Hidden Princess

Part 1

The scent of the wet muddy trails and home baked sourdough bread made her stomach tingle. She sat at the highest ceiling beam in her room running her fingers through her crimson red hair as she glanced at the picturesque portrait of the forest and the village beyond.

Her mind raced of adventures written in the illustrated books her mother brought anytime she went out to the village, princesses living in tall towers awaiting devilishly handsome princes to wander and get hypnotized by their beauty. Those were fairytale and her life was real.

Though, she had never been to the village. She relied on the sounds that somehow reached the depth of the forest and the grumblings her mother lamented under her breath, the village was ruled under an iron fist and a recent inflation had left people like her and her mom underprivileged.

" Breakfast time ".

Diana didn't resent her mother for keeping her away for her sixteen years on earth, her mother always tried to be fun despite any situation they found themselves in. On rare occasions, her mom brought guests home and they stayed and chatted in the drawing room Diana was strictly forbidden to enter.

A leap landed her in a lower beam, her stride never broke as she gracefully leapt like a mice before landing on the floor. Her naïve nature only extended to her lack of knowledge on the outside world beyond the petunia garden that brightened the dark place, her mother had been a Lady.

Diana walked briskly through the maze of corridors and passageways that seemed to cooperate to misdirect her path. The place might be mistaken for a palace in it's heydays but the grandeur had elapsed, hints of the beauty only existed in places Diana had been warned away from.

Their small kitchen seemed even smaller if that were possible, bowls of soup along with freshly baked sourdough. Diana greeted her mother before ravenously eating, despite the etiquette her mother had enforced into her she ate like a pig or boy. 

Their money always seemed to run out, sourdough prices rocketed within the week and to Diana, this much food was fit for a king. Diana wondered where her mother had gotten the money from, the way her mom had withdrawn from her walking and rambling like a shell everyday had spooked her.

Today, her mom's pale skin glittered in the sunlight escaping through the thick curtains. The golden hair Diana envied brushed back and tied in a scarlet ribbon, her best gown hugged her body and Diana thought her mom looked happy.

" Sorry for the way I had been behaving the last few days, I quit from my old job. The master didn't treat his workers with dignity and no matter how poor a person can be, a loss of dignity is detrimental.

I thought sourdough bread will be in accordance since I got a new job which pays more than my other job, that wicked Baron in the other town declared another inflation. I had to trek to the second town to get everything ".

Diana stared at her mother, she had only seen what she had wanted to see when looking at her mom digesting their suffering and wishing a better life for her mother. The weariness showed in telltale symptoms of crow feet stretching across her taut face, laugh wrinkles withered and gone. The bright spark in her mom's pale coal black eyes gone replaced with sadness.

" What do you do exactly ? What job would pay so much in the recent inflations ?"

Diana hated the accusatory tone in her voice but waited for an answer. Her mother fidgeted slightly then sighed in defeat at Diana's glare, the stubbornness and determination Diana possessed had to be from her carefree father who had lied and betrayed them.

" I met with some friends I have from my golden years, explained my situation whilst calling in some favors. They introduced me to a man called Ramsey, he's involved in the wrong crowd.

   I give them some trainings on basic skills and they pay me. I don't get involved in their business and they don't ask any questions about me ".

Diana smiled, despite the reading & linguistics knowledge she acquired from her mother she had been taught basic skills. She could handle a knife really well and defend herself in case someone ever discovered their little hidden castle, she wasn't afraid of that happening only people who navigated the woods well could reach here.

Crimes such as thievery, mockery of the present government and evil acts got anyone sent to the guillotine, everyone had to be registered and an unregistered person {herself} could be sent to the guillotine. Diana lay backwards on the wooden armchair relaxing, her long fingers gracefully rubbed her swollen tummy from the food.

" We could get double the income we get now if we both get registered and I find something to do ".

She said hopefully waiting for the familiar rejection but nothing came, her eyes took in the fact of wheels spinning in her mother's mind as her mother whose maiden name was Audrey nibbled her food.

" It's too dangerous, I need to keep an eye on you besides your tendencies to run into trouble would put you under the Baron's interest. Ramsey mentioned something about a vacancy, I could find out more about this vacancy and only if it meets my expectations before I approve. Watching me might teach you something in case you ever find yourself in a situation you need to get out of ".

Diana expressed her happiness with a smile, all her words were unsuitable for the occasion. The prospect of leaving the dying castle even for only a few hours a day excited her, she would wait a little but hopefully she would see the sprawling town from up close instead of from several miles. Only her senses sharpened, her mind remained in a lax state idolising over her adventures in the future.

Audrey straightened her gown, the haughty laces frayed with age but the smooth swish of silk vibrant as brand new. A kiss on the lower lip and a remainder to do the laundry before leaving.

Diana cleared the plates, rinsing them off before she heard a loud hiss. Snakes weren't uncommon in these parts but this one piqued her interest, a bread knife clenched by her fingers as her fingers found their way to the gardens where a black cat lay lazing in the sunlight.

Homeless creatures got hungry, hunted and maimed in the forest but what would Audrey say about it. The looks it gave her made her giddily in her stomach, a slight bend carrying the cat precariously. The multicolored eyes excited her and full of promise, a golden leash caught her fancy.

" I'll call you Rainbow ".

The cat gave a sneer she accepted as a nod of approval. Her mother would be angry about the extra mouth but with Diana working, there would more money to spare.

This book is my entry for the Crystallized Awards ; the Hidden Princess expresses the life of fairytale classics like Tangled, Rapunzel, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.

I present Diana Sunflower.

Diana isn't as innocent or carefree as the others but has a kind soul that makes her exceptionally brave. Rainbow and Audrey will both be making frequent appearances.

There are no usual Prince Charming, read and find out more.

Any incorrect diction should be expressed in the comments with a 😍. Any number you should suffice.

Bye :-) :-)