Madeline's Perspective.
Present day.
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It was time to meet dear, dear, cousin.
Oh joy.
My heart beat just a little too fast, and I looked at myself in the broken mirror, swallowing just a bit to hard.
I...wasn't...me anymore.
"Madeline?"
"What?"
I sneered instantly, whipping away from the mirror.
It was just Marinette, and I hated that I almost felt bad I snapped at her.
And she was caring...boxes?
"Well, Madeliana," She beamed...uh oh, what did the old lady want?
"Your cousin, his majesty, will be here in a few hours, so we just must get you ready!"
"Wait, what? Marinette!"
"Yes, dear?"
"What do you mean? I'm already ready as can be."
Marinette laughed like it was a ridiculous thing to say, as she was opening sat down on a chair and opened the boxes.
Jerk.
I walked next to her, with my flat toed shoes clicking against the ground.
"Well, my dear Madeline, I think it might be best if you wore something...a little better!"
Her eyes glinted in pure delight as she pulled out...makeup? And a dress?
What?
Why would I need...?
I wasn't a princess anymore....
Marinette paused with a small frown.
"Well, that is, if you'd like."
I gave a long, overly dramatic sigh, even though excitement pulled at my throat.
It had been a very, very, long time since I'd gotten to wear something nice!
Since I'd gotten to look nice.
Even if it shouldn't matter.
"I guess...."
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"Very well, open your eyes. What do you think?"
I sucked in a breath when I looked at myself in the mirror.
My fingers reached out for the cold touch of the mirror, I couldn't help it, I wanted to see more of the girl in the mirror.
I didn't think I'd ever get to see that girl again.
Soft and gentle and elegant I looked nice--was that the way to put it?
Marinette...had made me look like a real life doll!
Like a princess!
My brown hair was curled into silky ringlets around my neck, just like it used to be, and I was smiling.
Actually, genuinely smiling~!
The dress was normal size had pink and blue feathers on it--and oh, it had been so long since I got to look like this.
To look like me.
"Oh, I love it," I whispered, in a voice that sounded like mine to.
"I love it so much!"
I gave a little twirl, the feathers brushing against my skin and fanning out beautifully.
Marinette laughed affectionately, which was a warm sound I had gotten familiar with.
"Oh big sister," Daliana started. "You look--"
"You look lovely, my dear child!"
Marinette's smile vanished, replaced with a frown, as her arms fell limply to her sides.
What was wrong?
Did I do something wrong?
"You know...I used to love pamering Her Majesty like this, oh, we would make a day out of it! Such a good girl...."
Her eyes were faraway, and her voice was so different, so sad.
It seemed so wrong, I noted, to see her sad--like a butterfly with broken wings.
My hands were itching to grab her hand, to do something small, to make her smile again, even if it didn't make any sense.
But before I could, she snapped out of it, and beamed once more.
"But that has nothing to do with you, does it? Now, come along! The King is almost here!"
Still, even though there was no reason to, I grabbed her hand.
That made her eyes light up a little brighter.
Good.
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"The King has almost arrived."
Marinette hummed, and soon, I was helping set out the tables, putting everything in perfect order.
Scorvis was getting ready in his quarters, which took way to long.
Seriously, what was he doing, putting on eyeliner?
It had to be something bad, because he wouldn't let Marinette help her.
"My dear?"
Marinette asked while I was putting the different forks and spoons I'd been forced to memorize.
Only this silverware was bright blue instead of, well, silver.
Tacky.
"Hm?"
"Could you do me a favor?"
Oh boy.
"Probably not," I said, holding in a snicker, and she gave a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose.
Curse the suns, why did she act so much like...my...mom.
"What's the problem, huh, Marsies?"
"Just...please insure Scorvis does not take any knives up to his room."
What a totally normal request.
I burst into my higher pitched laughter, grabbing at the scratchy tablecloth as I grinned.
"Weird thing to ask on a whim, huh, little sis?"
"Yeah! Tazan's right!"
"This is serious, Madeline!" She said, her voice barely a whisper.
As I looked at her, the light from the chandelier casting shadows on her face and making her eyes glow, I didn't think it was so funny anymore.
It was creepy, how she looked, with a pleading expression and hand on her heart.
"What's going on, Marie?"
I asked, sitting on one of the cyans chairs and looking at her from across the table, folding my hands beneath my chin.
"Nothing," She said with a forced smile.
"Liar, liar, pants on fire."
"I'm just, a little concerned about His Highness." Her voice was tight, and somehow, her eyes were veiled with tears.
I suddenly started thinking about his long sleeves and collar.
Oh no....
"But why?"62Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlTrzJxLGe
"It does not matter! It is not your problem--!"
"Yes it is, your asking me to do something about it! Just tell me!"
Then there was single tear, that fell down her cheek before she wiped it off with a gloved hand.
And that hurt, too.
