The Royal Announcement
356 Words
The sun struggled to break through thick gray clouds as the village square slowly came alive. Market stalls were set, and townsfolk whispered nervously about the royal messenger who had arrived at dawn.
Aria stood near the fountain, clutching a threadbare shawl around her shoulders. She had no desire to be here, in the heart of a crowd buzzing with excitement and fear. Her aunt had dragged her along, eager to showcase her “prized possession” to anyone who would listen.
The messenger’s arrival was unlike anything the villagers had seen before. Clad in a deep crimson cloak embroidered with gold, he radiated authority. With a voice both commanding and cold, he unfurled a scroll and cleared his throat.
“By decree of His Majesty, King Raventhorn, and the Crown Prince Damien’s consent, a bride shall be chosen among the daughters of this kingdom. The prince will select his future wife during the coming moon cycle. Any family willing to present their daughter is to attend the royal palace at the appointed day.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. Some faces lit with hope, others hardened with jealousy and dread.
Aria’s heart pounded so loudly she feared it would betray her. She glanced at her aunt, whose eyes gleamed with greed and calculation.
“That means you, girl,” her aunt hissed, gripping Aria’s arm tightly. “This is your chance. If you marry the prince, you’ll never want for anything again. Think of the power, the wealth!”
Aria’s throat tightened. Power? Wealth? Her thoughts were tangled with fear — of leaving this small village, of meeting the prince, of the unknown that waited behind palace walls.
But most of all, she feared the shadows lurking behind the royal announcement. Whispers told of strange disappearances, of secrets buried beneath the kingdom’s grand façade.
The crowd began to disperse, but Aria remained rooted, the weight of her new fate settling like a stone in her chest.
She was no longer just an orphan. Tomorrow, she would take the first step toward becoming a pawn in a game far darker than she could ever imagine.
- Writer
