by Aya Ling
Moreover, there were times when she had to bathe in cold, running water, whenever there weren’t enough logs to heat up water. It was a miracle that she did not catch cold.
Ari was frustrated with the inconveniences, but what truly made her feel like running away were the pesky bugs and insects that haunted her tent.
One morning, she woke up and rubbed her eyes, only to find a large, hairy caterpillar crawling by her feet.
The princess shrieked. “Aaaaargh!”
Within seconds, Great Aunt Matilda lifted the flap of Ari’s tent. She was gripping her lead-tipped staff with her right hand, an unsheathed dagger in her other hand, her expression ready to combat enemies.
“What happened, Arianna?”
“Tha... that.” Ari pointed with a shaking finger. “Get it out of my sight! Make it disappear!”
Her great aunt looked at her as though she were insane.
“A tiny caterpillar no bigger than your finger? I knew you were spoiled, but I didn’t think that you could be this useless.”
And she disappeared, leaving poor Ari to fend for herself.
“Wait! Great Aunt—”
Ari shouted a few more times, but no response. It seemed that either Great Aunt Matilda was too far away to hear, or was deliberately ignoring her. Most likely the latter, because no one else came to her aid.
Ari pulled her knees up to her chin, huddled in her night gown, and stared at the caterpillar with great apprehension. It had curled up into a ball, and no matter how she glared at it and willed it to go away, it stayed unmoving on the spot.
Ari felt like crying. She had only seen a caterpillar a couple of times when strolling in the castle’s gardens. Several occasions a spider or moth graced her chambers, she had always screamed for a servant. But now, alone in the tent, she was forced to deal with her fears alone.
She hated Great Aunt Matilda, hated her with a passion. She had to deal with aches and cramps from riding all day in the carriage, put up with lousy inn food and baths that were too short, sleep in the wilderness in a bedroll, eat in the most undignified manner, and now this.
Ari closed her eyes and opened them. She clenched her fists and unclenched them. A bead of sweat ran down her forehead, but for the first time in her life, she ignored what might be causing imperfection in her face.
The caterpillar still lay curled on her bedroll, apparently here to stay.
It was just a caterpillar. It was only a small, insignificant bug. It had nothing against her.
The caterpillar suddenly moved, and Ari let out a yelp of terror.
Could she escape by overturning the tent? Ari reached behind her and tried to lift the tent, but it was sturdily built, with double layers to prevent rain and snow, and being a conventional, fragile princess, struggle as she might, the pegs holding the tent in place stayed firmly rooted in the earth.
As she was feeling on the tent, her elbow knocked into her hair brush. Even though Great Aunt Matilda had made her give up most of her pretty things, she had allowed Ari to bring a hair brush, though, like the pocket mirror, Ari was not allowed to take any fancy gilt-edged brushes studded with tiny gems. Only a plain, rustic-looking wooden brush was permitted.
Ari grabbed her brush and held it in front of her, as though she were brandishing a weapon. She did briefly consider the possibility of swatting the caterpillar with her pillow, but it seemed a bit too repulsive. She might not have another pillow, and there was no way she wanted to sleep on a pillow that had crushed a caterpillar. At least she could wash the hair brush or at the very worst, finger comb her hair.
Her hand shaking, Ari tentatively poked the tip of her brush at the caterpillar. She almost jumped when the brush made contact, but the caterpillar didn’t budge.
Ari grit her teeth, shut her eyes, and swiped at the caterpillar.
Just at that moment, the tent flap was raised again.
“Arianna, how long are you taking? Eeeek!”
Ari opened her eyes.
The caterpillar had landed on Great Aunt Matilda’s nose.
Great Aunt Matilda did not speak to Ari for a full day since the Caterpillar Incident. The princess, on the other hand, was so buoyed up at the unexpected chance to get revenge on her great aunt that she was actually cured of her bug fright. Whenever she saw a spider or beetle, she’d imagine throwing it on Great Aunt Matilda’s face, and the nefarious thought banished her fears.
