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It’s been a week since the king and queen summoned me to be the princess’ handmaid. So far she’s been very nice. She sees me differently than all the other toads and has given me a crown from the shy guy organization to look like it. There are many rumors around the castle about how she's hard to work with and seems power-hungry. I know she’s had a lot of pressure from her mother (mostly) to marry King boo and become queen and she seems determined to do so. She's going to one of the King’s balls tonight to be another one of his suitors. She’s unlike any other princess I’ve seen. I’m sure she can do it.

The only issue I have with this plan of hers is that there are several rumors about how King Boo and how never ever chooses a suitor and is almost impossible to get a hold of at his parties. She needs a way into the family if she wants to court him. The only way to get through to him is through his family, and his parents have passed with the plague long ago now the only way to make it through is through possibly his brother. The cursed Prince Bowser. No one has gotten along with him. He looks scary and acts scary too. It might be too risky for others, but I know my princess can do anything.

The ball is tonight and I know I cannot attend but I will do my best to help her win over the family with her looks and then wait patiently to hear how it went. All I want for her is to see her smile and get what she wants. It’s my job. She’s supposed to be able to confide in me and ask me for advice and I’m supposed to give it to her. I’m there strictly to help her and will do everything in my power to ensure she gets what she wants. Even if that means it’ll put others in trouble.

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The toads have already gotten to rumors from the party. People have surrounded the king since it started. This probably means Peach hasn’t been able to make it in. She doesn’t like to be one of the many. Princess Daisy has made an appearance so at least Peach has someone there. The cursed prince has been spotted dancing with someone but no one has told me who. I know my princess will find a way to make it into the mushroom kingdom in some way, in any way.

The princess has told me she’s met the King before. She was enamored with him from the first time she saw him. It should mean she has a better chance but if the King doesn't even look at her I don’t know if she can directly win him over. He’s been ruling for 20 years with no wife. My princess hasn’t ever tried to go to one of his parties to win him over. So this is different. This will be different for her happiness and mine. I only want to see her happy.

As I listen to the other toad’s whispers, I hear her name come up, “Did you see her? Princess Peach was caught with the prince.” She’s done it. She’s made her way through. Normally, if a royal has chosen someone they would figure out if they were going to let him/her stay for enough days. However, this is my princess we’re talking about. She’s 100% going to be asked to stay. Especially considering, the prince has never been courted.

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I pack Peach and I’s bags to go to the Mushroom Kingdom’s castle for an extended stay. I’m following Peach’s journey. Bowser has apparently been gushing about her non-stop. However, I know that Bowser is not the one Peach is extending her stay for. He has just offered her the chance.

As usual, King Boo was not interested in anyone at the ball. Prince Bowser however... with Peach finally in the castle, she has a plan to occupy his time and maybe he’ll see that she's the best choice that anyone could have. He does not seem interested.

Bowser has been elated and has been seen on many dates with my princess. They are constantly seen in the garden. I know not to interfere with the two but people are already talking about how the two are arranged to marry all she has to do is say yes.

After one night Peach decided to talk to the king about his brother. He seems concerned. It makes sense considering I think the King is the only one who’s never been afraid of him. If Peach decides to say yes she needs to show no fear of him as well, and the King agrees.

“Peach, I can tell you’re scared of my brother.”

“I’m most definitely-,” Doesn’t even give her a chance.

“Save it. A woman like you can handle Bowser fine. You’ll lie with your smile and marry him. Just like you’ve been trying to do with me for the past few weeks. Your family needs it after all,” How disrespectful. Although he's not wrong.

After that Peach decided to confide in me, my favorite part of the job. Showing that she trusts me for advice and that she follows my words. I always need to choose my words carefully as I know she can easily change her mind.

“I mean, what do you think? Do you think I should say yes to the proposal?” She says to me.

I’ve said she needs to get close to Bowser in order to get time with the King but will accepting the proposal close all doors with him? Of course, they could always get closer behind Bowser’s back but that may cause a scandal if they get caught. “Maybe you just need time to see,” I say

“You’re right,” She sighs. “I’ll go home so I can talk to Daisy. She’ll help me.”

