As a little girl I loved running around the palace's rose garden while my mother had tea with the empress. We often came with my father to the palace as he was the palace physician. The emperor's youngest and the crown prince, Louie, was often sick. My father would be called in regularly, and my mother and I would follow him to the palace. I got know the palace rose garden like it was my own back yard. It was quite big and I had explored every inch of the rose garden. I also became quite the expert on tea.
The empire of Starzen had three princesses. The youngest princess Angela was two years older than me at the age of 8. We would often run around and play in the garden while her two older sisters Marie and Catherine would sit and have tea with our mothers. They were too old and not interested in running around as they were the ages of 12 and 14 respectively.
Sometimes a young boy named Alex would come and join us along with his mother. His father, the Vis Count Winter was the treasurer for the Starzen empire.
Although my family was not originally of nobility my father was appointed to the peerage as a knight. A knight of medicine my mother would tease him, because he did not know how to hold a sword. Due to the title my mother was known a Lady Charlene Pavela. She would often have tea with Empress Rici, and Vis Countess Natalia Winter. They were know in high society as the Rose Trio.
As like any other day Angela, Alex, and I were running around playing in the rose garden. We were playing tag and Angela was it. I was running with Alex trying to avoid her. Alex split from me and Angela followed him I given a brief moment of rest before she gave up on trying to tag Alex because he was to quick for her. She then decided to chase me. I started running as fast a I could. Hurling myself through the garden, and just as she was closing in on me I tripped over a root and let out a scream.
"Anna are you ok?!" Angela shouted as she ran up to me with Alex following her.
"I think I'm ok." I replied to Angela
Alex caught up to us and frantically asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?"
I felt a sting coming from my left knee. I pulled up my skirt and saw my knee was bleeding.
I replied, "My knee hurts."
"Oh no, you're bleeding. We need to take you back to mama." Said Angela
Alex positioned himself in front of me and bent down and said, "I can carry you."
I took his offer, and climbed onto his back. Alex carried me over to where our mothers were having tea. I tried to hold back the tears but there is only so much pain a 6 year old can handle. I started crying. Burying my face into Alex's back. Ruining his shirt with my tears. When we were in eye sight Angela ran up to here mother.
"Mama, Anna got hurt! We need to help her. Could you call the doctor?" Angela cried out to her mother.
It was ironic. Angela asking for the doctor as the mentioned doctor was father.
Alex gave me to my mother. The crying mess I was. I clung onto her as she soothed me.
"It will be alright Anna, your father will be here soon to fix your knee. There is no need to cry anymore." My mother said to me with a gentle voice.
Hearing my mother's voice helped me to calm down and eventually stop crying. While I was still crying empress Rici sent a maid to go fetch my father. It wasn't too long before my father returned. My mother took me out of her lap and sat me on a chair, so my father could examine my knee. After looking at my knee, he then cleaned it and wrapped a bandage around my knee.
"There you go Anna, you're all better now." My father said to me with a caring voice.
My father turned around and faced my mother and asked "How did this happen to her? There is not much opportunity in this place for a child to hurt themself, other than pricking their finger on a rose thorn."
"They were running around and she tripped on a root that was sticking out. Alex had to carry her back while she was crying." My mother replied.
"So Alex carried her back." Said my father
My father turned around and walked up to Alex and said, "Alex thank you for helping my daughter I hope you will continue to watch over her in my absence."
"Yes, Sir Doctor Pavela, I will watch your daughter for you." Replied Alex in a formal tone.
The ladies laughed. Though Alex did not know why at the time. In his efforts to be respectful he messed up on the title. He should have referred to my father as Doctor Pavela.
My father smiled at Alex and said, "You're a good kid. I'm sure you will grow up to be a fine young man."
Alex smiled and his cheeks blushed. He wasn't used to receiving compliments. His father was harsh and strict making sure Alex was well behaved and would grow up to be the man his father wanted him to be. As such Alex received little praise from his father.
My dad picked me up and told my mother he was done with his work today. My mother agreed with him that it was best they left now due to my injuries. My father carried me in his arms as we left the palace rose garden. We made our way over to the carriages and called for our own carriage. We all climbed inside and I sat in my father's lap. The horses pulled us in the carriage to bring us back home.