CHAPTER 1
The morning sun came through the windows of the Ashford estate but it did not warm up Alvinas room.
She sat still in front of a mirror her fingers holding the old ribbon her mother had tied around her wrist when she was little. This ribbon was all she had left of her mother, who she could hardly remember.
Today was the day.
She was going to get married.
A tear fell down her cheek. Then another one followed.
"I do not want this " she said quietly her voice shaking. "Mother if you are watching me please help me."
The door to her room opened loudly.
"There you are " Lady Beatrice said as she walked in with Eva and Nina. They were all dressed up. Their sisters were wearing expensive dresses with silver thread. They looked happy. It was not a nice happy.
"I cannot believe you are still crying " Eva said meanly. "Do you think crying will stop the wedding?"
Nina crossed her arms.
"You should be thankful, Alvina. You are a simple girl and the palace chose you to marry the Crown Prince."
Alvina looked down.
"I did not ask for this " she said.
Lady Beatrices face became hard.
"No you did not.. Your father owes a lot of money more than he can make in his whole life."
She took a step closer to Alvina.
"The king said he will forget about the money if you become the Crown Princes concubine."
These words hurt Alvina deeply.
She was not going to be a wife, a concubine. A woman who was only good for entertaining the prince until he found someone
"I will work " Alvina said softly. "I will leave the estate. Pay back my fathers debt myself."
Lady Beatrice laughed.
"You?" she said. "You cannot even pay for the food you eat."
Eva smiled meanly.
"Besides everyone knows the Crown Prince is luck."
Nina added, "They say he kills anyone who makes him angry."
"They say his eyes turn black when he uses magic " Eva said.
"They say he likes watching people beg " Nina added.
Alvina closed her eyes.
She remembered all the stories about Crown Prince Ryan. He was a warrior, the best swordsman in the kingdom and a prince with a dark heart.
According to the stories her mother told her before she disappeared he was also from the family that had destroyed everything.
"I will not go " Alvina said quietly.
Lady Beatrices smile went away.
"You have no choice " she said.
She snapped her fingers and two maids came in with a white wedding dress.
"Dress her " Lady Beatrice said.
The maids did not want to do it because they saw the tears on Alvinas face.
Lady Beatrices voice became cold.
"If she says no your father will go to jail today."
Alvinas heart stopped.
Her father had not taken care of her times but he was still her father.
She slowly opened her hands.
"I will go " she said.
Lady Beatrice smiled again.
"I knew you would make the choice " she said.
---
Hours later the streets were full of people cheering and waving.
There were flags and white roses everywhere.
Children were. Playing while musicians were playing happy music.
Everyone thought they were celebrating something
Only Alvina knew she was walking towards the end of her freedom.
The carriage stopped suddenly.
The coachman said, "The road is blocked."
Lady Beatrice was annoyed.
"What " she said.
The coachman got out to see what was wrong.
Alvina lifted the curtain. Saw a little boy who had wandered into the street while chasing a toy.
A horse was running towards him. People were screaming.
Nobody was moving to help.
Alvina did not think she just ran out of the carriage.
One of the maids cried, "My lady!"
Alvina was already gone.
She ran towards the boy but someone else was faster.
A young man in clothes jumped between the horse and the boy.
He drew his sword quickly. Stopped the horse.
The street became quiet.
The man put his sword away. Picked up the crying boy.
He gave the boy back to his mother.
Then Alvina looked at the man.
He was tall and strong with hair and sharp features.
His eyes were dark. They were nice to look at.
He wore a black cloak with a silver clasp but no royal symbols.
Their eyes. For a moment everything else disappeared.
"Are you hurt?" he asked.
His voice was low and gentle.
Alvina said, "N-No."
"You should not run into danger without thinking " he said.
"I could not leave him there " Alvina replied.
The man smiled a little.
"It seems your heart is braver than your judgment " he said.
Alvinas face became hot.
The coachman came running.
"My lady we must go now!"
Lady Beatrice called from the carriage "Alvina stop talking to strangers!"
Alvina looked back at the man. He was already walking away disappearing into the crowd.
She watched him until she could not see him anymore.
There was something about him that stayed in her mind.
His calm voice, his eyes and the strange feeling, around him.
For some reason she could not stop thinking about him.
