Keres

Chapter 1

I didn't want to fall in love. I thought falling in love was for losers. Falling in love was for people who didn't have any other purpose in life.

Falling in love wasn't the path my parents followed. They never really loved each other. They did it to unite two kingdoms. Love had no purpose. I didn't know how to love. I didn't know what it was like to love someone so much you would kill for them. To love them so much you could kill for them. Well, that's how I used to think.

"Princess Keres." Maid Eleanora calls, waking me up.

"Yes, Eleanora?" I ask, barely able to speak, and squint up to her soft halo of a face.

"Your parents want you." She says.

"Why?" I ask, rising from my bed, "They barely ever talk to me."

"I do not know, Princess." She replied, gently helping me into my robe.

"Alright." I nod, putting on my slippers. "Thank you." She helped my into a dress and informed me that they were awaiting my presence in the throne room

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I walk into the vast chamber, and saw them standing next to each other in front of their thrones. Yet they seemed so distanced from the other. Perhaps it was because of the lack of physical touch

"Mum," I say, bowing, "Dad," Haven't seen them together in a while, I thought, my eyes flicking from one parent to the other

"Your Majesties," my father corrected.

"Honey, she is our daughter," My mother says, earning a vicious glare from my father, but quickly continuing, "We have some news."

"We have arranged for your marriage." My father declared.

"WHAT?!" I yell, confusion and anger choking its way out of my throat.

"Don't use that tone with me!" Father yelled, astounded by my reaction "We're marrying you off to a fine young gentleman. Prince Ventura. The son of the king of our neighboring kingdom."

"Now, don't start fighting." My mother chimed in quickly.

What happens next takes place so fast I am only able to yelp in shock. My mother clutches her cheek as my father towers over her, "Watch your place! Both of you!" He yells.

"Father!" I yell, rushing to my mother's side.

"You two need to learn your place." This man seemed to snarl, "You're women," he spat, "All you need to do is look pretty, and produce an heir to keep your family going." My father looked down at me in disdain and hissed, "Our lineage ends you."

"Now, get away from your mother and go pack all of your things!" He growls, and resembles a beast in a crown and heavy robes, rather than a man in charge of a whole kingdom of people.

My blood boils as I clench my jaw, curling my fist, ready to hit my father for his sexist remark, but my mother wraps her frail fingers around my bulging upper arm and shakes her head, slowly, silently indicating to me to not rise for bait.

I glance at her from the corner of my eyes with sadness and anger, only to see remorse in hers.

"As you wish Father." I say, pulling my mother to her feet and kissing her forehead.

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I overlook my maids putting everything in , instructing them to place which items in a specific trunk. Hats were placed into hat boxes, shoes in shoe boxes.

"Princess Keres, I will be traveling with you." Maid Eleanora says.

"Drop the "princess", Nora, it's getting on my nerves." I snap, while I watch another maid fold gowns and put them away so carefully. I hate being called "princess" because it just reminds me I will never have the same power as a king. I will never be able to actually have power. Not when I am the "child bearer" and "nurturer".