TRAVEL

Chapter 1 Chapter 1: The King of Gem empire I’m still staring to this day. Am I back in the past? Is that possible? I looked at myself in the mirror. I look young and healthy, and I’m 18years old here? I still remember what happened in the past… but I don’t want to mind it, because I think I’m going crazy. “Princess, the prince did not come today to find out your condition. But his assistant is here. ” Maddy’s response to me was weak. I scratched my head so hard, did I almost drown just to get Alistair’s attention? I’m about to die, isn’t he going to visit me? It’s my fault too. I stood up and approached one of the drawers. I’m sure I won’t regret it, I took scissors and cut my hair short. “P-Princess? Why? ” Maddy’s startled cry. “Princess Astraea, the one who almost drowned just to pay attention to the dear prince. Pity your hair. “I smiled as I turned to her. “Maddy, I’ll be the one to follow” He bowed to what I said. Why would I ever pay attention to someone who doesn’t like me? I have to change my destiny or I will die again. This is the second chance I am asking for, this is the second life that I will take care of so that what should have happened will not happen again. But first let me change my look and my gaze. I sighed looking at my old maid with my cold eyes. I’m sorry, in order to achieve my goal I need to be fierce and strong. I’m not the same old Astraea from before. “Maddy, Call me June from now on. Princess Juniper Vanderwaine of the Ruby Palace. ” I said with confidence. Astraea is dead already. Meet Juniper, call me June. “You’re the one to follow, Princess June.” Maddy replied politely. “And by the way, don’t report about the dear prince.” I said to her. “I’m sorry?” -Maddy. “I mean, don’t tell me what the dear prince is doing. I’m sure he’s very busy, he will take care of his life. “I saw Maddy’s eyes widen and she smiled at me like she was relieved. “I’ll follow your command my princess.” She came out and I sat in front of the mirror. I still have my blue eyes and silver hair, but my hair is short. It’s good, sometimes it’s boring to comb. It was too long before I cut it, because maybe men like long hair. So I lengthened my hair for all to like. I just haven’t seen him in recent days. Of course I already know the reason, he was avoiding me. I was one of the future Queen candidates of the Gem empire, in my candidacy I only saw Alistair again. Case looks like he already likes non to Seraphina, Seraphina Clement was the future Queen of the Gem Empire. She was kind and soft though. Too kind to be true, a Queen material indeed. I only talked to her a few times but the last time I hurt her. And thus I executed. Probably because of jealousy? Hatred? I forgot… “Princess?” I turned to see who was speaking. Ah Flloyd! He is Alitairs’s assistant, he is what Maddy is referring to. “Are you okay now?” “Yes, I’m fine now.” I said to him with a smile. “About the prince-” “I don’t have any business with the prince.” I said let’s sit together in my seat. “You have other business here, am I right? Tell me. I did not ask about the prince.” I saw the shock in his two eyes. because everyone knows I’m very inlove to Alistair. Why am I so dead to him? “A-Ah of course, I’m sorry. It’s about the ‘Queen candidate’. The King wants to see you “I was suddenly humbled. s**t, I forgot that I volunteered to be in the first seat. Is there a way to back out from this competition? Maddy dressed me up and fixed my hair. Why did I flirt before, so I will die because of my own stupidity. I walked over to the carriages prepared by the guards. Ruby Palace is a peaceful place full of gardens, it is the only palace with full of flowers and trees. One of the best palace in the Empire. I went in and sat down, I had no plans to go anywhere. Of course I’m still very tired from death. “Princess June, we are already here.” Reluctantly I nodded, I modestly got down and walked inside. ‘Good day dear princess’ ‘Is Princess Astraea here again?’ ‘She is here for the dear prince’ ‘Shut up, you may be heard there and we will be punished’ I was disappointed in my mind. This freaking sh*t is really very playful. I took out the fan and put it on my face. Embarrassing, was I like that before? REGRETS! EW! I have already entered the room where the dear king is. He was sitting in a chair and holding papers. Wow it must be hard to be a King who rules all the Palaces. “Astraea!” He responded happily when he saw me. I bowed at him and greeted him back. “Greetings to the King of Gem Empire.” I greeted while bowing. “Your etiquette has improved I see! You’re really fit to be the Queen. ” I coughed at what the King said. I remembered before how he always supports me to be the Queen, but before the competition started, he was killed by an unknown person. Of course the Kingdom was in chaos, so they hurried to find the Queen and hurried to put the Prince on the throne. I was 23 when the competition started and that time the King was already murdered. Before the competition, we have to attend school. You have to graduate first before you enter the Queen candidate. Which means I have to attend school for 2 years. Nice “So how are you with my son?” And that’s when I almost died. To be continued… Chapter 2 CHAPTER 2: Prince Alistair of the Gem Empire “S-sorry?” How does he know though? “I have heard rumors that you have been chasing him. That”s good, I want him to marry you “I was screaming inside my head. Rumors my face! You’re really very gossipy? How to back out of candidacy? Because I”m a volunteer in the first seat, that”s why I always regret it! “Uhm… My King? I have something to say? ” I nervously said. I can feel my palms are sweating hard. “Oh Astraea, no need for