The Key to the Oleander

Prologue

"Athena!" My mothers calls from downstairs. I find myself rolling my eyes. Now what does she want?

"What?" I yell back, placing the bookmark into the book that I was reading before she interrupted me.

"Get down here! Your father and I need to speak with you." What did I do now?

I slowly get out of bed, placing my book on my nightstand after some hesitation. I exit my room, descend down the stairs, pausing when I reach the bottom to find that they are not in the kitchen. I sigh, entering the living room and stopping dead in my tracks when I see them both sitting on the couch.

"Yes?" I ask, taking a seat in the chair directly in front of them.

"Your father and I have been talking about something recently, and we have finally come to a decision on it." My mother covers my father's hand with her own.

"We think it's about time you get married." She slaps her free hand down in her lap.

I sit there silently for a few seconds, processing what she has said until I can finally formulate a response. "Married... are you serious? "I'm only nineteen!" I shout.

"Yes, but you will be succeeding me as Queen of Ellesmere; don't you need a king?" My mom smiles sheepishly.

"No, this is crazy!" As I'm about to stand up, my father begins speaking.

"Athena, you need to stop being so selfish. You should be prioritizing the kingdom's well-being."

I scoff in disbelief. "Selfish? I'm the one being selfish?" I stab my chest with my finger.

"You're willing to sacrifice everything for your own self even though this is the best for our kingdom." When I open my mouth to respond, nothing comes out.

"Since we know that you don't have a boyfriend, we thought setting up a marriage for you would be the best course of action. You're going to wed the prince of Nethilor." My mom explains. My eyes widen in surprise. Cole... how am I supposed to tell Cole?

"I thought Nethilor and we were enemies?" I fix my posture, suddenly interested in the new change of news.

"Well, this marriage would bring us peace with them, therefore you see how this marriage would benefit the kingdom greatly." I bite my lip as I imagine what my future might be like if I marry a man I have only met once, let alone a little more than a decade ago. But I must accept my fate as the princess of Ellesmere, despite how much I would prefer to escape it, my father must be right.

"Okay." I let out a sigh. My father's expression immediately changes to one of pride. I receive a relieved smile from my mother.

In this moment, my life changes completely. For the worse, and the better.