KA 

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As the crisp air rustled through the leaves, a crow landed on a branch of the tree that loomed over the princess’s window. 

A deep voice came to the crow telepathically, “Have you located her?” 

The crow looked into the window at the princess who was sitting serenely in a chair with what looked to be a journal. 

“Yes sire.” She replied to the voice.

“Tell me what she is like; is she elegant?” 

The crow tilted her head to the side as she watched the princess tuck a strain of her black hair behind her ear, revealing a dangling opal earring. 

“Yes…sire..”

“Very good…Is she beautiful?” 

The crow watched the princess more intently as she furrowed her brow in a manner that even a demon would find adorable.

“Well?” Rang the voice. 

“Ah..yes…yes she is sire..” 

The voice chuckled.

“Very well. I need you to do something.”

“Anything you need sire.”

“I need you to follow her around for the day.”

The crow jumped up on the branch above it. 

“As you wish, your Highness.” 

“Thank you, Countess.” Replied Yama.

King of the underworld.

Ottilie finished what she was writing in her journal, sighed quietly, and slid it back under her mattress. 

A knock came at the door. 

“Princess! It is time to get ready! It is your big day!” 

“Just a second!” Ottilie called back. 

She went to the door to greet her handmaidens who had come to help her get ready for her birthday. 

Her 20^th birthday.

After her hair was braided with jewels and ribbons, her cheeks dusted lightly with blush, and perfume sprayed across her pale collarbone, she stepped into a violet dress that fit snuggly around her small waste.  

She exhaled, “Let’s get this over with.”. 

As she sat in her carriage patiently awaiting her departure, her head maid approached.

“Miss Ottilie…you look so beautiful.” 

Ottilie smiled politely as she glanced at Clara’s tired eyes. 

She didn’t sleep again. Thought Ottilie. 

Even though she was worried, Ottilie didn’t let it show on her face.

As she had done her entire life…she just continued to smile. 

Clara had been with Ottilie ever since she was born. 

She probably even would have taken on the role of wet nurse had she ever produced breast milk. Unfortunately, the ability to do that usually only lied with women who had given birth.

Clara never had. 

Once a Baroness, Clara had lived a simple but comfortable life. 

However, her inability to have children caused problems with her and the Baron. 

Then after the Baron died from a sudden heart attack, Clara had no intention to ever remarry, nor suffer the heartbreak of trying to conceive a child again. 

In less than a year, her nephew had her kicked out of her estate, which forced her to take a job in the palace.

Though Ottilie would probably never know that all the years Clara spent caring for her were the happiest years of her life.   

Clara smiled gently, saying, “I wish your mother was still alive to see you and the wonderful woman you have become.” 

“Me too…,” was all Ottilie could think to reply.

Truth be told, she didn’t want to think about her mother. 

Especially on her birthday.

The streets were bustling with people out and about at the markets where the local vendors sold various foods and crafts for modest wages. 

Children ran barefoot laughing as the street musicians played beautiful music on their weathered instruments.

Ottilie had been very much criticized for venturing to these parts of the kingdom.

However, here is where she truly felt like she could be herself. 

It was the place where she had spent every birthday for as long as she could remember.

It didn’t take long for Ottilie to arrive at the usual tea house where her friends were waiting. 

Put on a smile and pretend to be happy so that you don’t worry them, she said to herself. 

“Happy birthday, Ottie!” chimed two smiling faces from across the small round table. 

A nickname she had grown accustomed to since childhood.

Elizabeth Baine, the daughter of Viscount Baine, sat quietly with a smile as she extended her gift to Ottilie over the cakes and other pastries that were laid out neatly on the white tablecloth. Her light brown hair was in a single braid that laid softly on her collarbone. It paired well with her meek and calm personality.

The not so quiet Rosalie Blythe, daughter of Marquess Blythe, also raised her gift with glee. Her golden hair and blue eyes were as bright as she was.  

Ottilie accepted both gifts politely as the three of them began having tea and pastries. 

It wasn’t long into the conversation that Rosalie happily exclaimed, “Ottie!! Elizabeth is engaged!”

Elizabeth’s face went pale as Ottilie’s eyes narrowed. 

“Is that so?” Ottilie said quietly as she sat her teacup down. 

The slight irritation in her voice was impossible to miss. 

She clasped her hands together as she said with a dry and sarcastic tone, “And whom might Miss Elizabeth be engaged to…? I assume a mysterious noble man from a faraway land who doesn’t gamble away his dead mother’s belongings and his entire inheritance before she is even cold in the ground?” 

“Ottie…” Elizabeth said in a sad whisper.

“Or is it a kind local gentleman that would never dream of sleeping with a married woman while simultaneously trying to get her maid to run away with him?”

