A day-off from duties

Here is my second story. I hope you will enjoy it.

Princess Marybella was highly astonished when she saw what her father, the King, brought for her as her birthday present. It was her fourteenth birthday. From the past few days, she was looking forward to this day. Her parents had been telling her that she was going to get a pleasant surprise on her birthday; and she was expecting something like that.

But when she saw her present, she was not that pleased. Her father had brought her a fifteen-year old young lad as a gift.

    “Happy birthday, sweetheart.” the King grinned at his daughter. “Meet Remus – your birthday gift.”

Marybella stared at her present with disbelief. It was not something that came in a pretty box with wrapping paper and ribbons, which was exactly what she was expecting. How could a human be wrapped inside a box? The young lad, Remus, was smiling an enthusiastic smile at her. He bowed as if he were trained these formalities before. Unwillingly, Marybella curtsied. It was her duty to curtsy when someone bowed before her. But she also did not forget to stick her tongue out at him when her parents were looking away. Remus winced and frowned at this but did not say anything.

    “You have a pretty bedroom, mistress.” remarked Remus, when Marybella showed him her bedroom.

She would not have brought him unless her parents told her to. She was not willing to spend a second with this unknown someone from somewhere.

    “Thank you.” said Marybella, without even looking at him. Then she turned and glared at him. “How can you be my present? You are a human! Tell me, why you are actually brought here?” she asked.

Remus was about to open his mouth when there was a knock at the door.

    “Come in.” said Marybella, irritated.

Madam Euglein, Marybella’s tutor and caretaker, came in with a long parchment in her hands and the princess instantly understood what this parchment was for. She sighed; annoyed. This old-white parchment was the list of the daily duties she had to perform everyday – especially more on her birthdays and other special occasions.

    “Okay, let’s see what work we have today.” Euglein said as she fixed her glasses closer to her eyes and peered over the list. “Hmm. Breakfast at ten with His and Her Highness. Bathtime at ten-thirty. At eleven sharp, studies. At two in the noon, royal lunch. Guests are invited. You will have to attend a parade show at three o’clock sharp. Tea-time at four in the afternoon…” Madam Euglein continued to speak and Marybella yawned and nodded rhythmically. But the more Remus heard her, the more he was astonished and shocked.

    “Have you got me?” Euglein asked when she finished reading the list.

    “Yes, Madam Euglein.” replied the bored Marybella.

    “Good. Get ready for breakfast.” Euglein instructed and left the room.

    “Whoa!” exclaimed Remus. “That is tight schedule.”

    “These are a princess’s duties.” Marybella said in a way that showed that she was disturbed with his little knowledge about royal life, but still, Remus got the hint of sadness in her voice.

Remus thought a royal birthday party was going to be fun. But, he found that the party was too formal and boring. The princess curtsied and shook hands with the guests robotically. Even when she cut the cake and danced with the princes, there was no smile on her pretty little face. The guests departed after midnight.

    “Well, it was a tiring day, wasn’t it?” Remus asked Marybella in her bedroom after the party, trying to start a conversation.

    “Hmm.” Marybella replied, taking off her earrings and bracelets.

    “How do you manage it?”

    “I told you. These are all a princess’s duty.”

Remus looked at her with pity in his eyes. He thought something for a moment and then, suddenly said,     “Do you want a day-off from duties?”

Marybella spun around and looked at him confusedly. “What!” she exclaimed.

    “I asked if you wanted a day-off from duties or not.” repeated Remus. His eyes shone eagerly while Marybella looked at him with surprise and unexpections.

Both Remus and Marybella could not say how it all happened. The princess agreed to his proposition and somehow, they managed to escape from the palace. Remus took her to the nearest village – it was a short walk there. The villagers there had arranged a fair and a dance-party in the honour of the princess’s birthday. But, they never imagined that the princess herself would be with them. And they never did, because Remus was careful not to expose the princess to the commoners. 

He took Marybella to the fair at first. He found that the princess had a soft corner in her heart for blue balloons. He bought her a few balloons with the money he had been saving for a long time. The princess jumped noisily when one of the balloons burst in front of her face. Then, realizing the funny fact, they both laughed together. Marybella discovered that she could still laugh. She thought she forgot laughing.

After the fair, Remus asked Marybella for a dance. She hesitated at first; but then, surprising him, she agreed. And she did dance. For the first time in her entire life, she had real fun dancing. Dancing with Remus was easy because with him, she did not have to maintain the rules of waltz. She broke the rules and danced the way she wanted. And then when they were done, Marybella became tired. Remus suggested that it was time to go home.

    “Yes, we should go home.” agreed Marybella. Then she said looking around the spot, “doesn’t this village sleep!”

    “It does sleep. But, not tonight.”

    “Why?”

    “They are holding this party tonight ’cause it’s your birthday.”

Marybella’s eyes opened wide. “Really?” she said.

    “Certainly.” smiled Remus. “Let’s go home, shall we?” he asked.

    “Obviously. But, I’m so tired. I can hardly walk.”

    “Let me give you a ride to home.” Remus’s face showed a teasing smile.

    “A ride –” and before she could even finish her sentence, she found herself on the back of Remus. She blushed furiously. “What are you doing?” she asked, frightened, looking here and there and wishing that nobody saw them.

    “Doing my duty. Giving you a ride home. Because there are no horses to carry you.” He laughed at his own joke.

    “You don’t have to.” she protested weakly.

    “Don’t worry, mistress.” Remus said and started walking. “It will be our little secret. Besides, you are tired. I definitely won’t mind carrying you back home. Rather I’ll be honoured.”

Marybella sighed. There was a short silence.

    “Remus,” Marybella called after a while.

    “Yes, mistress?”

    “You can call me Mary if you want.”

Remus turned his head a little to see the princess’s face in surprise. Her cheeks flushed when her eyes met his. “I’m tired of hearing mistress all the time.” she added quickly.

    “Oh! Okay, Mary.” he smiled, looking back at the path.

There was silence again.

    “Thank you, Remus.” Marybella said softly.

    “Thanks!” asked Remus. “What for?”

    “For gifting me a day-off from duties. It was the best day of my life. I never had this much fun in my whole life. So, thank you. Thank you very much.” she said.

    “My pleasure.” Rome grinned and kept walking towards the palace.

These short stories might not make much sense to you but I sure like writing them. Sometimes, a writer just needs to break all rules and do whatever she likes. Not everything she writes has to be a masterpiece. Enjoy!

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