Rightful Ruler

Chapter 4

Year 2010

I was walking mindlessly without any care to whatever at all. Even if my Father told me - more like commanded me to go to my room, I won't go to my room.

I continued walking without giving any care at all. I don't know where I'm going. Even if I'm walking mindlessly, I'm still not stupid enough to lower down my ground because inside this castle are our unwanted guests roaming around. 

I can't explain it why. It must be his face? The way he walks? The way he talks? I know that I probably sound so b*tchy and judgemental but I just have this sudden urge to hate Luscious even though I just met him for like less than an hour. 

I was thinking hard when I turned my head and saw the familiar pillars. I know this place so well and I know that I'm only a few steps away from my favorite part of the castle. I broke into a sprint like I'm competing in a marathon. 

I was panting when I stopped infront of a door with golden rose carvings. The rose carvings were so perfectly detailed and on point as I ran my fingers through it. The way that my fingers would graze every curve and tip make my heart flutter. 

I took a deep breath and open the door to my sweet haven using my necklace. When I step foot inside and closed the door behind me, the air suddenly changed. I was then covered by a blanket of warm fuzzy feelings. 

This golden room is like an archive that holds the vast history of our Kingdom. I looked at my right and saw the portrait of the first ever king of Andalasia. Beneath his picture was a golden rectangular plate with his name on it. King Francis Aldea III, the founder of Andalasia (1808). 1808 is the time when he ascended to the throne. Besides him was their family portrait with his wife Queen Luna Aldea and their son Prince Alexander the first.

A lot of people were telling me that I'm like the first ever Queen. Queen Luna my great-great-great-great-great-great grandmother to be exact. They said that her free spirit, wild driven heart and hard headedness has made her unique among the rest of the previous queens. 

I squinted my eyes really hard and that's when I saw the resemblance. We both have the fiery spark on our silver eyes. She and I both have the same shade of black hair, if that even makes sense. The not so sharp nose and jaw. And lastly the same silver eyes. Both my parents and the previous rulers all have dark onyx eyes and it seems that I inherited my unusual colored eyes from Queen Luna.

Beneath each portraits lies a necklace on top of a book held by a golden pedestal. The necklaces all have the royal crest in it, the key to this room and I have one too. Despite the age of the portraits it doesn't seem to fade. Maybe because this place is enchanted, who knows.

I passed countless of portraits and read some pages on the books. 

Lastly I stopped infront of my Father's portrait King Max (1999) and besides him is our family portrait taken on my 10th birthday. I looked down and there I saw his book without the necklace. 

In front of each portraits on the other side of the room lies their own repective crowns safely protected and encased in a thick glass shelf attached to the wall. 

I noticed that besides the portrait of my father is blank. There, my portrait will soon be hanged when I will officially claim my title. Instead of a book my crown was lying on top of the golden pedestal. I tried picking it up. The jewels were shinning brightly and I tried putting it on my head but it slipped. 

Frowning, I tried to arrange it again but it still slipped. Maybe I'm not yet ready or maybe my head is too small. It felt weird heaving something heavy on top of my head. I kind of imagined it to be heavier since I've seen a lot of movies whereon they would put books on top of their hand and tries to balance it out. But it's not that heavy at all.

I removed it on my head and looked down at the crown on my hands. Will I be a good Queen? Can I live up their expectations. What if I'll mess things up. 

Just as I finished returning it back to the pedestal, the door creaked open and there on the doorway, my father stands. He softly closed the door and made his way to me.

"I knew that I will find you here, You're tutor is going nuts running around looking for you."

I could have sworn that I have only been here for minutes. "Just exactly what time it is Father?"

He looked at his watched before replying "It's almost noon."

"Seriously?!" I started freaking out. I missed my class for this morning. How can it be?

"When I was young, I'm just like you. I use to came here all the time. I would look at our ancestors and I would ask for their guidance and knowledge."

I snickered at that "You? Asking for their guidance? I can't believe it. The Almighty King Max the first asks for knowledge You're like Mr. Know it all".

He looked down at me "It is indeed true, Just because I am a King, it doesn't mean that I know it all".

"You know what father, I find that hard to believe, cause there are times wherein you never told me anything. And most of the times you would act like you know everything, without even listening to my explanation."

He then kneeled so we are now looking eye to eye "A father will do everything that he can to protect his child. You just have to trust me on this I'm just doing what I think is what's best for you. You are my jewel Rose, my successor.  Bear this in your mind." 

He then stood up and removed his necklace and he laid it on top of his book.

He took something from his pocket and he gave me an odd looking tiny key. My eyes immediately lit up in pure happiness as I realize what it was. "Is that what I think it is?"

"Only one way to find out". I immediately took it from his out stretched hand and I unclasp my necklace and put the tiny key on it and clasped it back on around my neck.

We are now outside of the Golden Room, walking along the corridors when he told me where the secret passage lies. "Just between you and me. Its hidden in the library".

I just laughed loudly at him "It's supposed to be a secret cause it's a secret passage."

He too chuckled "I'm just trying to help you out'".

I looked back at the Golden Door and smiled. I will treasure this memory forever as I hold on tight to the key on my necklace. 

It never occurred to me that this will be the last time that my Father and I will be like this. 

I would have never known that a tragedy will happen after this. I should have stayed longer there, I should have paid more attention to the family history cause there I will find the sole reason of the uprising rebellion.