Score! I’m sure to get into the sports team, this year. I’m sure of it! Acialeigha [ash-a-lay-a] sighed pitifully and pouted. 

But, of course, the King and Queen will never, ever, EVERRR...let me…

Acia tucked a strand of her long, chocolate brown hair behind her ears, and jogged over to pick up the ball.

“Message for Her Majesty!” a faint voice called from across the garden.

Acia’s ears perked up and she stood as still as a statue, waiting for the sender.

When the messenger didn't say anything else, Acia started running toward the mansion, her steps quieting down as she approached the edge of the garden.

She dropped the ball into a thick berry bush covered with ripe wild berries, and picked her way through the thick vegetation. Acia pushed aside a tree branch blooming with purple, red flowers, and peeked down at the front door.

Before the two meter tall door was the back of a young man no older than twenty. He had messy platinum hair, and in contrary, neatly ironed clothes.

Acia let go of the branch and it swung up, a flower petal brushing the tip of her nose.

Instinctively, she sneezed and sucked in her breath as the man’s head jerked her way.

Grey-blue eyes, pale skin, pale lips...she quickly ducked down and slowly backed away, taking in his pale, pale complexion.

He looks like as if he has a disease or something. He looks like a ghost… Acia thought, digging out her ball from the berry bush and running down a stone pathway that led straight to the back door.

She carefully pulled the door open, and stepped in. The silence rang through her head like the chime of church bells. The King and Queen were gone.

Acia had been in this situation many times, when she had to dismiss the messenger and make him come back another time.

However, this was completely different. The man, or maybe boy, standing in front of the main door was a complete stranger, and she was strictly ordered not to open the door for strangers.

“Message for Her Majesty…!” the messenger’s voice wavered at the end, and Acia felt sorry for him. If he was their new messenger, than he was having a terrible first experience.

Acia hesitated momentarily, pondering whether or not to open the door for him. Finally, she put down her ball and walked up to the door.

Flatten out the skirt, tuck in my blouse, pull my hair back into a bun...Acia looked down at her running shoes and quickly kicked them off, slipping into a pair of lacy pink slippers right by the door.

Her heart started beating faster as her hand grasped the doorknob. She swung the door open before she could change her mind.

Before her was the boy that looked much more different now compared from afar, with the sunlight hitting his face from a different angle.

His hair was actually blonde, his eyes bright blue, and a slightly darker complexion. She looked him up and down and saw that his clothes weren’t that neat at all. Average height, probably not much older than herself...she frowned and suddenly noticed him staring at her.

A blush crept up her neck as she cleared her throat softly, and pressed her lips together to put in a darker colour.

“Her Majesty?” the boy stammered, looking at the creamy envelope he held tightly in his hand.

“Her---” Acia blinked and ran his words quickly through her brain. “Oh, oh, no. Her majesty is upstairs...um...yeah, upstairs.”

The boy nodded slowly, looking completely lost and clueless. “Oh...and you are?”

“I’m Princess Acialeigha. Her Majesty’s daughter,” I scoffed, looking over my clothes. I guess I couldn’t blame him. I looked more like a maid in a fancy blouse than a princess.

A deep blush shot to his cheeks and he was speechless for what seemed like forever. “Oh! I’m so very sorry, Your Highness. I-I-I didn’t know. Um...I’m so very sorry,” he sputtered, bowing so low that I had to step back.

“Err...it’s alright. Everyone around here just calls me Acia, or Leigha. But I prefer Acia,” I gently pressed his shoulder for him to straighten up. “Not from around here?”

He shook his head quickly and cleared his throat. “I came a few weeks back, but never got a chance to visit this part of the city, Your Highness...I-I mean, Acia. I was hoping to find a job, and here I am. The Royal Messenger. I shall be forever honored.” He bowed for no reason at all, and I sighed inwardly.

“What’s your name?” I asked abruptly, catching him by surprise.

“Jaxon. I’m Jaxon. You can call me Jax,” he muttered, distaste filling his voice.

“Cool. So...I mean, Her Majesty isn’t about to come down, so maybe you can come back later?”

“Of course. Of course I can.” He stepped back, and I started closing the door.

“Have a good day!” I called after him, as the door clicked close.

I let out a whoosh of air and leaned back against the cool door.

Why did he want Her Majesty? Alaricia wasn’t even here. Shouldn’t he know that, at least? I’m the only one in my house…Acia walked slowly into the kitchen, and started taking out baking material. It was time for a nice cake.

I should’ve took the letter…