Royal Facade

Chapter two

Aaliyah’s POV

Life became a struggle when my dad passed away. My mom struggled to take care of my siblings and I. She always had to work extra in the small town we were in to meet ends. There would be times where we would starve and there were times where we would be full and even have leftovers in our home, but then we end up sharing them with homeless people even though that was all we had left. I grew up being kind and selfless but then not weak because I did not tolerate nonsense. My older and younger brothers also worked very hard, which makes me the only girl and middle child of our small family. After the death of my father, we lost all the people we called friends and family and even lost our wealth. The people started treating us like trash and each and every single day, the bitterness and cruelty inside of them kept on growing. Even, my own best friend turned against me. She revealed who she truly was to me and it made me realize how much of a jealous person she has always been towards me.

I mean it’s not really my fault that people exaggerated my looks. I always saw my looks to be mediocre and simple. I did not think the women in my town will take it as a big deal. My mom was also not bad looking. She is the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Her skin is dark and exotic. Her hair was something else. She was a true definition of beauty and I see where I got that from, I now see why my dad fell for her. My brothers are also good looking. Gone are the days when my elderly brother would have girls fight over him, how things can change so quickly. But then the good thing that came from all this challenges was that we knew what people actually thought of us. The past years, their hate made me stronger even though sometimes I cry myself to sleep wishing my dad was still alive. My mom did the same also but then it made the pain in us subside. Since we couldn’t live in such a hateful town, we left and settled in a different town close to ours.

“Mother, I’m going to work, I’ll be back before you know it”.

“Take care Liyah, don’t forget to greet that old man, what’s his name again-“

“Sir Aaron” I cut her off knowing she’d take time to remember. “Aaah yes, I love you dear bye”.

“Love you too Mother”.

As I was walking to work, I kept on gaining stares and glares from both women and men as always. The ones I get from the men was always filled with l**t, which was very disgusting and disrespectful. From the women, it was looks I’ve seen before, jealously. But then that wasn’t all, some looked out of admiration which was to my surprise and others were disgusted because of how dark my skin was. I’m my town it was very normal for people with my skin colour to exist. We had it natural and others had natural tanned skin colour, so it was kind of new to be looked at with disgust when my family first got here, but now I’m used to it.

“Good morning Aaron, how are you doing “, I said as I entered his bakery.

“Good morning Liyah my dear, I great. What about you”.

“Oh, I’m good too thank you Aaron. Have we had any orders so far?....it looks like your old age is catching up to you so fast”, I said whiles laughing at him. Aaron is an old man for those of you who are confused.

“Hahahaha, you will soon become like me love”. That statement alone stopped making me smile. Like why is is that when you make fun of old people and their age, they tend to use it against you.

“Since you’re here early Liyah can you please go to the other side of town and deliver this order for me”?

“Sure Aaron, consider it done”.

I picked up the bag which contained the order and was set to go. As I started my journey, I got distracted by something when I tripped and fell. I started walking towards that place, I realized people didn’t normally come to this side or at least cross it, but then it left me curious, it’s not like there’s this huge monster in that section. I was left to debate as to whether I should send the order first or check it out first. I immediately decided to send the order so that I could have time to explore the place very well and closely. On my way to that f*******n place when it was almost sunset, I heard a growl which got me panicking. I didn’t waste time running because I knew perfectly well that what ever that was growling was following me since the noises never left even though I was running to save me. Whiles running, I saw this path to take and at that moment I didn’t care what was going on, I didn’t even look. As I crossed, I heard a man shout and a whole carriage was brought to a stop. I was wondering which important person would be coming to this town, yet, I didn’t hear of it.

The man and guards started asking questions and shouting. I explained how I was chased by some growling animal but they did not believe me and was making fun of me. Then a man, who I guess is a noble person stepped out of the carriage, with a booming voice he shouted, “ what is going on here”, then I realized I was doomed. That was the King of Alzar. Oh good heavens, what have I gotten myself into?