Crowned in Flames: The Rise of the Queen

The Lies of a King

Above the Rosewood palace the moon shone bright, every one in the castle was sound asleep all but one. Queen Ariana awoke from deep sleep to find the glass doors of her and husband's balcony open with Edward standing look over the kingdom below, wrapping herself in a blanket she walked out and took the arm of her husband tenderly leaning her head against his shoulder. "Are you thinking about Scarlett's village visit?" Ariana spoke softly, taking a breath of the cold night air Edward spoke "Yes, I really don't want to go through with this plan with my brother but I know if I don't are girl's lives could be on the line." "Though I don't agree with you and your brother's plan I do believe sending her to Kingswood is a good idea, it's a good school and she will do well there." Ariana and Edward stood there on the balcony lovingly embracing each other "I think I will get Scarlett a journal for when she leaves then she can chart stars and maybe it will help contain her wild imagination." Ariana turned to face her husband as he thought "Do you think Scarlett and Sabrina would enjoy having a little sibling?" Trying to distract himself from the world below, Ariana laughed at the idea "Come on Edward let's go back to bed you and I have a big day tomorrow." Scooping up his wife into his arms Edward and Ariana returned to their bed and fell back into a peaceful sleep, before the dawn breaks over the horizon.

***

Sunlight filtered through the soft curtains of Scarlett's bedroom a soft knock of the door of her bedroom door woke her from her sleep "Who is it?" Scarlett yawned as her mother opened the door "Good morning Scarlett. I thought you would be up already for today." Scarlett smiled to her mother "I had a lot to think about from yesterday so I was up for a little bit longer than I should've been." Scarlett stood from her bed and walked over to the vanity on the other side of the room pulling her messy hair from its braid and stared off into the mirror. Ariana watched as her daughter got lost in thoughts "Scarlett are you alright? I've notice for the past few days that few days you have become lost in your thoughts." "Hmm sorry mother it's just I want these next days to be per-f-ect, perfect." Scarlett's voice shook slightly, reaching for her comb she started to gently comb through the rough knots in her hair. "Here let me help." Ariana told her daughter walking towards her oldest daughter grabbing another brush to help her daughter get ready for the day.

***

What felt like a hour of working the knots of her hair out and getting into a elegant dress to look presentable for the day Scarlett stood looking into the mirror while her mother spoke "There we are, my beautiful daughter ready to face the today." Ariana smiled at her daughter from behind, Scarlett looked in the mirror at herself "Thank you for your help I don't think I would be able to do this one my own." "Scarlett your father told me about boarding school and the deal you two made." Scarlett turned from the mirror to face her mother "He did? I know I should be grateful and proud that I could have this opportunity but I feel scared to leave behind my home." Scarlett admitted to her mother "I understand why you're scared the last time we tried this it didn't go well-" Ariana said before she stopped herself seeing the fear in her daughter's eyes as Scarlett shuddered with anxiety. Ariana walked towards her daughter and pulled her daughter in to a tight hug "Last time I went to boarding school it-it was horrible the sleepless nights, the constant pain of being corrected because of every single thing we did wrong-I can't do it again." Scarlett cried thinking about the past, Ariana still comforting her daughter "I remember that day you came home for winter break and seeing to bruises on your arms and the anger your dad had that night knowing the fact that he trusted the people at the school. But know this Kingswood is the best school out there and the teachers don't believe in reform through punishment." Scarlett look up at her mother "When I found out I was engaged to your father I went to Kingswood so you don't have anything to worry about if you go." Wiping her tears Scarlett smiled "Thanks Mother I think I feel a bit better." "Good now we better go down for breakfast before you sister comes and drags you downstairs." Together they both left Scarlett's bedroom and walked down the hallway to the dinning room.

***

When Ariana and Scarlett entered the dining room they were greeted by Sabrina and Edward already there. Half way through breakfast the head of the servant staff entered "Your Majesty, your guest have arrived." Edward looked up "Escort him to the drawing room I will be up in minute." He spoke, "Yes your highness." The chamberlain exited, Scarlett turned to her father "Who's coming to breakfast today dad." Scarlett trying to make her father laugh "You're hilarious Scarlett. But not now." Her father's stern voice as he rose from her seat made her realize that this was serious.

Entering the drawing room Edward saw his brother sitting on the couch "Do you remember when we used to play as boys in this room while dad and mother sat by the fireplace?" "Yes I remember those days I also remember the day you showed up at my castle coming back from battle and telling me-" Edward's brother eyes shot opened "Don't go there! Remember I'm trying to help you with this crazy plan that will destroy your relationship between you and your daughters!" "Don't act like you did-"Edward tried to retaliate but was swiftly interrupted "Look, I didn't come here to argue, so can we just move on?" With a sighed Edward nodded "Alright. Is everything ready for tomorrow?" "Yes. I will have guards posted in different areas dressed in Rosewood Uniforms. When your Scarlett reaches the canal-" Edward interrupted him before he could continue "And you're sure that this is safe and nobody will be hurt? I want to keep my daughter safe and not possibly scare her to the point that she doesn't trust herself." His brother nodded "Don't worry brother that's why I have so many-" "HEYY Dad!"Scarlett yelled "Scarlett. What have I told you about yelling?" Scarlett stopped in her tracks "My apologies father, but mother wanted for me to tell that we are leaving to the west wing for dress fittings." Scarlett replied lowering her tone. Hiding behind the stacks of books Edward's brother listened to the conversation between the two "Thank you Scarlett, tell your mother once I'm done here that she can find me in my study." "Alright, Love you. And sorry." Scarlett said sneaking out of the door to the room. Edward turned to his brother "Are you okay?" Edward asked in concern swallowing a lump in his throat his brother spoke "Yes. Let-let's continue."

***

After a long hour of talking the brothers finished their work. "Well I think we have finished every last detail." Edward nodding in agreement, the room soon filled with silence. The brother of Edward sat staring at the wall deep in thought "I remember the days of my brother and I playing here while mother and father. But that all changed when I excelled in martial arts and he excelled in politics and the role of being a king. I still remember the day that I left leaving  to join the ColourKore Imperial National Guard to become general, only to return a few months later with-" "Caelum? What are you doing?" Edward spoke interrupting his brothers thoughts "Oh you know just remembering the old days, you know the days before I left to go to ColourKore-" a soft knock on the door made both men turn towards the door "Come in." Edward spoke seeing who entered the room "Ariana? Is there a problem?" Ariana looked towards her husband seeing his brother behind him "No. I just wanted to see what was taking so long." Caelum spoke before his brother could "Yeah we're done planning. Also you have nothing to worry about Ariana, your daughters will be perfectly safe." Ariana sighed, turning to her husband "Edward your daughter is scared and already anxious about tomorrow are you sure you want to do this?" Edward turned away "I want our daughters safe. Last night when I was on the balcony before you came out over the horizon at the edge of the kingdom I saw a small trade village being set ablaze. I plan to join the ColourKore Alliance, after tomorrow and hope that if I join we can stop this before it gets worse." When Edward finished Ariana walked towards him "Don't worry she will understand one day." she spoke trying to comfort her Husband. "Tomorrow is going to be hard but I'm sure we can pull this off. But with this finish I will take my leave. Goodbye and farewell to you all." Edward and Ariana nodded as Caelum left.

Walking down the halls Caelum saw the twin girls walking towards stepping to the side and bowing in respect "I'm sorry Scarlett and you as well Sabrina, I wish I could go back. But sometimes you need to make tough decisions." Caelum thought seeing the two girls turn the corner and disappear around the corner.