Long ago

"Ah there you are darling, I was starting to think that you were never going to come down. And trust me Lord Merrick, it wouldn't be the first time." My father said as soon as he caught sight of me.

"In my defense, perhaps having people over after a day of lessons wasn't the best thing to do. Luckily, I have had a quiet easy day and I feel young." I retorted at my father with a playful banter.

"I can promise you one thing Lord Merrick, you will always have a person to playfully banter with. My daughter loves her sharp tongue." My mother on the other hand preferred to point her looks.

"Well, I think introductions are in order. Lord Merrick this is my daughter, Anne Maria. Anne, I would like for you to meet Lord Zachary Merrick. Lord Merrick governs over Evansdale for us." He bowed graciously and I dipped my knees slightly.

He was a bad looking fellow. His hair was darker and cut close to his hair, so I don't really know how some girls view him like an angel. He was decently tall, a nice build beneath his coats and small smile on his lips. It was a rather endearing smile, perhaps this is what girls saw in his looks.

"It is an honor to finally meet you princess. Each time I come by you are retired or off at the market. I couldn't imagine a girl such as your self being busy most of the time." He said. He had a thick voice, a tad raspy but nothing too bad.

"It is always best to keep people on their toes. That way if you are to do something, most people don't have a clue about it. That is how I got away with my antics and sharp tongue." I said smiling at him.

"I agree entirely. But I'm sure that your parents now look down at me for inspiring this sort of behavior from you. This might likely be the last time that I will ever get to see you again." He said

"Only if you get her into real trouble. Other than that, you might as well have a free pass into the family if Anne is happy with you." My father said while my mother was still eyeing me evilly. Can she let it go for two seconds.

"Then I hope that my future looks promising." He said blatantly. They all said that.

"Your attention please, the chef would for me to inform you..." I looked up at one of the handmaids that were announcing dinner. I followed behind my mother and father obediently with Merrick at me side, not reaching for my arm or hand at all, strangely.

They sat me next to him and my father at the head of the table. The fine China was laid out with meticulous detail in mind. We were just about to start prayer when the bead of servers interrupted it.

"Sir, I know this isn't the bed of times. But some of the new boys need their training. Do you mind if they work tonight so that they know how to work a proper dinner?"

"Yes they can work and learn tonight if it is okay with it Lord Merrick. It would only be a bit slower than normality."

"It is perfectly fine. They are going to have to learn at some point and I have patience unlike some men of status. Its good to see that you are able to afford to hire more youthful help. They always do work the best it seems."

"I will have them out this second. Barakat, you will serve the king and queen. Gaskarth, please take care of the princess and her guest." The man shouted into the kitchen. Oh no, Gaskarth was an all to familiar name.

I lifted my head a bit and saw him walk through the door. His once untidy brown hair was gelled down, but his eyes were still ever playful. A man followed after him with raven locks, but blond bits on one side. One of the most peculiar hairstyles I have ever seen, he had to be from Brinland were they a bit more careless.

He saw me as well and recognised me in less than a second. It only took him a few hours to figure it out that I was the princess and the girl he helped in the garden. He remained frozen through most of the meal, only moving to do his job. He was also careful not to touch any of us, which most serves didn't Ted to follow the rule of it.

But my eyes barely left him causing me to miss on most of the conversation. No doubt is was something boring and lifeless anyway. Once or twice I was brought back by the pester of my mother or the jokes of my father about how I always seemed to wade into my mind and have a hard time finding my way back out.

I tried to bed before we would all set down to tea in the parlor. I complained of an oncoming headache from the storm and had Lizard help me up the stair to convince them more. Lizard helped me undress from my millions of layers and careful took the pins from my hair. As she went to go fetch my nightgown, I glanced into my mirror.

I was a small thing compared to most of the girls that were my age. I had smooth and pale skin despite all of the time that I spend in the sun. I was given not yet golden hair by my father and greg cold eyes by my mother. I had some curves that were made by years of a corset, but only slight ones by themselves. My hands and feet were delicate and my nose gave an upward swoop.

I was considered beautiful except for the ugly scar that ran along my neck to ear. Mother said that I was born woth it being so much worst than it always had been, which is why there were a very few number of baby paintings of me. It sits as a red line on most days, but on storm days it fires up and grows along the side of my neck. I was gifted with beauty and horror at birth.

I let Liza tuck me into bed without a word to her about anything. I know she would be begging for details in the morning, but the morning could wait. I was just about to fall into sleep when there was a slight rap at the door. Probably Merrick tiring to kiss me goodbye. Instead there was another voice, a slightly familiar one.

"I have come to inform the princess that Lord Merrick bides his goodbyes, hopes for her good health and that they will be able to meet again soon." I roll over quietly and crack my eyes open barely to confirm the speaker, it was Alexander.

"Yes well I will tell her in the morning when she wakes. Is there anything else that you need to pass along to her majesty." Liza asked a bit rude.

"Yes, I know that I'm entirely out of place to ask for this, but please let me speak to the princess for a moment. It is of dire need." He begged. Why in the word would he need to talk to me?

Liza both spoke at the the same time, she was shocked by my response. "But miss, to have a man in your bedroom that you aren't married too is entirely inappropriate." She hissed at me.

"Just let him in, Liza. I'm positive that he will not try anything if he values his life or possibly of children." He stepped inside quickly with a wave of thanks and graces. I raised my hand and he stopped talking.

"So what is it that you wish to speak to me about Alexander?" I ask calmly.

"How could you not tell me that you were a princess? Do you have any idea what kind of trouble that I just got myself into?" He said scream whispering. He startled me enough to jump a little.

"Me? Don't you think you should know who you are working for actually is?" I said angrily.

Notes