For the next few days, my dance lessons with Emery continued in private. In the afternoon, she would come to my room with one excuse or another. I would send Martha away for the time being for an errand or something, which would give us at max half an hour to practice.

The thing is, Emery, a mere maid possessed such beautiful dancing skills that it made me wonder why she came to the palace in the first place instead of pursuing a career in the art.

"I wasn't allowed to," she sighed, giving a wistful smile. "My Mother and Father believe that dancing is the work of the devil."

"How come?" I asked. "You're so light on your feet; you're gifted at this, Emery, really!"

"I appreciate it but there's nothing I could've done about my parents' preference. It is them that make the rules for me and how I must live, for I am of the opinion that my existence is just a burden."

"Emery..." I knew exactly what this felt like. My mother used to choose my life for me as well. There were so many limitations to my viability before she passed away.

I always wanted to become an athlete of some sort. Everyday in the park, watching teenagers bike around, women playing tennis and men picking up dumbbells instilled in me the need to try it all out myself.

"Mom? Mom, can you please buy me a bicycle?" I'd ask pleadingly, my hopes way up with the clouds.

"Get the f**k away from me," she'd swat me away with her hand. "Do you think I'm made of money or something? Always asking me for this or that. Go get it with your own savings, I've got bills to pay, you ungrateful brat."

"B-but Mom," I mumbled, "I don't have any savings."

She'd glare at me. "Not my problem. Go clean the dishes, that's what you ought to do."

"Emery," I said. "What would you do if you ever get a chance to live a rich life?"

She hadn't anticipated such a question, apparently. "There's a low chance of that happening, but if it does...then I suppose I'll live my dreams."

I tilted my head. "Your dreams?"

"Yes. I'll attend a high-class dancing school. Dance in theaters, if possible. I'll show off my talent to the world," she said, dreamingly. "I'll do what makes me happy."

How nice it must feel to have a dream. My dream of being an athlete vanished long ago with my mother's passing away. After that, I just learnt to live with what I've got, not to expect for more. Except for Jieum, no one knew that I wanted to do sports. But I never pursued that path because there wasn't much money to spare on my 'extra' needs.

But now that I think about it, I'm rich now, aren't I? I'm the Crown Princess of a whole damn Empire, I could do whatever I want now. But how would everyone react when the cute, gentle princess starts to suddenly show interest in sports. Yeah, no, I can't risk it.

"Your Highness," Emery said. "I think we're done with the lesson for today. I'll come back tomorrow, same time." She opened the door but stopped before passing the threshold. "Good luck, Your Highness."

...

She left.

I plopped down on my bed, exhausted. "Reynard," I said. "You can come out now."

After a few moments of complete silence, the closet of my room burst open, and I heard a large thud.

"Are you alright?" I asked emotionlessly, without looking over at the closet.

"Yeah, no my cloak fell down."

"But what about that noise?"

"I was in my cloak," he groaned.

"Really, Reynard?" I scoffed, rolling over to face him.

"Do you know how suffocating it was to be locked up with so many poofy dresses for half an hour!? I was dying in there. I think my lungs might have taken a toll on me."

"Right, right...whatever," I said. "Who told you to turn up here again without any notice? You should've known that I might have company. And with the ceremony so close, people have been coming and going, preparing me for all sorts of activities."

Reynard coughed while he seated himself against the mural wall on the plush, purple carpet. "Ah, the ceremony. It's a popular topic of conversation among all the people in the Empire. All the nobles are receiving invitations for attending it, inland and out. The dress-makers are in full action, overflowing with orders. Everyone's really excited to see the Princess, too."

Ah, all of this just added to my anxiety. "How do you know all this, Reynard? Are you perhaps of noble-class as well?"

"No, no," Reynard said, embarrassed. "I just have my way of knowing things."

I stared at Reynard suspiciously. How was I to know if his words were to be believed or not? I knew nothing about him except for his name. He refuses to talk about his life and background, not letting anything get past me.

"We haven't any time to bicker about such unimportant topics," I said, standing up. Martha could be back any minute now. I had sent her on an errand to get me some new gloves for the ceremony, rather than going personally. Of course she had suggested that it was better if I go in person so I could get my preferences sorted out, but to me this was laborious work and I also needed to attend Emery's private lessons. So I told her about my preferred style so she could get it for me and advised her to 'take her time'. A tough one she was, Martha.

"Help me move this nightstand, will you?"

Obediently, Reynard stood up rather roughly and picked up the whole, heavy nightstand as if it weighed nothing and moved it to my desired spot: in front of the door. "Alright, this will help us stall some time if someone tries to barge in uninvited again," I said. "You might need to go back in the closet if such an event arises."

"As you please, Princess," Reynard sighed as he sat back down. "Now, let's continue from where we left off last time, shall we?" I nodded, sitting down comfortably on the bed.

"I was talking about the prophecy. I am aware that you have no idea what that is."

"No."

"Then...how about I tell you a story."

He probably perceived my silence as a sign to go on.

Reynard cleared his throat before beginning,

"Long ago, there was a priestess called Priestess Grisha. She was widely followed and sought after, because she claimed that she was the vessel of god himself. In her lifetime, she introduced many revelations that the people gladly followed, as they were slaves to this so-called god.

"Priestess Grisha lived for a good 100 years, much to everyone's surprise. On her deathbed, she was surrounded by people including palace officials, locals, priests and whatnot. Everyone was marking time to hear her last words. On the very day of her death, she announced a prophecy that had just come to her, a prophecy that was directly received from 'God'.

"In 500 years time, Wisteria will be blessed with a princess...the first princess to ever be born to the Empire. This Princess, she will be a godly beauty to behold, a beauty that will bloom even further on her coming of age. On that day, the Princess will be blessed with divine powers, powers that even the priestess knew not of. With these powers, the Princess will benefit her people, gain the favor of the Empire, be loved by everyone. But of course, there's a dark side to this prophecy as well.

"Upon turning eighteen, the Princess will be sacrificed to this 'God'. She will be drowned in the Pond Of Divinity, a fairly popular tourist sight of Wisteria. The Princess must be sacrificed or else the Empire will decline into an age of darkness and ruination. But if the Princess is sacrificed on her eighteenth birthday, her soul will forever protect the Empire, watching over it with her divine powers. Her essential sacrifice will bring forward the golden period of Wisteria, a true blessing from 'God'.

"The only condition everyone needed to take care of, was that the Princess herself must never know of this prophecy in her limited lifetime, or else the proceedings will be void and of no avail."

I stared blankly at Reynard, as he paused his story. "How is that connected to me?" I asked, puzzled.

"Princess, do you not get it?" Reynard asked incredulously.

I continued to stare blankly at his face. To me, the story that I just heard seemed like a mere fairytale. No way could I actually be the Princess mentioned in this priestess's prophecy.

"Your Highness," he cried, "you are that princess."