Other Royals

[frostedoverrose]

It took three days to get ready for Queen Amberly's extended family to show up and Swendway's royal family to come for a visit. It was a full house tonight. My maids had made me dress up in a mint green summer dress with a black ribbon around the waist. They had given me a floppy straw hat that a mint green ribbon on it.

I was standing under a tree, seriously wondering if my maids loved giving me dresses with ribbons, when a girl, about ten years old, came up to me. She wore a blue dress with a green ribbon around the waist, which was sparkling. I was sure it was inlaid with emeralds. She had a little braid in her hair, matching my braid.

She was grinning widely as she stood next to me. "I'm Annalee."

I smiled at her, "Hi."

Annalee recoiled a little and smiled in a weird way, like she was going for a crooked smile. It looked like she was trying to smirk. "You're my biggest role model."

I was confused, "You are?"

Annalee pointed at her dress and then at mine. "Yes. You're my role model. My dad says that I shouldn't look up to you and find someone else, but I like you. You're funny. My mom..." She looked over to where some women where talking to America. One woman already looked third-ways down to Drunk Village.

I nodded, "I try my best."

Annalee was grinning, "I like you more than the rest. There's something...honest about you than the other girls. The others seem to be hiding who they are, but you just don't care about appearances. You just show who you are. I think that's a good quality. And you're funny with all your stories. My parents weren't sure whether you were joking or not. I know you were joking."

I felt guilty at that. She looked up to me for being honest, yet, here I am, pretending to be Elizabeth, when I was Edith.

I was startled by a camera flash going off. It was Prince Maxon holding a camera and he was smiling fondly at us.

"Maxon," Annalee said. "You're interrupting mine and Elizabeth's plans on alligator wrestling." She looked at me almost worriedly, like she was hoping that I had impressed her with that strange story.

Prince Maxon looked taken aback at that.

"Ssh," I said. "He doesn't need to know our plans. Now we have to throw him off our trail. We have to do something brazen to throw everyone off."

Annalee was now grinning. "Like...like attack a palace guard?"

"Yes," I said. I looked around and pointed at a guard with the thickest neck I had ever seen. Seriously. It looked like that guy could snap a tree trunk with that thing. "Him. I think Annalee could take him down if she tried hard enough."

Annalee held up her arm and flexed it. "I think so."

Maxon looked at us, looking really amused.

"And after that..." I trailed off and looked at Annalee. "What do you suggest we do?"

"Set fire to all the trashcans," Annalee said.

"Yes," I said.

"Thank you for telling me all about your plans for the afternoon," said Prince Maxon.

"You're welcome," said Annalee with enthusiasm.

"I'll make sure not to interrupt your...uh...palace guard fighting and fire starting," Prince Maxon said.

"That's all we ask," Annalee said. A little girl about four ran up to Prince Maxon, grabbed his arm, and ran off with him.

Annalee and I laughed, although I felt guilty for her idolizing me for being honest when I was pretending to be someone else.