THE TRUE MONARCH

II

ALARA:

"I’m Clare James, and I'm truly grateful for your help," I stated, a touch of sincerity in my tone, as I subtly patted myself on the head, secretly reveling in the success of my impromptu acting.

Dominic acknowledged my words with a nod, but before any more could be said, a vivacious girl energetically shoved him aside, delivering a playful slap to his shoulder. "Move it, Dom," she declared with a teasing grin, prompting him to stand up.

"Fine," Dom groaned good-naturedly, getting to his feet.

The newcomer extended her hand towards me, introducing herself with an infectious smile. "Hi, how are you feeling? I'm Ivy Xander, their sister," she said, motioning towards both boys.

"I'm feeling fine, thank you," I replied with genuine warmth, reciprocating the handshake.

Dominic, always eager to share, attempted to introduce another person. "Yo, erm..."

"Yes," the boy with intriguing green eyes and sleek black hair, who had been standing a bit apart, responded to him.

"That's Jeremy Xander. He's the head around here," Dominic informed me, his golden eyes radiating a welcoming warmth. Ivy, a confident presence with black hair and piercing green eyes, shared an unmistakable familial resemblance with Jeremy.

Jeremy, exuding an air of authority, fixed his gaze on me. "Who are you?" he asked with a measured tone, and though a laugh threatened to escape me, I managed to keep a straight face.

Suddenly, the room's atmosphere shifted as an alarm blared to life. Jeremy efficiently pulled out his phone, his voice hushed as he stepped out to address the situation. Dom and Ivy exchanged questioning glances, and a peculiar electric buzz coursed through my body, though I chose to dismiss it. Footsteps approached the room, and I turned around, preparing to face whoever was entering.

AIDEN:

s we neared the Academy, a subtle electric buzz coursed through my body, and I instinctively tightened my grip on my cloak. The prospect of reuniting with Alara after a decade and a half filled my mind with a myriad of questions—how had time sculpted her? What nuances had life etched on her face? Inhaling deeply, I crossed the threshold.

Acknowledging Jeremy Xander, the Academy's head, with a respectful nod, I ventured further inside. Dominic and Ivy Xander stood near a bed, their expressions undergoing a subtle shift upon my arrival. The room quickly emptied, leaving me alone with the enigmatic figure lying on the bed, a stark contrast to the image etched in my memory.

A soft chuckle escaped me as I teased her about breathing, prompting a sharp inhalation from Alara. Her response, laced with bitterness, was accompanied by a failed attempt to rise, resulting in a somewhat comical tumble back onto the bed. Despite her defiant struggle, I couldn't suppress a chuckle.

“Don’t you even dare,” she warned, her tone freezing me in place. There was an ominous edge to her voice, signaling the need for caution. Ignoring the internal warning, I advanced, securing her with handcuffs. Alara gasped and fought against the restraints, but my years of royal training prevailed.

“You cannot chain me. You cannot jail me. I will never bow before you, your queen, or anyone in the royal castle,” she defiantly declared.

“Don’t worry. It won’t happen,” I reassured, escorting her out of the room. Despite her resistance, I maintained control, guiding her towards the awaiting carriage. The guards followed in our wake.

Throughout the three-hour journey to Paris, Alara remained silent, her gaze fixed elsewhere, seemingly unperturbed by the constraints that bound her. As we approached the majestic Palace, her stoic demeanor continued to impress.

“Do you want me to tear your eyes from their sockets?” she asked, her tone still unfazed.

“You cannot do that; you are handcuffed,” I countered. In response, she burst into laughter, catching me off guard.

“Hasn’t your dear queen told you, 'Never fall for things you look at, because you can look and look, but you just won't see'?” she whispered eerily in my ear. A shiver ran down my spine as she settled back, crossing her hands. I swallowed hard, mentally admonishing myself for momentarily losing control.

Exiting the carriage, Alara followed suit with an air of nonchalance. The valets cast astonished glances her way.

“What? Seeing a woman for the first time,” she snapped at them.

“Disgraceful,” someone murmured, the words audible enough to be heard but not discerned. In an abrupt turn of events, an arrow found its mark, striking a valet and extinguishing his life in an instant. A court lady rushed towards us, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense

"The Majesty awaits us," the panting court lady announced evidence of the run she had taken to deliver the message. Advancing, I halted my steps, realizing that Alara wasn't following. Her emotionless gaze met mine before she rolled her eyes, a gesture of blatant disinterest, and reluctantly joined our procession. As we entered the grand palace through its expansive entrance, my attention lingered on Alara, who seemed entirely unimpressed with her surroundings. An audible yawn escaped her, followed by a muffled sigh of distaste. The court lady and valets struggled to conceal their horror, but Alara remained unfazed.

Reaching the court, the court lady bowed before us, her eyes avoiding direct contact with Alara. In response, Alara scoffed and rolled her eyes, dismissing the formalities.

"You don’t have to act like you like me. I know you don’t, and the feeling is mutual," she declared in a flat tone, cutting through the air with her blunt honesty.

"Don’t roll your eyes," I blurted out involuntarily, unable to suppress my reaction. A critical remark escaped her lips before she walked into the court, her chin held high, displaying a blatant disregard for convention. I followed suit, leaving the valets bewildered and alarmed at her audacity. The tension in the air was palpable as Alara's unapologetic demeanor clashed with the decorum of the royal court.

ALARA: 

I strode into the royal court, unabashedly ignoring the stares and gasps that followed my every step. Who cared about the judgmental whispers anyway?

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through the grand hall, carrying with it a strange humming voice that resonated in the air. It felt oddly familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. The humming transformed into a melodic voice, gently singing a lullaby. Aiden, who had been observing me with concern, caught my gaze.

Scoffing, I closed my eyes in an attempt to identify the song. Yet, instead of clarity, a wave of dizziness washed over me. Opening my eyes, I found the world spinning, and the next moment, I succumbed to unconsciousness.

In a dreamlike sequence, I found myself in a different realm. A beautiful woman stood before me, a tender smile on her face as she cradled a baby in her arms. With a soothing hum, she calmed the crying infant, singing a lullaby that resonated with an odd sense of familiarity. As I approached the pair, I strained to recall when this scene had occurred and who the people were.

"That's my girl," the woman uttered, her voice filled with maternal warmth. The baby's cries were hushed, replaced by the gentle melody of the lullaby. The woman's laughter tinkled through the air as she rocked the child, bringing her lips closer to the baby's ear. Leaning in, I strained to hear the whispered words.

"Never turn your back to where you belong,

Hush, little one, and listen to the song."

The lullaby echoed in the dream, its verses carrying a mysterious weight as if veiled in the secrets of a forgotten past.