Paula's P.o.v
I stood in front of my father the king who sat on his throne with a calm expression plastered on my face when in truth I was panicking on the inside.
"It's been finalized, your wedding to our neighboring kingdom will be in two days, I hope and believe you are happy with the arrangements I've made" father said loudly so his advisors could hear his authority lance through his voice.
"Yes my king, it's for the greater good of our people after all" I answered with my gaze stuck on the floor.
I bowed then stood upright, I notice the happy smiles that came from all the advisors.
"You raised her well," one advisor said in admiration.
"Of course" father answered with pride.
"excuse me," I said then turned and walked out of the throne room.
I found my ladies waiting for me at the doorway, when I walked past them they quickly followed me behind in silence.
I pushed the door open to my bedroom and entered with forming tears.
"Why can I never refuse my father? In all my years he has never truly cared about me, he only visits me once a year, today when he summoned me I felt happy and took no time to accept his summon, but yet again he only wanted what was best for his people, what about my feelings? Am I that worthless to him?" I asked sadly.
"You are very important to him my princess, you are his only heir, he loves you a lot it's just that he is usually busy with his duties" Lauren my most trusted maiden answered.
"I was raised for the people, taught for the people, but all I have ever done is to see him happy," I said while I sat down on the bed.
"I heard that his majesty who is to take you as his wife is young and very attractive but mostly handsome," Miriam said trying to get all the girls to cheer me up
"Does that matter to me? You all know that I have never seen any man up close, my father made it clear to always keep my eyes fixed on the floor and covered, so it doesn't matter how the man I'm going to wed looks like, all that matters is to fulfill my father's wish and my duties as a bride to the man I'm to marry" I said loudly then stood up and walked to the balcony.
"She sure has it hard, she has been guarded in her room with only our company for the past 15 years, the king only summons her when her presence is really needed, I feel sorry for her" the new maiden who was recently assigned to me whispered lowly thinking I couldn't hear her.
"Lauren" I called.
She quickly came forward and stood in front of me with a bow.
"I want to rest, I'm feeling tired over everything," I said.
"The princess wants to rest" she announced loudly for everyone to hear.
I walked back in my room and stood still as they disrobed me and dressed me up in a sleeping robe while others braided my hair carefully when they were done, I got on my bed and lay down facing the other side, I stayed like that for an hour then relaxed and closed my eyes.
"This must be very hard on her" Miriam whispered lowly thinking I was asleep.
"I know, I have known the princess ever since we were young, this is the first time I have seen her in nearly tears, she won't only be leaving her home and father behind when she weds the neighboring king, she will be leaving everything she has ever known behind," Debby said with distaste in her voice.
"So sad, I'm sure we will all go with her, remember our training? We are to serve and protect her with everything we have, it will be our duty to cheer her up and make sure she feels at home when she goes to the neighboring country" Janet answered.
"Lauren,so...what do you think will happen on their wedding night?" The new maiden asked causing everyone to giggle.
"What do you think of yourself? we have all heard the rumors, the king there is not only handsome but some ladies claim that his good in bed, so I'm pretty sure they will enjoy their passionate lovemaking, the princess will forget about all her sorrows in one night" Lauren answered as the giggles increased causing me to open my eyes uncomfortably.
"I so envy her, I wish I knew how it felt to be touched by a man, have you ever been touched before Debby?" Janet asked with soft laugher.
"Yes," Debby answered as the others gasped in shock.
"Only a hug you corrupted minds, remember? We can't be touched until the princess is, we are to remain pure as her maidens even if it takes forever" Debby said as I felt bad.
" what if she dies a virgin?" The new maiden asked with concern in her voice.
"That won't happen, we all heard the neighboring king is a beast in bed, now let's all get some rest, when the princess wakes up, we will make sure she smiles, she's so pretty I don't like it when she always holds a sad expression on her face" Debby answered.
"She's more than pretty" Janet said.
"Agreed" Lauren answered.
"Lauren, you are like our elder sister, not only are you the first maiden to ever attend to her, you are her friend right? I too would make you my friend, you are always calm and know how to handle any situation, I really understand why the princess loves you very much" the new maiden said.
"Come on, lets stop the gossip before we wake up the princess" Lauren said.
I heard footsteps then the door open and close.
"I know you are awake, you have been pretending to be asleep," Lauren said.
I slowly sat upright with a low sigh.
"Nothing goes past you it seems" I whispered.
"Yep," she answered then sat next to me and pulled me into a hug.