Chapter 1 BRAT PRINCESS

Centuries ago, in the northern part of the Hemisphere continent. A huge and flourishing kingdom existed called Oenothera where humans resided and ruled by a royal family of three. The King, the Queen and their sole offspring, the Princess. They were known as warm hearted rulers who treated their people in equal status with their down to earth kindness.

Today, the whole kingdom was busy preparing for the beginning of their Princess Rafaella's courting tradition according to the king's messenger who had spread the statement just as the sun broke down. The whole kingdom rejoiced, getting trailed with the princess' mysterious pursuer. It is said that the prince who asked for their princess's hand in marriage came from the southern part of the continent. It would last for about seven days and seven nights and after that, she would be the one to pay the Prince a visit to his kingdom in accordance with the process before getting married.

In the north wing alongside of the castle where the princess chambers were stationed, a woman was snoring in her wide heart-shaped, light shade of pink bed. She had long golden hair that massively covered her beautiful face. Though wrapped with her enormous blanket, her entire demeanor oozed beauty and perfection which is unrivaled to anyone in their kingdom.

RAFAELLA 

"Rafa…" a soft and angelic voice rang in my ears. 

"Hmmm…" I moaned, shifting into another position.

"Rafaella…" there's that angelic voice again but this time it was accompanied with a few gentle taps on my arms. Damn! Annoying!

"Ugh…" I finally groaned and opened my eyes in irritation. "What the hell? It's still so early in the morning." I whined sleepily. 

I felt so damned tired and I want to sleep more. Sneaking from the palace to meet my cousin, Red, and roam around the forest to hunt for something I didn't know was exhausting. But nonetheless I still enjoyed it. It's been so long since I sneaked out. And last night, I was lucky that the guards failed to catch me while climbing on my window.

"My lady, you have to get up." My personal maid, Ada tried to persuade me with the softest voice she could ever muster to prevent pissing me off. She knows me very well. She would be walking on eggshells the whole day if she happens to appear on my bad side. Not a good choice for her! 

I wasn't actually like this before but these days have been too irritating for me. I don't know why but something was bothering me deep inside. It's like my body was called by something that I couldn't figure out. I wonder if it's about the story that my mother told me when I was young. This odd feeling put me into a sour mood and I couldn't help but lash out at Ada.

Yeah! I've become a brat! A bratty royal princess! I should be happy with this 'princess title' right? But no! I am not! Since the day that said I was taken away from the palace, my father, the king whose name is Rafael and my mother, the queen whose name is Zabelle, began to deprive me of my freedom. My freedom to roam around the forest - alone!

Well, you might wonder how I ended up fussing about this. Here's the exaggerating story! But I really doubt if it actually happened.

The Queen, my mother told me when she got married to my father, happened to knock off one of his avid pursuers. Knock off means defeat in every challenge. Yeah, my father was such a hot prince before who was swarmed by his kingdom's deep and unconditional admiration especially to women. He had this charismatic aura that held dominance, superiority, and at the same time down to earth sweetness. Those pursuers of his wanted to have a taste of it but too bad he had this freaking obsession towards my mother solely.

My mother wasn't that bad either. She's beautiful. She's a princess though. She's a trained warrior by her father when she was a little and that had become her advantage to overcome the challenges in winning against her opponents. She got the title of queen in fair and square fights. I admired her for that.

The old ways to pursue a prince were really amusing. Whether you held the title of a princess or a pauper, that doesn't matter. The importance was that you would be able to overcome the challenges given by the king and queen to win their son's affection. There the challenges start until it ends to a final match. My mother took the challenge seriously and fought against a beautiful pauper. Huh! She was attracted to my father ever since the day she fell her eyes on him and so she joined the renounced challenge with full determination to win him over. In the end, she took his breath away and right there and then, they got married.

Too fast right? Yeah! I think so too, it even sounds hilarious for me but what can I say? I was all in the past! I was just hoping that those ridiculous ways of pursuing a man to get married would dissipate and would be replaced by the opposite idea. Yeah, I actually heard that it was changed but I'm not sure. Men should be the one pursuing the ladies and not the other way around. Anyways, that opponent of my mother wasn't actually a pauper. She's in disguise to lure my father. She's a powerful sorceress that hides her real colors from them. She was obsessed with my father and refused to admit defeat! She's a freak, they said.

