CHAPTER ONE

“You can’t be serious, Father!” 

“You are the second born, Celeste.” He slammed his thick fist on the as his voice boomed throughout the room. “Its your duty to marry into another kingdom. You know that.”

    I shook my head and gathered the ends of my dress as I spun away from him and stomped toward the door. “You can’t force me to do this!” 

“I am your father and your king. You will obey me.”

I could hear the smirk behind those words; he knew I had no more to say on the matter. My eyes narrowed into slits, and I turned and walked back towards him, standing tall.

    “I might not have a say in your regard, but I am in the right to decide on who and who I will not love in my own heart.”

    He scoffed. “You don’t even know what love is, girl.”

    I quickly halted mere inches from him. “-And whose fault would that be?” I spat back, venom lacing every truthful word. Determined to hold the ferocity in my expression,

I turned on my heel and stormed out.

“Princess?” Maid Emma asked, clearly scampering along after me.

I didn’t respond, just kept walking toward, my room.

Once I made it to my room, I slammed it behind me and took long, hurried strides across the room to my bed. I threw myself onto it, caring little to ruining the perfectly laid blanket resting upon it, and sprawled about, sniffling into my pillows grasped in my trembling hands.

When a knock on the door cut through my sobs, I quieted, my racing heart strong in my ears. I didn’t respond, but the door opened anyway.

“Celeste?” My brothers voice came from the doorway.

“I don’t want to go to a different kingdom, Mave,” I said through my tears, barely lifting my face from the dampened pillow. “Why’d I have to be second born?” I gripped my pillow with my well-tended nails into the fabric. Pressing my face into the soft velvet, I screamed into my pillow, unable to contain my rage.

His footsteps grew louder, and I felt his weight on the edge of my bed. “I know.”

I inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly, attempting to calm myself as I sat up. “This is my home, not the kingdom of Alastia. I don’t want to live there, and I don’t want to marry Prince Senya! I want nothing to do with that horrific family and their terrible deeds!” 

Mave placed his hand on mine. “You can’t believe every piece of gossip that crosses your ears, Celeste. Maybe they aren’t as bad as rumoured.”

“Maybe they are worse! I do not want to marry him!” The thought of being a wife to the prince sent a shiver through my body. I refuse to show him any kind of mercy or romantic partnership, whatsoever.

He sighed. “I’m afraid Father is correct. You do not have a choice. It’s the duty of the king’s children to succeed our kingdom, Cele.”

“You’re the next king can’t you reverse it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You know making such a bold change to our kingdom’s rules would never be accepted. It is carved too deeply, in the foundation of our people.” He ran his hand through his pitch black hair. “Besides I can’t change anything until I’m wed, and am crowned king, and you are set to leave to Alastia tomorrow. I can’t very well marry princess Vera tonight.” He playfully leaned into me, nudging my shoulder.

“I suppose not.” I slid off the edge of my bed and approached the window on the far wall, holding my hand out to touch the beam of waning sunlight filtering through the open drapes. I placed my hands on the windowsill and leaned forward as my eyes drifted along the courtyard below where I had spent countless hours running and playing as a young girl. Now as a young woman, it was my favorite spot to read in the early evening hours when few walk the paths and enjoyed all the colors of the flowerbeds. “Do you love her?” I blurted out, my gaze still on the courtyard gardens.

“I...Where did that come from?” I spun to face him, determined for an answer.

“I guess you could say that. I don’t dislike her,” he answered as his cheeks turned a pinkish hue.

“See. That’s the difference. You already like her. I’m being sent off to a strange and scary kingdom where they treat their people like rotting meat. How can father do this to me?” 

“It’s best for our kingdom, Celeste. I might be king soon but you have a bigger role to play as Queen of Alastia.”

I couldn’t help but scoff. “Please. Father just wants me gone, and we both now why. You don’t have to sugarcoat it. I still hear it to this very day from the elder maids who cared for her. They think they are complimenting me, as though our resemblance is a gift. Maybe it would be if he would stop treating me this way! It’s not my fault I look just like Mother, but he’ll punish me for it for the rest of my life.”

Mave looked away, we both knew the truth, so he didn’t try to persuade me otherwise.

“Reguardless of all that, you must fulfil your duties. You’re not a commoner, Celeste.” 

His sympathetic tone was now gone, replaced with one too much like our fathers. “You’re a princess, and everyone in both kingdoms will be watching. Besides, you will not be going alone, dear sister, Maid Aris will be accompanying you and will stay by your side. I will be visiting as soon as I can once everything is settled.” He stood, straightening his cloak and started toward the door.

    I huffed and crossed my arms as I leaned back against the window frame. “So, Aris will be joining me?” 

    “Yes,” He said sharply without turning back to face me. “That was the agreement I made with Father.” With that he was gone.