She wasn't meant to cry, she wasn't meant to be sad, she was meant to be happy all time.
That was all I'd ever seen her as.
Before I even realized it, I was standing next to her, putting an arm around her and nearly knocking off her feathered hat.
I could feel her trembling, as her voice cut down to a whisper.
"He refuses to tell me anything. He refuses to let me help. I don't know if he's safe or not, or if he's--"
Her voice cut off, and another tear fell down her cheek.
I forced myself not to let out the small, bitter laugh that was lodged into my throat.
The world was cruel.
The world was awful.
There was no real point for anything, was there?
I didn't know how to help--didn't think there was anything I could do.
"I'll make sure he doesn't bring any knives anywhere." I held up my fingers. "Scout's honor."
Marinette took in a shaky breath, and instantly, there was another smile on her face.
"Thank you Madeline! I apologize for my...behavior. Everything will be fine, I'm sure of it!"
She hummed with a small laugh, getting up, and going back to straighten everything up.
I let out a small breath.
Weirdo, weirdo, weirdo.
Then, just as we had finished, Scorvis came down the stairs, declaring the king had arrived.
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My nails were drenched in sweat and my heartbeat was raising to fast.
What was I going to say to him?
Why did I have to talk to him at all?
He was the only family I had left...maybe it would go ok.
Wouldn't that be nice?
If I had someone left?
Would he even remember me?
I could hear them talking in the other room, hear my cousin's voice, as rich and calm as ever, talking to Scorvis.
He was a king now--but that wasn't fair either.
It was meant to be mom and dad!
It was meant to be Tazan!
Would my cousin ever be good enough?
I listened in from the kitchen, avoiding the chefs and staff rushing around me, there footsteps so roaring loud that they almost blocked out the sound of my cousin talking.
The smell of the food was rich and overwhelming, just like all the feasts I used to have.
Absently, I grabbed one of the pastery and bit into it--one of my favorites, actually.
It was more sour then the ones at home, but it still reminded me of some nice times.
"Now King Scorvis, I hear you have my dear cousin here?"
I stood very still suddenly, getting as close to the door as I could with the kitchen staff all around.
"Y-yes, actually, the trial has caused me...quite the prediciment."
"I should like to see her, before I leave?"
He asked softly, and my heart stopped.
What.
Did.
He.
Want?
"Hm? Oh...of course."
Then there was the sound of a bell chiming in the dining hall, and I ran the long way around so it didn't look like I was eavesdropping.
By that time, my cousin was long gone, so...did he or did not want to see me?
He needed to pick one.
"He's in the garden," Scorvis said, the bags under his eyes more pronounced now.
He had several plates of food in front of him, but it didn't look like he'd eaten more then a few bites as he spun the empty fork in his hand.
"He asked to see you...privately?"
I shot him a questioning look.
I don't know, Scorvis mouthed back.
Helpful.
"Well, see ya soon, I guess?"
"Mmm," He tried to smile, but it looked to tired.
I dully remembered what Marinette had said, and whispered into the ear of one of the other servants to take all the knives away from the table, and make sure none of them were missing.
That should be enough, right?
I made myself step outside, the wind blowing at my face and making my skirt fly everywhere.
Anxiety grabbed at my chest and made it much more difficult to breathe, so I forced myself to laugh.
Laughing always made me feel better.
I walked out to the garden, admiring all of the beautiful flowers arching above me as I stepped into the path, the smell of them all carrying sweetly throughout the wind.
My cousin was admiring a purple Celeste flower--one of my favorites--in his hand, and I froze.
"Ah, hello, Madeliana."
"Madeline."
"Hello, Madeline, it's nice to see you again." He said with a soft smile as he walked closer to me, his golden hair blowing in the wind.
My scars stopped hurting as family came even closer to me, and I almost gasped in relief.
It was such a nice feeling to finally have my family close to me, it was so nice, I almost forgot I had been anxious.
He touched my shoulder, leaning closer to me, his cologne making me cough.
"I was so worried about you, cousin."
Something about his voice sounded...off....
There were scars on his neck too, and I wondered if they also felt better for being around me.
I gave a soft laugh, staring into his blue eyes.
Something was wrong.
"Isn't it such a wonder you survived?" He whispered, and my eyes widened, the words hitting like a stab in the gut.
He stepped closer, and I found myself taking a step backward.
"So, why did you want to talk to me?"
He gave a frozen smile that chilled me to the core.
"I just wanted to tell you to be careful." He grabbed my hands, forcing me closer to him.
"Something might happen to you if you leave this place."
"W-what--what are you talking about?"
"Nothing," He hummed, gripping onto my hands so tight it started to hurt.
"And, if anyone asks, I didn't say anything, ok?"
"Uh, cuz, your kinda hurting me--!"
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, I do, alright?" I snapped, suddenly feeling anger boil into my chest.
He smiled once more, then just like that, walked away.
"See you soon, cousin."
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