When my parents declared my existence in my mother's womb, that witch appeared and pointed her damn wooden stick at me. She fucking cursed the poor me while I'm still nestling down there innocently. And that didn't come to an end, when I was pulled out from my mother's womb, she appeared once again and she took me away from the palace under our guards' watch. They could have seized her on the spot but damn! She's using her unicorn. I mean broomsticks and the guards couldn't make their horses fly. My parents were freaking out. They gathered our entire  forces to find me and yes they did find me after a month roaming in the forest. How? I didn't have any idea how I ended up in the forest. But one thing caught my parent's attention, my hair had changed its colors. That put them baffled though. No one can even explain it either. Our kingdom sorceress couldn't figure it out nor our kingdom's healers. That reality sucks!

"My lady…" Ava called out again softly.

"Yeah, I'm getting up." I mumbled dryly and jumped off from my favorite heart-shaped bed. Now my feet landed on the cold marble floor making me wince. I grimaced. The coldness hit my nerves making me shiver on the spot.

"You're sleepers, my lady…" Ada bent down to assist me into wearing it. I could have done it alone but there was a time that she was scolded by my father because I insisted on doing it alone and I appeared on their sight with inexact pairs instead. Since that day, she has refused to let me do these things on my own and I just let her be. Even if I could already handle it I still let her be as she wouldn't take no for an answer.

I roamed my greenish eyes around my spacious room. Why does it look crowded now? What's going on? There was a newly installed wardrobe which seemed new to my eyes. It was quite a lot bigger than mine. Painted purple and intricately marked in white and most gold! Ugh! I hate gold! My hair could blend with it! I wonder what's inside and why was it in my room?

"Ada, what's that?" I pointed my finger towards the new furniture arrogantly. My greenish eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"That was a present sent especially for you, my lady." Ada mumbled softly, lowering her eyes.

"Under what occasion?" I raised a brow in confusion. As far as I could remember, my birthday had already passed a month ago. That was my 20th birthday to be exact.

"Ah, uhm…" Now, Ada began to stammer as she looked at me nervously. Why was that? There must be something happening behind my back. I know it! I just need to press her more and she would eventually spill it in no time.

"What? Please go on talking." I snapped, glaring at her suspiciously. I can't believe this! I know this wasn't her fault as she only carried on her task according to my parents orders but still it pissed me off and she is no exception! My blood was now starting to boil!

Bang!

My two wide doors burst open and emerge my father and mother without even bothering to knock. How ethical this couple is!

"Rafaella, why aren't you dressed up yet?" My father barked at me sharply, seizing me from head to toe with displeasure evident in his eyes.

"Since when did King Rafael begin to interfere in my daily affairs?" I scoffed. My voice was laced with impeccable sarcasm.

"Rafa!" My mother warned sternly, glaring daggers at me.

"Oh, my dear daughter." My father ignored my hot temper which surprisingly pissed me off even more. "Soon, I wouldn't be the one to interfere in your daily affairs but your husband alone." He grinned at me mischievously.

My eyes widened in pure shock. No way! I'm just 20 years old! I'm still young! I don't need to hurry up scrambling in the altar to get married! I shook my head adamantly. "I'm not getting married this early!" I swore, gritting my teeth.

"Oh Yeah? Like you could have chosen another choice." My father snorted coldly and snapped his fingers thrice in a row. "Servants!" He began to call out using his stern and powerful voice.

My greenish eyes snapped wide open this time. My jaws dropped at a perfect angle. A dozen women entered my room with lots of boxes held in their hands. Each one of them held a different baggage that made my heart skip a furious beat. Damn it! They dropped them in front of me and bowed half of their body as a sign of respect. What the heck? I don't recall having these faces in our kingdom!

"My lady, we came from the Kingdom of Euratus. We were sent here to doll you up by our very own, Prince Erick." One of the servants announced, making my eyes widened even more in shock. 'Prince Erick?' I haven't heard of him before. Even that kingdom didn't register in my mind. Whatever! I sneered inwardly. Who cares? 

I glared at my parents or more intensely at my father who at the very moment couldn't help wearing a wide grin on his face. My eyes shot wide, ramming back and forth from the servants to them sending signals to explain the 'dolling up' matter to me. I pursed my lips and waited as my father began to clear his throat. My heart started to drum wildly beneath my chest. This isn't what I'm planning with my life! I want freedom and not shackles! Oh! Please no! 

"Rafaella, Prince Erick Devone from the kingdom of Euratus is asking for your hand in marriage and I already sent my will of an agreement to it. He will be arriving in a few moments later and you must get yourself ready to receive him."