The day of our departure arrived with a heavy, grey sky that seemed to mirror the somber mood of the palace. I had packed the remains of my life into two sturdy leather trunks; they were all that remained of the Princess Caroline's former existence. Aalis and Ame lifted them with a grunt of effort, their faces set in grim masks of determination.
"And what of your own belongings?" I asked, pausing at the threshold of my bedchamber.
"Our kits are already stowed upon the carriage, Your Highness," Aalis replied, her voice echoing in the uncharacteristically hollow room.
As we made our way toward the Great Hall, a chilling realisation settled over me. Usually, the corridors were a hive of activity—maids scrubbing the flagstones, footmen polishing the silver, and guards standing at every turn. Today, the castle felt like a tomb. Not a single soul crossed our path. The silence was loud, a deliberate snub orchestrated by the crown.
"Where is everyone, Aalis?" I whispered, the sound of our footsteps hitting the stone like a hammer.
"I... I cannot say, Your Highness," Aalis replied, her eyes darting nervously toward the shadows.
We reached the massive front doors. Finding no guards to open them, I reached out and pushed the heavy oak myself. The iron hinges groaned in protest. Outside, the courtyard was damp and mist-clad. A single carriage stood waiting, bearing the royal coat of arms, flanked by three horses. Standing in a neat row were Louis and five strangers—two men and three women. They wore a practical uniform of white linen shirts, sturdy brown trousers, and mismatched pieces of light leather armour.
Louis stepped forward, the mud squelching beneath his boots. He dropped to one knee with a sharp, disciplined grace.
"Your Highness, your knight has been able to recruit only these five," he said, his head bowed. "But I stake my honour on their capability. They are people I trust with my life—and yours."
I looked down the line. "I should like to be introduced to them, Louis."
"At once, Your Highness."
Louis led me toward the first man on the right. He appeared to be in his forties, with hair the colour of turned earth and a frame so muscular it seemed to strain against his shirt. He was shorter than Louis but possessed the solidity of an ancient oak. Two massive battle-axes were strapped across his broad back.
"This lowly person greets Your Highness. My name is Darryl," the man said, his voice a deep, gravelly baritone.
"He comes to us from the Mercenary Guild, Your Highness," Louis added.
"Darryl. A strong name. I shall remember it," I said. "You may stand."
The next in line was a woman in her twenties. Her cream-coloured hair was pulled back into a severe, practical knot. She was tall and lithe, her blue eyes sharp and unblinking. A greatsword, nearly as long as she was tall, hung from her shoulder.
"It is a privilege to meet you, Your Highness. I am Aldea, and I offer my blade to your cause."
"She is of the Adventurer's Guild," Louis explained.
"An adventurer? Tell me, Aldea, what sort of work do you perform for the Guild?"
"Reconnaissance, predominantly," she answered, her voice cool and professional. "Exploring uncharted terrain and handling subjugation contracts, Your Highness."
"Subjugation? Does that involve the culling of monsters?"
"It does, Your Highness."
So, the tales of beasts were not mere nursery stories. This world was far more dangerous than the palace walls suggested. "I accept your blade, Aldea. I look forward to hearing the tales of your travels. You may stand."
The third was a woman in her thirties with a mane of short, curly red hair and eyes the colour of embers. She had a relaxed, almost predatory slouch, and a short-sword was buckled loosely at her hip.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I am Zoela, though most call me Zoe."
"She belongs to the Assassin's Guild," Louis said quickly, sensing my potential hesitation. "But she is entirely trustworthy. You need not fear her, Your Highness."
"If Louis vouches for you, I shall not worry. But tell me, what does an Assassin's Guild actually do?"
"We deal in the shadows, my lady," Zoe replied with a faint, enigmatic smile. "Information, espionage, the quiet removal of obstacles, and the sowing of discord. Things that might make a Princess feel... uneasy."
"Information is the currency of power, Zoela. I expect much from you. You may stand."
Next was a boy, significantly shorter than myself and looking no older than twelve or thirteen. He had shock-blonde hair and wide, amber eyes. He wore no armour and carried no weapon, and he was trembling like a leaf in a gale.
"My... name... is... Cailean... Your... Highness."
"He represents the Merchant's Guild," Louis said, resting a steadying hand on the boy's shoulder. "He is a trifle timid, but his mind for figures is unmatched."
"I have a great fondness for a sharp mind, Cailean," I said gently. "You may stand. You have no reason to fear me."
Finally, I reached the last woman. She was in her forties, with long, raven-black hair and a figure that was, frankly, astonishing. She possessed a curved, maternal silhouette that made the other women look like saplings in comparison.
"My name is Elpis. This lowly physician is overjoyed to meet Your Highness."
