Potential suitors

"The day has been moved up a bit. They will be arriving tomorrow." She read, sitting up on her bed in shock.

Looking around her Chambers, she scanned the surrounding area for any signs of a break in.

Rushing towards her door, she opened it, her face out a bit, "Psst, hello." She whispered towards the guards.

"Your Highness?" The guards bowed.

"Yeah! Yeah, by any chance did anyone branch in here?" She asked in a hurry.

Shaking their head in a no, "Negatory. Is there a problem?"

"No, nothing." She gave a nervous laugh, closing the door.

Rushing to her bedside table, she took a hold of the paper, this didn't seem right, why was she told of this?

Walking towards the window, she peered downwards for any sign of anyone.

Nothing.

"Why was I given this?" She climbed onto her bed, staring at it like it would reply the more she concentrated.

"Tomorrow..." Her voice trailed, she was getting tired by the passing minute. It was probably due to her exhausting herself earlier while she had an outburst.

Yawning, she decided to concentrate on one thing for the day, "Whatever this is would be proven tomorrow, for now I need some shut eye." She slowly closed her eyes.

–––––––––––

A knock could be heard on the other side of Mae's door.

"Go away!" She mumbled in her sleep.

"Princess Mae." The voice called, awaiting a response.

"It's Mae to you." She corrected, getting up, feeling groggy and sleepy.

Then a click followed, the person getting in.

Squinting her eyes, her vision blurry and unclear, shaking her head; she rubbed her eyes for extra caution. "Who are you to come in without notice?"

"I am your best friend, Mae. Don't tell me after a little sleep, you totally forgot about me so soon."

"Leo?" She guessed, her vision stabilizing after she finally concentrated, "It's only you that could switch and call me that way." She laughed.

"You got that right." He laughed. "But right now, you need to get up, the day has been moved up a bit, so please do get ready."

"What did you say?" Mae suddenly felt a wave of nostalgia.

Trying to recollect where she had seen a similar word, her attention went straight to her bedside table, then it all clicked.

"You–" She raised an accusing finger, "When... no, how did you get into my Chambers when I wasn't here?"

"Mae, you need to calm down first and second, yes it is me, I had to when you weren't looking, I was scared of how you would react, given that it has something to do with you know what." He paused, allowing her to take it all in.

"You are really a sneaky fox." Mae shook her head. "So tell me, how did you know about it so early?"

"Simple, I have access to information, especially when it concerns you." He bragged.

"So please get dressed, it's time to meet your potential suitors." He hissed but forced a smile nonetheless.

"I can't call in sick?" She batted her lashes with a big grin.

"As much as that is a promising suggestion, it can't be helped this time around." He replied sadly.

"Well then." She threw her duvet off her legs, "Well you can't stand there while I go to have my bath." She gestured towards the door.

"Pardon me." He bowed, taking his leave.

Looking around, she hit her bed with her legs in annoyance at having to get to see who she considered incapable of wooing a female the right way.

"Do I really need to?!" She cried out.

–––––––––––

"Princess Mae." Court Lady Hazel knocked on her door, "You are running late.

Mae looked behind her, dropping her brush on the table, "I'll be right there soon, I need to comb out this bird's nest first." She joked.

"I could help you with that." Hazel suggested, waiting for the go ahead.

Picking up the brush, she combed through her hair, relishing in the feeling it gave her, "No, I think I would do so myself."

"Please hurry, Your Highness." She knocked on the door once more.

Hazel took a step back at the sound of a click, signalling the door opening.

"Here I am." She beamed.

Lady was a middle aged woman who had worked nearly her whole life in the Castle, a blonde with green eyes, her aura carried one with charisma and poise. All of which Mae wasn't.

Over the course of Mae's development, her untamed behaviour not befitting a Princess had been a pain in the neck of Hazel who could only try to pass across her teachings to the Princess.

She had always loved the mixture of emotions her teacher had going on her face, it could be anger and confusion, confusion and disgust, fear and sadness or joy and embarrassment when she tried to make jokes, she would catch her teacher laughing but she would blatantly deny it.

Now all that had been replaced with an eerily blank expression she had going on with her face.

It had been almost a week with no information on Hazel, Mae had wondered if it had anything to do with her, there were a few times she had contemplated asking her parents if she had quit or had quit because of her. But she never had the courage to ask and she was glad she didn't.

"Finally." Hazel sighed, bowing, she led the way towards the royal throne hall.

"Lady Hazel?" Mae interrupted, "By any chance do you know why this day was postponed? It's been just three days yet they arrived four days ahead of time, why is that so?"

Hazel shook her head, turning a deaf ear to what Mae said, determined to lead her directly to her destination.

"Lady Hazel?" Mae pried, "You should know something about why this was pushed up a bit."

"Princess Mae." Hazel turned around, clearly displeased.

"Yes, Lady Hazel?" She screeched to a halt before she made a collision with her.

Hazel squinted her eyes, "Is there anything you would like to tell me?"