The Innocent

Once upon a time, there was a pair of children, a boy and a girl. The two looked so alike that you wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Both had shortish twilight black hair; flowing down to the shoulders that contrasted with porcelain skin. Two pairs of large emeralds would gaze upon all who passed them.

The two children, like dolls, would sit and play with each-other for hours on end. They never showed any signs of tiredness when they were close together, like they were sown at the hip. Today, like the past week, the two were playing at royalty. The girl stood in a similar manner to a spoiled child, and the boy carried a wooden sword, standing like some sort of knight.

"Are you ready for another task, my Knight?" she asked in a light hearted manner.

"Yes, your Majesty." he replied with a respectful manner.

"Go and find me the prettiest flower in the garden," she commanded, "Then hand it to me."

The boy quickly went off into the garden of the palace, in search of the prettiest flower. It took at least ten minutes for his search to come to an end, he arrived back and handed a crimson rose to the girl. Upon taking it, she winced a tiny bit in pain.

"Be careful," the boy warned, "Don't prick yourself on it."

The girl got past the pain and rolled the rose over in her hand, looking at each petal carefully and smiling warmly.

"You did well, Knight." she said, holding out her right hand, "Now swear your fealty to me."

The boy went down on one knee and took the girl's hand in his.

"I do swear to serve my Queen eternally." he announced, kissing the back of the girl's hand. She slowly retracted her hand and clapped.

"Good, good." she cheered, her smile pure and innocent. It brought a sense of motivation to the boy, who admired the girl's smile.

After around thirty minutes of playing together, a group of well-dressed people walked in on them, their looks serious and mourning. They signalled for the girl to come with them, she followed them, leaving one of them with the boy. Several minutes after they left, the man left behind, a strong-looking man, took the boy with him. The girl didn't see the boy again after that.

She had, however, found the reason for her calling. As the people led her into a room where she saw a woman lying on a bed, tranquil and still. She wore a black dress, and her skin was whiter than the girl's. Upon seeing this, she began to cry in front of everyone, dropping to her knees, her smile faded and was replaced by a melancholy chorus.

That day, she didn't know of the consequences of the situation that she had looked upon.

(11 years later)

In a large bedroom, furnished with everything anyone could ever want, was a girl of fifteen years. She had shiny, night-black hair that came down to her waist and two bright green eyes that shone out. The girl was wearing a fine azure dress that fell down to her ankles in frilly layers and a variety of jewels. A knock could be heard on the room's door.

"Your Highness," a voice came from behind the door, "It's time."

"I'm coming." she responded in an angelically formal voice. The girl looked at her desk, at a vase containing a bright scarlet rose. It looked like it had been cared for with meticulous effort. She appeared to put her hands together in prayer as she looked at the rose, then she turned to leave the room.

The girl kept going until she was at the foot of a grand hall. A crimson carpet rolled out toward a golden throne surrounded by finely dressed men. On either side of the carpet was a crowd of noble-looking men and women. She continued to walk up the carpet until she reached the throne, the girl allowed one of the finely dressed men to lay a lustrous tiara upon her head. Gems laid inside little slots of the tiara, a sign of great wealth. The girl sat in the throne after turning to the crowd.

"I reveal to you," one of the men called, "Your queen. Lady Evangeline Mercer!"

There was a round of applause from the crowds in front of Evangeline. Signs that they approved of their new ruler, a girl of only fifteen years.

After the hour-long court session was over, Evangeline returned to her room to rest. She looked once again at the vase sitting on her desk with a longing gaze. Eventually, she went over to it and picked up the rose inside. Evangeline put the rose to her nose and smelt it, giving a smile of pure radiance. There was another knock on the door as she attempted to put the rose in as a hairpiece.

"Come in." she said. As the door opened, Evangeline saw a boy enter and dropped her rose in shock.

A boy of fifteen stood before Evangeline. He had long, twilight black hair set in a ponytail, along with a face resembling Evangeline's. Two emerald eyes gazed into hers and he wore a black tailcoat. He looked rather handsome in his butler-like getup with a sword at his hip. The boy picked up the rose and slotted it into Evangeline's hair neatly, like a hairpin.

"So you kept it," he told her in a soft, noble voice, "After all this time…Eva."