A Royal Affair

Royal Decrees

Elara's POV

"Elara Windsor, Princess of Averelle," Celene‘a voice came from the other end of the phone, void of emotion as if she were speaking to the guards and not her only and younger sister. "Hope you've heard,"

I took a deep breath, mentally preparing for my answer. "About Alaric stepping down?"

"Yes," she responded. "In three days, I shall become Queen of Averelle. Things will be different: new rules, new laws, new expectations."

I frowned, leaning back into the couch. "Expectations?"

“Immediately all royals of the kingdom shall return home, no exceptions. Royal jet takes you back first thing in the morning. All details are in your email." She said, straight to the point.

My heart skipped a heat. "Wait, you're serious? You're calling me back?"

"Yes," she said coldly. "It is time for you to assume your royal duties. Your days of pretending to be a commoner are over."

I sat up, my heart racing. "Celene, you can't be serious! Alaric made it very clear that I could do what I want! He even changed the laws!"

"That was King Alaric," she retorted sharply. "He is no longer king. I am. And that law is gone."

Biting my lip furiously, I persisted, "You cannot just change everything in one night! You don't get what you're asking. I have a life here!"

"You have a duty," she snapped. "Averelle isn't a choice. It's your blood, your name, your home."

Her voice sent tormented feelings within me. "I won't," I said, knowing how pathetic it sounded. "I'm not going to return. I-"

"You will come back," she cut me off now with a voice that made me feel small and threatened. "This is not your request, Elara. It is your future queen. There will be consequences if you do not obey."

"You're denying me a right to run my own life! You cannot dictate to me!" I yelled, frustration making me throw reason to the wind. "This is my life, not yours!"

Celene retorted, sharply in a slightly raised voice barely hiding her annoyance, "I am your Queen! You do not dare speak to me like this, Princess Elara!"

"Celene...p-please," I began to beg quietly. "I can't fit into palace life. I wouldn't even know where to start, I do not know what to do. Please, please… reconsider.”

'You will learn,' she said evenly. 'Dawn is your flight. Be ready.'

That was the last. She hung up.

All that I could do afterward was to stare down at my phone.

With a groan, I threw a throw pillow to the floor.

“Why! Why Alaric why!” I yelled but even the silence seemed to be mocking me.

For a few minutes, sat down silently, then opened my phone and dialed Alaric's number, and he answered on the third ring.

"Elara?" His voice happened to soothe me a bit, just a bit.

"Alaric, tell me you heard this…this bullshit Celene is up to!" I mumbled, my eyes filling up with tears.

He sighed. "Yup."

"Then talk to her! She's making me go back like I'm a bloody servant! I can't go back there, Alaric. You promised I'd never have to!"

“Celene is going to be queen. Whatever she says is law, and my hands are tied.” He replied, calmly.

I halted in my pacing. “What do you mean, bound? You're still her brother! You're still royal! “

He said quite softly, "Not anymore; I gave it up for love. No longer part of the royal family."

I froze. "And so you allow her to do all this?"

“She is trying to set things straight. You know that in Averelle, we respect power and tradition.” He replied.

I snorted. "You think forcing me back to be a princess is 'right'? I have a life here, Alaric. Friends, work... "

"Elara, listen to me," he said softly. "You will be fine. Celene is tough, but she is still your sister. And once she settles in, things will calm down. For now, just do what she says."

I shook my head in despair. "You don't understand, Alaric. She's taking away my life."

He hesitated and then said, "That's what comes with being royal sometimes."

I let out a small, bitter laugh. "Oh, easy for you to say. You got out."

That awkward pause lengthened between us, along with an imaged picture of him running his hand through his hair, which he often did.

“At least you’re there for me to run to when things get hard.” I mumbled , breaking the silence.

"I'll be there for the coronation," he finally said. "After that, I'm out for good. I'll be living peacefully with Lila in a normal life."

I smiled faintly. "So you really married her, huh?"

“Yes, I marrie- I mean, we married,” he replied, laughing. "Very quietly, just the way we wanted it."

“Lucky you,” I mumbled. “You got love and freedom, and me stuck back in a place I'd never wanted to call home.”

“Elara,” he said gently, “you are a million times stronger than you think. You will handle it. You always do.”

I sighed, and it felt like my throat was closing up. "I just don't know, Alaric. I really don't......."

The promise that he added, "Just promise me you'll go," he followed with, "Don't make this hard on yourself."

“Fine, I said meaningfully after quite some time had passed.”

“That’s my girl.” He said, sounding a bit relieved. “I have to go now, but everything will be alright. Trust me."

With that, the call hung up, and I sat in silence for a long while.

Checking my mail, I discovered Celene was not joking, I was really going back to Averelle.

“I might as well have fun before I’m placed in a golden cage.” I mumbled.

So I stood up,took a quick bath, dressed up and grabbed my coat and purse, and walked out as I drove down to my favorite club.

“One last night…” I mumbled to myself.