I am right here. You don’t need to ask Daisy. I can give you just as good advice, if not better. Daisy was one of the ones who tried to talk you out of extending your stay. Whatever, it's fine. I’ll ask the toads here to collect information for me. It’s not our business to meddle in royal relations but I will do everything in my power as a handmaid to help my princess. “I’ll pack our bags in the morning. Maybe you should tell Bowser you’re leaving when you go meet him tomorrow,”

“Good idea Toadette. You’re always so helpful” She smiles.

That's right. I'm more helpful than anyone else could be and I intend to prove it.

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As soon as we step foot back into our kingdom Peach’s parents are waiting. Her mother and father are eager to hear that she's finally taken the King’s heart. Much to their dismay, she came back with a proposal from his brother.

As I unpack my princess’ bags in her room I overhear the aftermath of the conversation I'm sure she was dreading coming back. She’s just told her father about Bowser's proposal. “Tell me why do I feel sad? I don't wanna marry Bowser.” She says. She seems scared to look at him. As if just with one stare she’ll become a puppet which, she already is.

“No, no, no Don’t you choke. You don’t get a choice, go for the throne!” He says with a shit-eating grin. A grin I’ve seen too many times. When she got an invite to the ball, when he saw me packing a bag after the ball, and when she told them the plan to fall in love with the king.

“For the throne,” in a whisper, she says in a whisper as if she's trying to convince herself, “I’ll be happy as a queen.” she smiles. It does not look convincing though. Her father seems pleased with himself, however. I know she's not gonna take her father's words at face value though. She’s still going to need advice. She's going to call Daisy.

She doesn’t need Daisy here to decide. She doesn't need to talk to Daisy she needs to talk to me. However, I’ve been demoted to getting tea. A waste of my job, a waste of my time. I know her better. After spending this much time with her I know better than anyone else.

I don’t even know why Daisy would be any help. I understand that she believes Daisy has a correct answer but I’m the only one whos been through this with you. I’ve been to mushroom kingdom’s castle with you. I’ve helped execute some plans. I’ve packed and unpacked and repacked the bags. I’ve seen this progress. I’ve seen you get closer than ever before. My princess, you’ve said yourself. I’m helpful. I can be so much more helpful than her.

I overlook the conversation, however, to see if Daisy’s ideas are worth anything. She points out the obvious, “Your parents only want to feed off your success…”

Peach takes a moment before responding, “If I marry Bowser, I’d find my own way to live.” She looks away, a clear tell she doesn’t want to marry the prince.

“You’ll change your ways, and forget King Boo?” Daisy asks moving slightly trying to see her facial expressions instead of paying attention to body language. Of course, she's not going to give up on the king. She’s trying harder than ever before, playing more riskily than ever before.

“Anything to leave this fucked up place behind,” She scoffs in response. Never seeing her parents again, never seeing the pressure put on her, the responsibilities her parents put on her simply by existing. She’d be free. I think that answers the question about the proposal.

I’ll send out the answer tomorrow.

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After a lunch date with her parents she comes back to her room which I am cleaning up and she sighs. “Oh Toadette,” she says, “My handmaid, do you really want to stay here?” I stop what I’m doing for a moment. She wants me to go with her. I wasn’t sure if that was going to be possible but since she asked. She continues, “Come with me and you’ll be the closest ally I know.”

I smile in response, “Of course, anything for you princess.” Not like I would say anything else. I cannot be more excited to leave this place. With her. By her side.

My job as a handmaid. Well if she smiles, that's what I’m after. The smile in her eyes, the sound of her laughter. Happy the listen, happy to play. Pretend to be happy watching her drift away.

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Arriving in the Mushroom Kingdom and everything is set up for the wedding. It was expected to happen a week after accepting the proposal. It’s an arranged marriage so it’s following the schedule perfectly. She looked beautiful and I made sure of that. Politically arranged marriages are never what she wanted. This is for her parents. But at least she seems happy.

