I was alone, resting in a garden filled with beautiful hydrangeas. The pink and blue flowers gave off a pleasant flora aroma. This garden was unique. Its flowers were delicately raised and breed to be elegant. The sun rained down on the petals, and they glimmered ever so slightly. The beauty was blinding, but I had gotten used to it. Butterflies flew from bud to bud, and birds sat atop the only tree that was providing shade. It was a scene I cherished when I concluded my studies for the day. 

I sat in a white polished wooden chair, staring into the distance. In my hand, I held a teacup filled with white tea. Beth had brewed it just the way I liked it, with a hit of lavender and a single peppermint leaf. The scent was barely noticeable, being overcome by the fragrance of the hydrangeas. Beside me was the white wooden table that accompanied the chair in a set. It's sole purpose currently, was to hold the saucer to my teacup.

I was lost in yet another daze—my mind occupied by drowsiness and the mild sweetness of my tea. I thought of nothing as my sapphire blue eyes followed a butterfly and it's gorgeous multi-colored wings.

It was at this moment that I received my first letter. A letter from the man I was soon to be calling my husband. It had been a week since the announcement of our betrothal, and the kingdom was set in a buzz. The letter would be shared with the public in the press, and as I knew from the past, public letters were never genuine. Though, what I expected was not the outcome. Apparently, the Kingdom of Lefort didn't follow the tradition. 

Beth had arrived with a golden envelope in her hand; it was sealed by a black stamp that bore the crest of the Kingdom of Lefort. I could tell right off the bat that it wasn't your typical Hydrangean letter. Us Hydrangeans didn't use golden envelopes; in fact, our envelopes were plain, white, and average.

"Princess, it's a letter from the Kingdom of Lefort," Beth informed. I nodded and gestured for her to read the letter with a flick of my hand.

She quickly tore the golden paper open and read,

"To my one betrothed,

The moon shone brightly as I was writing this to you. I have heard that you resemble the moon. I have seen you not, but the words of others say you have hair like the night sky, fair skin as luminous as the moon, and eyes that glitter as splendidly as the stars.

It was troublesome to pen a letter to someone I'd never met. Tell me, my dearest princess... does my letter fascinate you?

Till the day we meet,

Prince Reynaldus Maverick Lior Launselot- Of Lefort"

Oh, the letter did fascinate me, but I would never dare tell. His words and flattery were not something I'd expect a man to say. Was this man a 'Playboy,' like those my mother would tell me about? The men that lead women on with only attractive words and left them hanging? To those merciless souls, women were only dogs that chased after them barking for more. 

"Princess..?" Beth gulped, asking for permission to speak.

I raised my brow. "Yes, Beth?"

She turned the letter towards me and placed it on the table. My eyes widened when I saw the page. This time it wasn't his charming words that caught my eye; it was the color of the pen ink.

The words were written in a blood-like red. The pen seemed to be a thick quill or a heavy fountain pen. The letters were written in a glorious cursive that embodied the utmost elegance. But there was a splatter and smudge just beside the signature of his name. It was a graceful splatter like it was there because of his intent. The stain was alarming, and you could see his fingerprint in it. 

Lefort was another Kingdom with different traditions and beliefs, but writing a letter in red with such a stain was a plea for war. Was this man just insane, or was he testing Hydrangea? The idiocy that must come from him to write a sweet letter to the princess with such a stain...

What will happen when this letter goes to press? How will the public react? Will they take this as a Lefort wanting to kill Hydrangea's crown princess?

"Beth, please send this letter to Mother. Oh! Don't forget, bring me paper also, I'll be writing a reply." I request, picking up my tea and taking a sip. Beth nods and scurries away.

As Beth disappears from my vision, another figure appears.

Garnet's lilac eyes sparkle when they spot me seated in the garden. She picks up her big grey gown and tries to hurry over. I chuckle in amusement me as she almost trips on her dress when she steps on the hem. Her maid, Eve, catches her by her arm before she falls, and she breathes a sigh of relief. Garnet quickly pulls her wrist away from Eve and continues to run towards me.

"Garnet!!! Please don't run. You'll fall!" Eve calls running after her. Garnet sticks her tongue out at her and proceeds to run. Garnet will forever be a child.

"Zu Zu! I was looking for you! I heard you got your first letter from Mr.Prince charming~ Sis! Sis! How was it?!" Garnet shouts with a big smile. She jumps onto me so fast the chair I was sitting in tips over, and I fall on my back.

