Episode 1

Celeste had a bad feeling the moment she woke up . She had tossed and turned the whole night and eventually fallen into a restless slumber. She stared at the ceiling of her room for a few minutes, collecting her thoughts. Sunlight was peeking from the curtains, she could hear the hustle of the now alive castle. She blew a strand of her dark hair from her face. And then when she remembered what today was, she wished she could go back to sleep and never wake up.

Today, her tutor Marilda had promised she would turn her into a proper lady . Funny how she thought she could do something in a single day when so many had failed to do it in 15 years of her life. No doubt, today would be full of taunts and scolding, dresses and pins and violins and nagging. Celeste groaned into her pillow. Why couldn't they give up already? Half the kingdom knew Celeste was as far from a proper lady as could be. She couldn't curtsy, walk like she was gliding, be graceful, or even eat like a lady. And Gabriel compared her violin to the sound of a dying hippo. But her mother and Marilda were ever so stubborn. Most days she could count on Gabriel to get her out of those lessons and go riding or practicing her shooting but her mother had given Gabriel a proper scolding last night. And he was too much of a coward to go against their mother.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the creak of her door was soon followed by Talisa's cheery voice

"Good morning My Lady!"

Talisa was a women in her twenties who had been her handmaiden since she was five. But to Celeste she was more than just a servant, she was family. Like an older sister.

That didn't matter when Talisa pushed the curtain back. The Celeste was sure she hated her. Light pooled into the room causing her to groan.

"Nothing about this morning is good" Celeste mumbled as Talisa ripped the sheets off of her.

"Why do you say that My Lady? It looks like a wonderful day indeed" Talisa grinned.

"Your positivity is ever so nauseating Talisa" Celeste grumbled as she slowly sat up. Her head was pounding ferociously.

"I feel sick" She admitted. Talisa frowned as she placed a hand on Celeste's forehead.

"You seem fine to me . Perhaps a hot bath will make you feel better?" Celeste nodded absentmindedly. After bathing she let Talisa dress her up in a simple blue gown . Despite her protests , Talisa forced her to wear her mother's locket . Then she had to go through a torturous 15 minutes when Talisa did her hair in a complicated braid while half of her hair flowed down. Only when Talisa believed she looked appropriate was she allowed to attend breakfast.

Celeste lazily walked through the halls to the dining room where her family would no doubt be waiting. She yawned as the guards opened the doors then tried to smile ever so politely. Her father sat at the head of the table, smiling at her . He had grey hair and firm features. He held himself upright and the crown rested on his head. Despite his smile he looked tired and weary. Next to him was her mother. Ciana was a beautiful women with her golden hair and blue eyes. She was graceful and a proper lady unlike her daughter. And then there was Gabriel. He had inherited his mothers hair and eyes. He was fairly tall despite being just two years older than her. He was funny,chivalrous, and intelligent. Ladies all over the kingdom were swooning over him which only worsened his ego. The said boy took one look at his sister and chuckled.

"Finally decided to grace us with your presence eh?" He said as she slid into her seat.

"Oh shut up !" Celeste snapped as a servant poured her some water.

"Cel!" Cried her mother indignantly. "Do not be rude "

Celeste rolled her eyes, suppressing a groan .

"What I meant to say was," Celeste said in an overly sweet voice to her brother.

"Would you please do me the honor of shutting up?" Her mother's groan was drowned out by her father's laughter.

"We'll see how sarcastic you are when Marilda has her way with you" Gabriel smirked.

"Surely Marilda should know by now, I am a lost cause" Celeste said dramatically.

"That's quite enough " Her mother said not harshly. "You will attend your lessons after breakfast . And please dear, do not make this harder for Marilda"

"No promises" She whispered under her breath. Gabriel snorted into his drink.

"I plan to ride to the markets with Ben" He told father. "Its been suffocating enough in the castle as it is"

"Its not fair that you get to leave the castle and I don't !" Celeste said sourly, for the hundredth time .

"The markets are no place for a princess" Father said absentmindedly.

"But I would have guards with me!" Celeste argued.

"We are not going through this again" Father groaned.

"Well it isn't fair that-"

"Not this again!" Gabriel scowled. Celeste glared at her brother. Her father smiled at her gently.

"Maybe someday I will take you for a ride through Idris" He said thoughtfully. Her Mother immediately gave a look of protest and Celeste's eyes had lightened up . A grin had found its way to her face as she beamed at her father.

"But today, promise to not cause trouble Cel" Her father said as she got up.

"When have I ever caused trouble ?" Celeste said innocently as her father kissed her forehead before leaving.

"I shall have a word with your father about spoiling you" Her mother said hardheartedly as she too got up giving her shoulder a squeeze.

"Gabriel, please escort your sister to the courtyard. Marilda must be awaiting her " And with that she too left. Celeste gave Gabriel a crooked grin .

"I am most certainly not getting you out of this" Gabriel said absentmindedly. Celeste pouted.

" You're just grumpy because you lost to me at cards and owe me some real money "

"Do not!"

"Doooooooo" Celeste stretched . Gabriel got up and ruffled her hair.

"Get up now Celly before mother beheads us both"

"Anything would be better than this" Celeste complained but got up all the same.

The courtyard was on the ground floor not too far away if you went through the east wing but Celeste convinced Gabriel to go through the gardens. The gardens truly were beautiful this time of the year what with their endless variety of flowers.

"If I was a flower, which one do you think I would be?" Celeste wondered aloud to Gabriel. If it was anyone else they would've gawked at her and told her not to be stupid and talk nonsense but that wasn't Gabe. And Celeste loved him for that.

"An ugly one no doubt" Gabriel joked. Celeste shoved him .

"Well you'd be a shrub"

"Both of us know I'd be a rose"

"Arrogant much?"

Before Celeste could even comprehend , they had reached the courtyard and that horrible sinking feeling in her gut had returned.

"Gabriel" She said suddenly.

"I...."

"What is it Cel?"

Celeste shook her head.

"Its nothing " She said quietly. Gabriel frowned at her. And she could tell by the look on his fact that he knew it wasn't nothing but he let it go.

" Stop looking so down will you? Its making me feel bad"

Celeste stared at his retreating figure as he left.

He was right, there was no point in being miserable. If Marilda saw her like this, she'd start a sermon beginning with the words, " A proper lady never...."

Lately her days had a bittersweet familiarity to them. Everyday was spent the same way, and every night as she went to sleep Celeste felt further and further away from reaching her dreams. She would wake up at night, in cold sweat having nightmares where she didn't escape. She spent the rest of her life inside castle walls, nothing more than a pretty decoration.It was not that she hated her home, She hated the fact that there was a whole world out there and no one wanted her to see it.

If only she would've known what was coming she would've held on to Gabe, embraced him, told him how much she loved him.

Oh. how short living innocence truly is.

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