The Uninvited Princess ✔

Chapter 63

Chapter 63

"Are you sure I look good?" Pranee asked as she looked down at her clothes.

The flowery embroidering was beautiful and different from the fire inspired symmetrical patterns from Isla. The fabric felt slightly stiffer but she wasn't sure if it was because she forgot what expensive fabric felt like after many months of wearing cheap robes or if it was just a different type of fabric altogether.

"You do, don't worry about it so much." Shashi put their forehead on her's and she couldn't bring herself to look at them in the eyes.

"I just don't want to offend your mother if I'm wearing them wrong." Her hands tugged at the edge of the robes.

Shashi leaned back and smiled. "My mother isn't scary, you'll be fine."

She tried to keep that in mind as they continued to walk along the dirt path to Shashi's childhood home.

The area was quieter than the small set of shops that they had just visited. A lot of empty land was covered in long blades of grass that swayed in the breeze. The buildings were smaller and looked older the further they went until Shashi stopped walking.

"We're getting close," Shashi announced.

Pranee's heartbeat quickened and she pursed her lips in anxiousness.

"Ah, Pranee?"

Shashi looked back at her with bright eyes. For a moment, Pranee swore that their face looked like a lizard's.

"Mm?"

"It might be good to ease her into the whole... hiding from your brother since he seems to want you dead."

She nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah, course. I wouldn't want to give her a heart attack. We should... um..."

"Hm?"

"Probably not mention to her that we're together either."

Shashi stayed silent for a moment and the excitement slowly drained from their expression. "How come?"

"I..." Her mind wandered to the dreams she had. "I don't know how she'll react. I don't want to have any drama."

Shashi's eyebrows knitted together before they nodded slowly. "Okay, I understand. You have a lot to take in. New country, just escaped death. Maybe we can tell her a day or two after we get settled?"

Pranee gave a small nod.

The two approached a building with laundry hanging on a nearby clothesline. Pranee could smell the aroma of spices emanating from the home and she could hear someone walking around inside.

Shashi approached the building and kicked the door with the side of their food. They shouted in a foreign language before the door opened.

The door opened to reveal a short woman with her hair tied in tight ponytail. Wrinkles covered her forehead and her skin was very tan from what Pranee could assume was from daily work. She could see the similarities between the woman and Shashi. They had the same facial structure from the sharp nose to the rounded face. The woman had very dark nearly black eyes unlike Shashi's as they had their father's golden eyes.

The woman began to berate Shashi and they began to respond in exasperation. They gestered their head towards Pranee and their mom stopped speaking before giving Pranee a warm smile.

"Hello, you're a friend of Shashi's?" She asked.

"Yes, sorry for the intrusion. Shashi wanted to visit while we were in the country." Pranee pressed her hands together and lowered her head in respect.

"Why didn't you tell me you were bringing guest, hm?" Their mother asked Shashi and they sighed.

"I told you, I didn't know we were coming until recently."

"You could've sent a message."

"Maeeeee."

Pranee couldn't help but giggle at the sight of Shashi acting like a child.

"I didn't make enough food. Good thing I just started cooking," their mom huffed. "Come in, come in."

Pranee hesitated for a moment before eventually taking a few steps into the home.

She attempted to remind herself of what Shashi said earlier and tried to relax. She dealt with scarier things before, she shouldn't be afraid.