"Pretty." Scarlet mumbled, her cheeks burning, his eyes were like pools of gold sunlight, it worked very well with his aqua hair, "Scarlet VonRose are you listening!" Fuschia scolded her, Scarlet's eyes widened, "Of course nanny!" Scarlet stuttered out, "What did I say then?" Fuschia narrowed her eyes at Scarlet. "To always say please and thank you?" Scarlet asked carefully, "Not to jump into lakes!" Fushcia yelled at her pulling her ear. "Ow! Nanny!" Scarlet whined, Scarlet and her nanny bickered all the way into the palace. She was cleaned up and dressed again, wearing one of her father's old outfits. 

It was around dinner time so Scarlet was escorted by her nanny to the dining hall. Something that didn't usually happen but because she had jumped into a lake today her nanny insisted. "The next time you wish to take a swim just tell me." Her nanny snapped sarcastically straightening her outfit just outside the doors to the dining hall. "I think I've more than proved I support whatever you wish to do." She huffed rubbing a spot on Scarlet's cheek with her thumb. 

Scarlet stared up at Fuschia despite the scolding she smiled, "Nanny why don't you marry my father?" She asked, her father Redmond had never married after her mother's passing. Fuschia stared at Scarlet looking appalled, "Scarlet you may be my darling little rosebud but your father is a thorn in my side." She said frankly, Scarlet laughed hearing this, "That's too bad, I hoped Nanny would be my mother." Scarlet said softly, and Fuschia's annoyed expression softened. 

"Scarlet," She said softly, "Your mother might not be here but she's still looking out for you." She spoke in an affectionate tone. Scarlet let out a soft breath and nodded, "I understand." Fuschia clicked her tongue, "Try being a bit more unreasonable, making me feel like I'm a bad guy." She complained softly, she leaned down hugging Scarlet. Scarlet hugged the older woman back, "Now go in there and act like a proper royal." Fuschia said pulling back from the hug, she gave a light pinch to Scarlet's cheek. "I don't want to hear your father's complaints of how I'm not raising you correctly." She added with a light sneer. 

"Yes, nanny." Scarlet nodded, Fuschia relaxed and smiled standing up. "Alright back straight and chin up." She directed and Scarlet followed her orders, Fushcia beamed at her, "That's my rosebud." She said softly just before she pushed the door open for Scarlet.

Scarlet walked inside confidently, she saw her father sitting at the head of the table and fixated on her usual seat beside him. She sat down beside him and let out a breath, she heard a soft gasp and looked up meeting a pair of golden eyes. 

There sitting across from her, now dry, was Teal Waters. Scarlet couldn't deny it now, she knew it now after seeing Duke Cyan Waters next to him. The duke made regular appearances in court, Scarlet was very much aware of what he looked like. Scarlet saw a look of awe appear on Teal's face, flinching Scarlet looked away trying to find anything more interesting. He was cute with his soft skin and round face, Scarlet wanted nothing more than to hug him and pet his fluffy hair.

"I hear that you two already met." Redmond spoke, "He fell into a lake." Scarlet replied that just as dinner was served, she turned her attention to her food. Cutting into the meat she ignored the stare that Teal was giving her. "Since when can you swim?" Redmond questioned, "Since this morning." Scarlet replied, in truth, she could swim because of her past life experience. She could do a lot of things now, "I just felt like I could so I decided to try." She responded simply. There was no need to add any more detail, confidence was after all the key to success in many things. 

The dinner fell silent, Scarlet placed some food in her mouth carefully before looking at her father curiously. He had that look again, a familiar look of embarrassment. Even before remembering her other life, Scarlet had a tendency to speak a bit too directly. She was vaguely reminded of previous instances when this happened. "Scarlet." Redmond placed his hands into his face, "You mean to tell me you hadn't learned?" he asked, his voice muffled. Scarlet swallowed her food, "Experience is the best teacher." She replied, a muffled shout came from behind the king's hands.

"Father it isn't polite to scream at the dinner table. We have guests." Scarlet scolded, she looked to Teal and Cyan, "I apologize." She gave them a slight bow. Duke Waters looked startled and sheepishly replied, "it's quite alright." He dabbed his mouth with a napkin, Teal on the other hand gave her a shy smile in response. "It's okay." He spoke in a soft tone, Scarlet took a chance to get a better look at him, how old was this guy supposed to be again? Scarlet was drawing a blank, he was so tiny.

He had a soft round face, his skin looked like bread dough, and Scarlet felt her hand twitch. She wanted to pinch his cheeks, forcing a stoic look on her face as much as she could. Scarlet was overwhelmed by how cute this little guy was. Teal seemed to become more flustered under her gaze and looked away with a reddened face, there was a smile on his lips though. He seemed happy that she was looking at him, very happy...? Scarlet thought of her dream, wasn't this guy supposed to hate her?

"It looks like my son has quite a bit of affection for you princess." The duke remarked looking pleased, "I'm a very likable person." Scarlet replied meaning it as a joke but seeing the bewildered face of the Duke, she could tell she didn't communicate that very well. Rather than correcting herself, she looked to her father who seemed to be going through the final stage of his grieving process. "Other than dinner was there any other reason to call me here?" She asked, "Scarlet." The king sighed, resting his face in his hands. He rubbed his face and Scarlet spotted a familiar wrinkle between the king's eyebrows growing slightly deeper. 

