Pack of Cats

*Ana*

This is…not what I expected. I blink twice in surprise as I find myself surrounded by an uncommon sight of animated faces looking toward me.

As the future Empress of Nochten, I've always been the center of attention. It's something I've had to contend with as part of my duty. But when I thought this would be the same, watching the girls flock over with the intent to introduce themselves, it's becoming clear that how Nocthen and Dawny express themselves couldn't be more the opposite.

In Nochten, yes, I would expect some level of excitement. People would come to bow, others would try for small talk, and names would be exchanged. But that was expected. Nocthen being an old empire, everyone was always keen to invoke its customs and rules out of respect. 

Dawny, however, is rather…louder. I note with a hard swallow before shifting my gaze between the multiple bright eyes blinking back at me from all sides in a determined gaze.

Seeing their keen focus, I can't help feeling like a mouse up against some corner with a pack of cats rounding in. Cats which, I'm not sure, are hungry or not, making me force down a dry swallow before sliding back another inch reflexively as if that can save a little breathing room.

But just as I carve out a small chance of space, it gets quickly swallowed back up. The onslaught of tulle and pastel fluff conquers the space while hoop skirts rock and bounce against the others. Their dainty shoes greedily encroach to encircle me even tighter. 

Once more, making me feel trapped. But if anyone sees the color slightly drain from my face, they don't bother to comment. They are too busy, colliding with each other, as they continue their competition to outshine the rest and gain my attention. 

"Empress Anastasia," a girl in blue starts, "let me introduce myself. I am-"But the next girl bumps her aside with a shoulder. Jumping right into her place in front of me. 

"I've heard so much about you." She clasps matching purple gloves to her chest. "You're stunning." 

"A true beauty." Another blurts, which seems to set the rest to agree.

"How do you like Dawny?" 

"Oh, I quite like-" but someone blurts out another question before I can even answer the first. 

"Have you had your first blood yet?" Another girl giggles.

"I, no. Not yet." I manage an answer, but it's hard to keep up with so many questions. I'm not used to this many people talking to me at once, or in general. It almost feels futile even to try to respond to it all.

"Your Empress is twelve, yes?" 

"Can you look for suitors yet?" At the word suitors, the girls seem to revive their excitement with a rush of giggles.

"Do you have any candidates yet?' The questions fall out in rapid fire.

"When will you get married?"

"Married?" I scrunch my nose up at the question. "No, I-" But my words are lost again as the girls sputter and go on, talking over each other to me or themselves. In the end, making me stop trying to answer altogether. 

They won't hear me anyway. I realize with a sigh, feeling a little useless for the moment just standing there. I purse my lips before my eyes shoot over to find Nicoli. 

Nicoli, at the moment, stands amidst his circle of admirers. His having a larger number than mine, not that I envy him. I have a hard enough time as it is to keep up.

How can he seem so natural with this? I can't help but admire how Nicoli speaks easily among them. Not overwhelmed, but as if directing them. His sapphire eyes look from one to another like taking turns, before pulling up a grin to show white teeth and laughing together, his brunette curls softly bouncing along. 

He's used to this. I realize. But that would make sense. He was raised around this. Making him an expert at talking freely with anyone of any rank.

Would I have turned out like that, too? If I had been raised in Dawny instead? The question lingers in the back of my mind. Would I be as forthcoming? Smile so easily?

Watching him move along so easily, I can't help but feel a gap between us. A slight tug on my chest makes me swallow as I will never know the answer. 

But just as my eyes linger on Nicoli, my ears perk up at the turn of the conversation just in time to hear a blond girl in curls go on. 

"But getting engaged is best done as soon as possible."

"Engaged?" I blink back. "Who's engaged?" 

"Oh well, no one yet." The blond blushed at the question but pulled up a small smile before turning to the rest.

"But that's why we are here." A knowing ripple of laughter follows after. 

"Why you are here?" I furrow my brows perplexed. "You're not here for tea?" It's a harmless question but it seems to make my group of girls giggle again.

"She's a bit more naive than I expected, right?" 

"No, I think she's just cute." 

Cute? I frown at both. Neither sounds like a compliment to me. I was the Empress of Nochten. I wasn't supposed to be cute or naive or beautiful like they keep gushing.

I wasn't meant for such things. I affirm just as the blond continues. 

"No, your Empress. Such parties are a method for the introduction."