I wince in pain as my back hits the floor. "Garnet, please calm down. You're a danger to my life." I say with a grimace.

Garnet, who was now laying on top of me, looked into my eyes with a big sparking smile. "AZUULIIIIAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! HOW WAS ITTT??!!" She squeals.

I stare at her, unamused. "Get the hell off me, you animal."

"No," she smiles. It suddenly became a staring contest with my deep blue eyes glaring irritatedly into her sparking lilac ones. Neither of us looked away, and neither of us blinked.

"Second Princess, please control yourself! I know you're excited, but you might kill Princess Azulia! Get up now!" Eve pleaded, pulling Garnet off of me.

Garnet started to whine. "EveeEe, let me beeeEe.." Her lips formed into a pout. She crossed her shoulders and glared at Eve as she offered to help me up with a hand. I took it, smiling and nodding as thanks to her. She blushed, lowering her face.

Garnet pushes her away, grasps both of my hands in hers, and looks at me with desperate pleading eyes. "Zu Zu... " she mumbles, quivering her lips like she was about to cry.  I rolled my eyes. This little...

Garnet kisses me on the cheek and chuckles, "Got you." She pulls away with a smirk plastered on her face, then winks at me before picking up the fallen chair and plopping down in it. I swear to god...

"First Princess Azulia, I have the materials you asked for."

I turn to see Beth with pen and paper in hand, waiting for me to tell her what to write. Eve was standing next to her examing the silver fountain pen that Beth held with a face filled with wonder.

For this occasion, I wanted to write the letter myself, so I gestured for her to give me the pen and paper. I sat down in the seat opposite Garnet while Beth placed the pen and paper in front of me. I picked up the pen and stared at the paper.

What was I supposed to write? Is this what Prince Reynaldus meant when he had trouble writing to me?  Well, at least he had some information about me... I just know that he's the Crown Prince of Lefort. The only thing that fills my mind right now is the red ink. Its blood-like color still haunts me. I know I shouldn't mention it in my letter because the public will feel threatened, and me writing about it will confirm the discourteous red ink.

"Uh.. do any of you know anything about the Prince?" I asked, gazing blankly at my empty page.

Garnet leaned forward and glanced at the blank paper. She then looked up, "Oh, is that who you're writing too?"

"I heard he was named after the blinding rays of the sun in Lefort. Apparently, his name means powerful and bright." Eve says. "In Lefort, it's scorching hot. It's said that they worship a sun god or something."

"Perfect Eve." I begin writing frantically. So, rays of the sun, huh?

"Well, I heard he's hot." Garnet puts in. I pause my writing.

"Garnet, to call a man 'hot' is to lose the dignity of a princess." I put down my pen and rest my chin on my palm.

"What? But Mom says it all the time... to Dad, I mean. "

I almost vomit with the thought of Mother talking to Father seductively. Where the hell had Garnet heard that?

"Do you watch Mother and Father or something?" I ask with a nauseated face. I scrunch my nostrils.

"What? No! Azulia, you just haven't seen them together in the corridors. Oh, my god, you're always reading and such. Sometimes when I wander in the halls, Mom and Dad be real flirty!" She scowls. "It's really freaky."

"Mhmm..." I reply, ignoring her and focusing on the letter.

I'll show him how real public letters are done. They are supposed to be romantic, poetic, eye-catching,... like the Romeo and Juliet play lines. I wrote my characters with carefully structured cursive and subtle, elegant lines. I'll keep the paper nice and clean, unlike him. My letter was written with a black fountain pen-like all public letters should be. Finally, I signed my name, making sure to drag the curves of my name gracefully. My letter was perfect.

Garnet was going on about how thrilled she was this whole time about my engagement. I was too immersed in my writing that I didn't even listen to whatever she was saying.

I put my pen down and handed the paper to Beth. "Garnet, listen. What do you think?" I nodded towards Beth informing her to read it aloud.

"My Dearest Fiance,

Oh, beloved, if I were the moon, then thou shall be the sun. How marvelously oneself must shine to have been named Reynaldus. It is truly admirable. 

Like flames, thou must blaze hotter than the star in the day.  Oh, how I crave, I could melt in your arms. The moon only glows, reflecting the rays of sunshine, so I'll wait till the day our paths collide. The day the apollo and luna embrace in an eclipse.

With Love,

Princess Azulia Del Saphare Bellerose- Of Hydrangea."

Garnet was silent for a while. I watched her hoping for some acknowledgment that I should send the letter.

After what felt like an eternity, she turned to me and said, "I mean, the cheesier, the better."