Queen of Ash

Destined to be Alone

Emerson

The last time I had seen the King, I was ten years old. After what happened with my family I ran to the city. The best place to hide was in a crowd of people, or so I thought. Adrianus had heard about my family and spent three months looking for me. Eventually he succeeded and found me frozen, half-starved, and scared in a dirty alley. I had spent the first two years with Adrianus and his wife hidden away from the world. They spent that time teaching me protocol, teaching me to dance, and trying to make me into a "proper" court lady. He told me that I was never allowed to speak of my identity or he would give me over to the person who killed me family. I never said anything to anyone and trained to become the court lady they waited me to be, until I realized that because everyone thought I was a half-blank I would never fit in.

One day after lessons Lucielle came into my room, Isla trailing behind her. From the look on Isla's face I knew that whatever was about to happen was going to be great. I could see the excitement dancing in her eyes. Lucielle sat a plain grey silk dress on my bed, she walked over to me, her pale skin white next to my tan skin.

"There is a ball tonight in honor of the Prince Rye's twelfth birthday, everyone is too attend." I threw my arms around her neck. I was so excited to finally leave the house and I was even more proud that they thought I was ready. I didn't realize that people thought less of me.

I remember spending the next few hours trying to make my hair look like Isla's. Where she had three or four attendants looking after her, I had none. I remember us getting in the transport vehicle, the whole way Isla's parents talked to her about her future marriage how she was going to be High Goddess of all the Seven Royal Regions. I just kept my mouth shut content to live an easy life. After what I had gone through I deserved that. My nightmares were a small price to pay for the life I now had.

Choosing to be a person I wasn't was easier than admitting who I was. I watched out the window the entire way there, drowning out the unsolicited advice from her parents. All the while I was thinking about how easy my life was going to be now. If no one knew who I was then, I didn't have to risk loss and hurt from anyone.

I was a naive child.

After we arrived at the ball Adrianus and Lucielle swept Isla away to parade her infront of the other Nobles. They only gave me a look back and told me to behave myself. They whispered to me, find a corner and place myself in it, so I did. I managed to stay out of the way for most of the ball. Hiding and dancing in a small corner of the room. Until some of the other court girls found me dancing to myself.

They cornered me and sneered about my half-breed heritage. They ripped my dress and told me that trash like me shouldn't play dress up. That no amount of nice clothing could hide what I truly was. I knew that I couldn't say anything about who I was or I would die. I bit my lip and took it all, I knew I couldn't say anything against them. After they had their fun, I composed myself as I walked out of the castle. I refused to cry in front of anyone, so I held it together until I was alone. I ran into one of the hedge mazes they had until I got to the center. There I finally let the tears run free. I sat on the only bench in the middle of the maze and I cried until there was nothing left.

After a few minutes I heard footsteps approaching, their shoes hitting off the cobblestone walk ways. I straightened myself up the best I could and tried to be invisible.

"I thought someone was in here," I looked up from the ground to find the Prince in front of me. His dark brown hair falling down into his eyes. He was tall for his age, but the rest of his body hadn't caught up, so he looked like a stick. "I don't think I have ever seen you around before." My throat was dry. I knew I shouldn't be here. I knew what he meant to Isla. I could feel Adrianus wrath if he found out who I was with.