"Introduction?" I blink back. "Do you mean… like a social gathering?"

Again, my question emits another laugh from the girls. Their high voices rang together a moment before simmering back down. A knowing look and poised smile exchange between them as if they already knew the answer to what they thought must have been obvious. 

"Why, We are here to meet Prince Nicoli." 

"You're all here to…meet Nicoli?" I question again, still not following

"It's a common practice, Your Empress. Does Nochten not do so?" The blond continued.

"No, I- well, I wouldn't know." I reach for the hem of my shawl, rubbing it between my fingers. 

"I…don't attend parties," not since Lady Katya's birthday party, I go, stiffening slightly at the memory of how that went.

"Well, in Dawny, we do such things. But, of course, it's expected to get engaged young."

"Even at nine?" I raise my brow incredulously. But this only makes the girls giggle or blush with a nod.

"If they are lucky, yes." The blond smiled wider, dimpling her cheeks before turning her head, and I followed the gesture, finding it fall on Nicoli. 

"Lucky?" I blink back at her, still not getting it. "Why would that be-" 

I stop in a grimace, moving to hold my stomach as that strange pain comes back again.

"Ana?" Hidi, who had been standing by not far from me with her friend, some mousy-looking girl, Lady Poole, immediately seemed to notice my pain. 

"Are you alright?"Her hand was already out to take my shoulder. "You look pale.

"No, I- just my stomach." I breathe out through tight lips before rubbing the spot again. "It's been hurting lately."

"Hurting?" Hidi pushed her sunflower yellow brows with a frown. "Should we get a doctor-"

"No, I, it's fine," I repeat, maybe a bit too quickly, as Hidi pushes out her lips in a silent pout. But I won't back down, pain or not.

Because calling a doctor would mean I would have to leave the party. And that would mean leaving Nicoli. He'd be alone with these girls.

And something about that bothered me more. Maybe because of all this talk about engagements? It was making me uneasy. 

We are all still too young. How can anyone already consider marriage? The idea that anyone, let alone Nicoli, could be stolen away by one of these girls felt… unnatural. They were all just children. How could they speak of marriage so quickly?

They don't even know him. I can't help but find that the biggest issue. They don't know Nicoli like I do. 

I look back in time for Nicoli to perk up, sapphire eyes turning my way. He smiles after me, clueless as to what we are talking about. His gaze makes my heart quicken. But the smile at the same time fills me with ease, relaxing my shoulders and, for a moment, making the cramp go away.

I love Nicoli more than they ever could. A small voice rings in the back of my head, and I can feel it true. I will love him more than they will. More than anyone will.

Because Nicoli is so dear to me. Dear enough that I would risk the anger to come back here against a promise. 

A penalty, which I know I will have to face very soon as the girls around me begin to stir. Heads turn over with a quick rush of excitement in their voices as they take notice of someone striding over. 

"It's the King." Someone whispers, and my mouth runs dry as others move, starting to step aside so he can make way for where I can half expect he is aiming for.

But still, I can't help but flick an eye up just to find his sapphire eyes already watching me. His step was confident as he paced closer with a focused resolve. It's clear where he wants to go.

And in that instant, I know why.

Oh no. I can feel the blood drain from my face and hands. He's looking right at me. Eyes glinting brightly thanks to the sun. His boots kicked up rock and grass in each confident step. There is no doubt now he is heading to me.

But still, I can't help but dart my eyes back ahead and stare at the crowd. Body growing rigid as the sound of tulle wheezes against the metal hoop skirt as the girls continue to shift out of the way. making his path all the more easier 

Just breathe. Calm down. I grip the sides of my green and white dress, squeezing it tight between my claws. My breath caught on the top of my lungs before forcing it back out in shallow and uneasy breaths.

"Ana?" Hidi, meanwhile, asks, moving to touch my arm. "Is it your stomach again."

"No, it's-" But my voice dries on the tip of my tongue as I feel him. His voice comes out loud and strong from behind me, just before his tall stature blocks the sun, casting a shadow to engulf me in a pit of despair.

I'm out of time. I clench my dress tighter as I try to will my face to not show fear. Or anything. 

Just calm down, Ana. You can do this. You knew it was coming. 

I swallow hard again forcing myself to stay still. But my body still involuntarily trembles when I hear his voice boom the simple word. A word that could mean a multitude of things. Good, bad, or worse, I'd find out soon enough.

"Daughter,"