The Secrets of the Castle

Prologue

Ajay

I sat on the bench, watching Reliu practice his fighting. He swiveled around on his foot, slashing his sword through the air. A small snicker escaped me as he lost his footing, falling onto the ground. He looked over at me, a blush spreading across his face.

"I, uh, meant to do that," he said, getting back onto his feet.

"Uh-huh," I smirked.

The younger man snorted, "well then how about you try, young Prince."

"I'm older than you," I said, standing up from the bench, "and you wouldn't want to hurt your ruler."

Reliu handed me one of the swords that were lying on the ground. My hand dropped as he let go of it. It weighed more than what I expected, especially for something that seemed so light. I kept adjusting my grip at the handle, trying to hold it up.

"You don't know how to hold it?" Reliu asked.

"It shouldn't be too hard to figure out."

He walked over, chuckling quietly, maneuvering himself behind me. His back pressed against mine as he adjusted my grip. Heat quickly rose to my face.

"Is everything alright, Prince Ajay?"

"Yes, yes. I'm alright," I stepped away from him, breaking the contact.

That was nothing. It meant nothing. After all, he was my guard and it was unprofessional. Plus, I couldn't fall in love with a man.

Aryn

I opened the doors to the throne room, stepping inside. Mom and Dad sat on their thrones at the back of the room. Ajay and Arwin were already there, standing off to the side. Arwin gave a tight-lipped smile, a concerned look on his face. Ajay ignored my presence, staring at the ground. Mom narrowed her eyes for a split second before a smile appeared on her face.

"How nice of you to join us," she teased.

"I was busy-"

"It doesn't matter," Mom cut me off, waving her hand to dismiss the matter, "We have someone for you to meet."

I paused, clenching my jaw, "Meet?"

The doors to the throne room opened once again. Escorted by two guards was an elven woman. She wore the Rose Soldier's chest plate, the insignia shining from the sunlight streaming in. Blonde hair sat on her shoulders, loose curls bouncing as she walked.

"This is your personal guard. Eroi, this is who you'll protect with your life," Dad said.

The young woman - Dad called her Eroi - walked forward, stopping a few feet in front of me. Her gaze trailed over me, green eyes filled with curiosity. I shifted, crossing my arms over my chest. A personal guard. Her sun kissed skin was a contrast to the lighter tones of our kingdom. Warning bells rang in my head. Foreigner.

"Greetings, Princess," She said softly, her eyes finally meeting mine.

"Hello," I smiled back, "Eroi."

Arwin

I bolted off, my feet pounding against the cobblestone ground. Angry soldiers yelled from behind me, their armor clanking as they ran. My heart drummed in my ears, blocking out every other sound, and my lungs burning as I pushed myself to run faster. Sweat rolled down my face, my hood falling. Messy brown hair fell in front of my eyes. I weaved past buildings, cutting across alleyways.