on the first day as princess, my duties were to me...

As HaniSo felt, if I was well yet again, I couldn't help but feel shocked, still by this. I was a princess. How long had I had that terrible nightmare of being a school girl and what was reality. I shook off my shock and smiled to HaniSo, who had been frightened by my sudden movement. "HaniSo, may you please get me an outfit to suit my courtroom duties?" she stood up for a moment, confused before walking to my closet and pulling out a violet dress fashioned with lilac trimmings and lace. I looked at the dress, I'd never seen anything so wonderous... yet alone for me. HaniSo left the room as I got dressed and prepared myself for court. When she came back in, she returned with a tray. On the tray was breakfast, set neatly and so fresh the steam still rose off it. I ate greedily, I couldn't help it after eating grotesc food from my dream. HaniSo stood in awe at how I ate, but I couldn't care. Afterward, she took me down the corridors and led me to the courtroom where the first audience waited. The courtroom was styled like a throne room and cathedral. The throne sat on a small stage and looked onto benches that were currently filled with a great many people. In the very front was a gap between the people and the stage, and just before the people lay baskets of rotten fruits. We're those thrown at people? Maybe they were for me, this made me hesitant as the dress was so pretty I did not want it ruined.As I walked in the crowd, they stood their heads bowing. The moment I sat on the throne, the crowd sat. MariaSin walked out onto the stage, and as the crowd stood, I felt my body fill with envy. The strangest occurrence happened as she spoke. She addressed me as her mistress, the princess. Was she my spokesman? This made me want to laugh. Instead, I smiled and waved to the crowd. "In her highest honor, her majesty LuiChin. May the first order come forward." MariaSin said sternly. Her voice echoed among the pillars up to the high ceiling. I looked to the balcony and noticed a shadow watching the court. I felt as though I was suddenly watched. As the first two people stood forward, I ignored this feeling and looked to them. "State your name and business in court." MariaSin said. The two looked fearfully to me, and I gave a gentle smile and nod. I recognized both the woman and man, I simply couldn't place them. "Our names are QuPo and QuYu. We have come to this court for the third time in search of help. Our daughter, QuYan. She has been missing for just over a fortnite. The guards said they need authorization from your majesty to search for her." QuPo replied shakily. He held his wife, woe filled their eyes, and a sense of helplessness filled the room. MariaSin looked towards me, "ruling of her majesty?" she said. I knew QuYan, a good friend. Her parents only wanted to find her. I felt a sense of depression they had felt and looked to them. "Send guards immediately to their aid. Let it be known that we will find QuYan." As I said this, I looked to QuPo and smiled, and he nodded, thankfully. The crowd let out a gasp that overwhelmed me. Had I done wrong? A bustle of whispers began to grow in the room as people looked to the Qu family. "Silence!" MariaSin screamed, the crowd instantly quietened, the room filled with sp much silence you could hear a pin drop. "Next in court, please step forward," MariaSin said, her vioce deafening in the silence. A hooded woman stepped forward. This raised the attention of the crowd. she looked me directly in the eyes, I could not make her face. "State your name and your business in the court," MariaSin said. the lady never for a moment removed her eyes from me. "I have many names. I have come to personally deliver this to LuiChin. I hope she will accept it." the woman revealed from her cloak a note and a pendant. MariaSin stepped forward to stop her. I stood and stepped forward, receiving yet another gasp from the crowd. I took the items, and she nodded and, in a puff, disappeared. Only the cloak remained. "Court is now over. You may leave. The next session is the policy signing." MariaSin summarized. The crowd whispering stood and began to leave. The last few whispers died as the crowd fully left the room. I looked up to the balcony only to find it was empty.

Back in my room, I paced, wondering if I should open the note or rather leave it. HaniSo entered carrying a tray of divine cakes. She looked to my trembling hands, the note flapping wildly. "If it please madam, I read it while she eats?" HaniSo said and smiled kindly. I handed her the note, still fearful of what it may contain, but the food beckoned me in. "Dear LuiChin, this letter meets you on your day, you change. Others will notice, but don't be fearful. This change will save you soon. The pendant is for you and you alone, wear it tonight and you shall meet you true..." HaniSo stopped and looked up to me. I had paused in the middle of binging honey and lavender cupcakes, stacked neatly on a stand. "I apologize, madam, the letter ends. Perhaps it ends this way?" HaniSo said, slightly panicked, flipping the letter as if it would change in a flip. The letter could mean anything. I will definitely wear that pendant, and nothing will stop me. HaniSo gently placed the note on the dresser and proceeded to say; "Your due in court, madam. It is time to sign the new policy, or not if it pleases. " What did she mean by declining to sign? Why would I decline? I smiled to her and ushered her to lead the way. As we made our way back to the courtroom, I noticed a portrait of the family. Specifically my mother and I. She did not look sickly but rather strict and a force to fear. I ignored this as pictures never told the full truth. As we entered the court, there was a slight change. The tomatoes had been removed, and a table stood in front of the throne, a quill and inkwell awaiting me. As I sat on the throne, MariaSin walked out and began announcing loudly; " The princess will now be signing the new policy, policy 1899. This policy states that all those who appear in court shall be trialed for execution if their problem is declined. " I looked to the crowd shocked at this policy. I could see the fear full in the people's eyes. I could not sign this. Even if I were meant to pretend I was the previous princess, it was far too cruel. I stood and looked into the crowd, I could feel every eye on me, even the ones from the shadow figure on the balcony. "I, LuiChin, decline this policy and will not sign it. Not today nor ever!" The crowd erupted into great appease and appreciation, I looked to HaniSo, and she herself even smiled. MariaSin quickly tore the policy and proceeded to say; " As the princess orders. The court is finished, and you may leave." As quickly as the crowd erupted, they had left. Silence soon filled the room, and MariaSin and HaniSo stood on stage with me in the empty courtroom. "My mistress, you've changed your mind, why I never questioned your morals for a single moment," MariaSin had said. it was odd to get this validation from her, but I appreciated every moment. "Nor did I." a vioce echoed from the balcony as a woman walked into the light. It was my mother who was smiling down on me. I hadn't seen her smile for so long. It was as though the sun had finally shone into a dark room. She looked towards HaniSo and nodded, HaniSo then began to usher me towards my room. "It is time to ready yourself for your possible suitors at the ball." HaniSo said quickly. I felt a weight fall off me. As though what had seemed like an awful reality had only ever been a dream. It began to fade, and my excitement only grew.

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