16th Birthday

Life continued seemingly as normal (I am not completely certain on that account due to being dropped into this life only recently). I studied to one day succeed my parents, had infrequent trips to the town outside, and was otherwise pampered and left to do whatever. The only thing that is out of the norm is Amati who always surprises me with “Aww, you’re still such a cutie” or something similar. She has taken to impersonating more than maids including my mother once. It seems she does this to be close to me so at least she isn't malicious.

“Why do you keep following me?” I asked as I stopped in the middle of the royal garden. The only one who was with me was my personal butler, who I knew wasn’t my true butler as he was currently helping organize my 16th birthday which is meant to happen next week. I fully turned to my false butler letting my elegant dress flutter in the wind, “Well? I know it is you Amati, you can’t fool me anymore.”

A smile that my butler has never sported before she morphed back into her natural appearance. “Can’t I just want to be close to the cutest girl in the kingdom who saved me from being to work as an actual for the rest of my life?” Amati asked before she changed again into a reflection of me as I raised an eyebrow at her. Her recreation of me looked absolutely perfect with my long flowing pink hair and perfect pale skin. Even the dress that she had to make from her normal clothes looked identical.

“Hehehe, you make the greatest faces especially when you are annoyed! Fine, you got me.” She finally admitted after a fit of giggles as she changed into her natural pink-haired hermaphrodite form. “I wasn’t completely lying, you know? I do like to be close to you for the reasons I stated and the fact that you are the only one that knows my secret and is around my age. Speaking of which, can I invite myself to your birthday party?”

I sighed knowing even if I declined she would attend as a visiting noble or something. “Yes, but before then I need you to actually apply as a new maid so you don’t have to constantly impersonate people.” I conceded before adding a rule. It was frankly a miracle she hasn’t been caught yet by either the person she was impersonating or someone who knew better. “Do you agree?”

Amati scoffed in fake derision at my condition. “Whatever you say, princess.” She said before giggling at the situation. “I still don’t believe I had the pleasure of ever meeting a princess. Anyway, I agree and in fact, let me get to that now.” She then shifted back into the shape of my personal butler to exit the premises of the castle so I hope to re-enter and apply for a job in her original shape.

I watched her go before giggling to myself at her antics. ‘Despite her eccentricities, I do find her and her activities the most interesting parts of the day.’ I thought to myself as I began to walk back toward the main castle. ‘Honestly, she just might be the closest thing I have to a friend. Especially one that is my age anyway.’

The days leading up to my sweet 16th birthday party were hectic for the servants of the castle at least. Even Amati, who got successfully hired thanks in no small part to my personal butler who recommended her, had only the time to inform me that her visits would be less frequent as she helped the other servants. Finally, the morning of that day came and I was awakened by Amati in a maid dress in her normal form, something I still haven’t gotten used to, and my personal butler. They dragged me to the bathroom and helped wash, dress, and finally beautified my sleepy self.

“You look so nobly beautiful.” One of the maids commented as I looked at myself in the mirror. “Now we must make our way towards the main hall where the party is being held.” After she said that my servants led me out towards the main hallway and as we walked I heard the noises of dozens of guests talking amongst themselves. As we entered I heard a thousand pairs of hands clapping as they saw me enter.

The party was a formal affair meaning it wasn’t really a “party” at all and more of a meeting between public figures. I was sitting at a separate table while my parents were speaking to other prominent figures at a separate larger table. It was also less of a birthday that I knew of but more of an acknowledgment that I have lived another year meaning I have been gifted very little in matters of presents. “Princess may I?” An elderly woman asked as she walked over to me.

The senior looked to be a poor peasant or at least she portrayed herself as one as her clothes were clearly nearly as old as her and looked as if they hadn't been washed in weeks. Still, I wasn’t like those nobles in drama or the Beast in that fairy tale so I allowed her to get closer to me. “If she does anything I will make her pay.” Amati whispered into my ear to me as the person sat across from me. She then stood up straight as she said firmly, “Why do you wish to be so close to the princess madam?”

“I am a fortune teller so I wish to tell the future of the princess here at a heavy discount to zero.” The unknown female clarified her purpose. “If you young maid also wants her fortune read then I will happily do it also for free.” I looked Amati in the eyes before glancing back at the senior. “Call it a birthday present.”

Eventually, after a few seconds, I nodded my head and allowed her to grasp my hands and bring them toward herself. She then took one of my hands in one of hers and her other hand was placed above it before her fingers shook as a circle of light appeared on her hand and mine. A minute passed as the lights glowed and she muttered to herself before the lights faded and she went silent. “Hmm, strange… Can I do the maid’s next before I tell you about your fortune?” The elder woman asked us to which I nodded my head in affirmation.

Amati extended her arms and the elder woman did the same thing again. Once it was over the senior had a strange look on her face and fell silent. I looked around the room to find that the room was now silent and it looked like everyone was looking at us. “What did you find elder?” Amati asked the now silent senior.

The prophet audibly gulped before she began her speech. “I have found that a great evil will strike against the world starting in the heart of this kingdom. In doing so this great evil will take capture of the princess here and attempt to make her their bride.” A murmur fell across the main hall before she continued. “However, there is one hope…”

Amati impatiently shouted out wondering. “Who is this hope? This ‘last hope’-!” Amati snickered at something before her face turned sour. “Sorry, continue on.”

“This last hope, as you called it, is a hero. A hero destined to defeat this great evil as their predecessors have done over a century ago.” The fortune teller explained as everyone gathered and waited for her to explain. “That hero or rather a heroine is you… Amati.” Everyone was shocked at the announcement, Amati and I most of all as we hadn’t given Amati’s name.

A lot of things happened after that name was spoken and in the confusion, the clairvoyant disappeared. Plans were made to teach Amati to be a heroine and I was told to head to my room. ‘That person just keeps getting more and more interesting…’ I thought to myself as I readied myself for bed. ‘I hope you she can stay safe and fulfill that prophecy at least.’ With those thoughts in my head, I stayed up for who knows how long before I finally fell asleep.