Once Upon a Royal Christmas

1st chapter

*Nineteen years later...*

The summer in Vermont had been particularly harsh for the Welbourne siblings. Their father’s recent passing left a heavy void following the loss of their mother to a rare illness years earlier. Now, at just nineteen, Katarina had stepped into the daunting role of head of the household, responsible caring for her eleven-year-old twin siblings, Rosie and Oliver.

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Katarina paused to take in the sight of the gravel driveway, shimmering under the unforgiving sun. The air was thick with the scent of wildflowers and freshly tilled soil, the only sense of normalcy in her now upended world. Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of laughter—her siblings’ bright voices breaking through her melancholy.

“Look what Mrs. Fredrickson gave us!” Rosie called out excitedly, sprinting up the path with a basket full of shiny red apples. The sun reflected off the fruit’s skin, making them gleam like little jewels.

Katarina managed a smile at the sight. “Those look wonderful, Rosie,” she said, kneeling down to inspect the apples. “Did she say you could have as many as you wanted?”

Rosie nodded, her curls bouncing with enthusiasm. “She said we could even sell some at the market tomorrow!”

Oliver chimed in, his voice filled with mischief. “And we can buy sweets after!”

Katarina chuckled despite herself. At nineteen, she was far too young for the responsibilities of raising two children, yet moments like this, filled with their innocent joy, reminded her of why she kept going. “Let’s not spend it all on sweets,” she teased. “We’ll save a few for dinner and maybe make a little coin at the market tomorrow.”

As they made their way back to the house, Katarina’s worries momentarily lifted. The warmth of the kitchen embraced them as they stepped inside, the familiar scent of freshly baked bread mingling with the herbal notes from the dried herbs hanging from the ceiling. Together, they washed the apples, chatting about their plans for the market day.

After a hearty dinner of stew and bread, the twins were relaxed, their excitement giving way to drowsiness. The evening sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft golden glow over the room.

“Time for bed,” Katarina said gently, leading them to wash up after their long day. Rosie and Oliver, tired but content, reluctantly agreed.

As they snuggled into their beds, Rosie looked up at her older sister. “Can we have a story before we sleep?”

Katarina smiled, sitting down between them. “Of course. Just one, though. We have a busy day tomorrow.”

She pulled out a well-loved storybook, her voice soft as she began to read. Rosie rested her head on Katarina’s shoulder, while Oliver sat cross-legged at the foot of the bed, eyes wide with fascination. By the time she finished, both of them were heavy-lidded, their breaths evening out as sleep overtook them.

“Goodnight, Kat,” Rosie whispered sleepily.

“Night,” Oliver mumbled, already half-asleep.

Katarina kissed their foreheads and quietly left the room, a sense of peace settling over her despite the challenges they faced. She was determined to protect their childhood as much as she could, no matter how difficult things became.

****

Across the Atlantic in Edlenmoor, Duke Alistair Winterbourne sat at his desk in deep thought. At sixty, he still carried the strength and presence of a man in his prime, though his thoughts weighed heavily on his mind. He stared out the window, lost in contemplation about the family he had yet to truly know.

Duchess Eliza, sitting across the room, set down her book and studied her husband’s troubled face. “What’s on your mind, Alistair?” she asked gently.

“I’ve been thinking about the children,” Alistair said quietly. “They’ve lost both their parents, and now Katarina, at just nineteen, is left with the burden of raising Rosie and Oliver. I think it’s time we bring them here to Edlenmoor. They need a stable home, and Katarina shouldn’t have to do this alone.”

Eliza frowned slightly. “But they’ve never lived here, and their lives are in America. Do you think they’ll come willingly?”

“They need us now more than ever,” Alistair said, his tone firm. “Winterbourne Castle is their heritage. I know it will be an adjustment, but we can give them the support they need. I’m sure, in time, they’ll see that this is where they belong.”

Eliza nodded, her expression softening. “You’re right. It’s time we step in. They need us.”

Alistair gazed out over the grounds of Winterbourne Castle, his mind filled with thoughts of his grandchildren. He hoped that bringing them to Edlenmoor would offer them the stability and healing they desperately needed. Change was coming, with it, the possibility of reuniting their fractured family at last.