The Tale of Princess Lillianna by Robi Crusoe (free e books to read txt) 📕

Queen Libra, her voice very stern. Bianca hurriedly took two paces forward. Queen Libra then started swinging the watch back and forth like a pendulum. Bianca was instantly entranced by its graceful movements and intricate design.
“Now Bianca, your eyes are getting heavy and you’re falling into a deep sleep.” Queen Libra instructed. Instantly Bianca’s head drooped down and her eyes closed. “Now you are to act like me and assume your rightful place on the throne. You are not to be friends with Lillianna any longer. You will do as I command. Now awaken!” Bianca’s head shot up as she woke and she looked down at herself.
“Servant, get me into proper attire this instant!” she screeched. As soon as she was dressed she walked down to the throne room, head held high. Queen Libra quickly followed a sly smile on her face.
Lillianna waited desperately for Bianca to return, but she did not. On the fifth night of Bianca’s disappearance, Lillianna decided that the subject had been ignored for too long.
“I need to escape and find out what Libra has done to Bianca!” she decreed. Then she picked the lock with a rusty old hair pin she found lying on the ground. She then crept down to the closet of one of the servants, where she put on different clothes. Then she walked down the hall to the throne room, where she could hear voices.
She opened the door a little and saw Bianca sitting on a throne beside her mother. She was dressed in fancy attire that didn’t suit her rambunctious nature at all. She was wearing a long, pink, puffy dress with lace adorning the sleeves. Her hair was all done up in curls and it lied upon her shoulders. She was also wearing much gold finery, including hot pink high heels.
“Servant!” she yelled at Lillianna. “Bring me some my drink this instant!” All the actual servants rushed to fill the request, but Lillianna stayed put, staring at Bianca in awe.
“Bianca, what has she done to you?” Lillianna gasped.
“Who is this filthy peasant?” asked Bianca aloud. “Get her out of my sight!” The guards tried to pull Lillianna back, but their efforts were in vain.
“But Bianca, it’s me, Lillianna!” screamed Lillianna, trying to defend herself in the process.
“Ah, so I see.” muttered Bianca.
“I’m Princess Lillianna St. Clair of Maringa, Germany.” continued Lillianna. “Bianca, try to remember. We’ve been friends since we met at the SSA!”
“Mom, what should we do with her?” Bianca asked her mother.
“Throw her in the dungeon, for she is wanted in Spain for her many crimes!” cackled Queen Libra. “And call the SSA. Tell them we have their most wanted!” As the guards struggled to hold her Lillianna yelled.
“Bianca, what is wrong with you?” she asked desperately. Then Lillianna broke from the guard’s grasp, ran over, and grabbed a bucket of water from the floor.
“Wake up!” she yelled. Then she threw the bucket’s contents on top of Bianca. She shrieked in rage, as did Queen Libra. Suddenly, Bianca’s eyes began glowing with a golden light that filled the whole room. A few seconds later, Bianca was sprawled across the floor, her questioning eyes looking up at Lillianna in shock.
“What’s going on?” she asked her. “And why am I sopping wet?”
“I explain it all when we get out of Italy!” said Lillianna as she grabbed Bianca’s hand and dragged her out of the castle. A hoard of guards followed after them in haste. Queen Libra stood up and walked towards the door.
“I have some scheming to do.” she told herself. Then aloud she screamed.
“I’ll get you my daughter and your little friends too!” She walked out the door soon after, slamming it shut behind her.


