Princess Lily

Chapter 29

"Oh come on James!" said Georg cheerfully. "We'll be back home before you know it!"

James gave a half-smile, glad Georg had come along with him and written for Edisson to join them soon. The young prince followed the path towards the camp set up around the higher ground away from the flooded areas. He was surprised when he ran into his father-in-law.

"Duke Max!" James exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," said Duke Max in surprise.

"Well Fortius is my country so it's only natural I come here to help," Said James matter of factly.

Duke Max looked at him proudly. Maybe he'd been wrong about the Fortius rulers after all...

"I'm here for farmer Breuer. He works as a laborer here and when the bridge collapsed, he became trapped down there."

"Oh no," said James. "You mean Farmer Breuer...the one in that trial I oversaw?"

Duke Max nodded. "The very one."

James  spoke quickly, " I want to hurry up and save those people. I came here in a rush and Lily hadn't arrived from Leal yet."

"She hadn't?" asked Duke Max worriedly. By his estimate, Lily should have arrived long before James would have left to help out here. "Do you think she's alright?"

"I told mother to let us know once Lily arrives. I got the message this morning. Apparently, they were delayed due to a broken carriage wheel but she arrived safely late last night."

Duke Max smiled. "James I'm proud of you. You put your country first instead of thinking about your own happiness. It must've pained you to come here without even seeing Lily."

James shrugged embarrassed by the praise he was receiving.

There was a shriek from the camp.

"What a filthy place!" Sasha shrieked. 

She had insisted on coming along with the boys and the Empress had praised Sasha for wanting to go help.

 "Where's the castle we are supposed to live in?! I can’t stay a moment longer in this tent!"

There was a silence in which it seemed Georg was explaining that this was where they were going to be staying until they left.

"What?!" Sasha exclaimed. "I'm not staying in this filthy, dirty hell hole!"

James chuckled. "Sasha seems a bit put out because of the sleeping arrangements."

Duke Max laughed along with him as the two made their way towards the collapsed bridge.

*    *    *

Lily stood in front of the mirror. She was wearing a pale lavender gown with short sleeves. It flowed down billowing and the many petticoats could be seen under it.

"How do I look?" asked Lily. 

She twirled around in it staring at herself. She had to admit that she was enjoying this. She'd even got to decide what designs she wanted for her nightgowns. They were tight and long going down to her feet. The straps of her nightgown stopped at mid back and that was when the cloth of the night gowns started and so did the zip. It suited her perfectly and she'd had the tailor make a dozen of them in different pastel colors.

After all it couldn't hurt to be a LITTLE vain could it?

Lily turned towards the servants, exasperated.

"Well?" she asked. "Does this look better or this?"

She held up a pale blue gown that had puffs as sleeves of the strap that was of the shoulder. The gown had a V dip at the waist with one piece of cloth on one side of the skirt and another cloth at the other. Both cloths started at the V and in between the space of the two cloths was white. They were more like sashes that hung there going around the back of her skirt also and joining at the back so that it looked like one piece of cloth. "What's the matter?" asked Lily staring at the servants as they stood there silent.

"They are not allowed to speak to you as they are lesser servants," said Lady Molly coming in. "Only the higher-ranking servants are allowed to speak with the imperial family and the lower class servants aren't even allowed to let their voices be heard when near the imperial family."

"That's preposterous," said Lily. "There's no such thing as someone being too lowly ranked to even speak! It's not fair and it's downright demeaning for any person!"

"It’s all detailed in the Royal Protocol book," said Lady Molly said wearily. She could sense that Lily and the  Empress would clash sooner or later. Lily was much too outspoken to keep quiet about the things she didn't like, and the Empress was too firmly entrenched in the old ways to entertain new ideas.

"Royal protocol book?" asked Lily.

"It’s a book outlining the set of rules of the imperial family of Fortius, you will have to learn everything in it."

The tailor then came in.

"Princess stand up straight, I need to measure your arm length one more time."

Lily sighed. This was going to take some time.

After they were finally done with the fitting session, Lily realized she hadn't had breakfast and now it was nearly noon.

"Lady Molly will we see everyone at lunch?" asked Lily.

"The Empress shall be there at lunch."

"What about James?"

Lady Molly stiffened. She'd been given orders not to let Lily know that James wasn't here.

"Go along now and change into your new clothes," said Lady Molly changing the subject.

Lily was about to object but decided against it and went to change quietly. She put on a midnight blue gown that didn't flare out as much as ball gowns usually did. It clung to her waist and then went straight down. Silver lining went around the sleeves and the square shaped neck and the bottom of the dress. Lily pulled back the first two locks of hair on both sides of her head and tied them at the back of her head so they rested gently in the back of her hair. After making sure she looked perfect, she decided to go find James.

Coming out, she smiled at Lady Molly who looked her up and down and tutted.

"No, no dear. That is what the imperial family would hardly call a dress. Maybe if you were going on a carriage ride or for a walk, then you'd wear it."

"But its lovely and looks so expensive," argued Lily, looking down at her dress.

Lady Molly shook her head and made Lily go change. This happened about five times until Lady Molly was satisfied with the next dress Lily wore. 

It was a lavender color with short sleeves that had one small lavender bow on each side. The neck was V and a cloak of thin silk was attached at the back. The gown flared out and there were many petticoats and skirts under it. Lily wore long gloves on her hands and a gold chain on her neck.

"Yes...perfect. The Empress will be pleased," said Lady Molly happily.

"I was hoping we could go find James," Lily ventured nervously.

"No time for anything else. We must go see the Empress and have lunch with her," said Lady Molly briskly.

Lily sighed. "If we must." 

She then went to open the door.

"Lily! You must not go with your hair like that!" exclaimed Lady Molly.

Lily studied her hair. It was open. "Why? What is wrong with it?"

"Well it should be brushed thoroughly first of all, and then it needs to be tied up. Princesses don’t go around with their hair flowing freely down their back. Let me call your servant girl to come put your hair up into a beautiful chignon,” said Lady Molly.

“But James loves my hair open and flowing,” Lily argued.

Lady Molly merely sat her down and began brushing her hair until Lily thought it looked shinier than the sun. Her hair was then put up in an artistic tight chignon by a servant girl. The roots of Lily's hair felt as if they were being pulled out but she endured it in hopes of seeing James as soon as possible.

"Now let’s go," said Lady Molly, finally satisfied.

No sooner had they made it out of Lily's room and into her adjoining sitting room than Lily suddenly remembered something.

"Wait," said Lily. 

She gave a small whistle and Sir Henry flew out of his cage and into the adjoining sitting room Lily was standing in. He landed on her shoulder neatly. 

"Now let’s go," said Lily and walked out in front of Lady Molly before anyone could protest.