The Reincarnated Royalty

Chapter - 3

*1500 years ago*

"Try to catch me!" The younger princess of The Kingdom of Andria was playing along with her elder sister. They both were running in the garden chasing each other and laughing together. They both stopped as they heard the beating of the loud drums. "Father is here!" Rose, the elder princess said excitedly and they both went inside.

On their way inside, they were being escorted by their royal guard. "Why do you have to tail us around everywhere we go?" The younger princess was annoyed by their guard always following them everywhere. "Because that is my duty, princess." He replied. "It pisses me off." She said and increased her pace. "Claire, wait for me at least!" Rose chased her from back.

They both reached the courtroom where their father, the King of Andria was sitting with the other noble people. "Father!" Rose went to him and hugged him tightly. "How was your visit to Sophiesia?" She asked him. "It was very good." He replied to her. "I have an important announcement to make." He said and Rose stepped aside.

"I, the King of Andria am ordering to make preparations for a royal ball. Give the invitations to all the Kingdoms of The Five Great Nations. I want to select the perfect prince for my elder daughter." He said making everyone present there wide their eyes with shock.

"Are you serious, father?" Rose asked him. "I certainly am." He replied smiling. "I am so happy for you!!!" Claire started jumping around Rose making her laugh too. "My sister is going to find her prince charming!!" She excitedly ran around the whole castle singing and swinging. It seemed as if she was levitating with happiness.

"Calm down princess, you might hurt yourself." Their guard came there. "Jake, it's time for me to celebrate! Don't stop me now." She said and ran into the garden. "Princess! Wait!" He ran behind her. 

She was running all around when she bumped into someone. Before she could fall the person grabbed her by her waist. "You should be careful princess." He said to her and she stood back on her own feet. "I'm sorry Prince Ray." She apologized and he shrugged his shoulders. "No need for that, friends do not say sorry to each other." He said and she smiled at him.

Jake also came there and immediately bowed at him. "Where is Lucy?" Claire asked Ray. "She went inside to meet Princess Rose first." He said and forwarded his hand. "May I lead you to them?" He asked her and she accepted. "Sure."

They both walked down the hallway which was decorated with beautiful paintings and soft crimson red carpet with golden embroidery work lying down on the ground.  

"I hope Princess Rose finds the best Prince for herself." Ray said. "Me too." Claire said and left his hand to go inside Rose's room. "Nice to meet you Lucy." She greeted the lady sitting elegantly in the room beside Rose. "Nice to meet you too." She replied.

"I came here early as the King already told Father about organizing the ball on his visit to Sophiesia. I came here so that I can help you both with the preparations." Lucy said and Claire also sat beside her. "Thank you so much, Princess Lucy." Rose said to her. "Don't worry Rose, that's what friends are for." Lucy said and softly held her hand. 

"Am I missing something?" Claire interrupted them. "No you are not, by the way, I have to go now. I have to meet the King too and tell the maids about the decoration processes as well." Lucy said and got up. "Be careful not to harm your precious hair." Claire teased her from behind. "Sure." Lucy smiled forcefully at her ignoring the anger building up inside her due to Claire's teasing.

"Rose, I'm tired. Can we just go to sleep already?" Claire asked her. "You can go I'm not sleepy." She replied. "Ok then, good night." She said and went to her room. 

She was walking back to her room when she felt someone following her. "Stop it already Jake." She said with her eyes closed in frustration. "I have to tell you something, princess." He said and put forward a letter. "Prince Ray wants you and Princess Rose to go to the forest along with him and Princess Lucy tomorrow." Jake told her and she read that letter. "Tell him that I will be ready by 6." She said and returned the letter to him. "Ok, your majesty." He bowed to her and went from there.

The next morning they all gathered at the castle entrance. "Are we ready to go?" Ray asked them. "Yes." They replied and got on the carriage except for Claire. "Is something wrong?" Ray asked her while getting on his horse. "I will take my horse with me." She said and Jake brought her horse there. She got on it and led the way.

Enjoying the cool morning breeze she smiled while riding her horse at a very fast speed. Her long hair flying along with the breeze made her look enchanting. Ray also caught up with her. "Wanna race?" He asked her. "Get ready to lose then, Prince Ray." She smirked at him. "We will see to that." He said and increased his pace. "Challenge accepted." Claire also increased her pace.

Lucy and Rose watched them from the carriage. "They both still act like kids." Lucy said smiling at her friend and younger brother. "They are still kids in our eyes." Rose was also smiling at their behavior. "Sometimes I wonder how it all would have been if our mothers were still alive." Lucy said making Rose's smile drop.

"They both sacrificed their life for the sake of our safety. I can never imagine the pain they went through." Rose said closing her eyes. "I am thankful for the alliance between our nations and our friendship. Because of this, we were able to get out from that trauma and raise our siblings as mother figures." Lucy said and tightly held Rose's hand. "Indeed." Rose replied and smiled at her.

"You are going to lose Princess!!" They heard Ray yell and diverted their attention to them. "Don't give up Claire!" Rose cheered for her sister. "You too Ray!!" Lucy also cheered on him. They all were enjoying and laughing with each other. 

Claire saw the forest approaching and made her horse run faster and within no time she took over Ray and won the race. "How was it Prince?" She got off her horse and smirked at him. "You are pretty good." He complimented her. Soon after that, Rose and Lucy's carriage also reached there and they both got off and joined them.

"So why did want us to visit this forest along with you?" Rose asked Ray. "I just wanted all of us to spend some time together. After Rose's marriage, it wouldn't be easy for us to meet often." Ray replied and ordered his guards to set up the mat for them. 

"This view is so beautiful!" Lucy said while spinning around and brushing her hair. "I want to paint this!" Claire said and Jake who was carrying her canvas all along kept it in front of her. "Not here, I want to go a little deeper into this forest." She ordered and Jake took her there.

After walking for a while she stopped in the middle of the forest surrounded by beautiful flowers and trees. Birds chirping and butterflies flying all around gave that whole area a mystical look. "It's perfect." She said and Jake kept her canvas down there. "You can go, I will call you if needed." She said and Jake bowed to her and went a little far from there.

She took out her brush and began stroking the canvas. She tied up her hair to prevent it from getting stained in paint. She was focused on her work when she felt someone else's presence nearby. She ignored it at first but later she started feeling uneasy. She thought it would be just a wild animal but she heard something from behind the bushes.

"Who is there?" She asked with her deep voice taking out her royal knife from the back pocket of her dress. "Come out at once or it will prove bad for you." She said and gripped her knife tightly. After a few minutes, when all the hustling activity stopped, she put her knife back into her pocket and began painting again.

She again became focused on her work. In the background, she was also able to hear her friends' laughter which made a smile appear on her lips. "It's all done!" She exclaimed looking at the painting she made. She turned around when in the blink of an eye Jake came and chopped off the bushes from where the sounds were coming earlier.

"Who are you?"