Name of the Soon to be Princess

She rolled his eyes "Whatever"

He smiled watching her reaction. It is always fun teasing her and selfish it may sound but he was relieved that he was the only guy who could make a happy and carefree reaction from Seira. And he will continue to keep doing that.

"Uh…. Seira" Billy called nervously.

Seira glanced at him "Yes?"

"Are you free on Sunday?" He directly asked.

"Huh?"

Billy was about to repeat himself when Mary interrupted him.

"He is asking you to go on a date on Sunday"

Seira blinked several times to process what she heard. The air between them suddenly feels awkward. She didn't know how to respond.

"Sure. I—I didn't have an appointment on that day. Let's go for a friendly date then" she shrugged casually but inside, she was having an internal battle. Billy is her only friend in the town. He is quite popular in his looks and build in other villages as well as her town. A lot of girls confessed to him many times but he always rejected them in an instant. He is stubborn and can be too playful but he is a reliable friend. She was not ignorant to how he felt towards her but she was not ready to face the truth, that's why she always finds ways to avoid the question or alter anything he says that shows her affection towards her.

A sad smile appeared on Billy's lips. He expected it but he never thought that it would disappoint him like always."Yes, a friendly date" he muttered to himself.

A few minutes passed without any of them uttering a word. Even Mary, who liked to tease them, was quiet as if it understood the conversation that occurred between them.

"Where are they going?" Seira suddenly asked, pointing at the people with mix expressions, some looked dispirited but others were calm and composed, scurrying to the wagons waiting in the gateway of their town.

Billy followed the hand Seira was pointing. His face contorted in a displeased expression.

"They will going to the Parverhill Fortress" Parverhill Fortress is the land that directs to the palace of the kingdom. No matter what the status of a person, they need to cross the land in order to go to the palace. But it is not easy even for nobles to enter that place. A need for appointment and permission to any of the royalties or advisers was needed.

Seira stopped walking and faced Billy with wide eyes "Why are they going in that place?"

"They sell themselves to be a maid or servant in the palace for a few gold coins to pay their debts especially"

"But why do they look so calm when they just sold themselves?"

"It is because most of them believe that the high-class people in Arcadis were philanthropists that will treat them well" Billy shook his head in irritation.

Majority of the population outside the capital has supported and viewed the palace and Arcadis as an upstanding, scrupulous place that helps them in accordance with morality and showing recognition of right and wrong. The remaining individuals like them perceive the capital as corrupt and deceitful. She has her own reasons for hating the capital but as far as she can remember, Billy has none. He was simply untrustworthy of any officials and any politics related for the reasons still unknown to her.

"I thought it was done already last month? Aren't the recruiting takes once a year?"

"This year was an exception. The need for servants was high"

"Even the wealthy families here and in other town were busy registering in the Harlston Office"

"Harlston? That's the external relation office of the palace right? Why?" she asked curiously. The Harlston Office manages all the public affairs of the palace and the Parliament.

"The Harlston office will be the one who will choose the families that can attend the celebration of the inauguration. They said that it will a grandiose event and the soon to be princess, requested herself to let some families outside Arcadis to attend the celebration in the palace"

Seira raised a brow "Okay, last question. Inauguration for what?"

Billy chuckled. 'She is still outdated as always' he thought. "For the title of princess. The kingdom will announce the only daughter of the Mortham Clan as the princess, if I'm not mistaken her name is Selena….. Selena Mortham"

"Oh" is all she managed to say.

Seira suddenly stopped walking at the mention of the name. She felt her heart constrict; her hands grew colder and paler than before. What is wrong with her? Maybe she eats too much. Right, it must be the reason. She dismissed the odd feeling with a shake of the head.

"Are you okay?" Billy asked; placing his hand to Seira's shoulder, worry was laced in his face.

"Uh… Yeah… yeah, I'm fine"

Billy was about to say something when a man who was passing by suddenly called him. "Billy hurry up! The wagon will leave soon"

"I thought the call time was 9 o'clock?" Billy muttered to himself, completely forgetting what he was about to say. He put Mary down; tapped her head gently and looked at Seira.

"I gotta go first, talk to you later," He said before running along to the group of men.

She nodded reluctantly and waved goodbye.

Taking a deep breath, she held Mary's hand and walked to the horse-drawn omnibus parked near the gateway, ignoring the strange feeling coming into her.

The horse-drawn omnibus is a large, enclosed, and sprung horse-drawn vehicle used to transport people. Two wooden benches along the sides held several sitting passengers facing each other. The driver sat in an elevated position on a separate front-facing bench, outside the passengers' enclosed cabin. Mary moved along lightly to the vehicle, stepping from one foot to the other with a hop.

"Good morning Mr. Pete" Mary greeted the driver before climbing using the toe board.

"Good morning Mary" the old man took off his hat and slightly bowed to Mary to show curtsy that received a giggle from the child. The old fellow turned to Seira. "Start your day with a clear mind"

Seira glanced at the old man who looked at her for a second before waving at the other regular passengers; going down to his seat to check his horse.

She took a deep breath; closed her eyes, tilting her head back for a second to relax her suddenly tense nerves.

Once Seira got seated on the bench, she ushered Mary to sit on her lap to give space to other passengers.

After almost 30 minutes, they reached the Darthill Village. It is next to their town. There are no open jobs in their town, that's why she grabbed the opportunity to work in the village although it is far from the house she was staying at. It's been a good decision to take after all when Mary started going to school as the village has a small school center for children.

Darthill Village is the total opposite of her town as it offers a vibrant and cordial feeling while her town gives off a dispiriting ambience. The land rolls through the horizon, emanating a glowing green in the light of a bright sun. Over it is a laid path, one that branches through the open landscape in softly verdant, the new stems of flowers ruffled by the light cold breeze.

"Be a good girl okay?" Seira reminded, fixing the dress of Mary.

"Yes Queen Seira," Mary teased with a big smile; kissing Seira's cheek and running off to the small building.

A sad smile appeared on Seira's lips to the old endearment Mary used to give her . Although Mary is always full of enthusiasm and energy, she knows that the child has many questions and fears on her own. Anyone has that, but children who were forced to confront the harsh reality at a young age carry the heaviness feeling in silence. She was speaking in experience. Every bit of her unpleasant childhood was embedded in her mind. There are times she would find Mary crying or staring at the children with their parents. And once she asks her if something was wrong, Mary would just shake her head and smile at her.

Clutching her sling bag on her left shoulder; she walked towards the library.