Mated Enemies

I picked at my nail with my teeth as I pondered what it could be, but since nothing came to mind I had no choice but to drop it for now before I made myself crazy.

“Let’s go check on the preparations for the crown prince’s homecoming.” That’s something else I fought to have a hand in and was denied. Even though it hadn’t been my foster parents who’d denied me, it still stung that the sky monarch had rebuffed my sincere offer to oversee the grand renovations to the east wing where the crown prince’s palace and all its dwellings are.

In fact, it seems more of late that the ever- reserved monarch has had very little use for me, not that he ever had before. But since the imprinting he seems even more distant his only focus on Lucien and his new bride.

She helped me up from the chair before the mirror and fixed my gown so that nothing was out of place. I never leave my rooms without everything being perfect, from my hair down to my shoes. I use to do it so that everyone would realize how perfect I am for Lucien. In the hopes that even his mother or sire would one day see my efforts and make that choice.

I’d almost talked mom into it a few years ago. For days I’d drilled it into her head, subliminally of course, that no one was better suited for her son. It seemed to be working, but then Lucien himself had shut the idea down with the excuse that he was too busy to even discuss it. At the time he’d been embroiled in the pacification of a war between three kingdoms so that was understandable, but nothing had been mentioned since.

The one time I brought it up again mother had calmly asked that I not bring it up ever again. I didn’t even try to push because that’s not the way things are done here, especially not with the royal family. But I’ve been looking for and opportunity ever since. That had been more than a hundred thousand years ago.

That thought played heavily on my mind as I made my way to the other side of the royal palace where the Crown Prince’s palace was located. The place was bustling, more lively than I’ve ever seen it before. The royal hues of purple and yellow could be seen everywhere, even in the flowers and foliage in the garden and stood out even more handsomely against the gold and white of the palace walls.

“You there!” I stopped one of the servants who was passing with her hands laden down with what looked like bolts of spun gold. “What is this?” I inclined my head at the material in her hand. It’s not often I see such a luxury, something reserved only for the sky monarch and Lucien the crown prince. But why was it here? Lucien hates such elegance in his clothing, choosing to wear black or the purple and silver princely robes when he’s at home here in the kingdom.

The servant curtsied with a wide smile as she gave her answer. “Replying to Lady Sabrina, a robe made of spun gold has been commissioned for the new crown princess consort to wear on her wedding day.”

“I thought she was to wear the traditional garb? And besides, only Lucien and sky monarch are allowed. Why…”

“Begging your pardon milady but from what I heard, it was our crown prince who insisted on it.”

“But why? And how could sky monarch agree?”

“Sorry milady, I’m just a lowly servant, I wouldn’t know the answer to that.” She bowed her head and walked on about her business leaving me with even more questions. Why would the crown prince ask for this and why would the sky monarch allow such a thing?

She’s not even here yet and already she’s changing things? Granted this person will be the crown prince’s wife, but no one, other than the monarch himself has ever worn the clothing made from threads of real gold woven together with bonds of the purest silk. It was a thing reserved for himself and his heir.

I only felt worst the more I saw as I walked through the courtyard that surrounded the prince’s palace. Everything sparkled and shone with newness and there was a buzz of excitement in the air that hasn’t been there for a long-long time. Even the servants were more lively than usual, as if they too had something to celebrate.

When I reached her wing, the place where she will reside within the prince’s palace I felt sick. I should be the one they were preparing for. It should be me wearing the coveted robe of gold.

I was barely able to fight back the tears when I saw the men and women hard at work making things perfect for the unknown usurper. And when the sweet scent of Lathyrus odoratus, that most delicate of flowers reached my nose, it was like a slap in the face.