CHAPTER ONE

My cherished Solstice,

Sweetheart, I wish you a very happy birthday. I haven’t written you a letter in a very long time. If my memory serves me correctly, you were only five years old and couldn’t read, so your mother read it to you and you nodded as if you understood it. You were teeny-tiny and incredibly cute, just like your mother. Do you recall when you inquired as to why I was no longer writing you letters? It had been a year since your mother passed away, and it was only that day that I realized your mother had left you as well, that it wasn’t just me. Do you remember how lonely you felt when your mother wasn’t there to tell you stories? I was probably unaware since I was still grieving. Did you miss my letters, my dearest Sol? Do you happen to be reading this?

These previous few years I discovered that my decisions usually disappointed you. Perhaps you were unaware, but I was constantly watching out for you. I noticed you dislike Lady Tremaine, and I'm guessing you didn't wear the wrong dress on our wedding day; you wore the black one on purpose because you despise the fact that I'm marrying Tremaine, isn’t it? Sol, I'm not going to hold that against you. Perhaps I was mistaken in thinking you needed a mother as much as I needed someone to love me as much as your mother did. Sol, I was mistaken. So, so, so wrong. Please accept my apologies. I hope you can reclaim the happiness you lost when your mum passed away. I'm glad I married Tremaine, as much as it irritates you, which is why it saddens me so much that you don't like her. I don't blame you; you're in charge of your own emotions. What I'm asking of you is that you be kind to her; it saddens me to see you two fighting.

Sol, I love you so much. You are everything to me, my lovely, wonderful daughter. That is something you must never forget. Please don't compare my love for you to Tremaine's. If that means you'll be safe and sound, I'll catch all the wicked magic while widening my arms. I wish you a happy birthday, Solstice.

Love,

Father

I've read my father's letter several times, but today is the first time I've sobbed uncontrollably. My father passed away barely a week ago, making this letter more more painful than it was when he originally presented it to me. I confessed that it was the nicest gift he'd ever given me, but I hesitated to tell him because I was cheesed off. I recall being thrown for a loop when I found out he had written me a letter. On my birthday, I read it a hundred times.

And now that he'd passed away, I was reminiscing about the days when I refused to speak to him, meet him, or be with him. My entire body is filled with regrets and sorrow. He didn't even mention his ailment to me. I only found out about it when I saw him for the last three days of his life. It's excruciatingly painful. I haven't told him how much I love him... that my outrage at him marrying another woman is irrational and immature. I assumed he married Tremaine because he no longer loves my mother. But I put it out of my mind when I spotted him stroking one of my mother's paintings in her abandoned room.

I take the letter from the small vintage box and open it. Along with that, I notice a necklace. I forget it's there; I have no recollection of wearing it after my father handed it to me. It has a pendant in the shape of a heart. It is breathtaking to behold anytime the sun shines on it.

I wiped my tears away and wrapped the necklace around my neck. In this way, I shall always remember my father. I'm not sure if it will help with the mourning, but it's a start.

  “Solstice!”

I shiver. I instantly put my things in order. I returned the letter to the box and tucked it beneath my bed. Anastasia won't notice my jewellery because of my long blonde hair. She's always envious of my possessions.

The door swings open before I can get to it, exposing Anastasia in her normal irritable attitude. Her extremely black hair is pushed up into a tight bun, giving her the appearance of being in discomfort. Her outfit does not appear to be very appealing. It doesn't even go with the earrings and necklaces she wears to make herself shine.

Well, she's shining.

In a very eyesoring way.

   “What do you want, Anastasia?”

   “It’s time for dinner. Are you not tracking of the time? And you haven't cooked yet! Mother will be furious!”

   “Anastasia, why don’t you cook for yourself? Don’t you think I need some time to grieve? My father passed away only a few weeks ago!”

“What good will you get from mourning, Sol?” she snorts, shaking her head. “Will it persuade your father to resume his life? No?”

   I gasp. “What are you saying? Are you not sad that he's gone? You’ve always loved him!”

   “What? Drizella may adore him since he allows her to do whatever she wants. But, Sol, I despise your father utterly. Mother simply married him because he is a king, which automatically makes her a queen!”

  “You’re lying!”

   “I certainly am not! Now, go down and cook for us, you servant! Your father won't be happy that you are not being kind with us!”

Anastasia shut the door in front of my face.

I sit on the bed.

Is it true? Tremaine doesn't love father? She married my father just for the throne?

It will most likely make me joyful in different conditions. Knowing Tremaine is every bit as terrible as I had feared. However, it aches because my father believed... Tremaine, he assumed, loved him as much as my mother did.

That heinous being. I had a feeling she wasn't going to be any good. She's probably out there telling all her friends that she's to be the queen.

   “Solstice!”

   “I’m coming up!” I say before standing up.

I touch the necklace around my neck as if it gives me strength. Things might be very unpleasant starting this day.

And the only thing that keeps me going is the throne.

I need the throne. There's no way I will let Tremaine rule the kingdom. She's the worst.

I'm not claiming to be a good leader, but I do have a heart, whereas she does not. If it's true that she only manipulated my father to get to the throne, I'll use all of my might to stop her.

