1 1. Sunflowers

The Crazy Princess may be a misleading title because no, it is not about a Princess gone mentally insane, but about a Princess who broke the gender norms and embraced the name she had earned for herself by the people surrounding her that were not used to change.

This story does not heavily revolve around her, but it is because of her that this story is possible.

As I said this story is not about the Princess, it is about a girl named Loralie who was just an ordinary girl living as a commoner. Loralie was no plain girl. She had beautiful piercing sea green eyes and freckles that danced on her cheeks ever so lightly. Her fire red hair reached her hips and was usually braided so it was out of her way, but out of the braids in its natural form it was long coils that stopped at her mid back. She had many suitors waiting for the day she came of age, but she had no interest in any of them. Loralie, being fourteen years of age, was more interested in books and travel. She dreamed of seeing as much of the world as she possibly could.

~*~

On a hot mid summers afternoon The Crazy Princess came by Rory's market stall undercover with her royal knight that was given the job of being her sole protector since she was the age of thirteen. The Knight was named Henry, he being the age of eighteen years old when he was first assigned to her.

Loralie was working at her mother's flower stall in the local market on this day when the Princess stopped by her stall because she was particularly taken with the sunflowers Loralie was displaying.

"Hello!" Loralie greeted, "how are you two today?"

"I am doing wonderful!" The Princess replied, "These sunflowers are gorgeous! how much for a bouquet?"

"They are vibrant aren't they? They match your dress! For you they are only two silver coins!" Loralie smiled feeling generous and knocking the price down by one coin.

"I couldn't pay such a small fee! They are beautiful and they were probably nurtured with such care!" The Princess said, "I demand that you take ten coins for that!"

"Stephanie!" whispered Henry, who was beside her, "that's a lot for just a few flowers!"

Henry was a tall boy. He was toned because of his training and no matter what he was wearing you could clearly see that. He had chestnut brown hair that curled toward the ends. A few strands always fell in front of his brown eyes making him adjust it from time to time even though it was to no avail.

"Oh Henry, I told you to call me Stevie! And these flowers deserve a price such as this and you know I can afford it."

Stephanie had a lighter brown hair compared to the boy standing next to her. Her emerald eyes were complimented by the sun today. Stephanie was only fourteen years old and her figure was only starting to show, but with her hooded cloak on you can hardly tell.

Loralie was too busy wrapping the flowers for her to notice the bickering couple before her.

They weren't dating yet since Princess Stephanie too young, but she had set her eyes on her Knight since the day they met when she was five.

Loralie looked up at the pair when she was done wrapping the flowers.

"Henry hand me my pouch please," the Princess said as she held her palm out to receive the coins.

He reluctantly pulled the pouch off of his belt and handed it to her.

"Thank you!" She said curtly and handed the merchant the coins, "I was wondering if I could get your name?"

"I'm Loralie, but my friends call me Rory," Loralie smiled and took the coins and dropped them into her apron pocket.

"Nice to meet you Loralie, this is my friend Henry and my name is Stephanie, but my friends call me Stevie... or at least that's what I tell them to," she said the last part while she turned her head to scold Henry. He folded his arms in response.

"Nice to meet you Stevie! I hope to see you again soon!" Loralie smiled, "oh and please call me Rory! you've earned it!"

"We will be taking our leave now! Bye Rory!" Stephanie waved as she walked away from Loralie's stand.

Later, after the market closed Loralie headed home to her mother and five younger siblings. She had two brothers and three sisters. Loralie was the only one with a job and her mother has has a hard time working as of late because Loralie's father was bedridden.

He had been sick for a few months now. They had no idea what is wrong with him since they do not bring in enough money to pay for a Doctor's visit. So Diane's sole job is to take care of her husband and younger children, leaving her eldest child, Loralie to watch the market stall.

"Mom!" Loralie ran into the small home excited, "Someone gave us ten silver coins for just a small bouquet of sunflowers!"

The smile plastered on the young girls face was one her mother hadn't seen in a while. Diane was glad that her daughter was happy for once.

"We can get father a Doctor!" Loralie rejoiced.

"No! we still have to get you kids new books!" her father coughed after saying so.

Diane looked down at her sickly husband, 'why must he always be so selfless?' she thought.

The smile on Loralie's face slowly faded after her father's words. She tried her hardest to hide her disappointment. All day after meeting Stevie, her generous gift was all she could think about was getting her father the treatment he really needed.

For the next week Loralie worked at the stand everyday they had the flowers. She was visited again by the generous girl, Stevie.

"Rory!" Stevie said as she and Henry approached.

Stevie was running toward Rory at the stand. Henry was walking as he carefully watched Stevie's surroundings, making sure no harm would come her way.

