CHAPTER 002
1095 Words
"Good morning Father."
"Aubrey, follow me, Anna, go to your mom."
"Yes father."
Aubrey left immediately with her father leaving Anna behind.
Anna was the second daughter to King Ragnarok and Queen Alice, she is the last child.
When she was born, everywhere turned black, for two days and two nights.
The entire kingdom was thrown into chaos, she is said to be of bad omen to the royal household.
And this made her become the outcast in the family, but Queen Alice and her elder sister Aubery loves her so much.
Since she was perceived as one, her father never wants anything to do with her, at least that's what the entire kingdom thinks.
But King Ragnarok loves both his daughters and he is very much protective of them, and when it comes to Princess Aubrey, his overprotectiveness is on a high level.
"Where were you last night?"
"Nowhere father, I was in the garden, I needed some air."
"You are next in line to the throne, you can't just leave at all times during such a feast. We needed you for a toast but then you weren't there."
"I am sorry father, but such feasts are not my thing."
"It has to be, you have to get used to it. You are the next in line to the throne."
"Yes father."
"Go get ready, we are having a family meeting, we have a guest and please be on your best behavior."
"I will father."
******
That was how she met with sir Lancelot which was a year ago and although they hardly communicated during this time, but Aubrey never forgot about him.
She has held him in his heart for so long and that was where he would stay.
A year has passed and things have changed, Princess Anna had changed, it was like she woke up one day and stopped caring for her elder sister.
She decided that she would also get the throne for herself and she wouldn't back down without a fight.
She became jealous of the way her father treated princess Aubrey and she wanted more attention for herself. Although she knew that her father loves her but not the way he loves Princess Aubrey.
Princess Aubrey has always been the Apple of her father's eyes and this makes Anna really upset.
To make matters worse Aubrey was engaged to Prince Dominic the most handsome prince in all five kingdoms. Their union was meant to bring peace and harmony to the land, if King Ragnarok were to die, they would both rule the kingdom.
The thoughts that her sister gets to rule the kingdom with Prince Dominic side by side, made Anna develop envy and became the shadow of who she once was, so she made it her aim to sabotage every plan.
If her sister who is favored by all, even knights gets to adore and admire her, where does that leave her? Evil thoughts began to stir up in her heart, but who could blame her? She has already been destined for such… chaos and destruction.
'I will not stand for this… I don't have the beauty that she has, I am not as poised as she is, neither am I loved and admired like her. No Prince will love me, so I will have to claim the throne one way or another.’ She thought.
*****
Some weeks later, Princess Aubrey sat by her bedroom window, staring at the vast gardens below.
Her heart raced as she thought of Sir Lancelot. A forbidden love, one that could cost her everything.
Yet, she couldn't deny the string of love pulling her towards him.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door.
"Enter," she said, turning her gaze toward the entrance.
The door opened, and Princess Anna stepped in, her emerald-green gown swishing against the polished floors. A smirk tugged at her lips.
"Sister, you seem troubled," Anna said, her voice dripping with false concern. "Is it because of the marriage proposal Father accepted on your behalf?"
Aubrey sighed, unwilling to be drawn into an argument, she simply uttered;
"It doesn’t matter what Father has decided. My heart belongs to another, I will not marry Prince Dominic."
Anna’s smile widened. "Ah!! So the rumors are true. The mighty Princess Aubrey has fallen for a mere knight." She scoffed. "Do you have any idea what will happen if Father finds out?"
Aubrey's gaze hardened. "I don’t expect you to understand, Anna. You have always been the perfect daughter in mother's eyes. The one who never questions duty, the filial daughter. "
Anna’s expression darkened, and for a brief moment, hurt flashed across her face. "You think I have it easy?" she whispered. "You think being ‘mother’s favorite’ means I have everything? You have always been the shining star, Aubrey. The one they all love, dad loves you. Even when you break the rules, they still adore you. But me? I have been cursed since birth! So I have heard from bystanders.”
Aubrey’s heart clenched. She had never seen her sister like this before.
"Anna..." she began, but her sister took a step back.
"It doesn't matter," Anna said, regaining her composure. "I will do what is necessary for the kingdom. I only hope you make the right choice before it's too late."
With that, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, leaving Aubrey with an unsettling feeling in her chest.
She had never seen her that way before, but hearing her say such hurts her emotions.
Later that night, Aubrey slipped into a cloak and made her way through the hidden corridors of the castle. She needed to see him.
She reached the training grounds, where knights sparred under the moonlight. Her eyes scanned the area until she found him, Sir Lancelot, striking his sword against another knight’s in swift, precise movements.
He noticed her almost immediately, his stance faltering for just a second before he regained focus.
As soon as the match ended, he approached her cautiously.
"Your Highness," he said in a low voice, bowing.
"Lancelot, please. We are alone."
He hesitated before straightening, he said; "You shouldn't be here."
"And yet, here I am," she said, stepping closer. "I need to know. Do you feel anything for me?"
Lancelot’s breath hitched. He had spent a year pushing down his feelings, convincing himself that she was unattainable.
But seeing her now, so close, made his resolve crumble.
"It doesn’t matter what I feel," he whispered. "You are promised to another."
- Writer
