Field Notes of Aurelia

I suppose some context is in order.

I was born in Aurelia, a sunlit kingdom known for its wildflower fields, stubborn traditions, and a library so vast it smells of parchment even from the courtyard. As the youngest daughter, I was never destined for the throne: too many cousins, sisters, and heirs stand before me in the line of succession. A fact that suits me perfectly. Queens must sit still. I do not. Thus leading me into my career. I travel and write about it.

My wandering, however, proved… inconvenient. The Guild (who prefers ink neat and records tidy) grew tired of my “spirited dispatches.” Their solution? Assign me a scholar—a brilliant, arrogant boy named Sebastian whose job is to edit, correct, and, in his words, “preserve dignity.” Mine, apparently.

And so, these are my field notes: the unpolished versions, written before his red ink finds them. If they smudge, stumble, or stray into mischief....well, that’s the point.

So apparently people have started making fan videos of us. Which is fine. Harmless, even. Until you all decided to include… that part....or parts.....

Yes, fine, the kisses happened. But it was part of an undercover exposé — not some fairytale moment meant to be looped in slow motion with dramatic music. The Guild would call this “documentation.” I call it a personal attack.

Apparently I’ve “lost a bet.” The consequence? Being forced to share this ridiculous display of Sebastian Ashcroft including him unbuttoning his shirt like the world’s about to end.

Consider this my formal apology to your feeds. The Guild assures me this is “cultural documentation.” I assure you it’s blackmail.

Note to Readers:

This is what got me in trouble. The Guild retracted it. Sebastian redacted it. The Chancellor pretended he never read it. But here it is anyway — the article that earned me a babysitter. Enjoy.

✍️ The Article (Unedited Draft)

https://www.instagram.com/audrye.royaldispatch/

https://www.instagram.com/sebastian.royaldispatch/

Since the Guild insists I provide full transparency, I suppose I should introduce the boy they’ve chained me to.

This is Sebastian Ashcroft, Laurean Scholar, top of his class, and apparently so brilliant that the Guild decided only he could keep me in line. He’s 20, already insufferably arrogant about it, and corrects my spelling mid-conversation (yes, aloud).

They say he was sent to “edit my dispatches” and “uphold the dignity of Aurelia.” Translation: make sure my notes don’t read like adventures and daydreams, but like proper Guild records.

He calls himself a scholar. I call him a chaperone with spectacles. He’ll tell you he’s here to maintain accuracy. I’ll tell you he’s here because I was “getting too wild.” Both are true.

So, welcome Sebastian. Do try not to believe everything he writes.

Greetings, readers— I am Princess Audrye Deveraux of Aurelia, though titles weigh more heavily than I care to admit. Officially, my dispatches are meant to be polished, bound, and edited (usually by Sebastian, who insists on “accuracy” over charm). Unofficially, these field notes are mine alone: scribbled in haste, ink-stained, and sometimes smudged with wildflower pollen.

I write of what I see beyond palace walls—lanternlight journeys, chance encounters, and the chaos of travel. These are the fragments before they become the Guild’s “official record.” If you prefer things tidy, wait for Sebastian’s version. If you prefer them honest, welcome to mine.