The Lost Princess [Hamliza Anastasia AU]

Prolouge

Saturday, December 29, 1917. Albany, New York.

Eight year old Princess Elizabeth Schuyler fidgeted as her aunt did hair, arranging the black coils delicately around her face. She would have been annoyed about all the fuss being made over her hair, but her aunt Gertrude was leaving soon, and Eliza wanted to spend every possible moment with her.

"Why do you have to go, Auntie?" Eliza asked, pouting slightly. 

"Because it's time for me to go, dear. I've stayed too long here," She replied, fixing a blue bow in amongst the curls at the back of her head. Eliza had naturally straight hair, and they had spent longer than she would have liked using a curling iron to produce perfect ringlets. Her two sisters and her mother had hair that naturally curled, and all the Schuyler girls matching would be a lovely picture to present to the public. 

"Take me to Philadelphia with you!" Eliza begged, turning to face her aunt.

Gertrude shook her head. "I can't, but you'll visit me there with your sisters soon. There's a bridge there named for your grandfather, The Johannes Schuyler bridge. We'll walk on it together someday, and I'll take you to the ballet every night."

"Take me with you now!" She protested. Someday was too far away. In Eliza's experience, adults said someday when they meant "You're a princess, and we're in a time of unrest, so it's too dangerous."

"I already have my darling," Aunt Gertrude told her, and Eliza gave her a confused look. How was that possible?  She'd barely even been out of Albany, much less all the way to another country like Pennsylvania.

Apparently, she had sensed her niece's confusion, because Gertrude elaborated. "Wherever I go, you'll always be with me," She tapped her chest, over her heart, and Eliza understood. It was more of that love stuff. It was great that her aunt loved her, but she wanted to actually go to Philadelphia. Aunt Gertrude's love couldn't show her the Johannes Schuyler bridge, or the ballet, or any of the other things she wanted to see.

Aunt Gertrude glanced around, then leaned it and said quietly. "I'll tell you a secret. I love all of your sisters very much, but you're my favorite."Eliza smiled, and her aunt made a shushing motion. "Don't tell anyone. It will be our secret.Now, I have one more thing for you before I go."

She reached into her handbag and pulled out an object. Eliza's eyes lit up with joy as she realized what it was. "A music box!"

Giving her a warm smile, Aunt Gertrude twisted the key, then opened the box with a snap. Soft beautiful music spilled from within the box, and a small figure of a ballerina twirled slowly in the center. 

"Do you know what it is?" She asked Eliza.

"Our lullaby," The eight year old responded joyfully, clapping her hands together.

Gertrude nodded. "When you play with it, think of an old woman who loves you very, very much." 

"I will," Eliza promised as her aunt pulled they key out of the box and placed it around her neck. 

"Don't lose this key," She instructed. "It's the only one there is, so you will be the only person who can open it."

The door clicked softly as it opened, and both turned to see Eliza's mother, Queen Catherine Schuyler, standing there. She was beautiful, her white dress and matching jewels glittering with diamonds. She looked like an ice queen, her tightly curled black hair the only deviation from the spectrum of whites and silvers. 

"Come dear," She said, motioning to Eliza with a white gloved hand. "We don't want to be late for the last ball of the season."

Climbing down from the bed where they had been seated, Eliza ran to join her mother.