"She is from the Alchemist's Guild," Louis said. "Her knowledge of medicine and botany is unparalleled."
"A physician is an essential addition to any house," I noted. "You may stand."
As she rose, I noticed the heavy, rhythmic movement of her chest. It occurred to me then that the luxury of structured under-linens—stays or bodices—must be a rare commodity for common folk.
The introductions complete, Louis helped me into the carriage. "How long is the journey to Chambery?" I asked as I settled onto the cushioned seat.
"Two days, Your Highness."
The carriage was cramped, shared by myself, Aalis, Ame, the nervous Cailean, and Elpis. Louis took the reins as coachman, while the others mounted their horses.
"Zoe, take the vanguard!" Louis called out.
The red-haired woman spurred her horse forward, disappearing into the mist. We were followed by Aldea on the right and Darryl on the left. As the wheels began to turn, I looked back at the castle one last time. No one waved. No one cried out a farewell. I was being discarded, cast out into the wilderness.
The journey was far from smooth. The road was a mess of ruts and stones, causing the carriage to lurch and sway violently. Opposite me, Elpis was suffering the worst of it. The lack of proper undergarments meant that every bump in the road resulted in a significant and distracting amount of movement. I noticed Cailean's face had turned a bright, beet-red; the poor boy was staring fixedly at the floorboards.
"Elpis," I said, unable to restrain my curiosity as a woman from a more 'supported' era. "May I ask you a personal question?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
"Do you wear a layer of supportive garment beneath your chemise?"
The carriage went deathly silent. Cailean looked as though he might actually burst into flames, and even Aalis turned a delicate shade of pink.
Elpis looked surprised, then chuckled softly. "Ah... under-linens are a luxury of the capital, Your Highness. They are quite expensive for those of us in the guilds."
"So you wear nothing of the sort?"
"Truthfully, my lady, I should love to. The fashions in the city are quite lovely, but..." she gestured to herself with a rueful smile, "there is little in the way of ready-made garments that would accommodate my... proportions."
I stared at her, genuinely astonished. It was a practical problem I hadn't considered—a gap in the market that my civil-servant mind immediately noted.
"I am curious about Zoela," I said, changing the subject as I leaned toward the front window to speak to Louis. "Is it wise for her to ride so far ahead of us?"
"Rest assured, Your Highness," Louis called back. "Zoe possesses a flair that few humans can claim. She can scent 'killing intent' from a mile away."
"Killing intent?"
"She can sense the malice in a person's heart before they ever draw a blade. She is our early warning system for ambushes. Aldea stays to the right because her instincts are tuned to monsters. Humans use traps; monsters simply hunt. Aldea will smell a beast long before it strikes, and Darryl is there to provide the brawn should she find one. You are well-guarded, my lady."
"I see. That is... a relief."
A moment later, I felt a small, warm hand slip into mine. I looked down to see Ame looking at me with an expression of profound pity.
"Your Highness... are you feeling lonely?" she asked in a small, trembling voice.
"Whatever makes you ask that, Ame?"
"Because no one came to see you go," she whispered. "There were no goodbyes. No one to wish you a safe journey."
A somber mood settled over the carriage. Even Elpis looked saddened by the thought.
"The lack of a farewell is merely a political statement, Ame," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. "It does not upset me."
Ame gripped my hand tighter. "Ame will always stay beside Your Highness," she declared with a sudden, fierce cheerfulness. "And not just Ame! My sister, too! And Sir Louis... and this boy..." She pointed to a startled Cailean. "And this Auntie!" Elpis winced slightly at the 'Auntie,' but smiled anyway. "Everyone will stay with you. So you must never be sad."
In my previous life as Amelia, I had always been the one expected to be strong. No one had ever pitied me; no one had ever offered to share my burden. To hear this child offer such unconditional loyalty... it pierced through my royal armour.
I felt a hot sting in my eyes.
"Your Highness!" Ame gasped, her face falling. "What did I say? Why are you crying?"
"Crying?" I touched my cheek and felt the dampness there. "I... I didn't realise."
"If you are sad, or if you wish to cry," Ame said, climbing onto my lap and hugging me tightly, "you must find Ame. We shall cry together. It is much better than crying alone, don't you think?"
I let out a shaky, wet laugh and patted her head. "I suppose it is, Ame. I suppose it is. I promise... if I need to cry, I shall find you."
The atmosphere in the carriage shifted instantly from gloom to warmth. Ame began to chatter away about her childhood in Chambery, her voice a bright melody against the rhythmic clatter of the wheels. For the first time since my rebirth, I didn't feel like a ghost in someone else's body. I felt like a leader with a family.