I could tell this is the first time King Boo and I could see eye to eye. This wedding was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to watch. We both looked at the marriage with disgust, with different reasons but the same emotions. I know King Boo always saw through Peach’s intentions and I can’t stand to watch her marry someone who’s known her for not even a year. That's my princess.

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The princess and Prince seem all bright and happy for the kingdom and everyone is happy for them. However, inside it is nothing but conflict. Yes, they’ve had their moments of love and admiration. Peach talks to people to make life easier for him. Them truly caring and getting to know each other but it is not all bright and shiny. Peach has had her fair share of breakdowns and panic about the situation and Bowsers had no help due to his anger issues.

People sing her praises for the wrong reasons. “It must be hard being married to the cursed prince. You’re so admirable to take that position!” She has no other choice in the path she wants to make for herself but it's more than just that. She doesn’t love him but everyone expects her to.

“What about MY feelings? I'm a person too! The only people who respect that are Bowser and King Boo!” She's screamed that at a few nosey members of the public. Quickly recovered “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

She's talked to Daisy a few times since the marriage. Daisy seems to think Peach is a victim in this whole arranged marriage which I can agree she is but I would never be allowed to speak on that. I don't have the authority. “I could sit here and whine that my parents fed me my ambition to go for King Boo since I was a kid but I don’t really care. A man twice my age?” She's laughing and I know she still believes in that ambition. She never lets it slip or reveals her true intentions while in the castle walls.

Parties still happen for the King to find a queen every now and again. Peach loves attending the parties while Bowser shies away from them. He doesn’t like going to public areas as he is the “cursed prince” and he knows that people love to point and look. Peach hates it and gets agitated.

She hates how insecure he is in their relationship just because she likes to talk and socialize with others. She's trying to make herself known and people want to know her name. She's trying to get people to like him as much as they like her. Doesn’t he see that she's working twice as hard for both of them? As much as I hate saying it, that is your wife you should respect her.

While Peach and Bowser are making appearances in public I'm doing my best to make sure my princess is comfortable in every way. I know the King is busy with suitor parties and doesn’t have many people paying attention to the staff so I’ve decided to take it upon myself. I’ve been helping the kitchen and cleaning staff keep things in order and being more thorough. My princess likes it a certain way and I will make sure her needs are met. In doing so I’ve become fairly popular with the other employees in the castle.

Most of the Toads like me and let me in on small castle gossip about King Boo or Bowser. Things I mostly know already but I always encourage them to give me any details they think I’ve missed. I let them in on small bits and pieces of my princess but never anything negative or personal. I can’t give too much away.

Some of the toads don’t like me and I know that for a fact. There are very few pink toads. Especially pink ones with a magic crown and a special connection to the princess. I don’t mind it though. I still show courtesy to them hoping that they know more than the others. I need all the intel I can get to help Peach progress in her plan to get King Boo.

Peach has been going out to the parties on her own more after Bowser refuses. It started around the Harvest Ball which is a big fall Holiday in Mushroom Kingdom. “It’s a holiday we have to go!” Peach said. Bowser dismissed her without a word. Disrespectful. “You’re so boring!”

“Sorry, I'm disappointing,” Bowser responded. His tone was disingenuous.

“I’ll go alone!” Peach threatens back.

He doesn’t seem to care though. His response was, “GOOD! Don’t wait for me!”

Since the balls Peach and King Boo have been more social around the castle and he doesn’t dismiss her as “my brother’s wife” and sees her as “Princess Peach” an established woman in the mushroom kingdom.

I would love to know more about what's been happening at the balls and what their relationship has grown into since the Harvest Ball but I’ve been busy making sure everything is to my princesses liking. I wouldn’t even be able to go anyway. I haven’t been able to leave much as the marriage is still very new and fresh although I have been getting the invites to go out.

