I stabbed at the earth with a hand trowel and threw the soil into a pile as I dug a hole into the earth, careful to not let any dirt land on the white iron cast fountain. Everything felt as if it was getting done at the last minute and it was. I could hear the rushed footsteps of cameramen and staff trying to get everything perfect for tonight, for the cameras, and most importantly for Margo. I turned my head to see she was still sitting at her gray metal table with a white teacup in her hand. Her silver angular monolid eyes watched me closely. Those eyes popped out compared to her cool olive skin tone and brown hair tied into a tight ponytail. Our eyes made contact. She looked away once she realized I was looking at her. I shook my head and ignored the rush I felt in my heart, as I reached over for the pink rosa peace bush and started to plant it into the ground, being careful to make sure that I did not hurt the plant. I was gentle with the plant as I teased out the matted roots and loosened the soil around it. I placed it into the hole and began to cover it back up with dirt. I stood up and dusted off my silver pants which were now stained with a light brown. I looked over toward the camera crew who were busy setting up their cameras and fancy lights. They whispered loudly and complained about how it was difficult to work with the natural light, but they needed this shot. 

“This shot has to be perfect,” one of them grumbled in a mocking tone. While the others laughed at them. They just as quickly went quiet and back to work. They made slight glances over at Margo, trying to get a look at her and take in her beauty. I couldn’t blame them. I could spend ages looking at her too.

 I looked up at the two-tiered fountain, which now had a cupid with a bow and heart arrow at its top. The tip of the arrow had water spilling from it and it splashed into the pool of water below it. 

“It’s so weird. Isn’t it?” I turned my head to see Margo who had abandoned her tea and looked up at the cupid, “I guess they changed it for the show. It’s kind of corny.” Her head tilted as she took a deep long breath. I nodded in response and clasped my hands together.

“It is to set the mood, like with the flowers.” I responded as I looked at the freshly planted flowers, “It kinda gives the love vibes, I guess.” I looked over at Margo who now looked at the rose as she bent down to smell them. She grasped one gently in her hand. 

She wore her favorite green empire dress that went down to her shins and worn-out black flats that were starting to peel. I offered to get her new ones, but she always would decline and claim that those were just fine the way they were. She would say she didn’t need new shoes, and give them to someone else. 

“Are you nervous?” I asked. She swallowed and her hand tightened around the rose. It was as if she was thinking of something to say, and once she got an answer she released her hand and looked at me. The flower looked sad now and pushed in on itself. 

“You’ll be by my side the whole time right?” She stood up and turned over towards me, her voice was soft as she spoke. Margo had an unusual smile on her face, one that couldn’t compare with her typical happy smile. This one was forced and her eyes weren’t lit up. I nodded and grabbed her hand. Her hand was warm and soft, and reminded me of a cup of hot chocolate. I brought it close to me and squeezed it tightly. Her unusual smile faded and turned into one that I was more familiar with, and her eyes started to have more light to them.

“Of course. I will always be by your side. I promise.”

Her hand tightened at my response and she closed her eyes.

I first met Margo when I was five, we would see each other in passing but never were introduced until that moment. Margo was six and treated me like I was way younger than her despite us just being three months apart in age, I think she liked to pretend that I was a baby. She sat me down in the library and opened a picture book and pointed out what each thing was. “That’s a bee. They say buzz,” she exclaimed. I could only watch her as she laughed and turned the page and read the words. “Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!” She then would laugh again as if it was the funniest thing in the world. I didn’t understand what was so funny. Looking back at it, this was probably the first time Margo met someone who was around her age.

“There you are, Princess,” the head maid said as she rushed into the library. The head maid breathed heavily and bent down with hands on her knees. I could only guess that Margo ran off and found me in the middle of my studies. I was too scared to say no to Margo who only wanted to play with me. Margo looked over at her and screamed with glee. Margo jumped up into the air and looked down at me. A giant smile plastered on her face and she couldn’t stand still. She shifted side to side like the hyperactive child she was.

“We have to run,” she yelled as she grabbed my hand forcing me to stand, and started to run, dragging me behind her. But we were no match for an angry forty-something-year-old. The headmaid grabbed us quickly before we could even step a foot out of the door. Our plans were foiled by our size and Margo announcing our plans to get away. The head maid’s face was red and a strong frown was plastered on her face. Her stern eyes darted over at me. I knew better. But, her face softened as she looked over at Margo. Her stern eyes filled with love and admiration.

“Margo, this is Suki. She is going to be your personal maid, one day.” 

When I first arrived at the palace no one knew what to do with me. The Princess was just three months old. I was abandoned by the palace gates, potentially left to die in the frigid winter. The district was still mourning the loss of the Queen who died during childbirth. No one in the palace seemed to have the time to take care of a second newborn, so most wanted me to be put back where I was found. They told me the only reason why they kept me was because the King ordered it. It would be bad for public image. Despite the staff being frustrated they took me in and raised me to know how to do everything around the palace with the expectation that I would be headmaid one day. I would spend many nights up late studying the palace remembering every nook and cranny. Every secret behind each painting and every food Margo liked to eat. I memorized it all. I was told that I had one job. To protect Princess Margo and make sure she is happy.  It was the least I could do for the family.

