░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kestle Kingdom , Edios
░ Wednesday, January 4, 1251
░ 8.20 pm
THETIA KESTLE
On our way back from our trip to Breddon with Angela, a servant came to meet me with a letter signed with the King's seal. She gave it to me but I did not feel like opening it directly, I wanted to wait for my family to be with me. The same maid took me to the dining room, where the other members were. As for Angela, she told me that she was going to take a rest.
- "Dear Thetia Kestle. You are invited to Prince Harlan VII Vassethier's cake party on Friday, January 11 at 2:15 pm. A Royal Family carriage will be sent to you to ensure your trip is as smooth as possible. Please accept, Miss Thetia Kestle, my most respectful greetings. On behalf of His Majesty King Harlan VI Vassethier".
I couldn't believe my eyes! I had just been invited to meet the Crown Pri
░ The Royal Castle, Hornsey, The Kingdom Vassethier, Edios░ Tuesday, January 10, 1251░ 2.15 pmTHETIA KESTLE- "It is an honor to meet you your Majesty. I am Thetia Kestle, daughter of Duke Hughes Kestle of Duchess Mary Vassethier".- "The pleasure is mine Miss Kestle, I thank you for accepting my invitation. I am Prince Harlan VII Vassethier. I hope with all my heart that you will have a wonderful time this afternoon. But please, sit down".I did as he said and sat down. I noticed that he was looking me up and down very attentively. Not knowing what to do because of the stress, I started to play with my fingers, waiting for him to ask me a question to fill the silence. I didn't dare to look him in the eye, for fear of appearing rude. Suddenly, I heard him laughing softly.-"Don't be so nervous Miss, everything is going to be fine. I invited you to the cas
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom Kestle, Edios░ Monday, March 13, 1251░ 12.26 pmTHETIA KESTLEIt had been two months since my afternoon with the Crown Prince. We had exchanged several letters in the meantime, and in one of them I learned that our study session had to be postponed to this month, because a new conflict had erupted in their kingdom, and the King had gone with his son to settle the problem. I thought that father would also have to leave, since he was the leader of the royal army of the King of Edios, but apparently the situation would not get out of hand and the King would be able to fight back against any attacks. Just before he left, Harlan VII had written me a nice letter, full of thoughtfulness and prose. Since he didn't know how long he would be gone, he tried to ask his father if he could visit me in Ashton once. However, the King refused his request, as he had no idea how future eve
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom Kestle, Edios░ Wednesday, March 15, 1251░ At 3:40 pmTHETIA KESTLETwo days after my sister's jealousy tantrum, I still hadn't spoken to her and neither had she. Our parents were exasperated by our behavior, but I warned them that it wasn't my place to apologize, but rather my terrible, jealous sister's. Knowing her, she was far too prideful to come and apologize, so she would never do it.She would wait a few days, a few weeks for the matter to settle down and come back as if nothing had happened.Today I received two sad news. First, Angela and Keith were going back to Hiviro for a while to see their family and friends. They really deserved a break, as they had been working diligently for three years to ensure that I would have the right culture for later on. I had heard rumors that the King was putting a lot of pressure on them to get my educat
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios░ Wednesday, June 30, 1255░ At 10:15 amTHETIA KESTLEFour years had passed. I had been twelve years old for five days. I had only four years left before I reached adulthood, before I was engaged to a man I didn't know, with whom I would have nothing in common, who would surely not help me blossom and make me smile every day. Most marriages in the nobility were marriages of interest, mostly political. For example, Angela had told me that the King and Queen met for the first time, two days before their wedding. Fortunately for them, they quickly found common ground and mutual, sincere interests to truly love each other. One could also refer to my uncle, Hezekiah Kestle. He had married Fabiana Di Angelli so he could get revenge on my father. He used her and was used by her, without perhaps even realizing it, too blinded by his illusion of revenge and jealou
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios░ Thursday, July 08, 1255░ At 6:05 pmTHETIA KESTLE-" Replace your feet! Your posture Thetia! You are open, your enemy could take advantage of this opening to stab you with his sword, injure you or kill you!"my father kept shouting.It had been a week since I started my sword training, and the only thing I could say was that it was very hard, much harder than I thought. My father was one of the strongest knights Edios had ever known, few people had ever won against him in a fight. He even proudly admitted to me that the King had lost a friendly duel against him when they were younger.Nevertheless, for a beginner, I thought I was doing pretty well. I received many compliments from the other knights. No one expected a twelve-year-old girl to be able to handle a sword so easily. My father insinuated that it was norm