I’ve only taken one invitation but it didn’t go well. The toads are very understanding of it though which I appreciate. One of the toads took me out shopping and I got cornered by some alternative-looking guy and thankfully some guy helped me out. He didn’t seem like a hero type at all or native to the mushroom kingdom in any way shape or form. Not to matter though. He helped and I can say thank you but now I need to be more careful if I go on any outings in the future.

As my princess keeps going to these balls her sightings get less and less frequent. Daisy or Bowser are looking for her and can’t find her or she's late or she just doesn’t show up. It's surprising considering that she's been trying to get the two to bond and she's not one to let it happen without her. Daisy knows the princess plans to get close to the king but doesn’t let Bowser in on the information. I think she's honestly trying to push her away from that. It's not her business she doesn’t need to meddle.

“She's been so distant lately,” Bowser complains, “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well…” Daisy starts but she hesitates on giving any honest advice.

“What is it?”

“Marriage takes compromising. You should go to the parties with her.” Daisy suggests. Bad suggestion. King Boo finally recognizes my princess as “Princess Peach’ with those parties. I don’t want her relationship with him to downgrade or get intercepted by her husband being with her 24/7 again. Even if it's a suggestion I’m not a big fan of it doesn’t mean it's dishonest.

“I’ll think about it, but I don’t think that will do much,” He doesn't like that it's true. It would work.

“Just a suggestion,” She defends.

Weeks later I guess Bowser finally finds the courage to show up at a party because I don’t see him that entire night. I see the King before I see my princess or the prince come back. After about an hour and after I finish up helping the others in the kitchen I see Bowser and he seems angry. That's never a pleasant sight.

I do not like Bowser. I’m not just jealous of him, he has serious anger issues and my princess has to put up with it. She sees it whenever she has a small altercation with him. She saves face and pretends like it doesn’t bother her after all, she's become good with combative familial arguments. It annoys me because we came here to get away from all that but she's still dealing with it. The Prince has anger issues and I hate that my princess has to be the brunt of it.

As the toads cower behind the walls before leaving I see my princess come out of the same corridor. I follow slowly behind her to help her with whatever she needs. The difference between Bowser, the King, and Peach is stark. The King seemed to be running away like he was late or someone was pushing him out. Bowser being mad makes perfect sense in that scenario. Bowser was mad at Peach for something of course because she's always the problem in his eyes. He was fuming. I feel like I saw smoke coming out of his ears. However, in contrast, my princess is perfectly composed. She doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by whatever went on. I see her almost stumble a few times walking back to her room though. She's not feeling great either I can tell.

I don’t hear about it until the next morning. She stays in her room and asks me to get her breakfast for her. She doesn’t wanna face Bowser again. I guess she needs to compose herself before dealing with it. I understand with Bowser as mad as he was last night I would need to formulate a solution as well.

On the way out I see the Prince and his brother. They seem to be in an argument. “Why did you do it?” Bowser asks. I’m still listening and seeing if I can get any intel.

“I never claimed to be a good person,” King Boo retorts. He’s not looking at Bowser.

“Peach is my wife!” Bowser is trying to remain calm but it's not working.

“My point stands,” King Boo says. Wrong response. Bowser picks the King up by his collar at that. The King breaks his glass, “You’re threatening your king!”

“I’m not threatening my King. I’m threatening my brother!” The prince says. It only seems his grasp is getting tighter.

This doesn’t look good for the King no matter the situation. He can’t seem weak in comparison to a Prince even if they are related. He hasn’t done well in power since his parents died and his crumbling at the will of Prince Bowser is not ideal. “Don’t be a fool! Walk away! Now!”

Bowser does exactly that and I wait a few minutes before preceding. I go into the kitchen and I see the toads talking to some of the women from the party last night.

“That was a bit intense,” One of them says.

“It was! Do you know what it's about?” The other says.

“I mean,” I hear the toad starts. My job is just to grab breakfast and go but, I can’t help but be intrigued. “Ladies, you didn’t hear this from me but, some little birdie told me, Princess Peach is having an affair with King Boo.”

What?