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Chapter 1

"Big smiles." Aunt Freya chides. "Just because we have no respect for them, doesn't mean we have to show it."

Our guests walk into the room with equally big smiles on their faces. I take in their appearances. The woman has pretty blue eyes and light brown hair. Her husband, half a foot taller than her, has brown hair, black eyes, and brown skin.

Their eldest daughter, Henrietta looks more like her younger brother than his twin. They have the same shade of brown hair, eyes, and the same bone structure. The female twin, Amber, is taller than everyone in her family, including her father. Her skin is also darker than her siblings, her hair is black and her eyes are a very light brown.

Aunt Freya made me learn as much as I could about them prior to their arrival. I know the twins are the same age as Grey and Henrietta is 21.

My eyes briefly fall on my aunt's face, she seems so happy to be meeting them. If only they knew how fake her expression was. Minutes before they walked in, she couldn't stop prattling on about them.

"These people are ridiculous," she said. "Everything about them is ridiculous. Why do we have to host them?"

"Simple," Seb said. "Because they're the royal family of Ferona."

She scoffed. "Please. They're not even a real monarchy. They're a joke. Their idiot great grand relative handed all the power to a parliament. They can't legally get involved in politics. They just prance around in crowns doing nothing. I bet the throne won't go past that airhead Caspian."

My aunt shakes the Prince's hand warmly. "Prince Caspian, it is so nice to have you here."

"It's nice to be here." His accent sounds slightly different from Aldean's. "Your country is so beautiful."

"That's such a kind to say." My aunt smiles. "Princess Matilda, you simply must tell me your secret. How do you always look so radiant?"

Princess Matilda, the wife, places her hands on her lap and smiles politely. "No secret at all, just lots of rest. People underestimate the value of a good night's sleep."

My aunt coughs, I'm sure she's thinking of the many ways she can insult her with that. She holds back her tongue for the sake of diplomatic peace. "It's clearly working for you, you look lovely. Henrietta, you just graduated from the Higher Institution. How are you getting ready to fully embrace royal life?"

Henrietta adjusts her skirt. "I've been preparing since I was a baby." She jokes. "But everything is going well, the future has never looked brighter."

My aunt nods. "Matthew and Amber, how is school?"

"School is good, your majesty. I too cannot wait to graduate and start fulfilling my full potential. The future is surely looking bright." Amber replies, there's a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Her twin bites his lip to stifle a laugh and her parents and elder sister look embarrassed.

Matthew wipes the tiny smile off his face. "School is lovely, thank you so much for asking, Your Majesty. I will be starting my third year soon and can't wait to study my major. I'm taking the history of Illyrian dances and a dead language, hopefully, I can use my platform to revive it."

I snort and block my mouth. My family looks annoyed.

"That sounds lovely, Prince Matthew." Seb intervenes. "I've always been saddened by the death of Gilliam as a language, you hardly find any native speakers."

Matthew gets ready to say something. He's interrupted by his mother.

Princess Matilda sighs. "This palace is just beautiful, can we trouble you for a tour?"