Chapter The Poisoned Princess: Five months earlier
Dorogoi Prince Yevgenich,
Do you ever wonder what you’d be doing if you weren’t a prince? I know it might make me sound like a selfish person, but there are times I wonder what I’d be doing if I wasn’t destined to be a queen. I don’t have a skill that I’m particularly good at and I haven’t seen much of the world to know if there is a skill I would like to learn.
Well, I suppose that’s not true. I have discovered that I like being in the kitchens. There is a woman here who makes the best piroshki. I make sure to sneak down to the kitchen any time she bakes them. She has given me a few lessons on cooking, but I’m not good at it. Yet. I think I want to be. I tried making an apple dessert—you know how I love those—but it didn’t turn out all that great. Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned it.
Moving on.
I’m not sure why my mind has been wandering to things that will never be, but I suppose curiosity is partially what makes us human. Or some profound statement like that. It really doesn’t matter what I would be if I wasn’t going to be a queen. I am determined to be the best queen, so I should just focus on that.
This letter seems chaotic. Is your attitude finally affecting me?
S uvazheniyem,
Princessa Sergeivna
Dorogaya Princessa Sergeivna,
If my attitude is affecting you, then mission accomplished. We can all use a little more chaos in our lives. But to answer your question, I also don’t know what I’d be. I think I always expected to be part of the politics of running a kingdom. I’ve been training long enough, I suppose.
I’m definitely not cut out to be a soldier. The sword is still my nemesis. However, I am excellent at hand-to-hand combat. And I’m very handy with a dagger. I’m not even exaggerating. I was told so today by my very grumpy and very judgy trainer. He told me good job, so basically, I’m amazing.
I have never tried cooking or baking, so I can’t comment on that. But I do know an amazing cook and he can make anything taste like the best dish. Seriously, name a dish, and he makes it so good you want to cry. Not that I have ever cried eating his potatoes. It was just a dramatic statement.
And now I am being summoned away. Be a little chaotic, Princessa. It’s good for you.
S uvazheniyem,
Prince Yevgenich