Silence had settled over the room for just a moment, Scarlet felt much calmer than she had felt in hours. “Scarlet…?” Redmond asked slowly, Scarlet looked at her father realizing he was still in the room. “Father.” She spoke calmly, Scarlet had always called him father so the king relaxed visibly.
“Yes, sweetheart?” He asked looking relieved, “I don’t wish to be a lady.” Scarlet spoke frankly, look of relief slowly faded and Redmond looked more confused than anything. “Darling, what are you saying? Are you saying wish to live as a boy?” Redmond questioned carefully.
Scarlet was surprised for just a moment he'd ask that. Then again, it wasn't too surprising after all. A prince from a kingdom just south of Pallete had been born a girl. He had been around Scarlet's age when he asked his parents to live as a man. But that wasn't the case for Scarlet, she was quite comfortable with her identity as a woman.
Scarlet sighed, “I mean I want to become a soldier father.” Scarlet was more specific. There was no need to breed any unnesscary misunderstandings. “A soldier?” The king questioned looking just as confused, “A warrior, a knight.” Scarlet listed off trying to be even more specific. “I wish to protect this country with my own two hands.” She spoke with deep conviction.
Redmond slowly approached his daughter sitting on the edge of her bed, “What brought this on?” He asked, Scarlet stared at her father, a look of knowing on her face. He couldn’t hide what he did from her any longer. While her father had been kind and gentle to her, he had lied, he had filled her head with dreams of being queen… But with Ruby and Teal here, it was nothing more than a pipe dream. Inaccessible and impossible.
Scarlet stared at her hands folded in her lap, “It’s what I wish for, won’t father give me this? At the very least?” Scarlet avoided his question by asking him a question. She looked up at her father from her lap, Redmond’s eyes widened, she could tell that he knew that she knew. Though she had not given enough information that she could be easily asked. A softness formed in his eyes and a bitter smile found its way to his lips.
“I…” Scarlet thought for a moment that her father was going to argue with her about this. Redmond turned his head and lowered it as he sat on the edge of her bed, “Whatever you wish for Scarlet. Your father will do his best to provide it.” He acquiesced, “Thank you, Father.” Scarlet replied, he took a deep breath lifted his head, he looked over at Scarlet. He patted her softly on the head, “Rest now.” He demanded softly before getting up and leaving the room. He walked with a clear sense of purpose.
Even Scarlet could tell that her father was off to find out who told her what he did. When her father met her eyes, she could see the guilt. Her father clearly did not feel proud of what he had done. Scarlet looked away from the door as soon as it closed. She heard the faint sounds of her father making orders and demands.
Leaning back against the pillows of her bed, Scarlet decided for now she was going to rest. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep. In her sleep visions of blue hair danced in her mind’s eye. It was aqua in color and it looked so soft that Scarlet wanted so very badly to touch it.
But she didn’t, Scarlet looked around in her dream state realizing that she was dreaming about the game. Once again she was older than she was. She felt like she was maybe eighteen in this dream. She rounded the corner of one of the palace’s many hallways to see Ruby and Teal laughing together. Everything inside of her burned with the need to go over there. For a moment she had taken a step towards them, but Scarlet willed herself away.
She found a nice place outside of the palace under a tree, it was sunny in her dream and Scarlet felt at peace. She closed her eyes to rest in her dream but the light was blocked and she looked up. It was Teal standing there but he looked different. He kept flashing between the Teal that she knew from the game and a different one.
The length of his hair grew as he flashed back and forth before settling on this new Teal. “Princess.” He said in a soft tone, “You’ve moved away from the script.” He smiled looking all too pleased. Scarlet looked down seeing the gown she was wearing change to a uniform. “Is that a problem?” She asked looking up at him, Teal smiled turning and sitting in her lap. Scarlet was about to ask him what he was doing but the blue-haired man turned and captured her lips against his.
Scarlet’s eyes widened and she pulled away. Teal smiled at her, “Not at all.” He purred looking delighted.
Scarlet woke up after that, sitting up straight she took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair. She looked out her window and noticed it was morning. Letting out a long breath she then decided to get to work. Memories of her dream faded, Scarlet didn’t mind though, after all, it was just a dream.
It couldn’t possibly mean anything right?
Scarlet called for her maids, at first they had attempted to dress her in her usual dresses. But Scarlet directed them that they should be removed. “Sell them, break them down and reuse the parts, whatever you have to do. I have no use for them any longer.” Scarlet spoke frankly, her maids were confused but listened. After bathing Scarlet noticed that her hair got in the way of her vision. Rather than waiting for a maid’s assistance. She grabbed a pair of scissors from her vanity and started to cut.
“Your highness!” Her maids cried out, Scarlet’s rust brown hair fell to the ground as she cut. Following a pattern from her previous life, Scarlet was very quickly satisfied with the results. A short cut pixie, Scarlet felt like she could breath. “That’s better.” She said relieved, her maid’s sobbed crying about her cutting her precious hair. “Your highness a woman’s hair is her crown.” Her nanny, Fuchsia , tried to lecture, Scarlet stared at her, “A princess’s crown is the crown she wears on her head.” She replied stunning the older woman into silence.
“I’m going to become a knight, I don’t want my hair to get in my way.” Scarlet declared, the three maids and her nanny suddenly understood why Scarlet had done the things she did. “You’re going to become a knight?” Her maid Heather asked looking confused. “Why?” Scarlet turned to face the young woman, she wished she could just directly tell them. But it was hard to believe, so she decided to respond, “I want to protect my country with my own hands. Why should I leave it to some strange man I don’t know?”