***

   “Solstice! Come up here at once!” I hear Tremaine’s voice.

I mutter something. This is the final warning. Tremaine despises shouting because she believes it is unladylike, yet if she does, she is too upset to consider proper queenly manners.

I refuse to let her shout my name a second time. In the mirror, I examine myself. Next to my bed, I take the yellow ribbon from my sewing machine. I recall it being taken from Drizella's chamber since she has a collection of various gown ribbons. She enjoys dressing up, which is very amusing given her lack of attractiveness.

Before going out, I put my hair in a low ponytail. I'm welcomed by dust and webs from every corner of the basement as I make my way down. I've only been here for two days. Tremaine had dumped me here just a few days after my father's funeral. I expected it to happen in some way, but I didn't anticipate being allowed to sleep here with spiders and all. She doesn't truly care for me, after all.

After I finish serving their nasty faces, I'll clean up this shambles.

I can’t believe I slept in this room with all of these stuff in it. At the very least, my room is a far cry from this filthy basement. I’m delighted I came across it. I thought I'd be sleeping with all those webs and spiders crawling on my skin, but then those hours that I stayed awake to mourn for my father's sudden death led me to discover a room inside the basement. It's hidden behind the boxes and old paintings from the castle that Tremaine ordered to be thrown away because it bothers her.

My room is small but clean; it almost feels as if someone had come to stay for a while before fleeing. A little bed and a working lamp are included. The windows, which view the woodland behind the castle, are dusty but may be cleaned. Birds and butterflies appear to enjoy this spot as well. They keep me company and chirp as if they can actually communicate with me. I also discover a sewing machine, which I'm pleased I discovered since I would have died of boredom if I hadn't.

I will clean the basement later.

I regret not including it when I cleaned my room. How can I ever forget it? It is the place I would be greeted by the moment I decided to go to my room.I was probably concerned with everything that had been going on. I’m hoping Tremaine and my stepsisters never find out that I sleep soundly every night in here, because if they do, they’ll be the ones having sleepless nights. They despise it when I’m content. When I own virtually everything in this fortress, it’s as if I don’t deserve any luxury.

Finally, after figuring out how to avoid the thick webs that seem to grow thicker every time I try to find a route out, I emerge from the basement. I’m relieved that I can still smell fresh air after the dust had filled my nostrils to capacity.

Unlike the basement's drying woods, marbles welcome me with gleaming color. I find myself missing my former room. When I informed my father about it, it was enormous and made of marbles, just like I wanted it to be. I'm currently sleeping in the basement. If my father is still living, what would he say? Would he be furious with Tremaine for dumping me there?

I'm not sure. If my father were here, I doubt Tremaine would do this to me. She wouldn’t even want to enrage him.

I make my way to the piazza, where I expect Tremaine to be. The hallway leading to it appears to be quite dark—until I noticed Tremaine had changed the color of the drapes, paintings, and floor. After a week, the castle is no longer the same. How can she make such a drastic transformation in such a short period of time? Who would want a castle like this? It appears to be dreary and lifeless. It's as if there's a shift in energy, which was so different while my father was still home.

When I see Tremaine's image hanging on the threshold wall, I come to a halt. My hands curl as I take a deep inhale.

   “Beautiful, isn't it?”

As I see her approaching me, I clench my teeth. She most likely noticed me staring at her portrait. It's also not particularly attractive.

“Mother, where is the portrait?”

She stares at me as if she's making fun of me. “Can you tell me about the portrait?”

“There was a portrait there before. It's a portrait of our family. “Can you tell me where you put it?”

“Oh. I gave it to the servants. Why? Should I instead give it to you? You can inquire of them.”

Is it true that she gave it to the servants? What gives her the right to do that? It's one of the castle's most valuable paintings! It's the Canmore Family picture!

 “This is a portrait of my family! Mother, please replace that. It is not yours to chuck the kingdom's portrait. That belongs to Canmore.”

She gives a warm smile. “Sweetheart, the Canmore family no longer reigns supreme over the kingdom. Because it is me, my portrait deserves to be there. Isn't it wonderful to be greeted by Her Majesty the Queen?”

“I am a Canmore, Mother. At the very least, you can change your portrait with mine.”

Her brows are cocked up. Her eyes narrowed into slits, as if telling me not to say anything else. Her long black hair that falls to her breast, combined with her black lips and a gown studded with gleaming black stones, make her a terrifying sight to see. No matter how courageous I am in front of her, a part of me is constantly terrified by her sheer presence.

“You are not deserving of the title of queen, Solstice.”

I'm relieved she says something. I'll be much more terrified if she remains silent and stares at me as if she's planning many murders.

“Neither are you, Mother.”

After that, I don’t say anything else. She has an odd expression on her face when she stares at me. It’s as if I’m perplexing her. It’s the first time we’ve spoken in person since she married Father. I try to stay away from her because she makes me feel uneasy. There’s some… negative energy around her. I’m glad she does nothing more than throw me down the basement. I believe she's capable of the worst.

   “Tell me, Solstice. If neither of us are worthy of the throne. Whoever is?”

That questions is something I thought about every night but come up with nothing.

I’m not sure, but I’m willing to move heaven and earth to ensure she never gets what she wants.