"Stevie!" Rory looked up from the book she was reading, happy to see her friend again, "It is so good to see you again!"

Stevie made it to the stand and she walked around it inspecting the flowers. This time she asked for a small bouquet of Roses, her second favorite flower.

"You cannot pay that much for Roses Stevie!" Rory said refusing the 15 silver coins the walnut haired girl tried to give her.

"I insist!" Stevie pushed her hand closer, "your flowers lasted so long! I even have some still!"

"I would feel bad!"

"Don't."

"I can't accept this! Stevie it's too much!"

"Rory... please?" Stevie pleaded.

Loralie didn't realize she was getting emotional until a tear dropped from her eye and down the side of her face. Feeling embarrassed she quickly wiped it away and turned away from Stevie and her companion, Henry.

"Oh my!" Stevie gasped, "I didn't mean to upset you! I'm so sorry Rory!"

"No! it's not your fault!" Rory said as she faced Stevie and Henry again, "your gesture means so much more than you will ever know... my father is very sick right now and we can't afford a Doctor"

The three were quiet for a moment and Rory felt embarrassed again.

"I'm sorry! I over shared!" Rory said quickly.

"No, not at all. We are friends, remember?" Stevie smiled and walked around to Rory to comfort her.

After a moment like this Stevie spoke again.

"I have an idea... and please promise me you will at least think about it?" Stevie asked the girl in front of her.

Rory nodded in response.

"I am looking for a head maid... and the job really isn't hard... I'm not going to boss you around and make you do my dirty work... I'm basically in great need of a confidant... someone my age other than my boring twin brother to talk to in the palace..." Stevie droned on and on about how boring her twin brother, Prince Sawyer is from that point on.

Henry was standing there, surprised that Stevie suggested this. Loralie was just as surprised maybe even more. Her friend Stevie was Princess Stephanie??? How could she be so clueless?

"So will you do it?" Stevie concluded her long rant.

"What about school?" Rory asked.

"Oh I have a private tutor and he can teach you as well if you are worried about your studies!" Stevie offers.

"How will I get to the palace everyday?" Rory asked.

She had so many questions flying through her head, but her words could only come out as fast as she could process this information.

"You would have your own room, close by to mine!" Stevie smiled, "we could have sleepovers whenever if you get lonely!"

Rory couldn't even process the words as she spoke them, "That sounds so fun Stevie!"

"So is that a yes?" Stevie gushed.

"Yes!" Loralie exclaimed.

"You won't regret it!" Stevie smiled.

"When should I start?" Rory questions the excited girl before her.

Stevie pauses her celebratory dance for a moment and thinks for a moment.

"Probably now?" She shrugged.

"What about the flowers?"

"I will buy them all if I have to!" Stevie smiled.

Henry sighed, "Stevie you can't!"

"Come on then, let's pack your things!" Stevie started pushing Rory away from the stand.

"My house is this way," Rory said pointing behind them.

"Oh! Right!" Stevie laughed a little.

Henry followed behind the giggling girls in front of him. They were already planning the many adventures they'd go on and what their day to day activities would look like. Even though some of them were VERY unrealistic, Henry decided he would let them enjoy their excitement.

Once the group arrived at Rory's small home they were greeted by Rory's younger brother Oliver, who was ten.

"Rory!" he cheered upon seeing her.

"Oliver meet my friends Stevie and Henry!" Rory smiled.

"Come in, meet the others," Rory said as she opened the door, "Mom, I'm home."

"Loralie! how was the market?" Diane asked.

"You remember the generous customer I told you about last week?" Loralie asked her mother and she nodded as a reply, "This is Princess Stephanie."

Upon realizing Diane was in the presence of royalty she bowed before the young girl.

"Rise, there is no need for the formalities... I don't really care for them," Stevie smiled kindly as she lowered herself to Diane's level, "Please refer to me as Stevie."

The two females stood and Diane smiled.

"What brings you here, Stevie?" Diane asked.

"I'm afraid I have come to steal your daughter away from you... I've offered her a well paying job at the palace," Stevie explained, "I will also request that there will be a royal physician sent over tomorrow to examine your husband."

Diane didn't know what to say. She was stunned by the young Princess' generosity, but she was also worried about her daughter Rory being away from home.

"Will she be able to visit us?"

"Of course... I won't work her like a mad woman!" Stevie laughed, "she will be free to leave when she wants."

"What about her education?"

"She will receive the level of education I do as a Princess if she wishes."

After Diane asked all her questions and recived the answers she needed from Stevie she approved and sent Loralie to pack her things. Loralie reappeared in a few minutes with only one small bag filled with a few dresses and undergarments and books.

"Are you ready?" Stevie asked Rory.

"Yes!"

Thus begins our story...