I walked down the fresh paint-smelling palace halls, my hands behind my back as I examined what had been done to the place. Everything was shinier than usual and there were now cameras everywhere. The red rugs have been replaced with new red rugs and the paintings were redone to look fresh. Everyone had spent time making sure we could see our reflection on every flat surface. Margo walked next to me, “I can’t believe it's happening already.” I looked over at her as she fidgeted with her hands.

“Well, we knew this was coming. You’re almost twenty. And you need a spouse.”

“Yeah. It just didn’t seem real until now. As a kid, I just thought it would be the two of us.”

“You can’t break tradition.”

Margo sighed. “It’s different now. The Kingdom of Akamore leaves with me.”

“It almost left a lot sooner. We were very lucky not to lose you too.”

Margo froze in her steps and looked over at me, her eyes stabbed me. I noticed them water up and she looked away. Her arm rubbed at her eyes.

We lost most of the Akamore royal family during the winter a few years back. The family often went to the royal cabin in the mountains to watch the snow fall and reflect on the Queen’s life and Margo’s birth. A fire broke out. 

“Yeah,” she whispered before continuing. “Very lucky,” she added.

I want to change the topic, “At least you have a choice in who you marry.”

Margo let out another sigh, “Yeah, I get to choose from three random boys.” 

I was unsure of the fate of the castle when Margo left, the King would be relieved of his position and the Akamore castle would no longer house Margo. Once the King passed, hopefully, many years into the future, the castle would be empty. It was hard to imagine that the castle that I came to love would be turned into a museum or a hotel of some sort. I imagine that they would have a portrait of Margo hanging in the main hall. The portrait would have Margo with her prince. They would both be smiling. The Prince would stand behind her as she sat on a chair, his hand on her shoulder and her hand on top of his. They would be happy for each other and the world they will see together. The placard will say, “Princess Margo, the last Princess of Akamore.” Akamore would be remembered as one of the prettiest of the six districts as it was surrounded by mountains and rivers but also was close enough to the beach. Akamore had almost everything. Except a Prince. 

Margo and I walked into her dressing room. It was a circular room with plenty of full-length mirrors so she could see all sides of her. There was a rectangular rug in the middle of the room that had images of yellow daisies and chrysanthemums. The rug clashed with the mostly red decor of the castle and dressing room, but yellow was the Queen’s favorite color and this was her rug. Margo insisted that they keep the rug. 

Sections had closets that were filled with shoes, gowns, pants, shirts, everything pretty much. Closets were stuffed full leaving no empty spot behind. Already bright new gowns and outfits were being hung in one of the closets and old ones were getting put away to be donated to charity or burned. Each gown and outfit perfectly fitted Margo and each had a special reason for her to wear it. One would be for her premiere, the other would be for a date in the garden, and another would be for a dinner date in the dining hall. The old ones had no use now, for Margo at least, they went out of style and a princess must always look her best. Despite all the outfits we still went for the white aline gown she wore every time it was for a public appearance. It covered her arms and went down to her ankles. It covered her completely to not show any skin. There was an accompanying white rabbit mask that covered her face and made it hard, almost impossible, for an outsider to see her features. The mask covered half of Margo’s face and her nose. The mask was hand-painted. The angular eyes had gold paint around them to resemble eyeliner. The same gold paint was at the tip of the rabbit’s nose. The mask had red ribbons that helped keep the mask in place and at the end of the ribbons were golden bells. 

I was told that the mask was to protect her identity in the case of an attack on the palace. She might need to run away or go into hiding. No one could kidnap the Princess if they didn’t know what she truly looked like. Everyone in the royal family went through this. Even the Princes and the Kings. The only difference was that everyone had a different animal for their mask. It was tradition. Margo and I worked in silence as I dressed her. We were used to this routine, we have done it hundreds of times and each time felt like it went a bit faster. 

Then a knock at the door. My head turned towards the door and Margo looked over at it, then at me. She gave a slight breath and closed her eyes, considering the thought. She nodded her head, permitting me to allow whoever waited on the other side to come in.

“Come in,” I said as I finished with the zipper. I looked over and saw the head maid. She had gray hair and wrinkles now, no longer in her prime she walked slower and looked tired. But her eyes still held that same stern look and softened when she gazed upon Margo. We wore similar uniforms. Silver pants and a white button-up sweater with ruffles at the cuffs of the sleeves. We were a special case, I was a personal maid to Margo and she to the King. The only difference, I had a mask myself. My mask resembled a butterfly. My mask was golden and resembled a masquerade mask. The left side of the mask resembled a butterfly wing while the other half had no design and just resembled a plain mask. The head maid no longer had a mask ever since the King was revealed to the public. We were special. We had a closer connection to the royal family. When the other maids pass they will be buried with their families, but when I do I know that I will be buried next to Margo for she must never be without me. 

“Suki, the King has asked for you. I will take care of Margo from here.” Her voice was cold and she walked over to Margo. Her stern eyes never left me, “Don’t keep him waiting.”