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios░ Monday, July 12, 1255░ At 3:00 pmTHETIA KESTLESince my brother had returned for the summer vacations, we had spent the last four days together. The morning after he arrived, he asked me to follow him to his workshop, which Mother and Father had built for him while he was in Dracoris. It was located in one of the castle's towers, at the top to be precise. It was Lowis who wanted it to be high up, so that he could practice painting and drawing landscapes. He asked me to sit in a certain way, and for several hours, which in the end began to be interminable, he painted me in the quietest silence. I didn't dare to speak to him because of his concentrated look. It was very difficult not to be able to move for many hours, but I knew that the final result was going to be breathtaking. Once finished, he refused to show it to me. He wanted to add a few more tou
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios░ Thursday, July 15, 1255░ At 11:00 amTHETIA KESTLESince I had spied the discussion between my father, the King and his son, the Duke of Knightford and the Duke Of Pellerisey, I felt that the atmosphere in the castle was becoming more and more tense. The number of soldiers had doubled and now we could not leave without an escort. In fact, each member of the family was personally assigned one. In mine, the only familiar face I knew was the knight Leroy Guillan. I was happy to have him by my side, especially now that he was secretly helping me learn sword fighting. If mother found out, we would be in big trouble.As far as Angela and Keith were concerned, they didn't show that their situation bothered them. They had been ordered directly by King Harlan VI, that they were forb
░ Moore's Boutique, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios░ Monday, July 19, 1255░ At 2:30 pmTHETIA KESTLE-"Mother, Thetia! Hurry!"shouted Jane from the castle entrance, where a carriage surrounded by our escorts was waiting.Today, exceptionally, we had to go to Graham Moore's tailor store in downtown Ashton. I say exceptionally because, we were still not really allowed to go out. Nevertheless, we had to be prepared for the Queen's birthday, we couldn't come dressed in a scruffy way. It was still a major event, where appearances would be the main subject of gossip. Having an outfit that was considered inappropriate or commonplace could tarnish a family's image, regardless of its place in society. Thus, being the second family considered important, we had no choice but to follow these dress codes to please others.Each family had a special code that di
░ The Azure Harbour, The Kestle Kingdom, Edios ░ Unknown date ░ Around 12 am THETIA KESTLE I was standing on the docks of the Azure port, located in the south of the Kestle Kingdom. This port was one of the busiest parts of the southern Kingdom. Ships of all shapes and sizes were moored at the docks, and the sound of shouting sailors and passers-by filled the air. As I approached, I could see the masts of the ships reaching for the sky, proudly waving the flags of various nations. The cargo ships were the most numerous, carrying goods such as spices, cloth, precious metals and prisoners. The docks were crowded with busy people, carts and crates. Merchants bustled around their ships, supervising the loading and unloading of their goods. Peddlers, craftsmen and thieves tried to sell their wares and services as well, while fishermen came to trade their freshly caught fish. The smell of sea salt, fish and ship's oil permeated the air. The cries of seagulls and the sound of the wav
░ The Kestle Kingdom, Edios ░ September 1259 ░ During the afternoon THETIA KESTLE The two lovers ran through the narrow streets of the villages and the dense forests around them, pursued by the soldiers of the imperial army. Their short breaths mingled with the sound of their footsteps, and their hearts beat faster and faster as they felt the soldiers getting closer. Andrew held his beloved's hand, fearing he would never see her again. His survival instinct had taken over. He had to survive! They were both exhausted and scared, but they knew they had to keep running if they wanted to stay alive. Who knows what would happen if they were captured. Andrew knew he would surely be executed, but what about Thetia? Perhaps the public would forgive her, perhaps she would be disowned by her own family and friends? However, he was sure she would stay alive. She was far too important to Edios and the imperial family. They had tried to escape from Hornsey to safety, but soon they were surro
░ The Imperial Castle, Hornsey, The Vassethier Kingdom, Edios ░ Wednesday, September 17, 1259 ░ At 3:00 pm THETIA KESTLE Angela could not believe her ears. Jane Kestle had just revealed to the Imperial family, her family and the entire court of the Emperor, that Thetia, the perfect young girl, had a lover and had no feelings for the Crown Prince. Harlan VII looked lost, sad and gloomy. He felt betrayed by the person he cherished, whom he admired every day and with whom he wanted to share his life. The tutor took advantage of the hubbub to go and warn Thetia and Andrew. She ran as fast as she could. It reminded her of a certain period in her life. She had to keep running to survive so as not to be killed. Without waiting for an answer to enter, she broke down the door and closed it with a loud bang. Both lovers gasped, anxious to have been caught in each other's arms. As Thetia was about to speak, Angela cut her off. "You must flee Edios! There's not a minute to lose!" the usual
