They stayed like that for what felt like hours. Jess had always fantasised about such a moment from her earliest memory of her parents cuddling. They always looked content, like nothing else was needed to make their lives complete. But Jess had never once thought that Kyodai would be the one with her, that she, a commoner, would be in the arms of the princess. She let herself relax into the embrace nonetheless, never realising that her face hadn't flushed with warmth the entire time. It was a perfect moment in her mind.
Time is an unforgiving mistress however. An announcement came on, declaring that the mall was closing for the day. Kyodai and Jess groaned in unison as they were forced to part and stand up. Even so, Jess felt her skin tingle from where the princess's arms had held her. They adjusted their clothes and went to leave the room, but Jess paused. Kyodai went to the door and held it open, waiting for Jess.
"What's wrong?" The princess asked when her friend, and very nearly lover, didn't respond.
"Huh, oh, uh... nothing," Jess shook her head, "Nothing at all," as she left the storage room, Jess silently added 'I hope'.
Monica sighed and walked into Kyodai's room, which was vacant of said princess. The school day had come to an end more than an hour ago with no sign of her. This, on its own, was far from unusual but the lack of contact was unnerving to Monica. Her key duty to the royal family was to take care of their daughter to the best of her ability, something that had become increasingly difficult as the princess grew. The attendant smiled to herself and sat on Kyodai's bed.
Monica had been in this position for as long as she could remember. Even as a young girl, she was around Kyodai almost every waking hour, unknowingly being moulded into someone who knew the princess well enough to look after her later in life. But Monica couldn't find it in herself to be mad at her parents or the king and queen for doing so. She enjoyed her time with Kyodai, even now that it was her job.
"Monica?" The attendant looked to the door and saw one of her co-workers, Suzette standing there. She was breathing heavily, as if she had been running. Monica stood after she met the new arrival's gaze, "Lady Kyodai didn't attend school today, she's at a mall. Her parents are furious... Monica, they're talking about keeping her here. For good."
Suzette moved to the side as Monica rushed from the room. Her feet slammed against the floor and echoed throughout the hallways. She came to a stop at the top of the staircase overlooking the foyer, the doors were open and the king and queen were heading out. Monica quickly made her way down the stairs.
"Your Majesty, please wait a moment," she pleaded breathlessly. The ruling couple turned to regard her.
"Why is that?" Asked the king, her voice a steel blade running across Monica's skin. The attendant took a deep breath and met her gaze.
"Kyodai hasn't done anything a teenager wouldn't do, Your Majesty..."
"She is our daughter however," the queen interrupted, "Her age isn't an excuse to misbehave."
"But..."
"She begged us to let her go to a public school," the king interjected, "We gave her conditions that had to be met and she hasn't."
"Your Majesty, please," Monica could feel their combined stares boring into her, almost as though they were trying to peer into her soul before ripping it out, "Lady Kyodai isn't a weak little girl..."
"Precisely, she's a princess. Her actions have to reflect that through and through," the queen once again interrupted.
"She's a fucking teenage girl!" Monica shouted indignantly. The ruling couple stepped back at the outburst. Monica didn't let herself think about what she had done, "You fucking control freaks need to let her out on her own for once! She has friends and a life outside of being a goddamn princess, and..."
"Enough," the king stated flatly. She opened her mouth to continue, but a maid stepped up beside Monica.
"Your Majesty, please, you must see reason. Lady Kyodai has been miserable..."
"Enough!" The king snapped, but another maid took up the sentence.
"It wasn't until she started school that she seemed to come alive..."
"I said 'enough'."
"And you should've seen her this morning, your Majesty," Monica continued, "I haven't seen her so energetic in years..." the king stepped forward and looked directly into Monica's eyes.
"I said 'enough'," the baleful glare in the king's eyes would have cowed an enraged lion. Monica felt frozen where she stood, unable to so much as twitch under that gaze. She waited to hear the words 'you're fired'. The king inhaled audibly only to be silenced by her wife chuckling. All of those present looked to the queen and saw her blushing fiercely.
"Dear, perhaps you should see this," the queen beckoned her fellow ruler over to join her and a maid who held a box in her hands.
"Mira," the king groaned in frustration, but did as her wife beckoned. Almost immediately, her face turned beet red and her lips parted in shock.
"I think you've been a little hard on Lady Kyodai," the maid holding the box said sheepishly. The ruling couple looked at one another, blushes fresh on their faces.
"We'll talk to her. If she had a good reason for this, then we might let her off the hook," the king decided with a beleaguered sigh and massaged the temple of her head.
"What about her freedom?" Monica pressed. Her job was already on the line as it stood, possibly her own freedom even, but she couldn't bite back the words. This was her duty, both as Kyodai's attendant and friend.
"We can't just let her go without punishing her at all," Mira intoned, but her voice wavered.
"Please, Your Highness, give her a week to do as she wishes?" Monica set her jaw in place and once again met the king's gaze. Her employer and ruler stared back, eyes of steel and fire as though she couldn't decide whether she would chain up the attendant or set her ablaze.
"What about her etiquette classes?" The king questioned.
"If I may," said another maid, "She has been doing admirably well... and she's been doing them for most of her life, Your Majesty. I believe that having them once a week would be far more reasonable," she offered calmly, but a glance to Monica begged for her to continue instead.
"Her private tutelage though," Mira muttered before pausing and breaking into a small grin, "Very well, Monica," she said and faced the princess's attendant, "We'll allow Kyodai all the freedom she wishes. No curfew, no tutors, nothing but school, for one month. However, should she receive anything below a B+, engage in uncouth activities, or go anywhere without notifying us beforehand, then we will do as we see fit to our daughter. And to you. Is that understood?" The king nodded her agreement. Monica felt a chill run down her spine.