Several days passed before they found shelter under a roof. They had crossed the border between Linderall and its neighboring kingdom, Tintagel, and reached a small village. Howard the Giant, who could see much farther than the others due to his height, glimpsed a large farm house in the distance.
Ari breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was cured of her bug fright, nothing beat having a real roof over her head. It had rained one night and she was terrified the rain would penetrate the tent. Never before in her life had she rejoiced at staying in a peasant’s dwelling.
The footman jumped off the carriage and rapped on the door. When the farmer’s wife learned that the old lady riding in front was the famous Lady Matilda, she almost dropped the bunch of corn she was carrying.
“Pa! Olivier! Marta!” she hollered. “You won’ believe it!”
The whole farmer’s family came running up, and their reaction mirrored the innkeeper’s family.
“Our Princess Marcella will also be startin’ her training at Riviera,” the farmer said, his chest puffed out with pride. “She beat several knights of her age when she was only twelve. If she turns out half as well as Lady Matilda, we’d be mighty pleased.”
Great Aunt Matilda shrugged off the praise. “Quite impressive.”
Ari grumbled under her breath.
“Where’s Olivier?” the farmer’s wife placed a huge bowl of steaming porridge on the table. “Ain’t he working in the fields?”
“Ol’ Bowden fetched him for an odd job,” the farmer said. “Needed an extra hand. Probably won’ be back until noon.”
“He’ll probably keel over when he sees you, Lady,” the farmer’s wife chuckled. “Help yourself, we grow the best corn ‘ere. This young lady also goin’ to the Academy?” she regarded Ari with an inquisitive eye.
“What lady isn’t, hey?” the farmer said. “Wish you best o’ luck, miss. Must be grand, havin’ the great Lady Matilda escorting ya.”
Ari said nothing. Everyone’s unadulterated admiration of her great aunt grated on her nerves.
Suddenly, the farm house door was thrown open. A young man, not much older than Ari, stood outside, a long scythe in hand.
“Pa!” he shouted. “There’s an ogre attack in Clermont!”
“An ogre attack?” the farmer repeated, pushing back his chair.
“Ogres?” Ari shuddered. Where was this Clermont? She had heard of Gladys telling stories of ogres, who were supposed to be large and fierce-looking. Even though she no longer feared bugs, an ogre wasn’t a creature she could easily get over her fright of.
Great Aunt Matilda, however, pushed back her chair.
“How many?” she said, a gleam in her eyes.
“Er... they say at least a dozen.”
“Perfect. I must go.” Great Aunt Matilda bent down and picked up her staff. “Lead me to the village. I doubt that the villagers have more experience than me when it comes to dealing with ogres. It has been some time since I had battled with ogres; I miss the entertainment.”
“But what about me?” Ari asked.
“You’ll have to go to the Academy without me.”
“I have to go alone?” A glimmer of hope sprang up in Ari’s mind. What if she gave orders for the coachmen to return to Linderall?
“Oh, it won’t be a problem,” Great Aunt Matilda said. “Howard will make sure that you arrive in Riviera safely.”
Howard, who was sitting on the floor (no chair was large enough to accommodate him), put a hand on his huge chest and nodded.
The princess will be fine with me, he signed wi
th his hands. I’ll deliver her to the Academy in time.
The glimmer of hope disappeared.
Three: The Formidable Academy
Great Aunt Matilda left to chase away the ogres. Looking after her, it was hard to imagine that she could still fight at her age. No wonder she was so renowned throughout the Continent, even though Linderall was only a small kingdom tucked away in the mountains far to the east.
Perhaps it was luck, but only once did they encounter an ogre. Ari had gone for a cool drink at a running stream when she sensed something approaching, and beheld an ugly creature with a pumpkin-sized head, large hairy arms, and a huge club in its hand.
"Aaaaah!" Ari ran as fast as she could, back to the carriage.
Howard the Giant stepped forward, arms crossed and eyes flashing, and he wore a menacing expression that mirrored the ogre's.
The ogre stared at Howard for a long moment—it was probably using all its brain power to calculate its chances of winning—and at last trudged off.
Apart from that one mishap, they soon arrived at Bayeux, the capital of Tintagel.
