Short Stories

Daylight

(P.S. this is a prologue to another book that I have not finished writing and the title of the book is the title of the chapters name)

"Have you ever heard of what this could bring us to this contract? What can this do for our kingdom?" My grandfather asked me as I sat in one of the chairs at the table that was designed for the meeting and such. My head rested on my knuckles with my eyes closed as I heard his voice; uninterested in the very topic we- and I mean he was on about. His voice grew with excitement as if he was a kid jumping from one place to another. Which brought both boredom and irritation to me. My eyes started to drift away from his presence to what stood behind him. A large bookshelf that was engraved into the wall filled with different types of books ranging from History to Fansty and the in between such as Romance. I never really cared for the romance part, always wanting to learn more about my heritage and the history of our kingdoms. I was raised to either fear or to be feared by the other kingdoms. "This could stop the wars between the kingdoms. Could bring us-" He stopped his sentence as his eyes brought onto me. His smile slightly slipped away from his lips as he took in my appearance.

"What's wrong with you?" His tone as well as his facial expression changed from excitement to slight panic. My eyes diverted back to him, the once wrinkles that formed near his brown colored eyes were now nowhere to be seen. His silver white hair slicked back due to the gel that stuck into place, his suit of armor that he wore every single day that I could remember from my youth up to now; was still shiny as ever. I always wondered why he wore it every day of every hour when I was around the age of four. I was told three years later why.

"Nothing is wrong" I told him as a heavy sigh left my lips as I moved my head off of my knuckles and onto the chair. It wasn't entirely wrong. Nothing was wrong; but nothing was right. My grandfather raised an eyebrow at me. I knew that looked, he didn't believe me whatsoever. "Or entirely right"

My grandfather nodded his head before shifting in place. I spoke again knowing it was only going to be pure silence between us if I didn't. "I don't wish to continue with this... arrangement." He began to laugh at me, causing me to give him a blank look as his laugh filled the once quiet room.

"I'm sorry" He choked out as he bent over to try and prevent him from laughing any further. Which failed him. "You were so keen on marrying into that kingdom when you were younger"

"Yes, when I was younger." I snapped. "I was naive and clueless on how cruel that kingdom was until-" I cut myself off as I remembered that day. The day I lost her. It was a clear day up until it wasn't; a happy gleeful morning with a vicious nightmare of a night. I remembered how I woke up to the very moment when I was told the news. It was a blur after that.

My grandfather sighed, he looked sad. "Butterfly I-" he started to say but stopped himself; he pondered on what to say. "I know what they did was unacceptable but it's in the past." I scoffed at him.

"In the past, really. That's bullshit and you know it. What they did changed our perspective and I am not marrying myself into that so we can stop having this constant war. They can rot in hell for all I cared." Truly I didn't want revenge like most of my family members but for the aching pain to stop. My grandfather sighed at me while pinching the bridge of his roman nose.

"We don't use that type of language in this domain. You should know better than that." I mentally rolled my eyes at him. "You are the upcoming heir for this nation. Your siblings would be proud of that. She would be proud of that"

"Would she?" Was the question that left him speechless; unable to utter another word. I leaned more into the chair. I no longer wish to stay in this room. No longer wanting this dead end conversation to continue.

"Has your father ever told you how your mother was?" My grandfather spoke with such kindness. I raised an eyebrow at him. Why did he bring my parents into this conversion?

"Father doesn't talk much about her. Not after the Frozen War." He rolled his eyes while shaking his head looking towards the wall that was filled with windows that looked down to the once lively perfect garden now decayed and lifeless.

"He doesn't talk about how he and your mother met and how their marriage started off." I scoffed at him. "You should know the story about how your parents met."

"Was it beautiful? Did they lock eyes with one another and fall in love just like in fairy tales?" I snarked out.

"Not exactly, Butterfly. You do know where your mother comes from, right?" His question rang in my mind. Did I know where my mother came from? Where she started. All I really knew she wasn't from this kingdom walls unlike my other relatives; she was new blood to them.

"Nope" I popped the 'p' while answering his question.

"Well she wasn't keen on marrying your father either." he started off "She hated the idea due to your father's background."

"Why did she hate the idea of marrying my father, they seemed so in love with one another." I leaned forward as my grandfather saw my eagerness in learning the history behind my parents. He wore a smile on his face showing off that he had dimples on either side of his face.

"I am getting there but-" He walked towards me pulling a seat besides me before telling me the story of how my father and mother were actually like and not the made up stories I was told when I was younger.