As the days passed, Ci grew more and more frustrated. Sure, she couldn't compin... She had the best food she'd ever tasted, a roof over her head, people keeping her safe, and Remora even gave Ci her bed while she slept on the sofa downstairs... which certainly made the guilt creep in ever more. But chores... Gods, the chores...! They were endless...! And worse, Ci could hardly get them right day in and day out. She thanked the Gods for Babcia's patience with her.

  "How do people do this everyday of their lives???" Ci thought to herself... On top of that, she knew people also had to go to work, care for children or their elderly, pay bills and taxes, and somehow manage to stay healthy on top of all of that??? She always dreamed of and romanticized peasant life... of running away from her royal duties, living freely amongst the people, and doing it as a non-married woman. That dream had both come true and was deeply devastated at the same time...

  But she was determined... determined to prove herself of being something other than being a burden upon Remora and Babcia... determined to prove that she could be something more than a useless royal... determined to prove she could be capable of becoming someone other than a bargaining chip and a doting, submissive wife.

  Of course, proving oneself never came easily.

  She spshed her dress when doing dishes, she gave her hand at trying to cook lunch with Babcia... to burn most things including a spot on her hand, and she raked the yard using the rake like a broom. She groaned to herself each time Babcia patted her on the head and directed her to some other task.

  "Why don't you try again with the chickens?" Babcia offered. Ci gulped at the thought of being mangled by that rooster again. "Just keep your distance... And if he approaches you, you just find a way to work around him, and if he attacks, you gotta show him who's boss! Assert yourself, girl!" She shoved the bucket into Ci's hands. "He might be fast and feisty... but you're bigger than him and smarter than him." Babcia hoped her pep talk would help her, but Ci simply drooped and nodded in resignation. Babcia softened. "You're a smart girl, Ci. You'll find your footing, I promise. But you just gotta-"

  "Keep trying... I know..." Ci sighed in response before heading out the door and to the fenced-in coop. She unhitched the lock and peeked in, noticing the beady eyes appearing from all around. She meekly stepped inside, checking all her corners for the feathered beast from Hell. Sure enough, the curious little creature came around from behind the coop, meeting her gaze and cocking its head.

  Ci narrowed her eyes and stood her ground. A standoff.

  The rooster seemed to sense it, it's feathers puffing out in a tactic of intimidation. Ci didn't back down. She may have backed down from her wedding... from her betrothal to a rising tyrant of a man... but she'd be damned if she let a chicken run her around. She puffed out her chest in return, meeting the rooster's challenge.

  The rooster responded by stomping its strong orange foot at her, rearing and warning her like a bull. Ci stomped in return, picking up a stick and whacking the pail of birdfeed in her hand, causing the feathered beast to halt for a moment.

  "I'm the one who makes sure you're fed! So attack me if you wanna starve!" Ci threatened. The rooster seemed to sense her threat only for it to puff up in anger more. It growled at her, stomped, then charged at her. Ci was ready.

  "Oh, shut up!"

  She took a handful of the seed and tossed it in a wave at the rooster. It closed its eyes, bracing for the attack before opening them in a realization. In a split second, the rooster forgot about her and began pecking at the ground. Ci smiled trimphantly.

  "That's what I thought." She nodded approvingly before taking another handful, bending down to feed the hens from her hand. The beady-eyed creatures quickly took to her palm, pecking and gulping down the feed. She smiled as she felt their beaks brush against her skin. Her thoughts began to drift... until she was all the way back at that prison of a pace...

  ...

  Marina slipped out from the castle door, ripping off her devils of shoes and storming down the hallway to the courtyards.

  "Jerk..." She muttered. Just another night of dealing with the same old uptight, snobbish princesses and duchesses, the same boring old music, and the same old ill-mannered suitors looking to "win her affections"... like making comments about her "bosom" or her mouth were just sooo charming... She felt the cool, summer air of the night hit her face and sift through her hair, and she took a deep breath, feeling the salt from the distant shore gracing her.

  It was quiet and the moon was full, and the roses from the gardens left a floral lingering in her senses. She waltzed through the stone paths amongst the carefully trimmed hedges. She then heard a voice. A woman's voice. It was soft and melodic as it hummed a gentle tune against the quiet oceanic breeze. She peeked around the corner of a hedge, spotting a young dy a few yards before her.

  An even more incredible sight, were the dozens of white-winged creatures that fluttered around her, or rested atop her shoulders, arms, and wrists, and nibbled from her palm. She had flowing blonde hair, long eyeshes, and a grace to her that could be mistakened for that of an angel's. Marina felt her face grow hot at the sight. She knew of this woman. She was no angel, but a servant to the pace. Marina had seen her around many times before, mostly from the window of her bedroom where she'd often escape to daydream, and there she'd spot her working in the courtyards and gardens below. Something about her fascinated Marina, though she couldn't understand what. Something about her stole her attention in a way no suitor ever could... She felt her throat tighten and her heart beat against her ribs. She was nervous... but why would such a sight make her nervous?! Despite her anxiety, another type of feeling creeped in... one that was possibly worse...

  Curiosity.

  She stepped out from behind the hedge, wondering if she'd even matter to this woman's world... but sure enough, as the doves sensed her and turned their heads, so did the young dy. Marina felt her breath hitch as their eyes met.

  "Your highness!" The servant squeaked, dropping to her knees and into a bow, the doves fluttering off of her body and onto the ground near her. Marina gasped and stepped toward her, reaching out a hand to almost touch her, but hesitated to make contact with such a sight.

  "Oh, no, please, that's alright... I... I don't really care for that..." Marina stammered. She cleared her throat and offered a hand, turning her gaze away sheepishly. The servant blinked up at her and down at her hand.

  "As... As you wish, your highness..." The servant whispered, her voice airy like the breeze in the middle of spring.