Tears began to soak my cheeks as I spun toward the window thinking that tomorrow would be the day I said goodbye to my family, to my home—the only one I had shared with Mother. My hand lifted to my chest in a feeble attempt to soothe the weight pressing down upon me.

    I wandered aimlessly along the wall and before long found myself standing in front of my favorite picture of my mother wearing a lovely rose colored dress. She was so beautiful with her white hair and silvery soft gaze as she sat in her throne, a golden crown perfectly perched atop her head. Her poised stature was pure elegance, her back straight and chest lifted. “I wish you were here Mother,” I whispered, wiping away my tears.

I gathered my turquoise dress and forced myself away from her picture, just as the doors opened again, this time revealing my maid, Aris.

    “Hello miss,” Aris said, bowing lightly with a small smile on her young face.

I swallowed hard; knowing I wouldn’t be leaving alone brought me some comfort. “Hello Aris.”

    “May I pack your things to get ready to leave tomorrow?” She tilted her head, clearly waiting for my permission.

    “You may do what you wish, Aris," I said with a casual flick of my hand. I slowly made my way over to my bed and smoothed out the silky fabric before sitting on the edge. "Aris?" 

"Yes milady?"

"Do you want to come with me to Alastia?"

She looked taken aback.

"Beg your pardon, Miss. I'm not sure I fully understand the question."

"I'm asking you if you are sure you want to leave this kingdom to accompany me to a different one. Your family is here. You certainly wouldn't want to leave them behind would you? You can be honest." I watched her carefully.

Aris tilted her head before a sad smile formed on her face, and she placed a strand of dark brown hair behind her ear.

"I may miss them, but I'd rather stay by your side, miss. If that's alright with you.

I smiled. "If that's truly how you feel, Aris, I'd be happy to have you take care of me for now on."

"Thank you for the honor, milady." She bowed gently and made her way to my closet, where she quickly sifting through my dresses.

"What color are you feeling for tomorrow, miss?"

I held my head high, her image strongly in my mind. "I want to where, Mother's rose colored gown."

Aris all of a sudden she dropped the dress she had been holding and her body went limp for a moment. 

 "Are you sure about that miss?" 

"Is there a problem?" 

"No, no it's just my mother, informed me that the king made them burn everything she owned." 

 Anger began to bubble in my chest as she picked up the dress and placed it onto the table.

"However mama always figured this day would come, so…" She pushed so deep into the closet that I lost sight of her.

I began to follow her until almost magically, she reappeared with my mothers dress in hand and a wide smile on her pretty face.

I gasped in disbelief. "You mean...Isla knew I'd want the dress back then? I was only four when she died ."

"Mama always said once a motherly bond is made, you can never break it." 

I nodded in awe, as I stared at the dress. Pink rubies and clear diamonds sparkled on from the center bodice surrounded on three sides with fabric made out of the finest silk.

 "Would you like to try it on, miss? That way if it requires any altering I can have it contoured to your liking." 

"May I?" I said with a smile plastered on my pale face.

 She helped me take off the black dress and slip into the pink one. It fit perfectly on my lean body. She zipped up the dress in the back, and I closed my eyes the embroidery weaving between the gems sewn on the front. 

I took a deep breath.

It was like she was next to me again, smiling over my shoulder as she brushed my hair, talking about how beautiful my wedding would be. If she were here, I would not have been marrying Alsatia’s king. She would have made sure the man I married treated me right; perhaps he could have even been someone I loved.  

I opened my eyes again to realize I was crying, and instead of my mother at my side, it was Aris.

She was smiling. “You look just like her…, identical, mi lady.” She stepped back, looking over my mother’s dress—my dress. “It doesn't look like it needs any hemming done either. Oh, you look just beautiful.” Her face turned a blushed pink, and her eyes became glossy, and reminiscent.

"I wish she were here," I said abruptly as tears continued to fall.

Aris wrapped her arms around me in a gentle but comforting hug. "She would be so proud of you, miss."” She swept a strand of loose hair away from my face, and I hugged her back.

"You think so?"

“I can guarantee it," Aris gave me a tight squeeze before letting me go.

I cleared my throat. “Yes, well, I should change before I dirty it.” I pulled my hair away from the zipper as she unzipped the dress.

“Shall we get you ready for bed?” she asked, hanging my gown in the closet.

Aris helped me undress out of my shift once more and put into my sleeping gown. I sat in a chair as she brushed out my hair extending down past my shoulders.

“Do you think Prince Senya will still want me when he sees my red eyes and white hair?” I asked, picking at my dead ends, just for her to brush it again.

“Don’t be ridiculous. He will find you absolutely stunning.” She encouraged me, sweetly.

I looked down, unsettled by her response. I was well aware she was trying to be helpful; however, I hoped she would say the opposite.

"Is there something wrong, Princess?" Aris asked as she finished brushing my hair.

"I'm scared, Aris.," My voice broke, trying to avoid making no eye contact with her.