░ The Imperial Castle, Hornsey, The Vassethier Kingdom, Edios ░ Wednesday, September 17, 1259 ░ At 2:15 pm THETIA KESTLE In a large room of the castle, Emperor Harlan VI was patiently waiting for his court to arrive. He had summoned the most important members of his kingdom to make an important announcement. All his allies had come, longing to hear what the Emperor was going to tell them. For a fortnight, Harlan VI had been preparing a grandiose reception for the occasion. He had commissioned the best musicians, the best cooks and had even recruited twice as many servants in order to finish in time. Everything had to be impeccable, he had no choice. Oriane and Lydia had taken care of the decoration and had carefully chosen the lunch menu. His family knew what he was going to say in a few hours. One of his children was much more excited and cheerful than the others. Nevertheless, he would have preferred to do it in a more intimate atmosphere and not in front of hundreds of people
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kingdom of Kestle, Edios ░ Sunday, June 25, 1259 ░ At 8:15 pm THETIA KESTLE All the nobility of the allied nations had come: the royal family of Duaples and the ducal family of De Guignes. The imperial family of Acora with all the children without exception. The imperial family of Dracoris who had accompanied Lowis and of course, the imperial family of Edios and all the great families of this same nation. The guests numbered in the hundreds. The streets of the capital were vibrant, festive and the mood was bright. The citizens had decorated the cobbled streets in the colours of the younger Kestle, to show their support for this new young woman coming of age. Thetia looked beautiful on her coming-of-age day. Her long dress was a fiery red and sparkled in the candlelight that decorated the castle's great hall. The puffed sleeves of the dress were made of light red satin, decorated with gold embroidery, pearls and precious stones. Her long hair had
░ The Kingdom Kestle, Edios ░ Monday, February 11, 1258 ░ At 10:20 am THETIA KESTLE Four whole days without news of my daughter. Last Friday, her soldier Andrew and Angela returned to the castle wounded and without a carriage. As I sat at my desk, reviewing important documents, I heard quick footsteps approaching the door. Without waiting to be summoned, a panicked servant opened the door wide and rushed into the room. "Your Majesty! Your daughter, Miss Thetia, has been kidnapped!" she cried breathlessly. Shocked, I rose abruptly from my chair and looked at the servant in disbelief. "How? When? Where is she?" I asked in a trembling voice. The servant, who had caught her breath, explained that a group of bandits had attacked the convoy in which Thetia, Andrew and Angela were travelling. I clenched my fists in rage. "How dare they do that!" I exclaimed angrily. "We must find them now!" I immediately sprang into action, giving precise orders to my soldiers and dispatching mess
░ The Kingdom Kestle, Edios ░ Saturday, February 09, 1258 ░ Unknown hour THETIA KESTLE I didn't know how long it had been since the attack on my carriage. The last thing I remembered was a pain in my abdomen before I passed out. It was a brutal return to reality. I woke up violently and it took several minutes before I could breathe again. I tried to get up and move my arms, but I was tied up. The room I was in was dark and gloomy. There was a small window, but the amount of bars prevented the light from getting in. I heard droplets of water falling on a surface that was probably metal. The repetitive noise was beginning to get on my nerves. Honestly, it was the first time in my life that I was so scared. I was in an unfamiliar place, with strangers and the reason for my kidnapping was unknown to me. Although because of the situation with the Di Angelli's and Hezekiah, I assumed that this was the reason for my kidnapping. Hezekiah would demand a ransom from my family, but not in
░ The Library of the Peak, Beddon, The Kingdom Kestle, Edios ░ Friday, February 08, 1258 ░ At 5:00 pm THETIA KESTLE Four days had passed since my return from Duaples. The conversation with Olivier De Guignes had affected me. In fact, I had nightmares that night about finding myself in the shoes of my grandmother Marie, imprisoned between stone walls, where her only friends were dust and insects. And to think that she had lived this punishment almost all her life... Her tormentor was punished in some way. He died at the hands of his own flesh, which hated him for the treatment he had given his mother. It was far from a judgment, it was an execution. My grandfather Harlan V had never been judged with the dignity of the criminal and tyrant that he was. Very few people knew the truth that Marie De Guignes was locked in a dungeon and threw herself from the top, giving herself death as the only way to escape. I now realized why my parents had never told me about their parents. On both
░ The Azure Castle, Ashton, The Kestle Kingdom, Edios░ Unknown date░ Around 10:00 pmTHETIA KESTLEOne night when the full moon was watching the residents of the Azure Castle, two mysterious figures had crept into the garden. Only the light of the moon allowed them to see where they were going. They had arranged to meet in secret. No one knew about it, not the owners of the castle, not the soldiers making their daily rounds and not the servants who were in their personal quarters resting.A young boy was walking cautiously on the freshly cut grass of this morning. He had shed his soldier's garb for clothes that were less restrictive and much lighter to wear. Nevertheless, he still had his sword at his side in case things got out of hand. This boy, only a few years older than Thetia, was what could be described as a promising swordsmanship talent. The term prodigy did not fit his current abilities, especially since for a person specializing in swordplay to be called a prodigy meant t