ROYALTY

Chapter 26

I stroked my chin, glass in hand. "Oh yes, I almost shouted. It was because the king and queen (bless their souls) were running short on fund, if I can remember correctly, there was a certain fuss that went about the kingdoms sometime back, with the neighbouring country declaring a war and all." By now I was sat on a couch.

"And the princess being older than the prince of the neighbouring country, a match could not be formed, so the king, (bless his soul) resulted to the only option left." I turned to look at her, eye to eye, "He came to my father and not requested, not asked, but demanded for one of his daughters be given as some prize to the other country. I remembered that day, my father begged on behalf of my eldest sister. The king had even made it a responsibility to come to our family home and threaten my father of the consequences that would arise if he did not consent. Then what happened next? Ah yes, how could have forgotten, the ill kingdom took my sisters head off ! And my father was outranged, he was devastated. My mother almost died that day from grieve. Your father had allowed my older sister to die!" I screamed, it felt good to know I was in authority now. "How would we have known that she would die? It was meant to be a peace treaty."

"By forcing my sister on a despicable man?" I shouted, "Your father tried to hide his sins. And he used my sister for that." she did not reply, she grabbed the bottle of the foul smelling substance and drunk in the most un lady like matter. "Your point being?" she asked. "You can do better." Was all I said before walking out on her and dismissing her.

***

"The queens ball is to be this evening, are you not excited my lady?" Lauren almost screamed, she had long forgiven me, well not after all the begging and fake crying I did, it was more of the flowers I had plucked that did the job, they did bring her to tears. I mumbled something under my breath and Lauren took it for a yes. "Oh my lady, you will look simply stunning in this red wine dress, made from the best silk material ever known to man, your mother had it sent in just yesterday morning, and I took it upon myself to make sure it stayed In perfect shape just for you." She was blabbing now, my mind was quite far, I will still thinking of my roast lamb, now that was a heartbreak.

"Just you wait, the others would be so jealous of your outfit." I looked at the wine coloured dress. "I need food to get me through this night." "You know this ball is the start of the events, the queen will be watching you and the princess will be on your neck, well, she is already, the prince will pay more attention to, and in less than two months, he would pick a bride and be crowned king." Apparently, that was the rumour. "Do they expect us to act like cats and dogs for his hand?"

Maeve turned me gently so that I was looking at my pale skin, I could see a pimple or two. "You are not that excited my lady, you do not even smile or blush when we speak of the prince." "Or lord Donovan." Lauren shouted from inside the room. It was true, the other ladies, did smile and blush, whenever the two passed or seemed to make an appearance, they even went so far as to spread rumours about themselves.

But after the incident I found myself thinking about the prince ever so often, I even had my lamb as evidence. "I guess I am no that over enthusiastic about the prince or becoming a queen." No, it was the opposite actually, how much pain I felt, after I heard of the reason as to why I was the prince's last option for a choice, initially there were already twenty five ladies picked, the last had caught a strange sickness and my father had taken it upon himself to make sure that I got an invitation to the palace, he was apparently selling me off, he claimed it was a favour the king had to pay after the death of his first daughter. It was such a heated conversation that I stopped receiving letters from my family, everyone including my mother knew and she claimed she was not forcing me to go. Ironic really.

"May I be open in your presence your grace?" I turned in my seat to look at the pale girl that stood behind me, brush in had, she was older than me but acted even older, I guess she had seen life and experienced all its hardships, I nodded. "You will make a great queen Naomi." There were tears in her eyes.

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