Chapter 28 Bud before the Bloom
Even at the age of an 8-year-old girl, my hands were small. I was small. My everything was small. And I was eager to be bigger than life.
It was always sunny back then. Always warm. Always peaceful… before the expectations as queen.
“Oh, Lilianaaa~” Amina called, looking behind every statue and bush in the flourishing royal garden. Her long black hair gleamed under the sunlight in a bouncy ponytail. Her frilled green dress blended in with the summer leaves. A grin played on her lips. “I’ll get you this time!”
I giggled, covering my mouth, and scurried behind bushes on my hands and knees. Dirt and grass stained my pale pink dress and stockings. I ducked low so she wouldn’t see my matching, giant lacy bow pulling my bangs back.
Peeking around for a hiding place, I spotted a young knight who I always noticed standing next to doorways.
Always.
Rats. He might give me away if I head over there! Hmmm…
Amina glanced around, rubbing the back of her head. “Alright, Lily, you got me. You can come out now.” I didn’t respond, still hiding. Amina groaned, calling louder, “Lilyyyy! Come on, I’m tired!” I stayed silent. She gave a dramatic sigh and placed her hands on her hips. “Okayyy. Guess I’ll go eat blueberry muffins on my own~”
Lies. That’s another trap!
Yet, Amina still strolled inside, ponytail swinging, but I didn’t dare peek over the bushes. Amina was clever. Too clever.
She ain’t foolin’ me!
I crawled from bush to bush farther from the palace before peeking over the emerald leaves, silver eyes swerving from side to side.
I think she’s gone. Maybe? …Yup! She’s definitely gone.
I stood, brushing off my knees with a triumphant smile, and then glanced toward the deeper parts of the garden where the gardeners had yet to tend. I grinned and raced over to the forbidden land, abandoning the dirt path.
“Whaa…” I gawked up at the towering bushes and hedges, overgrown branches sprouting in every direction. White roses adorned each bush.
It’s like a forest!
A stick almost the size of my arm grabbed my attention. With an overly confident grin, I snatched it up and held it up high. “Aha!” I cheered. In my hand wasn’t a ragged, broken stick. No, it was a spotless silver sword, reflecting sunlight with jewels on the handle just like Father’s swords.
“I’m a knight!” I declared and held my imaginary sword to my hip, walking around the rows of bushes the same way I’ve seen the knighthood patrol the streets. I froze with a dramatic gasp when a freshly cut tree trunk blocked my path.
“You!” I barked, pointing my lavish sword at the trunk. “What’re ya doin’ in my kingdom?!”
The tree trunk didn’t respond.
“I’m the bestest, most heroic knight in all of Embercrest! How dare you trespass! What ya have to say for yourself?!”
A leaf on a twig regrowing from the trunk plopped to the ground.
“Silence!” I demanded, getting into my self-made attack stance. “You shall pay for your treason!” I charged the wooden intruder with a battle cry, my fabulous sword raised high, until a bunny hopped onto the trunk.
Startled, I squealed and slipped over my slippers, tumbling into a bush. “Ow, ow, ow, owwww,” I whined. Twigs scratched my arms and legs, yanked on my dress and bow, and got tangled in my hip-length white hair.
Struggling to free myself, my growl turned into a squeak when strong hands wrapped around my ribcage and lifted me up like a cat. “Eh? Ami?” I tilted my head back, and the only face meeting mine was a metal helmet. “Oh. Hi, Mister Knight.”
I recognized ‘Mister Knight’ immediately. He was shorter and not burly like the other knights—still a kid, only a couple years older than Amina.
He set me down and carefully plucked the leaves and twigs from my hair, fixing my bow too, but my attention was focused on the sheathed sword on his hip.
“Oooh,” I gaped, staring at my big, fluttery round eyes in its reflection. I looked up at him, pointing at it. “Can I hold it?”
He shook his head.
My cheeks puffed with disappointment. “Why not?”
The young knight didn’t answer.
“Can I wear your armor?”
He shook his head.
“Can I wear your helmet?”
He shook his head.
“Can I wear your boots?”
He shook his head.
“Can I touch your sword?”
He shook his head.
“Why won’t you say anything??”
He shook his head.
“That’s not an answer!” I whined with a stomp of my foot, cheeks puffed again.
The young knight nodded toward the palace. My brows furrowed as my shoulders sagged.
“Eh?? But—I don’t wanna go back!” I protested. He nodded towards the palace again, and I heaved a sigh. “Fiiine…”
He led the way to the palace, and I followed him a few feet before a mischievous smirk crossed my lips and I scurried off. Like with Amina, I crawled on my hands and knees, maneuvering through the bushes like an expert, and snickering like a villain.
“Kehehe—AH!” I squealed, stumbling back when he suddenly appeared in front of me. Again, he nodded toward the palace.
He’s so fast!
I groaned, standing, patting off my knees. “You’re way better at hide-and-seek than Ami.”
He handed me my dropped stick, and I gleefully took it, raising my fabulous sword high. I looked up at him and tilted my head with a cheeky grin.
“Will you play with me, Mister Knight?”
He paused as if considering it, but eventually shook his head.
I heaved a dramatic sigh, hunching over. “Yer a hard nut to crack, Mister.”
He snorted, and my gaze snapped to him, but he was already looking away. He held out his hand. I pouted, but still clasped it. The young knight led me through the garden but stopped when he noticed my cut leg.
“Eh? Oh!” I squeaked as he lifted me up, carrying me on his hip the rest of the way. I watched him closely, and tapped his helmet.
“Mister Knight, can I see your face?”
He glanced at me, and I saw his eyes through his helmet’s visor. Hazel eyes with a warm flicker in them, tan pretty skin, and wavy black bangs. He lifted his hand toward his helmet until Amina gasped.
“Liliana!” Her hands flew to her cheeks. “What happened?!”
The young knight held me out like a cat.
“I fell in a bush,” I mumbled, dangling from his hands.
“I left for 5 minutes, Lily!”
“Sorry, Ami…”
Amina took me onto her hip, eyeing my clutched stick. “What is THAT??”
I raised it with a cocky grin. “My sword!”
Amina slapped her forehead before turning to the knight, murmuring, “Thank you.”
He bowed his head.
“Mother is going to have a fit,” Amina lectured while carrying me off, wagging her finger like mom.
I looked over Amina’s shoulder as she nagged, searching for Mister Knight. He still stood there, watching us go. Beaming a smile, I gave him a big wave, and he lifted his hand in return.
I hope we can play sword-fight next time.