A Traveler's Curse

Chapter 1- Royalty

"Come on, Kyla. Let go of the whiskey bottle and let me help you with this damn corset," Sila pleads with me in a desperate tone. I take another gulp from my jeweled canteen, feeling the warmth of the liquor spread through me, ignoring her request, again.

"Your brother will take your head if you arrive at the ball drunk," she continues, her blue eyes begging me to cooperate for once.

"Oh, how I wish he fucking would," I reply sarcastically, finally setting the bottle aside so Sila can begin lacing up my corset. I despise these confining contraptions, always too tight and suffocating. Men have no clue how fortunate they are. No corsets. No monthly courses. No restraints on society. And yet they are so unaware of the privileges they have.

"This isn't a joke. This ball is in honor of your late father," Keana chimes in, carefully placing a voluminous skirt over my petticoat. The dress, adorned with diamonds, shimmers in emerald green, perfectly matching my eyes.

"I know, I know," I sigh, feeling the weight of the occasion despite my best efforts not to. "We haven't had a celebration since his passing, and it feels wrong to celebrate his death."

Caitir approaches and gently takes my hands in hers. "Princess, we are celebrating his life, not his death. He was a remarkable king and father, deserving of recognition."

I know she is right. It has been exactly a year since my father, King Tullius of Lakespire, fell in battle against our enemies from Redbury. His death has burdened my older brother, Aldrin, with the responsibility of continuing the war alone as a young and inexperienced King. Thank the gods he still has our mother to help guide him. I don't know what any of us would do without her.

"I'm just not in the mood for a party," I confess to my loyal ladies in waiting, reaching for the bottle once more and taking a long sip of the whiskey. I am grateful that they have done their best to make me look beautiful tonight, adorning me in a sparkly ball gown and taming my unruly red curls into an elegant half-up, half-down style with braids but I don't want to leave my bedchambers.

"Well now that we're all dressed, let's have a drink and get you in the party spirit!" Sila exclaims with excitement, her pale golden curls bouncing in the air as she grabs a fresh bottle and reaches for my canteen to refill it.

"Fine," I reluctantly agree, handing the canteen to her. The four of us gather in front of the fireplace, passing the canteen of liquor amongst ourselves until it's completely empty again and our faces are finally numb. Hopefully, Sila will help me walk to the ballroom because I can barely feel my legs.

These girls are more than just my ladies in waiting; they're my family, and we often find ourselvestaking part in rebellious activities together since childhood. I am so thankful to have them by my side during the hardest parts of my life. To be honest, I don't remember a life without them, they have just always been there for me.

Sila flicks her wrists and snaps her fingers, and suddenly, snow starts falling inside the room, despite the warmth of the fire nearby. "Being a Weather Shifter may not be rare or special, but it's incredible to be able to use magic whenever I want," she remarks, watching the snow fall onto the wooden floor and disappear.

"It's still better than being a Mood Whisperer. All I can do is manipulate the emotions of those around me," Caitir complains glumly, placing her face in her hands. Caitir is beautiful with black curls that fall to her shoulder and a stunning dark complexion of skin. I'm surprised she's not married already.

"Hey, that comes in handy when dealing with my mood swings all day," I tease her and she lifts her head to smile at me with perfect white teeth.

"That's true," she giggles. "I wonder what you'll specialize in. I'm sure it'll be incredible."

"I hope so. I'm terrified of becoming the first Royal Featureless," I confess. When any highborn turns eighteen, they must undergo The Alzeer Trials, a test/ritual to determine their specialization in a category of magic. If you fail to specialize, you're sent to a peasant town without magic and branded as a Featureless, someone without magical abilities. Someone normal. That's the worst thing you could be here. My brother specializes in enchantment, meaning he can enchant any object with magic. My mother can communicate with any and all animals. And my father could do astral projection at will. It would be horrible if I didn't specialize.

"Trust me, that would never happen to you. You're too much of a pain in the ass," Keana says, playfully jabbing me in the ribs, and we all burst into laughter, feeling the full effects of the alcohol.

As the whiskey flows through my veins, I feel my spirits lifting, preparing me to embrace the role of the joyful Princess, all for the sake of my father. Just as if the universe orchestrates it, the grand French doors to my chamber swing open, and there stands Sir Rowan, my trusted Knight and good friend.

"Princeza," he greets me with a nod, his distinct Stonerun accent, a familiar melody to my ears. "Are you prepared to join the ball?"

Confidently, I reply, ensuring my words carry no trace of slurring, "Indeed, Sir Rowan."

He guides us through the main corridor, leading the way towards the throne room, while my ladies and I follow at a respectable distance.

"I still can't get over how pleasing he is to behold. Your father truly bestowed upon us the greatest gift by appointing him as your Knight," Sila gushes, linking her arm with mine.

"Oh, trust me, I am well aware," I respond with a knowing smile. "Do you remember Sir Howard? The thought of him sends shivers down my spine." He was such the boring and creepy old man who guarded me before Rowan.

Sila giggles, her dimples revealing her amusement. "How could I forget? You frightened him away by threatening to lace his ale with truth serum and expose his deepest secrets to the entire palace."

"I would of to," I respond confidently. "That feels like a lifetime ago."

I developed a habit of driving away the guards my father assigned to watch over me before Rowan's arrival. Despite his youth, my father initially disapproved of someone so close in age protecting his only daughter. However, Rowan has already proven himself as a formidable warrior in battle and a trusted friend of the crown.

Moreover, he possesses an attractive appearance with his long dark brown hair and kind brown eyes. Countless nights are spent in my chambers, engaging in chess and sipping on wine, though he never allows me to claim victory, despite my royal status. Despite this, I like his company and he seems to be amused by my mood swings and outbursts that scared off my last guard. Aside from Sila, Keana, and Caitir, he is my closest friend.

Finally, we reach the grand ballroom doors, which swing open as the guards grant us passage, revealing the magical enchantment that awaits us inside...