Chapter 9: Reunion


As Herome and Damien ran far away from Arrington, they began to feel lonely. Herome missed Lillianna above all else and Damien missed Bianca. They walked for a ways before finally stopping at an old run-down tavern.
Meanwhile, Lillianna and Bianca had made their way back to Germany and had in fact, settled down in the exact same tavern that Herome and Damien had found. Both pairs were in disguise. Lillianna and Bianca were disguised as a foreign princess and her waiting maid, while Herome and Damien were disguised as local peasants.
As Herome and Damien walked into the tavern, they saw a beautiful young maiden and her maid sitting in the corner. As Herome walked over, he took up the maiden’s hand.
“And what might your name be, my pretty?” he asked in the most charming voice he could muster. Lillianna then looked at the man, and noticing that it was Herome, stood up angrily and slapped him across the face.
“You better not go doing that around me, Herome St. Marshal!” she ranted.
“Lillianna, is that you?” Herome asked, clutching his cheek.
“You bet it is!” screamed Lillianna. “Now let go of Bianca this instant!”
“That’s Bianca!” gasped Damien, who then ran over and hugged his sister.
“I’ve missed you too, Damien.” replied Bianca. “But there is something you must know. I met our mother.”
“You did what!” yelled Damien.
“I said Lillianna and I met our mother, Queen Libra, while in Italy searching for you.” Bianca said. “She hypnotized me and tried to persuade me to sell Lillianna out to the SSA.”
“Well I have something even more important to tell you!” exclaimed Damien. “Herome is a prince!”
“No way!” said Lillianna. “Herome, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I was afraid it would upset you.” answered Herome.
“Why would it upset me?” questioned Lillianna.
“I have to marry Princess Victoria Charleston.” said Herome reluctantly.
“Oh, you mean Vikki? Why would you want to marry her?” asked Lillianna.
“I’m required to marry her and I can’t hide forever.” admitted Herome.
“Well, be sure not to invite me to the wedding!” cried Lillianna, tears streaming down her face. She then got up and rushed out the door.
“Oh what have I done!” exclaimed Herome.
Herome, Damien, and Bianca wandered through the streets of Enova, Germany, making way to the castle on the far side of the lush city. Meanwhile, Emerelda was just finishing tying Victoria up.
“Now for the finishing touch!” she declared mendaciously. Then she plucked a few of Victoria’s hairs off her head and placed them in a large beaker filled with murky green goo.
“Now watch, my dear Victoria, as I show you how I shall claim your kingdom!” Emerelda cackled. Then she drank the potion. Instantly her hair turned a coppery brown. Her eyes changed into a deep chocolate color.
“Greetings from Victoria Charleston!” she said in Victoria’s voice. “At last, I will get my revenge on Lillianna St. Clair and her fiendish friends!” She then walked away to the throne room, waiting for Herome to come.
As Herome walked into the castle, he opened his eyes in amazement. Everywhere he looked was beautifully arrayed. Drapes and pictures lined the walls, and many gilded tables and chairs sat on the marble tiled floor. It looked very similar to Queen Strania’s castle on the night of the ball.
“The night of the ball, the night we danced.” Herome said as he remembered that night. The cold touch of Lillianna’s hands on his waist. He missed her so much. His musings were interrupted by Damien nudging him on the shoulder.
“What’s wrong Herome.” he asked.
“I was just thinking of the time Lillianna and I went to the ball at Queen Strania’s palace.” replied Herome. “It made me miss Lillianna more.”
“Just let it go Herome, it will be alright.” assured Damien. “I’m sure your fiancée will be at least as good as Lillianna.” Then he patted Herome on the back and the trio walked towards the throne room. When they reached the door, a guard stood at attention beside it. When he saw Herome he saluted him with mock acknowledgement.
“Ah, Sir Herome, my queen has been waiting for you!” he exclaimed as he gestured towards the door. “Please, come in!” As they walked into the room it surprised Herome even more. the walls were covered in silver guild and the floors were gleaming white linoleum. The throne in the center was made of a glossy gold. On it sat a young girl of about twenty-one. Her hair was braided in gold and her warm brown eyes starred at Herome fondly.
“Welcome, Herome St. Marshal.” she said sweetly. “Have you come to meet your new wife?”
“Yes, Princess Victoria.” Herome said as he gave a low bow. “You are even more beautiful than in your picture!”
“Yes, my dearest. Now we must be getting ready for the wedding.” said Victoria. “Tailor, fit Herome for a suit immediately!”
“Yes, my lady.” yelled the tailor as he rushed through the door. “Come with me, Sir Herome!” As he dragged Herome off, Victoria yelled at her two maids.
“Constance, Cathedra, please take Damien and Bianca to their quarters and help them prepare themselves.” she ordered. A few minutes later two blonde girls rushed through the door and grabbed Damien and Bianca’s arms.
“Come with us!” they said as they dragged them off to their rooms. As soon as they were out of the room, Victoria pushed a button on her throne. It descended into a large laboratory, much like her one at home. There, she started to brew a potion. It bubbled and hissed, as if it was alive. When it was done, she bottled it up and went to bed. Just before she went to sleep, she muttered a short phrase to herself.
“It’s so fun being Victoria.” she snickered, a grin flashing across her face.
The next morning, Victoria held a huge banquet for Herome’s arrival. There was chicken, duck, lettuce, cream of mushroom soup, and many other entrées. While Herome wasn’t looking, Victoria poured some of her potion into Herome’s cup. Then at the end she proposed a toast.
“To Herome’s marriage to me, and many happy occasions to come!” she proposed. Then they all drank, Victoria grinning in satisfaction when Herome finished his off.
That night as Herome was readying to go to bed, he began thinking about Lillianna and her rich red hair and her sparkling blue eyes. He just couldn’t stop thinking about her. He knew it was his duty to marry Victoria and help build up his kingdom. He knew his sister, Fiona, was right. Lillianna was still on his mind day and night though, no matter what Damien said. He just couldn’t help himself.
Meanwhile, Emerelda was watching Herome’s memories as they flashed across the screen.
“Ah, so he can’t stop thinking about his precious Lillianna. Well, it won’t matter soon!” she cackled. “Soon, he will be mine!”
As all this was happening to Herome, Lillianna was running away from the tavern, crying all the way. She ran to a place that she had not been to in a long while, her alcove under the bridge. When she reached it, she was surprised to find it almost as clean as it was when she had left. Besides that, there were lots of cobwebs, but only in the high places. Just then, a small form darted into the room.
“Salinski, is that you!” Lillianna gasped.
“Lillianna, what are you doing here?” asked Salinski, very confused. But then he shrugged his shoulders, walked over to Lillianna, and gave her a long hug. They stayed this way for several seconds, and then started telling each other their tales. Lillianna told her pet all about her adventures with Herome and his breaking of her heart at the tavern.
Salinski told Lillianna about his keeping the alcove clean, and his meeting of Diane, a black talking rat.
“You mean to tell me that you haven’t even written!” yelled Salinski.
“I just haven’t had