𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter forty-seven

Emriana

"Good morning, Emriana," I flinched at the voice and looked to my left at Miss Adelina, who stood by the doorway.

"Morning," I replied as I stepped into the small adjacent kitchen. I saw the few muffins I had bought at the market and grabbed one.

"Where are you going so early in the morning?" She said as she eyed my outfit. It was an elegant pale blue dress with purple details along the bottom. Soft white lace decorated the neckline and the hem of the sleeves. I hadn't worn it since I left Kove because it felt wrong to wear something he had bought for me. But it was my only elegant outfit.

"I'm going to the castle to meet the King," I said, and she raised an eyebrow at my response.

"The King? Why would you need to meet the King?" She replied curiously.

"Just for stuff," I answered, and she frowned. I didn't want to tell her yet that I was actually the Princess of Nelovia. I had barely gotten my head around the news. I didn't want to deal with her questions.

"What stuff?" She asked, and I sighed.

"Just personal stuff," I replied before leaving the room and walking out the door before she could say anything else. I held the door for Akira as he passed me.

"Are you ready?" I asked my furry friend as we joined the main street. I quickly noticed the number of stares I was getting, so I fastened my pace. I told myself that it must be because of Akira.

The thought of them knowing who I was crossed my mind and made me nervous. How was I supposed to act? What was I supposed to say? I was afraid I would say something I wasn't supposed to. I had become a princess in less than twenty-four hours, and I had no clue what I was supposed to do with the title or if I even wanted it.

My plan about leaving Nelovia hadn't changed. I still wanted to go back to my real home. I wanted to continue the life I had built there. But on the other hand, the Princes coming back into my life and my newly-found family were changing everything.

I approached a lady selling meat on the side of the street.

"How much for this one?" I pointed to the massive piece on the left. She replied, and I handed her the exact amount. Before I could even grab the food, Akira had already jumped on the meat.

I talked to the lady for a few minutes while the tiger ate and learned a little more about the kingdom. The people here were very nice, and they seemed to really like the Royal family, which was a change from Ekudal.

"Have a nice day," I saluted her as we parted ways and headed toward the castle. The cold morning made me fasten my steps as I hugged my body closer.

"You're lucky, Aki. You got all that fur to keep you warm," I said mindlessly as we walked down the streets. I smiled at the occasional person I crossed as I watched the castle come into view and become bigger as I approached. I couldn't believe that my family lived in this place, that I belonged there. I didn't really feel that I did, though. I felt like an imposter living someone else's life.

I had thought a lot about Zeke, Drakkar, and Zander last night after I left. I wanted to have a talk with them about what happened. I wanted to hear them out, to let them tell me who they are and why they acted as they did.

I wasn't even sure I wanted to forgive them despite a weird part of me really wanting to. Yesterday was the first time that I really saw them as Princes, and I hated every second of it. I didn't like that they looked so scary and were feared by everyone.

I would've loved to talk to Dana about all of this. She always had so many helpful insights into the situation, and I'm sure she could guide me through everything.