"It was to formally introduce you two." Redmund rested back in his seat looking exhausted, "Why?" Scarlet questioned, "Scarlet, my princess, that young man is your fiance." Redmund said in the kindest voice he could muster. Scarlet paused and tilted her head, "I'm eight, why am I engaged?" She asked frankly, "it's a very common practice princess, I was engaged to my wife at your age." The duke spoke up kindly. 

Scarlet took a moment to process everything, right... 

Teal had to be engaged to be on the throne. How could she forget about that? Her eyes landed back on the surprised-looking Teal, it seemed as if he didn't know that they were engaged either. Their eyes met and his cheeks darkened slightly before he looked away. He seemed happy about it, Scarlet felt her heartstrings being tugged. He was such a cute kid, Scarlet quickly corrected her affectionate gaze and looked elsewhere. 

"Why??" Scarlet asked, Redmond, looked to this daughter, "Duke Waters helped me become king." Redmond explained, "Oh right you usurped your brother." Scarlet replied remembering that, "It was a little more than just usurping!" Redmond exclaimed clearly embarrassed, "yes, yes, I'm well aware of how uncle was. I've been studying history, I've read about the war of thorns." Scarlet replied before taking a sip of her drink. Redmond did the same, Scarlet swallowed hers first and then spoke.

"After all you didn't want mother to marry uncle," Scarlet added, the king choked on his drink. "Your highness!" Duke Waters was startled, Redmond coughed a few more times before clearing his throat. "Scarlet VonRose what has that Fuschia been teaching you?!" He bellowed, "Well she's been teaching me not to jump into lakes. Though that's a bit of a recent lesson." Scarlet replied, her father glared at her and he took a deep breath. "Clearly," he mumbled before sighing.

"Duke Waters saved my life in battle, we promised each other that our children would be wed. Though for a while we were worried that might not happen. Teal has been an only child and without an heir to the dukedom union between our families would be difficult." Redmond explained finally recovered from his daughter's teasing. 

"But with the birth of my second child that's now possible," Cyan spoke up looking a bit more relaxed. "What luck that you two are so close in age." He looked pleased with himself. Scarlet looked back over at Teal who had an amused expression on his face for a moment. Their eyes met and he gave her a shy smile, Scarlet's eyes widened slightly. It wasn't fair that he had such a sweet-looking face. It reminded Scarlet of everything cute like a puppy or a kitten. She forced herself to look away despite not wanting to. Too much attention on him would bring them closer than needed and she'd be walking directly down the path that led to her death.

"Nothing can be done I suppose." She replied stiffly, "May I be excused?" She asked deciding she needed to leave to collect her thoughts. She had only just recently remembered everything, all this information was still fresh for her. She had to plan and think clearly, being around Teal... Scarlet glanced at him before turning away. Was just a distraction. 

She tightened the grips of her fists for a moment before releasing them. Why did this guy have to be the one who ended up killing her? Scarlet wanted so much just to hug him and give him anything he asked for. Which, was dangerous, if her dream was anything to go off of, the other Scarlet did that. She gave everything to Teal and he still chose Ruby. 

The warm feelings that were growing cooled, Scarlet felt a sense of icy stillness inside of her. She was sure her expression reflected that. "Alright." Redmund excused Scarlet looking confused, Scarlet stood up leaving, she felt the stares of Teal and the duke linger as she left. She walked the halls of the palace by herself as evening set in. 

These feelings she had growing so easily, Teal looked so sweet and gentle. Scarlet couldn't lie that she loved to see that in any person, she liked taking care of people. Seeing someone that looked like they liked being cared for or might like it. She was drawn to that, but, Scarlet looked out the window she stood next to. She had to collect herself and her thoughts.

Teal wouldn't choose her, out there was a young girl who was far more gentle than Scarlet. Ruby's kind personality suited the throne much better than Scarlet ever did. She was far too blunt, too direct, she couldn't soothe people's feelings with a few kind words. Her tongue was sharp and not laced with honey. 

If she were to become queen, it was obvious she would not be a popular one. Even without the memories of her previous life bouncing around in her head, Scarlet was well aware of the double standards that society had laid out for those who were thought of as women or girls. Scarlet never fit into those standards, even before her memories of her past life appeared. 

She was too blunt, too straightforward, and too much for anyone. She didn't know how to lace her words with honey as Ruby did. Besides, Scarlet clutched her fist close to her chest, even without Ruby in the picture. Even when Ruby picked someone else in the game, Opal Whyte, daughter of Count Whyte and Ruby's best friend.

She was the character that often ended up with Teal on other routes. Kind and gentle, much more soft-spoken than Ruby but loyal. When Opal found out about Ruby's true lineage, even though she was in love with Teal she encouraged her to take the throne. The conversation was the same in all the different routes where Ruby did not end up with Teal, Ruby would encourage Opal to rule with Teal and the two of them would make a promise to have one of their children marry each other. 

Someone like Scarlet couldn't stand a chance against a pair of friends like that. She didn't always understand all the layers of communication that came with high society. She could memorize etiquette all day, but at the end of the day. She was not clever or tactful enough to defeat girls like them. 

Even still, Scarlet's mind flashed with the delighted look that Teal had when he heard they were engaged. He seemed happy to see her and... He looked so cute in his little suit. Scarlet felt like her face was a little hot, she shook her head and continued walking. It was best to not think about that, after all.

She had work to do.

Which had been Scarlet's plan, but opening her door the next morning Scarlet was met with a face full of roses and lilies. "Good... Good morning Princess!"