Ari's mood soared. The Tintagel capital was simply beautiful—colorful houses, decorated signs, flower-beds dotting everywhere, though in a rather disorderly manner. While Riviera reigned supreme of all kingdoms in military power and technology, Tintagel led the trend in food and fashion. When the carriage passed by Bayeux's largest market square, Ari ordered the coachman to halt.
"My body is aching from sitting in the carriage for too long," she said in her most commanding tone. "I need to go out and get some fresh air."
The air was not exactly fresh due to the number of vendors setting up stalls and customers shopping around, but Ari was undeterred. The Bayeux marketplace was thrice the size of Linderall's. Without Great Aunt Matilda's strict, hawk-like eye watching over her, she was free to roam and purchase whatever she liked.
There were bakers selling freshly baked pies, scones, and bread; spice merchants surrounded by numerous jars of cinnamon and cloves; butchers cutting up hunks of meat and hanging out strips of ham and bacon; ivory carvers displaying their masterpieces such as replicas of castles and churches; local goldsmiths and silversmiths selling glittering pieces of jewelry; grocers with fresh fish and fruit; perfume sellers with bottles giving off the essence of flowers and oil.
But what caught her eye most was the cloth merchants' stalls. The fabrics were of a wide variety—silk, cotton, fur, linen, satin, etc. Dyes of crimson, purple, tawny, and even tartan were available. The patterns ranged from simple geometric images to intricate designs of flowers, animals, and castles. Ari longed to buy every dazzling piece she saw.
"Perfume for sale!" a vendor shouted, shoving a pretty blue bottle under Ari's nose. "Try a sample, milady. I guarantee that you have never smelled anything so lovely!"
Intrigued, Ari allowed the vendor sprinkle a few drops of perfume on her palm. The smell was quite pleasant, albeit unfamiliar. Not too strong or overpowering. It made her think of cool evenings and fresh air.
"What is this made from?" she asked.
"Jasmine flowers and honey dew, milady." Seeing Ari's blank look, the vendor produced a small bouquet of delicate white flowers. "Made naturally from these flowers. Subtle and sophisticated—perfect for a beautiful, refined young lady like you."
The flattery was irresistible. Ari bought a vial on the spot.
And a scarf. And a dress. And a whole assortment of accessories. Since her father had given her a bag of gold to spend, Ari just couldn't help herself. Perhaps it was to vent the frustration she had been feeling when traveling with Great Aunt Matilda. Perhaps she was feeling apprehensive before arriving at the Academy. Or perhaps she just couldn't resist the ruby red slippers that made her ankles look like a fairy's—dainty and slender.
By the time Ari was finished, the coachman had to engage two wagons to carry the Linderall princess's newly acquired luggage.
Several days later, they arrived at Riviera.
Ari got up extra early in order to prepare for her arrival. She made sure to engage a maid who was well aware of style and fashion (no peasant girls this time!).
She brought out the most fashionable gown she purchased at Bayeux's market square—an exquisite dress the color of turquoise, embroidered with white lilies and tiny pearls. The hem was an intricate work of silken ribbons and satin bows, and the sleeves were long and wide. Every time she lifted her hand, the silk on the sleeves rustled, making her feel especially elegant. Long sleeves were the trend in Tintagel right now, and Ari was anxious to keep up with the latest fashion.
When she paused and looked at her reflection in the mirror, Ari couldn't help a satisfied smirk. Her golden hair cascaded down her back in silken, shiny ringlets, her eyelashes were long and curled, and her skin was perfectly smooth and blemish-free. Moreover, the color of the dress accentuated her blue eyes perfectly, and the elaborate waistline did justice to her hourglass figure.
"Milady, you're beautiful," the maid breathed.
Ari smiled. She was happy that she inherited her mother's looks. The late queen was well known in Linderall for her beauty.
If only she was going to Riviera as a fashionable court lady instead! A year ago, the Rivieran crown prince, Prince Ralph Leventhorpe, had a great ceremony that marked his twentieth birthday. Ari had looked forward to attending the event, but just as luck would have it, she caught a terrible cold and spent all day coughing and wheezing in bed.
