Forbidden Lovers

Part 6

Last chapter before the epilogue...

Part 6

Within the palace the chaos had come and gone. The evening that Princess Hanni disappeared was the beginning of an endless search. The King and Queen had sent out a kingdom wide notice that said, “The Princess has been captured and we must find her”. Kemma knew in her heart that she hadn’t been captured or kidnapped or anything of that sort. Kemma had noticed the absence of the huntress, recalled the looks Hanni and the huntress had shared. Kemma seemed to be the only one with this suspicion.

A month had passed and Hanni was yet to return but the royals refused to lose hope. The King had endless search parties out searching, but he refused to cross the Vetiti borders. He said that if she was beyond the border, she was beyond saving. Kemma kept to herself and avoided any talk of Hanni. At this point she knew her sister would have returned if she planned to. Kemma knew that the huntress hadn’t returned. Kemma was surprised no one had discovered what she already knew, but she would just allow Hanni her escapade.

When six months had come and gone, the King made an announcement he had dreaded. “Princess Hanni has yet to be found and we are assuming she has lost her life. The throne is being given to the next in line. Our new heir to the throne is Princess Kemma Analia”. It covered every newspaper and sign across the kingdom. The suitors lined up for Kemma and she was suddenly overwhelmed with things to do.

Kemma often imagined that Hanni was by her side, she imagined it was her big sister pulling her hair back into a small bun. She imagined how her sister would release one single wave of her blonde hair out of any up-do or style it was put into. Kemma would hear Hanni’s voice whisper into her ear whenever she thought her hair to be too grey. “Your hair is blonde, but if you see it as grey it is a gorgeous grey,” she’d whisper. She would tuck her hair behind her ear when they were younger and Hanni would tuck her into bed. There was only a three year difference between the sisters but Hanni had always been like a mother to Kemma. As heir to the throne, she had grown up too fast and now she was venturing out, being that crazy teenager she never had the chance to be.

No matter how much Kemma would miss her she refused to want her to come home, she wasn’t happy at home and Kemma can only hope that Hanni is happy where she was. Kemma held it together and she knew spring was coming and with spring came her birthday. Fifteen was the legal age to wed in Vetiti, and Kemma had no doubt that her parents would marry her off before she had the chance to run like Hanni had.

Kemma would marry as long as she chose to who, the suitors that had come, they had come and gone only wanting the crown not at all interested in Kemma. Kemma pulled a journal off of her shelf and grabbed a pen. She sat at her vanity and began writing.

Dear Hanni Ryenne,
I know you will never receive this. I know it has been six months. It is the thirteenth of March, the dreaded day was six months and seven days ago. I can not fathom that I have survived without you for such a time. Father has told everyone you died and I don’t believe him. I think you ran off to live the future you wanted, with the person you wanted. The person you wanted wasn’t any of those suitors, the opposite actually. You found love in the simple girl who was making sure her family survived. I did my research. I didn’t want you with anyone I didn’t trust. You chose well, Han, she is a catch.
    Han, the suitors have been chasing me. Father put me first in line to the throne and now they all want me like they did you. I had a suitor show up who was older than cousin Everyn. Our cousin who is twenty-four? Yes, I had a suitor who was twenty-six! He thought he was just as valid as the rest of them. Father sent him away quickly. I don’t know who I’ll choose; none of these suitors are very promising.
    I am rambling and avoiding the point of this. Mother says that is a fatal flaw of mine. I wouldn’t call it fatal, but it is a flaw. This writing is a goodbye, something to give me closure. I have no intentions to ever see you again. I hope you can live out your life happily and safely. I won’t tell our father of my suspicions for your sake but if I could have some sort of notice or message to show you’re safe and alive that would be amazing! But don’t do that if it’ll disclose your location. You always knew what was best, don't lose that sense dear sister. Goodbye Han, I’ll love you forever even if it is vetiti.