  Marina's face flushed as the servant's hand met hers, sending an electric pulse up her arm. She gracefully brought her to her feet (it was honestly the most grace she ever willingly demonstrated in a while), and could now see the mix of rich brown and green that decorated her eyes up close. Marina blinked rapidly as her cheeks helplessly grew warmer and warmer. But when the servant smiled at her, she thought she could liquify into a puddle right then and there. She left her hand cupping the young woman's for a moment too long, before releasing her with an awkward ugh.

  "What brings you here, your highness? Shouldn't you be enjoying the ball?" The servant tucked her hands together in front of her, her thumb rubbing the hand Marina held. Marina sighed and rolled her eyes, stepping to stand next to her as she leaned against the stone wall of the dovecote.

  "Enjoying isn't the word I would use..." She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the structure. The doves softly cooed around her as they danced curiously around her feet. The servant leaned against the dovecote next to her.

  "I see... I can see how it might be a bit... stifling." The young dy replied. Marina nodded in agreement. It was beyond suffocating. She watched as the woman's lips curled up and she bent down to pick up a particurly needy dove onto her arm. Marina couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight.

  "You're amazing with them... I've see you all the time from my window... It's so... mesmerizing how you... so graciously tend to each and every living thing..." Marina idly murmured to her.

  The servant's eyes went wide and a dusting of pink emerged on her face. The princess... had noticed her...??? She blinked rapidly as the color on her face seemed to endlessly grow warmer and she turned away with a smile.

  "You've noticed that...?" She let out a faint ugh, waving her hand modestly. "It's nothing, really... I'm just doing my job..." Marina shook her head and stepped closer to her.

  "It's not nothing... It's pretty... you're..." She swallowed as her own eyes went wide as she quickly bit down on her tongue. "...it's pretty wonderful..." She backtracked in a murmur. Her words did not help the fluster on the servant's face, but Marina was too busy trying to control her own to notice. Marina ughed softly as the fluttering in her stomach became overhwhelming. She gnced at the young dy once again, catching sight of the winged creature upon her arm. The servant turned and pced it inside the hole of the dovecote. Marina blinked in wonder.

  "So... what are you doing...?" She inquired. The servant smiled as she began to pick up the doves one by one, pcing them into the nesting area.

  "I'm putting them into the cote for the night... this is where they sleep." The servant expined. Marina hummed as she watched her a moment longer. Once all the doves were inside, the servant closed the cage door, locking it with a gentle click. Marina tilted her head.

  "Why don't they fly away from you? They must know they're getting locked inside a cage all night long..." She frowned at the thought. The servant smiled at her.

  "Well... because they know they're safe here. They rely on this pce... on me to help keep them safe... So is it really a cage if it's where they want to be?" The servant inquired. Marina hummed. With that mindeset, she supposed the entirety of the pace felt like a cage to her... the dances especially. It always felt that way.

  "Hm... I suppose you have a point... but even then, I guess some of us return to our cages even if we don't want to..." Marina reflected, staring at the pathway that led to the doors of the castle. The servant followed her gaze, frowning slightly at her words.

  "I take it you're not fond of dancing?" The servant tilted her head. Marina shook hers.

  "It's not that... It's the people. It's having to deal with pretentious girls and crude suitors..." Her gaze cast downward. "...I actually love dancing..." She muttered. The servant sighed.

  "I've never danced." She admitted. Marina blinked at her in surprise. A sudden thundering seemed to want to escape her chest as an idea wormed its way into her mind.

  "...I can... show you...?" Her voice came out in a waver. The servant's eyes widened and she turned her head with parted lips. Marina wasn't even looking at her... her eyes were also wide and full of nervousness. A fre of butterflies erupted in her stomach.

  "O...okay..." The servant nodded, a look of dreamy disbelief in her eyes as Marina turned to her, extending her hand. She took it and was gently pulled in by her. She hadn't realized how tall the princess was until her hand found her shoulder, and Marina's found her waist. Their hands met and Marina slowly began leading them through the steps, drifting them into a gentle waltz. Their eyes barely met as both their minds raced.

  "So... um... I'm Marina by the way." The princess added to fill the silence. The servant ughed softly, a sound that made Marina's heart skip a beat.

  "I know... I literally work for you..." The servant's lips spread into a wide amused smile. Marina couldn't help but stare at them... how soft and pretty their shape was. Marina ughed awkwardly in return.

  "Oh... yeah... right..." She turned her gaze away in embarrassment. The servant's eyes remained locked on the princess's averted ones.

  "I'm Jamie..." The servant responded. Marina returned her gaze in surprise. Her name was a strange music to her ears. It echoed in her mind as she reserved it to her memory.

  She couldn't understand the feeling bubbling in her chest. It was fuzzy like champagne bubbles against her ribs, and there was a cozy warmth all across her body. She heard of feelings like this in fairytales when she was young... Feelings that were rare amongst royals... amongst young women. But in those fairytales, the princess would always develop such sensations when she met prince charming... and Jamie was no prince. But she was helpless to her body and mind as she moved themselves in dreamy circles.

  Perhaps this was what they called love...

  "Marina!" A voice broke her from the spell. Her mother's. She gasped and released Jamie instantly.

  "I have to go..." Marina quickly whispered to her. Jamie nodded.

  "Yes, your highness." Jamie took her hand for a moment, giving it a squeeze. "Thank you..." She whispered. Marina blushed and nodded, before swiftly turning to the castle.

  "Ci!" A voice called. Babcia's. When she turned, she found herself back in that little yard on the edge of town instead of the castle courtyards. Instead of doves at her feet, it was hungry, noisy, prehistoric-looking creatures. She sighed and scattered a handful of the feed before returning to the modest, little house.

  Perhaps it was fantasy...