The Reluctant Princess
292 Words
Chapter 19:
Eighteen years had passed since Anika's mother, the queen, had transformed their kingdom. Now, Anika's own daughter, Elyria, was coming of age. As the princess's eighteenth birthday approached, her father, the king, planned a grand celebration and a diplomatic visit to a neighboring kingdom to secure a peace treaty through marriage.
But Elyria had other plans. She dreamed of becoming a renowned doctor in the United States, not a married princess. She longed to pursue her education and ambitions, not be confined by royal duties.
As Elyria grappled with her father's refusal, she remembered the stories her mother told her about escaping a forced marriage at fifteen. Anika's determination and bravery had inspired Elyria to forge her own path.
With newfound resolve, Elyria decided to follow in her mother's footsteps. She would find a way to pursue her dreams, just as Anika had done before her. The thought sent shivers down her spine - she would not be forced into a life she didn't choose.
Elyria's journal became her confidant, her safe space to express her thoughts and feelings. But as she wrote, she began to realize that the walls of the ancient chamber were whispering back to her.
The murals seemed to be changing, the stories evolving as she wrote. Elyria felt like she was unlocking a hidden language, one that only she could hear.
As she delved deeper into the mystery, Elyria discovered a hidden passageway behind the murals. The air was thick with the scent of old dust and forgotten memories.
With every step, the whispers grew louder, until she stumbled upon a hidden room deep within the ruins. And there, in the center of the room, stood an ancient woman, her eyes locked on Elyria's...
TBC
- Writer
