Chapter 6 {The Crown Princess}

Diana and Pina both bowed their heads in greeting before making their way inside. The big gate closing behind them. As Diana and Pina made their way into the palace, the grandeur of the interior eclipsed anything they had seen in the rest of Tarius. Beautiful rose beds adorned the pathway leading to various chambers, each blooming with a different type of flower. Diana recalled from her memories that the path lined with lilies led straight to the chambers of the young princess, while the one adorned with daisies led to the chambers of the crown princess. Guards in striking red uniforms, embellished with sparkling beads, stood at attention at every door in the palace, holding swords as a symbol of their duty. Servants bustled about, focused on their diverse tasks. Diana and Pina exchanged nods of acknowledgment with two maids in yellow flowery gowns who carried a basket of soiled clothes. The maids bowed their heads respectfully as the two women passed by. The maids' gowns, distinguished by various colors, denoted their ranks within the palace hierarchy. Purple represented the highest rank, with maids in this attire giving orders to those beneath them and serving directly under the prince and princesses. Pink gowns indicated the second-highest rank, entailing duties such as chamber cleaning, food service, and occasional escorting of royalty throughout the kingdom. At the lowest level were the maids in yellow, responsible for menial tasks like sweeping the courtyard and laundering dishes and clothes. Unfortunately, these individuals were often subjected to mistreatment, much like the pink-gowned maids. Upon reaching the door to the crown princess Lissa's chambers, Diana and Pina knocked, their heads respectfully bowed. The door swung open to reveal a maid in a regal purple flowery gown. "Come in," the maid uttered, making way for them to enter. Once inside, Diana and Pina showed their deference with another bow before following the purple-gowned maid to a beautifully adorned room. The maid led them to a wooden door adorned with intricate bird-like designs and opened it, granting them entry to a space where the crown princess Lissa sat elegantly in a stunning golden gown. A higher-ranking maid poured steamy tea into a delicate porcelain cup. Must be one the crown princess. Diana thought, shooting a sharp glance upward before swiftly dropping her gaze once more. The crown princess observed the two standing before her, her expression unreadable as she continued sipping her coffee. "Your highness," Pina addressed her, her head bowed in respect. "You sent for us." After observing them for a moment, the crown princess gave a dismissive wave. "You may leave us," she commanded, causing Diana to inwardly gasp as she assumed she was being ordered to depart. However, the maid who had led them into the room bowed and murmured, "May you live long, your highness," before exiting the chamber. "Stand before me," the crown princess demanded, gesturing with a wave of her hand. Diana and Pina quickly moved to position themselves before her, their heads respectfully bowed. "You don't need to be so formal with me, Pina," Princess Lissa said softly, to which Pina nodded in affirmation. "And you must be Diana?" the princess inquired, turning her attention toward Diana. "I have heard a lot about you." "Yes, your highness," Diana replied, her head still lowered. Princess Lissa watched her for a moment before turning to Pina. "What was the holdup?" she questioned, causing Diana's heart to sink. She had hoped that Pina would not implicate her. "Sorry for the delay, your highness," Pina pleaded, dropping to her knees and bowing her head to the ground. "Diana over there got carried away." Diana inwardly acknowledged Pina's actions. If she were in Pina's place, she might have done much worse. "Carried away by what?" Princess Lissa asked, turning her focus directly to Diana as she took another sip of her tea. "Diana?" she prompted. " Say the truth and apologize," Pino's voice echoed in her head. "Your highness," Diana began, offering a respectful greeting. "I am very sorry. I got distracted by candies while passing the seller's stand." She admitted, and then took a knee. Princess Lissa glanced at Pina, who was still on the floor, and commanded, "Rise." "Thank you, your highness," Pina said as she stood, bowing her head in acknowledgment. Princess Lissa nodded in acknowledgment of the greetings. "Is what she said true?" she inquired, directing her question to Pina. Pina raised her head and glanced at Diana. After a moment's hesitation, she conceded, "Yes." "For speaking the truth, you are forgiven," Princess Lissa affirmed, her gaze shifting to Diana, who had maintained her lowered gaze throughout. Diana silently breathed a sigh of relief. Thank you, Pinko, she thought to herself. "However, to prevent this from happening again, starting from this moment, you are to stay in the maid quarters," Princess Lissa instructed. "Yes, your highness," Diana responded obediently. "Good," Princess Lissa hummed. "I will be going out tomorrow, and I want you to escort me. I have already spoken with two other maids, so be prepared. We will be leaving as soon as the sun rises. Is that understood?" she asked sharply. "Yes, your highness. I will be here as early as possible," Diana proudly stated, feeling a rush of excitement at the prospect of accompanying the princess. The opportunity to venture outside with Princess Lissa presented a chance to experience the kind of enjoyment rarely accessible to maids in Tarius. "Anything to feel like I am wealthy is more than welcome," she thought happily. "We shall meet at the petal tree near the water flow," Princess Lissa concluded, providing the rendezvous point. "Yes, your highness, I will be there," Diana affirmed, giving a curt nod. According to her body memories, the petal tree was located on the other side of the palace. "Hmmm." Princess Lissa hummed thoughtfully. "Now I need to look at who will escort me. So... raise your head," she motioned to Diana. Diana inhaled and exhaled before slowly raising her head. Her eyes bulged open as she finally saw what the crown princess looked like. Princess Lissa let out a series of giggles when she saw the look on the maid's face. "You look surprised," she stated, clearly amused by Diana's reaction. She was accustomed to such responses, having seen them on many faces whenever they encountered her. Diana quietly shut her mouth and bowed her head. "Please forgive me, your highness," she muttered shakily. The princess's face kept replaying in her mind, causing her head to ache. She couldn't believe that the person who had killed her in her past life was now a crown princess in this one. Her legs felt as though they might give out, but she stood her ground, head still bowed, unsure of how she would react if she were to look up at the princess's face again. She inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to calm her rapidly beating heart.