The women looked at one another, her nanny, Fuchsia , relaxed and even laughed. “I suppose that’s very much like you Scarlet.” She chuckled, Scarlet smiled, “Father will be sure to provide me tutors. He already gave me his support.” She spoke feeling pleased, her nanny smiled pulling out her fan. “I’m sure your father will provide you with only the best.” She said fanning herself. “Which is why I’m going to encourage him to still provide you with classes appropriate for a lady.” Fuchsia added narrowing her eyes.
Scarlet paused and stiffened up, “Nanny…” She groaned, “Don’t think I can’t see your little scheme princess. You may very well feel that way about protecting this country but you are not getting out of etiquette and dance!” Fuchsia scolded waving her closed fan at Scarlet. The princess slumped feeling annoyed, but thankfully she got a way with a light scolding.
Using some of her father’s old clothes from when he was younger, Scarlet felt more at ease than she ever felt in a dress. It wasn’t that she found dresses to be beneath her or that she stuck her nose up at femininity. But it was because in Scarlet’s heart regardless of what life she lived, she was a simple person. Simple well tailored uniforms suited her far better than a ballgown.
“This…” Fuchsia looked at her surprised as Scarlet adjusted the uniform, “This suits you.” She held her closed fan to her red lips. Scarlet looked over at her nanny and smiled, “I don’t look too stange do I?” Her nanny sighed softly, “Well it could use a bit more femininity to it. But until the tailors and seamstresses can create something suitable. It’ll do for now.” Fuchsia gave Scarlet a smile as she approached. “My sweet little Rosebud.” She placed a gentle hand on Scarlet’s head. “I’m sure you’re going to bloom beautifully.” She spoke in an affectionate tone.
Scarlet beamed at her nanny enjoying the warmth and affection she gave her. Scarlet was shortly escorted to her first class, it seemed that through the night that she slept her father had been quick to put together an intenory for her to follow. Early in the morning was horse back riding. Scarlet had been dressed in her father’s old riding uniform so she was ready to go.
She was brought to the stables where she met with her riding instructor Pewter. He was a tall man with rough features. A longer beard and large hands that clearly had been used for all kinds of work in his younger years.
“I greet the kingdom’s princess.” Pewter bowed as soon as he saw her, Scarlet nodded with a slight smile. “Please take care of me Mr. Pewter.” Scarlet replied, “Of course.” The older man nodded. Scarlet was placed on a young gentle mare for her first ride, Pewter decided to lead her out along a riding trail to get her used to riding.
Scarlet found herself feeling surprisingly comfortable on top of a horse. Her hands instinctively grabbed the reigns and held them in a natural pose. “You seem to be a natural at this princess.” Pewter complimented, Scarlet thought to herself if she had done this in her last life. While the idea of having a previous life was still rather new to her.
Scarlet closed her eyes for a brief moment remembering riding on a different path. There were other women there, hair cut short just like hers. They were all laughing and speaking amongst each other. She gripped her reigns tightly, her heart ached, faded faces and names she couldn’t seem to remember. She couldn’t even remember her previous name, maybe though time she could.
A scream cut through Scarlet’s thoughts, “Young master!” A maid screamed in horror, Scarlet turend hearing a splash, she saw for a brief moment what looked like a young boy falling into the nearby lake. Scarlet without thinking turned the reigns and lightly kicked her heels into the mare’s sides. “Princess!” Pewter shouted as she took off, the light grip he had on the rope caused it to slip through his fingers. The mare followed her directions easily headed straight for the lake. Scarlet stopped the horse just before the lake and then got off. “You’re highness?!” The startled maid looked over at Scarlet.
Scarlet tore off her jacket and boots before diving into the lake. For anyone else or any other day before yesterday Scarlet would’ve had issues with diving into the cold lake. The water would’ve taken her breath away. But a second nature came over her and she dove down deep, a limp body was slowly floating towards the bottom. Scarlet grabbed it before it was swallowed by the darkness of the lake, swimming back up she gasped for air when she surfaced. Knights were surrounding the lake.
“Your highness!” One of the knights shouted startled he went to jump in but Scarlet swam over to the edge and walked out of the lake easily. Breathing heavily she laid out the body of the young boy, vaguely registering that his hair was blue, she leaned down near his mouth listening for any breathing… There was none.
She started pressing her hands against his diaphragm at that moment. 1… 2… 3… 1… 2… 3. Scarlet checked for breathing. Still nothing, she repeated again, again still nothing. Scarlet then tilted his chin placing her lips on his she forced air into his mouth after taking a deep breath. She ended up doing this about three times until a gasp for air came from the young boy and he sat up coughing.
Scarlet panted sitting on her knees looking pleased, catching her breath she looked around seeing the surprised expressions on everyone’s face. Her nanny Fuschia ran across the field at that moment, “Your highness!” She shouted startled, she had a blanket in hand and wrapped it around Scarlet. “Are you alright?” She asked, “I’m fine,” Scarlet panted softly as she spoke, “He fell into the lake, I jumped in after him.” Scarlet explained.
She turned to check on the young boy and the she realized, yellow eyes and aqua hair. He stared at her looking startled, Scarlet’s eyes widened. Did she just save the man who was going to take her throne’s life?
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