Revenge, Rejection and Regrets

PROLOGUE

Just one more dress, just one more dress… that was how I ended up with a trunk load of clothes. I sighed and crossed my hands across my chest as Charlotte sat atop the box and tried to force it close. I was never good at parking because I never had to travel in all my life, but right now, nothing was going to stop me, not  even my elder sister’s whining. She had long given up on trying to convince me otherwise and right now she just stood behind me, leaning against the dressing mirror as we watched Charlotte struggle with the zip of my rather large box.

While I convinced myself that I didn’t take anything I didn’t need, Charlotte seemed to think otherwise. Most of the clothes in there were selected from the old worn out rags that was intended for the maids. Normally, these dresses were gathered from the palace and distributed amongst the servants, but seeing that was the role I was going to be playing pretty soon, I had to look it and it was for just cause.

I bent down to help Charlotte zip up but ended up trapping a small part of my skin in the zipper and I pulled back with a yelp as the area reddened and blood threatened to spill. 

“Goodness, are you alright Princess?” Charlotte was on her feet to help me tend to my wound whereas Phoebe, my immediate elder sister just sneered.

“You can’t even be a servant for a second,” Phoebe said dryly “I wonder how you plan to carry on with this ridiculous mission of yours,”

I eyed and mimicked her while making funny faces. Charlotte laughed loud and then as if realizing herself, she stopped midway through her laugh and went back to handling the large box of clothes.

“We may have to get some of these clothes out,” she said as she started to rearrange again. This time, I didn’t complain but I just let her do her thing. She knows better. She has been a maid all her life, which is why I needed her on this trip with me. 

I removed my index finger that was stuck in my mouth and went over to the window beside Phoebe and stared down the high walls. I knew Phoebe had a point but my mind is  made up. If my sisters were not going to do anything about our father’s death, I was going to. My mum had spent the last few days talking me out of it and threatening to lock me in if I was still hell-bent on carrying on with my plans which is why I chose today when she was not around to leave the palace. By the time she comes back, I would be long gone.

“Someone just has to do it,” I sighed and turned to Phoebe.

“And why do you think that person has to be you?” She asked with raised eyebrow “we are all affected by dad’s death and we all want to get to the root of it but you are not being logical right now and mum is going to be so pissed at you when she comes back and finds you gone, but of course you wouldn’t be around to face the punishment,” Phoebe smirked. Phoebe was the saucy one, she always gave an attitude after every statement.

Before I could respond, the door to my room swung open aggressively and then came my big sister, the firstborn of my parents, Avery Wilkinson, glaring at me with her honey brown eyes. Being the first daughter, she always hovered around us like our mother and I didn’t want to let her in on my plans but trust Phoebe to keep Avery updated.

“What is this you are doing?” She slammed the door shut a little too loud and glared at poor Charlotte whose only offense was helping me pack.

“What does it look like?” I glared back at her. I always thought my sisters were too weak and my father’s death strengthened that thought. Our own father, the king of Atlantis died about a month ago and no one was doing anything to track down his killers because every damn Kingdom was scared of the DiCaprio’s. 

Nicolai DiCaprio, the king of Auradon was the prime suspect for my dad’s death. Everyone knows how scheming he is and he has wanted our kingdom for far too long. I was more than convinced I could bring them down but as you can guess, I’m the only one that thinks so.

My mother, Queen Calista has taken over the affairs of the kingdom pending when the first born Child which happens to be Avery gets married. A woman cannot lead the kingdom without a man and it was only a matter of months before Avery finally ties the knot with her betrothed. 

My dad always wanted a male child but the moon goddess blessed him with three lovely daughters of which I happen to be the last. We have a stepbrother, popularly known as the Royal bastard, his name is Tyrian Williams and he is my mother’s child for another man. He was born before my dad married her, but being an illegitimate child, especially seeing he was from my mother’s affair, there was no way he could become king.

My dad being the nice man that he was did provide a place for him in the lower chambers but he was naturally an outcast, he neither dined or attended social functions with us.

“Zelda, you have no idea what you are doing and I’m not going to let you out of this palace,” Avery screamed at me.

“You can’t stop me Ave,” I said casually, because I knew she couldn’t. Here’s the thing, I’m the last of my mother’s children quite alright, but when it comes to battle, I’m stronger and more skilled at fighting.

