Princess Ceci, the most beloved!

"Princess Ceci wake up!" A shrill voice descended upon her ears, "Wake up at once! If you don't I'll have you flailed, I will!"

Ceci groaned and pulled her pink silken blanket over her head, curling up like a displeased cat. "Five more minutes!" she begged.

"No more minutes!" And her blanket was yanked away with a gorilla's strength. Ceci screeched in horror as she looked up to see January's scowling face. Her handmaid was taller than she, with a figure of a knight rather than a maid. Her hair was so pale that it was almost white and her eyes dazzled like two sapphire jewels.

Well, January would have been pretty, if she wasn't screaming the entire time. "Get up now! Shoo! This is your first day of classes and you're already late! What if people think the royal family is a joke?" She was already folding the bed sheets with diligent fingers and tossed the princess her outfit for the day.

Ceci jumped out of her bed, her ruby eyes flew open in shock, "Oh no! It's the first day of class! How could I possibly forget?"

January rolled her eyes and helped Ceci out of her sleeping garments. The maid wasn't that surprised that the princess had forgotten. "Be on your best behavior, silly girl. Don't make Her Majesty worry about you."

It wasn't her fault she wasn't a morning person and loved her beauty sleep above all else in the world. Well, except maybe December. "Everyone in the entire world loves me, why would my mother ever worry about me?" She huffed but still allowed herself to be dressed.

"Stop flailing and stay still," January chided.

A red jacket was fitted over her shoulders, matching with her eyes and hair. She examined herself in the mirror and straightened her pleated skirt and white blouse. A single pin of a lily rested at her breast that glowed with untold power. And though her outfit was plain, it failed to mask her extraordinary beauty. Luscious red hair seemed to shimmer with flecks of gold. Her eyes were like a sea of sparks and flames with thick fanning lashes paired with a small petite nose. She was like a fairy, the epitome of beauty with flawless skin, just barely sun-kissed. It came as no surprise. She was Princess Ceci and she was the most beautiful and most powerful Sorceress in all the lands!

Satisfied with her own reflection, she tested out a wink. Ouch! Just think of all the boys that would die from a heart attack. Ceci chuckled before she finally addressed the grumpy maid who was busy fussing over her hair, "Thanks January, you're the best."

After January was satisfied with the princess's hair she sighed and warned, "Please be careful, Princess. Arcadia Academy might be the most prestigious magic university in the entire world but Kaleidoscope has a very heavy presence there."

"I know, I know. Stop worrying Jan! I've been fighting Kaleidoscope since middle school. And plus I killed their leader last year and they've been pretty quiet since."

"It pays to be safe," January sighed with the tenderness of a guardian. Ceci smiled and gave her maid a grateful hug.

"Thanks, Jan, you're the best," she said again and this time with the fullness of her heart.

"Save your flattery for someone else." Even though January was flicking her hand dismissively there was a telling red flush on her cheeks.

Ceci grinned and decided she would tease her maid about it later. "Okay, I'm off!"

Arcadia was a city that rarely saw rain, where summer was eternal with only a touch of wind on the coldest days. Its citizens were friendly and wore smiles more often than frowns and all of them loved Princess Ceci. After all, she was the most beautiful and the most powerful Sorceress of all. And she kept the Nightmares and the evil of Kaleidoscope at bay.

"Good morning, Princess."

"Good day, Your Highness."

"Have a good one, Princess!"

Everyone greeted her as she passed, the servants, the knights, the lords, and the ladies. Princess Ceci smiled back and basked in their love and their attention. But there was one person's attention she desired over all others. So she made her way to the garden before setting off for class.

He was tending the hedges, as he normally did. Sunlight glowed off the golden waves of his hair that fell around his face, a lively sparkle twinkled in his golden eyes. December was the Head Gardener and also the most skilled swordsman in all of the kingdom. When he smiled his right cheek would dimple and Princess Ceci thought he was lovely. And oh, he was lovely indeed, like a prince whose shining armor was a gardener's apron and his sword, a pair of shears.

It was a pity and a pain that he was married.

She snuck up on him using the hedges as cover, peeking slyly and ducking away at the slightest movement. And when she was close, ever so close, and could hear her own heartbeat roaring in her chest she muttered a silencing spell. She was almost there! December had his back turned to her. Those broad shoulders were just an arm's length away!

December chuckled quietly and lowered his shears. Ceci leaped out from her cover with arms outstretched. But before she could pounce on her prey, he had turned around instead!

She squealed like an idiot and fell into his strong arms and her ears were filled with his laughter, sweeter than a fresh batch of honey.

"That was dangerous of you, my Princess," he said with mischief dancing in his eyes.

"Oh," she replied dumbly and did nothing to squirm away from his hold. Ceci never thought herself short, but compared to December she was but a little thing in his embrace, her head reaching barely over his shoulder. "I wanted to surprise you. How did you know I was there? I even used my magic." She gave him the cutest pout she could muster.

December tossed his head back with laughter and still didn't let her go. She was feeling rather warm, being pressed flush against his body. "Don't be silly my Princess. I could sense your presence even if you were a mile away. We're connected, remember?"

"Ah." Finally, she was released and Ceci didn't know what to do with her hands so she fiddled with the hem of her skirt and smiled, her cheeks flushed rose, "You're right. How could I possibly forget such a thing?"

December smiled and tilted his head, "By the way, was today not your first day of class?"

"Uh," the flush deepened and Ceci blinked a few times, wondering what excuse she could find that didn't make her sound more silly than she was.

It would be for naught, for another voice bellowed from the stony steps that lead from the castle to the main gardens, "It certainly is!"

March had his arms crossed and a pout even more childish than Ceci's. His hair was long, dark and silky, tied up in a ponytail with sun-kissed skin and deep brown eyes. There was a scar on his left hand, that he claimed to have gotten from a battle with a dragon, but Ceci was used to his antics and could see through his lies.

She rolled her eyes at him and crossed her arms, "I know March! I already know!"

"Then why are you playing around with December?" March's voice was full of impatience as he stomped towards them and even had the gall to knock Ceci on the head.

"Ow! You meanie! I bet you're just mad because you'll miss the showing of 'The Prince and the Maiden Witch'!"

March sputtered but didn't refute her, "Hey! Let's just get going ok? Sorry for bothering you Dece."

December shook his head, "Don't worry about it and stay safe on the road. I heard that Nightmares have been appearing in the city again. So be careful."

"I'm not afraid of any stupid Nightmare!" Ceci singsonged.

"Yeah, yeah, because your big brother March here will take care of them for you!" He was shameless enough to flex his biceps. Ceci wanted to kick him but she was a lady so she refrained and skipped down the stone path that led out of the garden.

December laughed and waved farewell while March trailed after her heels. The sun beamed down on her like an eternal spotlight and Princess Ceci couldn't help but wonder if there could be a world as perfect as hers?