formalities” He laughed. “You were so bubbly back then, why are you so bubbly now? Did something happen? I’m sorry, I am not very updated on what is happening inside the Empire. ” “I’m not happy, this is good- this is again. I mean nothing much is happening inside the empire. ” What about June? I was caught in the forehead. “I heard you almost drown. Was it true? ” I stopped thinking what to say. “Or was- “Y-yes your majesty, it was my mistake. I will never do it again. ” What the King hated the most is chasing for someone or ignoring for someone that might end up injuring yourself. He also hate lies, so if I lie today. I’m doomed. I bowed as he stared at me intently. s**t. “Why are you sorry?” “Because it was my fault your majesty. I have caused trouble to some people inside the palace. ” I said with a calm voice. I need to be calm, back in the past I always lose temper. “But you were the one who was hurt, child. Why are you sorry? ” I close my eyes to what the King said, its been so long. I always wanted to hear those kind voices from the King again. He was like my father. “I have promised my dear old friend that I will take care of their only princess.” I inhaled slowly, my parents died from an accident. They were heading home that time, but it was raining hard. They went on a shortcut but they were too dangerous one, many trees were old. Some fell because of the force of the wind and there they died. I was young at that time, so the King took care of me. Then I met his son, Alistair Lament. The future King of the Empire. I really have no plans to be Queen case because of the promise and because I want something with him. I tried to be one. “There is nothing to worry about me, your majesty. I am fine now, you must take care of your health as well. “I said, I want to avoid that kind of conversation about my parents and past. “Oh, I am fine dear child. Do you remember the promise you made with my son? ” Here we go again. How to avoid this too. “I don’t remember any promises, your Majesty.” I LIED, I’m so dead when he know if I didn”t. I need a reason! “I might have hit my head somewhere when I drown.” I hope I can at least convince the king because I’m really dead. “Ohh is that so?” he nodded and arranged a seat. “I heard the news from him.” I immediately looked at him. What? “Yes?” “I heard the rumors from Alistair, the rumors that you drowned I mean. He was worried. ” He told me happy news as if I would be excited or happy. “A-ah I don’t know.” I said with my hand on my head, worried my ass! He didn”t even visit me. “W-what, I have something to say.” I said tremblingly. I don”t want to disappoint him. “Anything, child.” he said. “I want to back out of the competition.” I nodded and said. I don”t want to see his disappointed face. I heard a loud sigh. “Hmmm… Sure.” I immediately looked at him. “If you will tell me your reason, then I will consider your request.” He got up and went to one of the sofas near the throne, the king has some comfortable room. This is probably his work room since there are many books and papers. “Sit down.” I immediately complied. I’ve been standing before. “Now tell me child. What is your reason? ” I took a deep breath and explain to him. “I want to study well your majesty. I am not fit to be the Queen of the Empire, I want to study archery and I want to be a knight instead. ” I really had no plans to study politics before, I was blinded by love and decided to take what I am not good at. I took politics but deep inside I really want to be a knight. I know archery and swordsmanship, Dad taught me before he disappeared. He would always train me to be one since I don”t have a brother. I was a little rebel back in then, I don”t wear fancy dresses and wear fancy shoes. I always go out and play with swords. But when papa had an accident, the King took care of me and dressed me up to be a princess. Not that I don’t want to but I really wanted to hold a sword again. “Instead of taking politics, I wanted to be a knight.” I don”t want to be the Queen if it will end my life anyway. “But do you want to marry my son?” ���If only he would marry and love me too” That”s what I would answer in my mind case… “I do not wish to marry the prince. I wish to be a knight who protects the prince. ” I said confidently. Door Opens “Father I have something to-” My eyes widened and I covered my mouth. SH*T IT’S ALISTAIR! I immediately stood up and bowed to him. crap, did he hear what I said? “Greetings to the Ki- I mean Prince of the Gem Empire.” I nervously said while bowing at him. I think I’m used to the old King I call him. “Astraea? What are you doing here?” he asked with a rough voice. “I invited her here, son. No need to be mad at her. Astraea you may sit down. ” I immediately complied. I swallowed looking at the dear King. “What is it that you want to talk about?” he asked his son. I just quietly leaned back in my seat. “Oh, I thought she’s here again because of- nevermind.” He continued to speak. “Am I really gonna take all of these classes? There are so many problems of politics. And I don”t want to study magic at all. ” Sense, on the other hand, overwhelmed the dear King. “Son, you can”t just focus on politics to be the King. You must learn to defend yourself. ” “I already studied swordsmanship and combat, I can protect myself perfectly.” It used to be arrogant. Wait he didn”t study magic? So is a wizard and a knight from before beside him? They seem close friends from the past too. But I don”t think they met yet, where did they meet? “Well, as long as you can protect yourself. You”re good. ” Said the King once waving his hand. “Is that all? Astraea and I were just discussing something about the ���Queen candidate”. ”