My bed felt somehow fluffier than usual. I snuggled further down into the comforter, breathing in the familiar scents of perfume and expensive soap. Then my eyes popped open and I sat up abruptly. As I blinked the sleep from my eyes, I looked around the strange room. No. This wasn't my room and these scents really weren't familiar. They were as foreign as the bed I was sleeping in. 

Cautiously, I crawled out of bed and went over to the door. Peeking out, I saw people running here and there, busy with different activities. I closed the door quickly and turned to look around the room. Was I just supposed to wait here? Running my hands through my messy hair, I hurried over to another door that was in the room. Carefully, I pulled it open and looked into an expansive bathroom. Marble walls and floors, an enormous bathtub, and row upon row of soap shelves. I frowned and stepped inside, going to search for anything I could use for a weapon if need be.

I searched the shelves, but all that was there were soap bottles and perfumes. As I was looking through the cabinets, I found a small, old-fashioned razor. It wasn't much, and it wasn't very sharp. However, as I pondered if it was worth taking, there was a knock on the bedroom door. I hastily closed the razor and shoved it in my pocket, hurrying back out to the bedroom just as Charlotte opened the door. "Sweetheart? Are you ready for your bath?" she asked. 

I tried to hide my nervousness by smiling politely. "Um, sure," I said.

She smiled at me and came into the room, shooing me into the bathroom and turning the spigot. I frowned. "I can do it myself," I offered, not really comfortable with stripping down in front of a stranger.

She waved a hand at me dismissively. "Don't be absurd. You're meeting the king today, and an audience with his highness requires the upmost respect," she explained. "I'll help with the bathing and then we'll pick you out a pretty dress, alright?"

I felt the razor in my pocket again as I glanced at the door. But before I could make any rash decisions, Charlotte came over and took my hands. "Come, come," she said.

Reluctantly, I peeled off my dirty shirt and then my jeans, tossing them aside as I slipped out of my bra and underwear. Charlotte seemed baffled by my style of clothing and hesitantly pushed them into a corner, telling me they would provide me with much nicer clothes. Then she helped into the warm bath. I couldn't help sighing as I sank into the water. It soothed my aching muscles, relaxing the sore spots I had developed on my unplanned hike through the woods with Xic. Charlotte smiled and poured some water over my shoulders. "I apologize for your rough journey here," she said.

I frowned. "About that... Why am I here?" I asked. "Is there some reason the king wants to speak with me so desperately?"

Charlotte hummed thoughtfully as she scrubbed my arms and back clean with a sponge. "It is a very important reason, but it is not my place to say," she told me, massaging soap into my hair. "His highness wishes to tell you himself."

I covered my face as she poured water over my head to wash the suds away. His highness... It sounded strange to speak in such a manner. I certainly knew no king, much less why he would want to talk to me. Anxiety puddled in my stomach and I shifted in the water, glancing across the bathroom to my pants and the sharp object within them. "What if I don't want to meet him?" I asked. "Do I get a choice?"

Charlotte smiled kindly and stood up. "No one can make you do anything you don't want to, dear." She disappeared into a closet and returned with a big, fluffy towel. As she wrapped me up in the warm cloth, she continued, "But the king is very adamant. He said it is imperative that he meet with you."

That didn't make me feel any better. Charlotte lead me back into the bedroom and sat me down on the bed. "Now," she said. "Let me find you something to wear." She began riffling through a closet of clothes, all dresses it seemed, before she pulled out a pale peach, floor-length one with a gold synch running down the back of the bodice. The sleeves were sky blue and came down to the elbow. It was a stunning dress and I blinked in surprise when she held it up for me to see.

"Is that for me...?" I asked.

She chuckled and brought it over, laying it on the bed. "We'd have something nicer for you to wear, but we weren't sure when you'd be arriving," she said, standing me up and helping me step into the dress. 

I slipped it on carefully and pulled my hair over my shoulder so she could synch the back up for me. Once the dress was on she smiled brightly. "You look wonderful," she gushed. She told me to wait there and when she came back she had a bejeweled hair comb. I held still as she pulled my hair back and pinned it up with the gold comb, leaving just one strand curled around my cheek. Then she brought me over to a mirror. "Beautiful."

"Whoa..." I breathed out. It really wasn't me, but I had to say, she was right. The dress was beautiful. 

"Well, now that you're dressed, I'll take my leave," Charlotte said.

I frowned and turned quickly as she went towards the door. "Wait, where are you going?" I asked. "What am I supposed to do?"

She opened the door, turning back before she left. "His highness has some business things to attend to until late this afternoon so he won't be able to meet with you yet," she told me. "So I'll have Christopher show you around town until then."

She started to leave, but I rushed after her, afraid of being left alone in this strange place. "Wait a second, who's Christopher?"

Charlotte laughed as she stepped out. "Do not worry, Prince Christopher of Thedia is quite the gentleman," she said. Then she closed the door, and I was by myself once more.

A prince...? With a worried lump in my throat, I hurried back into the bathroom and rummaged in the pockets of my pants for the razor. Once I'd found it, I went back into the bedroom and went through the closet. I found a pale yellow shawl with pockets just as someone knocked on my door. I stood quickly and pulled the shawl on, hiding the razor in my pocket as I called out, "Come in."

The handle turned and then the door was pushed open. I readied myself, but then stopped as a young man with sandy blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes stepped into the room. He was dressed in a pair of black pants and a white top that I could only explain as royal attire. His hair was combed back from his face and he wore a nice pair of black shoes. His entire appearance had me blinking in surprise, and then he smiled and I grabbed onto the nearest chair to stay upright. "Who...?"

His smile was like sunshine as he came towards me, a bouquet in his hands. When he was within feet of me, he bowed low and offered the flowers to me. "Prince Christopher of the kingdom of Thedia," he said. Then after I had tentatively taken the flowers, he said, "It is very nice to meet you, my lady."

I swallowed nervously, not taking my eyes off him. "It's just Winter," I said, feeling a little too flattered.

His lips quirked with curiosity and he straightened fully. "Winter. A very lovely name for a very lovely girl," he told me. I blushed and looked away, embarrassed, but then he held out his arm for me and I lifted my eyes to his face once more. "Might I show you the sights?" he asked. 

I was hesitant, but after another kind smile from the young man, I took his arm. He seemed harmless, and sweet. I honestly couldn't say I wasn't sure what to make of him, but he didn't scare me as much as Xic had and he wasn't as confusion as Charlotte. That was enough for me. I nodded. "I would like that," I said. Besides, maybe I could find a way out of this place.

*******

Hey everyone! Here's today's chapter! I actually almost forgot to post it because I just got home from convention day number 1 here at AnimeCTX and I am exhausted! I got up at 1:00am to be ready for the 2:00am-5:00am voltron season 3 release, and then I had to drive up to Austin for the convention, which I drove straight to and spent the day with some cosplay peeps and stuff, and I just made it to the hotel at 11:25pm. I had this pre-written so I would have something for you guys. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! AS ALWAYS, VOTE, COMMENT, FOLLOW, AND STAY AWESOME!

-Nekoco