Elizabeth looked at if she was going to cry. 

“Actually, it is neither of those!” Piped up Rosalie with an oblivious grin on her face. 

“It is Duke Dickinson!” She said excitedly. 

Rosalie had never been applauded for her ability to read the room.

“Oh?” Said Ottilie.

She already knew who it was.

The jerk had been scoping out Elizabeth for a while now, she was a quiet woman whose family was not in any financial position to turn the duke down. 

She was the exact type of woman that was perfect for taking captive as a “good and obedient” wife.

Essentially, Elizabeth was signing up to be a mere servant and child bearer for the vile duke.

Rosalie, still oblivious to the very obvious tension, continued to go on a spiel about where the wedding was going to be held, the decor, and everything else that Ottilie just didn’t care about.

“And her dress is going to be trimmed with lace. Oh! You should see her jewelry Ottie! It. Is. To. Die. For! And- 

“Mph mph mph!”

Elizabeth had covered Rosalie’s mouth.

“Rosalie, it isn’t polite for us to speak about this on Ottilie’s birthday…” 

However, the damage had already been done.

“If you wanted to become a maid, I could have just given you a position at the palace Elizabeth.” Said Ottilie, snarking.

“Enough!” 

Elizabeth’s voice was shaking.

Ottilie sat back in her chair.

“I know you care about me Ottie, but what you are saying is just too far.”

“I only speak the truth,” said Ottilie, not backing down.

“Even so…” Elizabeth had lowered her voice once more because the other customers had started to stare.

“Even so, you know that I do not have the luxury of marrying for love. You out of all people, SHOULD know that.”

Ottilie had no rebuttal. Elizabeth’s father was deeply in dept, and to top it off, his health had taken a drastic decline. 

She was on the verge of not even having a title anymore.

Of course she would jump at the first offer of marriage that came her way. Especially from a duke.

No matter how sleazy and undignified said duke might be. 

“Elizabeth I just-“

Elizabeth cut her off, “At this rate I will end up just like Clara.”

Ottilie felt her heart drop.

She didn’t want to see Elizabeth go through what Clara did. 

“Eh?” came the third voice at the table that had for once stayed silent for a whole two minutes. “But Clara is so nice, though,” continued Rosalie as if she hadn’t even been there the entire time for the intense conversation. 

“Though I feel like she needs a better skincare routine.” 

Sometimes I don’t know if your gift of being oblivious and ditsy is a blessing or a curse, thought Ottilie.

Either way, Rosalie had successfully calmed down the mood.

She had always been good at that.  

Ottilie had decided to drop the subject and asked Rosalie to tell her how the play she had attended the night before was. 

Elizabeth had picked up her tea, and appeared to be listening to Rosalie going on and on about the actors, costumes, and attendees.

However, Ottilie could see the sadness in her eyes.

She felt yet another pang in her chest and regretted how she spoke to Elizabeth.

After the girls were done eating, they went browsing through the local market, laughing, and Ottilie even bought a painting from one of the poor venders. 

Around the time that the sun was setting, Ottilie’s carriage pulled up.

“Aww...” Pouted Rosalie. “You can’t stay with us a little longer?”

Ottilie smiled sympathetically. 

She has always been clingy like a child. She thought.

She gave Rosalie a hug.

“I have to go meet with my father…he said he had a surprise for me.”

Ottilie looked at Elizabeth over Rosalie’s shoulder. 

Elizabeth looked pale once more.

Ottilie could guess why.

Ottilie’s father, Otto, wasn’t exactly known for being particularly giving. 

He was better known for his selfishness and ruthless punishments. 

One time a young boy that had worked in the palace stables had tried to steal an apple from the apple tree in the royal garden. 

Otto had the boy hung from that very apple tree.

Though he was a dreadful man, he had never harmed Ottilie.

In fact, he rarely acted as if she even existed. 

He did, however, send jewels and dresses on her birthday every year…but that was more to uphold his reputation in high society.

The harsh reality was that if you dressed and presented yourself as a ruler...people wouldn’t challenge your methods.

They would simply look the other way.

For you were their ruler. 

As soon as Ottilie pried the still pouting Rosalie off of her, she stepped towards Elizabeth and lightly grabbed her hands. 

“Elizabeth…I’m- ..” 

Elizabeth cut her off. 

“Ottie, don’t say sorry,” she said gently.

“I am so very fortunate to have a friend that loves me as much as you do.”

Ottilie felt a lump in her throat but all that would leave her lips was, “I do…and I just want you to be happy…” 

Elizabeth smiled softly once more with a sympathetic look in her eyes. 

“Happy birthday Ottie.”