Since Great Aunt Matilda was not present, she also considered escaping back to Linderall, but tempting as the thought was, she knew she couldn't survive on her own. She was no horsewoman, nor could she drive a carriage. And if any ogre showed up...
Ari shuddered. No, she had better continue to Riviera. Great Aunt Matilda had said she already dispatched a messenger, so she could not afford to be missing.
Riviera's capital, Avon, was situated northwest of Bayeux. Surrounded by a high city wall, a deep moat, and staffed with plenty of soldiers, it looked intimidating. No wonder Great Aunt Matilda, who had spent her youth in Riviera, turned out to be such a terrifying personage.
When the entrance guard read the letter from Great Aunt Matilda, complete with the Linderall royal insignia, he did a double take. So did the others. Given the look of the carts and wagons laden with purchases, the Linderall procession probably looked more like a wealthy merchant's.
Avon was not as beautiful as Bayeux—the buildings didn't have brightly-colored walls or roses and ivy crawling over them—but it was well designed. The streets of Avon were so straight that Ari felt as though they were traveling on a giant chessboard. Nor was the ground as uneven as Linderall's; the carriage moved as smoothly as a rolling pin over a table. Everything was neat and orderly and efficient. Even the Rivierans on the street displayed a brisk, no-nonsense manner as they walked. Their clothes appeared to be simple but of good quality, definitely not as ornate compared to Tintagel's fashion.
Ari wondered what the courtiers in the palace looked like.
The Rivieran palace was huge. They had to pass through the drawbridge, enter by outer gates, reach the gatehouse, enter the inner gates, and arrive at the main courtyard. Ari marveled how large and flat the courtyard was—the Linderall castle being constructed on a mountain, she had never seen such a wide expanse of flat land before.
The carriage door opened.
"Your Highness," the coach man said, extending his hand. "We have arrived."
Ari laid her hand on his and was assisted off the carriage.
The keep, or rather, the main building of the palace, was set at the end of the courtyard. Ari had to crane her neck to see the very top of it. Numerous windows, balconies, and turrets were built into the structure.
A wave of excitement swept over Ari. She liked the Linderall castle, but it simply could not compare to the scale and grandeur of the Rivieran palace.
Oh, how exciting it was that she was coming to stay in Riviera, and at the royal palace! If only she was com
ing as an honored guest, and not some stupid pupil at their Academy!
"Princess Arianna?" an impeccably-dressed page bowed to her. "Kay of Glastonbury at your service. Please follow me to the throne room. The king and queen are expecting you."
Ari held her head high as she walked behind Kay, passing through marble corridors with stately pillars and going up grand staircases covered with thick, red carpets that felt rich and soft under her feet.
At first she admired the surroundings, but soon her feet were aching from the long journey. And wearing high-heeled slippers did not help.
When they finally reached the throne room, Ari breathed a sigh of relief. Finally.
Then, when the guards stationed outside yanked the double doors open, her face fell. The throne, where the king and queen sat, was far away from the entrance. Both the sovereigns looked tiny from the distance.
Ari grumbled under her breath, though, as she made her way towards the throne, she couldn't help a grudging admiration for the magnificence of the Rivieran palace. The walls were covered with rich tapestries, the ceiling was painted with intricate patterns, and the throne itself practically glittered with numerous precious stones set on the arms and backs of the chairs. It was almost worth entering the Academy if she could have a reason to stay in Riviera.
Though her feet were pinched sore from her heels, Ari would not allow herself to show fatigue. She sank into her best curtsy and kept her smile gracious, determined to show that she was a young lady of fine manners and etiquette, even if she was from Linderall, the supposedly uncultured land of mountain dwellers.
"Lady Matilda's great niece?" A female voice spoke, which must be from the queen.
Ari raised her head and almost gasped out loud.
Queen Eleanor was breathtakingly beautiful. Ari remembered that Gladys had talked of the Rivieran queen's beauty, but seeing Queen Eleanor up close, she was momentarily speechless. Glossy raven hair, brilliant sapphire eyes, and features so ideally formed that at a distance, she looked like a doll.