They brought us to a palace that was made entirely of marble, with emerald green flags surrounding it. They pulled us roughly from the cairages, and the messenger pointed towards the great stone doors. “You have to find Prince Marcus Roberts Evan Sebat-” “okay, we get it.” Guinevere snapped. “For the love of all the stars, just hurry it up!”
The messenger scowled. “This castle is a maze, one of your first trials to rank you for his majesty's hand. The order of which you find him is the order you will be ranked.” Agatha, the tall, willowy girl, started towards the castle. The messenger grabbed her and pulled her back. “The castle is mechanical, so it is constantly shifting. Nothing will ever be in the same place it was before, except for the library. You have until sunset to find him. And one of you will be eliminated.” he glared at Agatha. “Just not today. Now get to it!” he released Agatha’s arm, and the other girls started sprinting towards the door. I hung back, watching the messenger carefully.
He was older, I noticed. His brown hair had streaks of white and his brown face had started to wrinkle. Around his neck was a silver, narrow key. I turned and peered at the giant front door, which the other girls were struggling to open.
I snapped out my hand. “Key.” I demanded. His face melted to shock, then he reached up and yanked it from his neck. But instead of going up to the front doors with the other girls, I walked calmly around the back of the castle.
There, I found a small wooden door, big enough for a small child. The key fit in perfectly, like a glove over my hand. The door swung open and I knelt down to squeeze myself in. Inside was a wide open library balcony, the floor stooped out underneath me by at least three feet, so i had to lean down to touch it.
“Do you need help?” asked a deep, melodic voice. I started so hard, I almost fell. I looked around the space, but I couldn’t see anyone. “I think l can manage.” I grunted, pushing on the wall. The stranger laughed and emerged from behind a bookshelf. It was a boy, a little older than me. He was tall, and handsome. He wore regal clothes, and a thin gold crown was perched on top of his curly brown hair.
I shoved myself through the hole and tumbled onto the floor, my scratchy blue skirt flying up, the poofy white underskirt ballooning out like a swollen wound. The boy laughed and rushed over, pulling me up. “What’s your name, stranger?” he chuckled as I smoothed my skirt. I looked up at him. “Well where’s the fun in that?” I huffed. “And anyways, you’re lucky I found you and not Gwen. she would be all over you.”
He tilted his head. “A girl with mystery. I like that.” he said as I pulled myself up. He extended a hand. “My name’s Marcus.” I clasped his hand. “They call me Liliad.” I flushed. “Which… is actually my name. So i guess they should call me that.” Marcus laughed. “You’re funny. I like you.”
I looked away. “Don’t get used to it.” I whispered.
Marcus led me through the bookshelves and down the stairs. In the center of the library was a marble floor, big enough to fit an army. I looked around in wonder. Three crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, dripping with jewels.
Marcus stood in the corner, where a record player rested on a stack of books. “I’m supposed to teach you to dance,” he said. “You are from the Procession, aren’t you?” I nodded, dumbfounded. “Yeah. they… they did show you your list, right? I mean, you know who you’re matched with?”
Marcus shifted his eyes to the ground as he fiddled with the record. “Yeah…. Twenty girls. Fifteen from the city and -” “the six of us. There’s six, not five. The Procession.” I finished. “But do you even know who they are?”
Marcus shook his head. “They wouldn’t tell me. I just know where they’re from, no names, no addresses, nothing.” I scrunched up my nose. “That doesn’t bother you? I mean, everyone else can see their lists.” He shrugged as he walked over to me. “Then why didn’t you know that we were matched together until today?”
“The boys get theirs before the girls do.” I said nonchalantly. It wasn’t a big deal, at least not to me. Just that sometimes, boys try to flirt with people they aren’t even matched with. And for an unmatched marriage to even happen could get you locked up - for good.
Marcus shook himself a little. “I’m supposed to teach you how to dance,” he repeated. I hesitated as he held out his hand. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” he chuckled. I couldn’t help but smile.
I placed my hand in his; it was warm and smooth, like a stone that had been under the sun all day. Marcus dipped into a deep bow, making my face flush. “Lady Liliad, may I have this dance?” he said, his voice suddenly crisp and regal. I giggled. “Why of course you may- thought I must admit, I never learned.” I said, imitating his noble tone as the music slowly picked up. It was haunting yet beautiful, a harmonic mix of a deep cello and a high, shrill flute.
“Well, that’s what I’m here for, my lady.” Marcus insisted, sliding closer to me. His gloved fingers intertwined with mine, his other hand slipping down my back to settle on my waist. “Put your hand on my shoulder, and follow my lead.” he whispered.
“Now, look,” he murmured softly. “You take two steps back, one to the right, two forward, one to the left.” I looked down and watched as he showed me the steps. I tried to follow along, and we worked our way through the room.
“See, you’re a natural.” Marcus laughed as he spun me under his arm. I nodded, as though the slightest sound might break the spell. So instead we danced, for hours and hours, music and laughter ringing through the library. And not even once did I think to wonder where the other girls had gone, or why they hadn’t arrived, until I could see the stars shining through
***
“This is a complete disgrace.” the messenger barked, wagging the key in front of us. “I can’t believe only one of you found the prince! The rest of you took an hour just trying to open up the door. I ought to send you all home in shame!”
The other girls looked at the floor. They had come back to the carriages dirty and disheveled, as though they had spent the day marching through a swamp. Guinevere told me that the castle was trying to kill them. Stairs dropped out from their feet, doors led to the open sky, and when they finally found a room labeled library, it turned out to be a room full of brightly colored birds that attacked with a passion.
The messenger sighed, like a father whose children had almost set the house on fire. “I don’t get paid enough for this,” he muttered, then shoved the key in my direction. “Here, you take this. The other girls will be here soon. And all of you will be living in this monstrosity.” he gestured to the palace.
I gawked up at it. “You want us to-” “hold up.” Kayla snapped, putting up a hand. “What other girls?” he rolled his eyes. “The fifteen girls from the city who are here to court the prince.” and just like that, he hopped up onto his horse and left, as though we didn’t have a million questions storming through our heads.
“At least you guys can still meet the prince now.” I said, “He’s probably still trapped in the library.” Kayla huffed and crossed her arms.“Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine.” I shrugged. Undine looked down at her dirty dress and whimpered. “Maybe we could take a bath first?” Edda smoothed her long black hair, which had fallen out of its high bun. “Trust me, I’ve got it worse.” she sniffed haughtily. “There’s mud in my hair!” the rest of us just rolled our eyes.
“Come on, follow me.” I said, holding up the key. “Marcus told me how to navigate the castle.” Guinevere, Kayla and Undine immediately hitched up their skirts and started after me. Agatha hesitated, stroking her short black hair, then rushed along as well. Edda stomped her foot. “Why are you following her?” she yelled. “I can lead you anywhere you need to go-” “have fun sleeping outside, then!” Kayla yelled, making Edda flush.
But even though i was leading them, my mind was still in the library, where I stood by the window and looked up at the stars. “They’re beautiful.” I whispered. And from behind, echoing melodically through the chamber came a reply;
“Beautiful.”
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