The seventh princess

Going to the market in Equedore is usually one of my favorite things. I love seeing all the colorful stalls, smelling the spices, and buying some nice dresses. Today, though, was… different. Mortifying. I was browsing the pottery stand, looking for a new vase for my room, when I saw them. Just a bunch of plain iron spoons on the next table. Nothing special. Except… a loud, brutal internal clang that felt like a bell began ringing in my head the second my eyes landed on them. It wasn't a real bell, of course, more like a sound inside my skull, insistent and unbearable, as if something hungry had just been awakened within me. My hands began to tremble, a strange energy climbing through my ribs.

I tried to ignore it, focusing on a blue vase with painted flowers. But the ringing just got louder, like someone was banging on a metal pot right next to my ear. My hands felt even twitchier, and this weird urge bubbled up inside me, a feeling I couldn't explain. Before I even knew what was happening, my hand shot out, grabbed two of the iron spoons, and shoved them into the little satchel I carried.

My face went hot. What in the world had I just done? I’ve never stolen anything in my life. Especially not… spoons. They weren’t even shiny or interesting! The bell in my head quieted down as soon as the spoons were hidden, but now a different kind of noise filled my ears – the frantic beating of my own heart. I glanced around, praying no one had seen me, my cheeks burning with shame. This was so strange, so wrong. What was happening to me?

After a short while, I regained some composure but my heart still hammered against my ribs. I tried to act normal and glanced at the pretty fabrics at the next stall. I'm hoping nobody noticed my weird spoon moment. I finished shopping and my cart was checked and packaged by the cashier who seemed very happy to see me. She smiled and handed me my bag. As I walked through the security doorpost, a slightly nervous voice came from behind me

 "Your Highness?"

I turned around to see a market guard, looking a bit flustered. He bowed his head slightly. "Forgive me, Princess Isla, but there's been a report…" He hesitated, looking uncomfortable.

"A report?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, even though my stomach felt like it was doing somersaults.

 "Yes, Your Highness. Someone… someone mentioned seeing you place something in your bag without paying." He avoided direct eye contact, his gaze flickering towards my satchel.

 I frowned, genuinely confused. "Without paying? That's… that's not right. I wouldn't…" I trailed off, unsure what I was trying to say because I honestly didn't remember taking anything.

 "Of course, Your Highness. There must be some mistake." He wrung his hands a little. "But protocol… perhaps if you would just allow me a glance into your bag, we can clear this misunderstanding immediately." He still seemed hesitant, clearly conscious of my royal status.

 Just then, a sharp voice cut in. "What's going on here, with the Princess?" It was Mrs. Gable from the pottery stall, her arms crossed and a look of both concern and confusion on her face. "She was just at Mr. Elms' spoon stand."

My eyebrows shot up. Spoon stand? I hadn't even paid it any mind! "I… I don't understand," I said, honestly dismayed.

 And then, Mrs. Gable said, "Princess, Mr. Elms has a security device. It… it seems to have recorded you putting two of his iron spoons into your bag." She looked as perplexed as I felt.

My mouth fell open. Recorded? I reached into my satchel, my fingers searching blindly. And there they were. Two plain, cold iron spoons. How on earth did those get in there? I looked at the guard, who was now looking even more uncomfortable, then at Mrs. Gable, my face hot with confusion and a strange sense of disbelief. I hadn't meant to take them. I didn't even remember seeing them properly. This was so bizarre.

A heavy silence hung in the air. The guard, looking deeply uncomfortable, cleared his throat. "Your Highness," he began hesitantly, "I… I understand this looks… unusual. Perhaps we could discuss this privately?"

"Unusual?" a sharp voice cut in. "What's going on here? What's the hold-up?" Princess Anne swept into the small office from the car she had been waiting for me to get back, her expression imperious. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, moved from the flustered guard to my red face.

 I winced. "Annie, please it's… complicated." I just wanted this whole embarrassing mess to disappear.

 "Complicated how?" Anne demanded, her tone leaving no room for argument. "This man stopped you in the market? Does he know who Papa is?."

The guard straightened, his earlier nervousness replaced by a rigid formality. "Princess Anne, I am under strict orders from the King to ensure the security and order of the market. There was a report." 

 Before he could elaborate, a tall, stern-faced man in the King's guard uniform Liam, entered the office. His gaze was cool and professional. "Princess Isla," he said, his voice even and unwavering. "word has been sent to the palace of this… incident." His eyes flickered to the market guard, then back to me, a hint of something unreadable in their depths.

A knot of unease tightened in my stomach. His presence felt less like a rescue and more like an official investigation.

 "Princess Anne," He acknowledged with a curt nod. "Princess Isla was seen taking goods from the market without paying. The market vendor activated a silent alarm connected directly to the Liam outpost stationed near the market. Given the princess's involvement, the outpost immediately relayed it to the Captain of Guard who in turn informed His Majesty at once”

His tone was respectful but firm, treating me with the same detached professionalism I would any other citizen.

 Anne scoffed. "Taking goods? My sister? This is ludicrous! Isla wouldn't hurt a fly, let alone steal some trinket."

 "Nevertheless, Princess," Liam said, his gaze unflinching, "there is security footage." He gestured towards the market guard. "He informs me it clearly shows Princess Isla placing iron spoons into her satchel."

 Anne's sharp eyes narrowed. "Iron spoons? Why on earth would Isla want iron spoons?" She turned to me, her usual harshness softening slightly with a hint of confusion. "Isla? What is going on?"

 I shook my head, my confusion growing. "I don't know, Annie. I honestly don't. One minute I was looking at pottery, the next… I don't remember anything about spoons until they were suddenly in my bag. It's the strangest thing." The ringing in my head was back, a dull throb behind my eyes and my hands quivered at the mention of the offending utensils.

Anne looked from me to Liam, her expression hardening again. "There has to be a mistake. My sister is not a thief. Perhaps this 'security footage' is faulty, or someone is mistaken." She fixed a demanding stare on the market guard. "You will review this footage immediately, and you will treat the Princess with the respect she deserves. She is the future Queen of Equedore!"

Liam, still with that serious look on his face, said, "With your permission, Princesses, it would be best to return to the palace now. Given the… unusual nature of the situation and Princess Isla's standing, the King should be waiting."

 Anne huffed. "Unusual is an understatement! My sister is being accused of stealing spoons! This is an outrage!"

I just nodded, still feeling confused and a little sick to my stomach. The thought of facing Papa and Mama about this was not pleasant.