While my sisters had been interested in all the social and fun part of being princesses, I had easily made friends with the warriors and the lower class and hence, I was good at fighting and my archery is quite commendable. The only thing I wasn’t allowed to do was clean and cook because no matter how hard I tried, I was a Princess and there were certain things I wasn’t supposed to do.

Growing up within the four walls of this castle has been pretty boring and now that I had good cause to leave, I wasn’t going to mope around and let any of them stop me from carrying out my plans. I’ve had this figured out for days now and I wasn’t going to sit around like some Princess in distress waiting for a Prince to come sweep me off my feet when I should be avenging my father’s death.

“You are going to get yourself killed. Do you know how strong Auradon is? Have you never heard of how ruthless King Nicolai is? You think you are going to come back alive? Why is it that you never listen?” Avery had water in her eyes already and it irritated me. How was she going to rule when she was so soft? 

“Someone has to do something,” I repeated the same words I had told Phoebe.

“And mum already has that under control,” Avery shot back.

“It’s been a month already,” I shouted without meaning to. I was already getting frustrated. “A month would turn to a year and then they are going to go scot free while we wait for mum’s grand plan,” I turned to Phoebe, she could be more understanding since she didn’t feel the need to play the mother role like Avery.

“So what happens when you get there?” Phoebe asked.

“I’ll gather as much information and proof that they are responsible for father’s death. If our army can’t take down Auradon, then we can get the entire werewolf community on our side, and you all both know I’m good at acting, I promise not to get caught,” I said the last part with soft eyes and Phoebe sighed. Avery of course would never be in support.

“So what if something happens to you?” Phoebe again “You can’t clean or do anything, definitely they are not stupid, someone would find you out,” 

“Nothing is going to happen to me and I promise to send a message down once or twice every week so you guys know I’m doing alright, and Charlotte is going with me, she can help me out with the chores and I can learn one or two things in the process but I would not forgive myself if I just sit around here and the perpetrators of my father’s death are not brought to justice,” With that last statement, I had managed to win Phoebe over to my side and she took me into a warm hug and released me, then we both turn to Avery, tears were still threatening to drop from her eyes but she was doing good to hold it in.

“Please Avery,” I pleaded. Not like I needed to, but maybe she would like it better if I didn’t challenge her.

“I’m not in support,” she shook her head and headed out the door.

“Don’t worry about her,” Phoebe waved her hand and turns me around “lets get you out of this dress,” 

I had to get out of my robe but after few trials, Phoebe finally sighs and drops her hand for Charlotte to come help me out. She didn’t even know how to unfasten a dress. My sister’s were unbelievable and how they manage to stay indoor year in and year out without complaining still baffles me.

Charlotte rushed to help me undo my dress and went back to packing while I got out of the dress and entered the bathroom to shower one last time before I left. I needed to be quick now else mom would find me when she gets back.

A few minutes later, I was dressed in what had to be the shabbiest cloth that had ever touched my skin. Phoebe scrunched her nose at the sight of me and I almost chuckled. I looked shabby and dirty and with the tattered hat on my head, no one was going to know I was Princess Zelda. Getting out of the walls was going to be far too easy. A car was waiting for me downstairs already and the chauffeur was to return it when he had taken us safely to Auradon. I had told him earlier to help carry the maids there but he had no idea I was the maid. Even I could not recognize myself when I stared in the mirror.

I was going to miss my room. This wasn’t going to be easy but it had to be done and I had no regrets as we made our way down the stairs, Phoebe following behind. To look more like a maid, I had to assist Charlotte with the luggage and when we got to the front porch, Avery was there waiting, disgust and sadness written on her face at the same time but she just let us pass without saying a word.

Sometimes, I believed that Avery feared me. Phoebe stood beside her as they watched me but I played my role well. I even bowed in courtesy as I passed by them and the look on Phoebe’s face was one of amusement while Avery’s eyes were shooting daggers at me.

I dragged the box with Charlotte as we entered the car. Boy! Being a servant is not nice at all. No one bothered to take the luggage from me, infact, they looked at me with disdain, like I was some kind of disease. 

“Hurry up assholes,” the driver spat at us as we struggled with the box. Oh well, I had to get used to this, this was going to be my life for a few months. I stared at the palace walls as we drove off, and I sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess that I returned back alive and in one piece.