Rightful Ruler

Chapter 2

Year 2009

At the break of dawn, the sunlight starts to blanket the whole Andalasian Kingdom marking it the start of a brand new morning. A start of a new beginning.

The birds started their daily harmonious chirps accompanied by the flapping of their wings creating the perfect orchestra of nature.

The sound of the docking ships can be heard loudly breaking the sweet slumber of many. The three tone honks has served as an alarm clock for the whole kingdom.

The merchants and ship crews can be seen carrying and unloading large containment vessels that possibly contains goods for trading. The sheer strength that they are exerting appears to be prominent as beads of sweat coats their bodies and faces.

As time passes by, traders started to make their way to the market place carrying buckets or cash exchanges.

The shop and business owners started opening up their respective shops.

Farmers, goes to their farmlands looking over their crops and live stocks.

Fishermen would board their boats to catch fishes to be brought to the market place.

Cars can be heard roaring to life and soon they are now gliding across the road.

Regardless of the time, the guards can be seen patrolling the palace grounds without even showing any signs of tiredness.

At 6 am, the wee hours of morning. The Andalasian Kingdom is already buzzing with busy workers.

******

Rosette's POV

My sleepy self woke up from the horns of the ships. The docking area is almost at the other side of of the kingdom and yet the noise can be heard all the way to my room.

The morning sun light pierce through the thick and heavy curtains draped over my large windows.

I stretched my tired limbs with a  smile on my face.

I can't stop myself from smiling for I have had the best dream ever. I dreamt that I saved the whole kingdom from the evil forces, I became the queen and Andalasia became more well known.

 I will do whatever it is in my power to keep them all safe because that is the duty of a Ruler. A princess listens to her people, she protects her people and most of all she serves as a good role model and a good example for her people. The crown does not make anyone a Royal it is the heart which makes you one.

I pushed myself to stand and get off my fluffy bed and head straight to the bathroom to freshen up.

You might be wondering how can a 10 year old be so independent.

I was raised this way by my parents. They made me realize that it's not all the time that I will have someone besides me, I must learn to be independent.

I need to learn and bear in mind everything that I will experience and encounter. Cause that's what it means to be a great ruler and someday I will ascend to the throne.

Just like my forefathers before me, I will make a great impact on Andalasia. I will make them proud. 

When I finished my morning routine, I quickly changed my night gown into a more appropriate one for horse riding. Why not, right? It's a great day after all.

I was running through the halls mindlessly. The proper lady walk that was being taught by me for years again and again was immediately thrown out of the window.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I came face to face with my mother, the Queen. I curtsied and bowed my head and we exchanged morning greetings.

She smiled brightly at me and she gave me a confused stare.

"Why are you in such a hurry?"

I fixed the invisible creases on my outfit and blushed in embarrassment because my mother caught me doing something so unlady like.

"I'm going to take Ginger out for our morning stroll mom." I know that I have such a lousy excuse, but that is what my brain came up with at the moment. 

'A stroll? you sure about that? or maybe you just want to have be a little daredevil.' My mind is screaming at me for trying to come up with a not so believable lie. It's not my fault that I was not allowed to go outside of the walls. My mother kept on telling me that the walls were built for a reason.

She just gave me a knowing look, nodded her head and sighed way too dramatically.

"Remember to be back at 10 am for your class."

 I nodded enthusiastically "I will".

I hugged her tight and said goodbye. She planted a kiss on top of my head and after that I immediately dash all the way out of the palace. 

After the encounter with my mother. I made my way to the stables and there I easily spotted my precious Ginger in the middle of the field eating her all time favorite, Carrots.

I named her Ginger cause of her ginger colored hair, she's very sassy and ironically she displays a huge hatred to gingers and turmeric.

Ginger is my horse, she was a gift from my parents when I turned ten. She was just 3 years old when we bonded. I sighed as I remember those days where I would often brush her hair and she would shower kisses all over my face afterwards. Despite how big she is she would put all her body weigh on me in an attempt of cuddling me. More like squishing me.

She is always there with me, literally. 

She must have felt my presence cause she raised her head and turned her head around looking for me. When she saw me, she neighs loudly and raised both her front legs in the air and that's her expressing her happiness.

She ran towards me, her ginger hair flows softly to the wind. When she reached me, she immediately put her head on my shoulder as I rubbed her neck.

"How about we go for a ride, what do you say?"

And I received a  happy neigh in return.

I giggled at her. "I'll take that as a yes."

Allan, my cousin must have spotted me earlier cause he is now approaching our way while holding Ginger's saddle and my riding gears. Just like me he lives in the castle and is a member of the counsel.

"Good morning your royal pain the a** " he then bowed mockingly.

I greeted him with a Good morning too and punched him lightly on the arm.

"So princess, what are you up to today?" Allan is my cousin, a very distant relative. His great-great-great grandfather is my great-great-great grandfather's brother. He taught me countless ways on how to properly address an arising issue. He's also teaching me about politics during our free time. 

"I was planning on going to the market."

"Wait for me, I'll go with you"

He just finished attaching the saddle and he brought a stool to help me climb up. I barely sat down when Ginger happily took off, all I could do at that time was to release a shriek.

When I finally fixed my position, I looked back, waved my hand and yelled  "Race you there". 

I then saw him wave back and he yelled that he'll let me have a headstart.

 I started picturing him in my mind as he grumbles under his breath at how unfair I am. My 20 year old cousin cursing and kicking the soil was enough to make me laugh rather loudly, way too loud.

I tightened my hold on the reigns as Ginger speeds through the whole kingdom. The evergreen grass looks so endless and is very refreshing to the eyes.

The morning air feels cold against me skin. And my hair flows behind my back, dancing with the wind. I cannot help but release a laugh as I feel so free. With nothing to worry about.

We have passed by a lot of people and I would wave at them happily. Then from the distance I heard the pounding of hooves behind me. I looked back at him and I was so surprised at how determine he was. It was all a joke, I didn't think that he would be so serious about the race.

A cloud of dust and sand flying around was left from his trail. He is way too much and if I wont hurry up I might just lose. Wow, I cant believe that I'm getting so worked up from this so called race.

"Hee-yah!" I urged Ginger to get faster as the distance between me and my cousin is getting shorter by the minute. And since I'm not yet an expert when it comes to horse riding.

30 seconds has passed and he is now in front of me.  And within 2 minutes he's gone.

I arrived in the gate. The guards make look so intimidating but there are a real softie, well to me they are soft and they are a great tea party playmates. They would play with me and in return i need to keep it a secret. 

When they saw me, they immediately raise the gates and they bowed at me as a sign of their respect. I bowed too at them and said thanks.

Reaching the market area. I easily spotted my cousin leaning against a wall while waiting patiently for me.

He waited until I was in front of him, he then helped me get down from Ginger. When I get my footing back he pulled Ginger to where Black Jack was merrily eating and tied her there.

Allan laughed at me as he saw my pouting face and he said something that made me instantly cheer up.

"Don't worry you're still young, you still have a lot of time to grow and maybe one day you'll beat me. How about I'll buy you some doughnuts?" 

Hearing the word doughnuts instantly brought a smile to my face. I did not pay attention to what he said before the doughnuts and I deeply regretted it.

Cause me beating him will never happen in the future. 

Me riding with him will never happen again.