because the palace got stuffy and easily constricting. Growing up as a princess meant being the epitome of a perfect lady and I, with Mallorys brown hair and eyes, was already lacking regardless of how well I could present myself.

So Raphaels estate was actually an escape for me. I could relax in his beautiful, well- maintained and not to forget closed off gardens. I could lounge in his library or dance in his halls. He let me do whatever I wanted.

He even let me go out, as long as I had a guard with me or, in most cases, himself. There were no frivolous women or physical abuse. In fact he was overly gentle, even with the age difference.

So there was already a big difference from the original storyline.

But despite all the annoying princess duties, the real reason I hadn't wanted to return home these last few months, wasn't solely because of my responsibilities.

It was because after all this waiting and planning and anticipation... It was finally happening.

She was here.

The long lost illegitimate daughter of the count.

Eliana Ainsworth.

The heroine of this tale.

And her very first appearance would be my coming of age ceremony.

Yippee...