Capítulo 2: A New Time.
"Fern, you'd better watch where you're kicking that thing...'' I warned my brother who was playing with a rubber ball a few metres behind me.
"I am." He said, although I hardly believed it. It's a beautiful day and I felt inspired to fill in the drawing of my dream garden. My brother seemed to think so too.
I took a minute to look at my progress so far.
Maybe a little more shade on the white rose stalks.
I took my eyes away for a few seconds to dab at the grey paint, then I felt something whiz by my head. I looked to see my easel on the damp grass floor with mud on the middle of the canvas and a small dirty rubber ball lying beside it.
"What..." I could only stare at my drawing that was now ruined.
"Freya? I can explain. Please let me explain."
"Explain what?" I turned my head round so fast I heard a snap and winced. "Ouch."
"Are you okay?"
"Ask my painting that." I pointed to it while nursing my neck with my other hand. "I told you to be careful. What happened?"
He looked at me blankly before running a hand through his hair. "It was a complete accident. I was trying this thing I saw yesterday and...why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because I'm waiting for the truth. The real truth."
"But that is the real truth. It was an honest mistake. I'm sorry.
Now that I was sure he was telling the truth, and I pinched the bridge of my nose before standing from my pouf. I picked up my paintbrushes, rinsed out my palette, and started walking.
I heard him fall in step with me. "Where are you going?"
"I am angry, but not surprised. You're going to draw me a portrait. A brand new one."
"But I can't draw! I have no drawing skills whatsoever."
"I suggest you get started then. I can wait."
I actually can't, and I know better than to trust him with a drawing of something so precious. I've always wanted to start a garden of my own, one were I have my most favourite colour of flowers. White.
I thought of how different flowers would bloom beside eachother on one side and on another side, certain groups would be separated. So I decided to draw out my dream white garden, and then this happened. Oh well, back to the canvas.
I'm not sure when or where I left my brother behind but I realised I had walked to my room on my own. I sat down on a little chair close to the window and had already picked up my pencil to begin sketching. A knock came on the door, interrupting me before I even started. I groaned internally and continued sketching.
"Come in."
I felt someone looking over my shoulder. "You forgot your easel, highness."
"Oh." I added a petal. "Thank you. Just drop it over there somewhere." I gestured vaguely around my room. The soft movement of feet and wood on the carpet sounded so far away as I had already buried myself in my work. It wasn't long before I felt a presence over my shoulder again, and I couldn't say I wasn't annoyed. I hated it when people watched me draw.
"Isn't there somewhere you should be?" I erased a little vine that was far too curly.
"Well excuse me for thinking you would want me here."
No honorific?
I took all of my attention off my book to focus on the person beside me. My face lit up at the sight of impossibly dark curly hair peeping out from under a scarf, and a sarcastic eyebrow raised. "Maria!" I attacked her with a tight hug.
"Unhand me child, you're going to rumple my gown beyond all recognition!" She yelled, but I didn't let go. Eventually she stopped struggling and raised her arms to hug me back. "I missed you."
"I missed you too." I let go of her and went to sit on the edge of my bed and tapped the space beside me, but she was looking at something on the floor...oh of course, my sketchbook and pencils. I watched as she picked it up before coming to sit beside me.
"How was the orphanage?"
"I thought you'd drawn this already. How come you're sketching again?" She completely ignored my question, too intent on studying my drawing. I rolled my eyes.
"I asked you a question." I stated.
"I'm older."
"I'm royalty." I replied sweetly. She gasped and clutched my book to herself.
"And to think I've known you for all these years, and you didn't tell me?"
I giggled at her act but I still wanted to hear her stories. "Maria..." I complained.
"It was fine, like always. Niam is still learning how to walk. Leland has started playing the piano again..."
She went on about what the children and caretakers at the orphanage were up to. It was like this everytime she came back from visiting there. I would ask about her visit, and even though I know she absolutely wants to gush about all that happened while she was there, she always tries to put up some front that she doesn't care.
Sometimes she thinks it's funny how I don't know a single one of those people she always mentions, but I think it's perfectly normal for me to be curious. As a princess you can't just waltz out of the gates without an entourage yelling, 'I'm off to visit my friends!' and expect not to be retrieved by hefty guards. So I settle for the fascinating stories Maria brings with her everytime she goes visiting. As head maid and someone who's served here for over ten years, we've grown close and I look up to her as an older sister.
"... Madame Chrysalis is still as energetic as ever despite being in a wheelchair. Oh and guess what?"
"What?"
"Serena is going to have a baby!"
"What?!" I sat up now, excited to hear that. "That's amazing! But wait, does that mean she won't be able to work for a while?"
"Well yes, she'll be absent for sometime, but she does need to take care of herself and the baby."
I thought about it for a while. Maria had told me Serena was one of the most hardworking people there, so if she's gone the workload might increase by a bit too much.
"Does this mean you'll be visiting the orphanage more often?"
"I think your real question is will I be leaving the castle more often."
"Either way, you know I'll miss you." I wrapped my arms around her again. It wasn't my place to keep someone from visiting their home. I felt her running her hands through my hair.
"Thank you." She whispered.
"For what? Now you have to bring even more stories with you when you get back, and you're saying thank-ow! You pinched me!" I stared at the small reddening spot on my arm.
"You know I never let my fans down princess. Now why are you sketching this again?"
"I resketch all my drawings."
"Yes, but you've drawn this one about a million times over."
"Fern attacked the one I had drawn this morning..."
She stared at me. I groaned and added, "But it can always be better anyway. So that's why I'm drawing it again."
She put her palm to her forehead and sighed, before she stood up and headed towards the door.
"You're leaving already?"
"I'm just going to see how they're faring for the night. I'll be back before you go to bed. And Freya?"
"Hm?" I knew what she wanted to say.
"If it makes you feel better-"
"Which it won't."
"I think your very first sketch was beautiful just the way it was."
"Goodbye Maria." I sent her a little smile. She returned it before closing the door behind her.
I looked around my room that somehow resembled a grey scale painting immediately she left. I suppose that's how it always is when she goes. Everything goes back to its boring stagnant pace, and I just wait for her to come and fill it up with colour again.
I sighed, then went to go sit at my little window chair again, picking up where I had left off.
It can always be better.
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