Kingdom of white lies

chapter 1

The sun touched my skin. The smell of wet grass and water filled my nose while I slightly opened my eyes. Recognizing the lake in front of me, I realize that I must have fallen asleep while watching the stars the night before. 

"There you are, I have been looking for you everywhere!" A voice yelled from behind me. "Sorry, I must have fallen asleep last night," I answered while looking up at my twin brother who came to sit next to me." You have to be more careful Drea, if Father finds out you sneak out so late at night-" "Yes I know." I interrupted him. "Hey don't get all grumpy with me, I'm just looking after you," He said mockingly. "It's my job as your older brother" "Very funny Star, you are only 6 minutes older than me!" I laughed sarcastically while hitting his arm lightly. "Father actually send me to tell you we are having breakfast, so we better get going because we are already late." He said after we were done laughing. "You are right we should probably go," I agreed while getting up.

We arrive at the dining room and walk in, in complete silence. As we enter we see that our father, Alvar, already finished eating his breakfast and was gone. Our uncle was the only one still sitting at the table. Seems like Tasha, uncle Arath and aunt Rosemary already ate too. "Well looks like we are having leftovers for breakfast." As we sit down Amelia comes barging into the dining room. "Andy, Star! Guess what?" Alastar and I glance at each other with a smile. "What is it little one?" He asks while now fully facing the little girl. 

I dont mean to get all sappy and stuff but she got big so fast. It was only yesterday that my father had just met Tasha. And now? Now my little sister, half-sister, is already 6. Shes so strong too because we dont exactly have an ideal family but she still manages to make every room she enters light up. 

"I found a couple of black roses in the backyard!" My face lights up. "You did?" I ask surprised. Black roses are my favorite flowers ever. Its a shame they are so rare. Although that kind of adds to the beauty of finally seeing one once in a while. 

"Well, what are you waiting for? Go show us then little one."

She takes our hands and pulls us behind her. Uncle Asher yelled that we should be careful for the thorns and I give him a thumbs up. Amelia doesnt let go once were outside. "Look there they are!" I pick her up and walk over to the black dots sticking out from above the grass. I crouch down and put Amelia back on the ground. She reaches out to one of them "Dont pick the flower Melia, let her grow here in the garden with her friends" 

Star comes to sit beside me and Amelia. "I still dont know whats so special about this flower." I smile to myself before looking at him. The sun falls perfectly on his face so you can see the golden dots in his green eyes. People always say we look so much alike, which is normal since we are twins, but thats only because they look at the outside. On the inside, we are so different. And I wouldnt want it any other way. "They are just so beautiful and magical, like as if they were straight out of a fairytale." He doesn't agree with my view on the flowers but he keeps quiet nonetheless. He knows how much I love them so he let's me have my little bit of happiness. 

Tasha came to get Amelia after we sat outside for a while. She was going into town and wanted to take her daughter with her. She offered to Star and I to come along too, which Star accepted but I declined. I didn't feel like going outside the castle today. I just figured I could help Monica, our housekeeper and my close friend, a bit. That's what I don't really like about being part of the royal family. I don't want all the suppriority that comes along with it. I don't see why we would need housekeepers and cooks. That's why I aways try to help them as much as I can. 

Monica is my age and I became really close with her after she arrived here two years ago. Her family died in a housefire and she didn't have anywhere to go. My family offered her to stay here and in return she must clean and cook. 

I enter the kitchen and emmidiatly notice her bright red curls. She is leaning over one of the cookbooks which causes her hair to hide her face. She really is a beautiful girl. "Hey," I simply say as I walk further into the room. "Hi Drea" she replies and she only looks up when I stand opposite of her and lean forward so I can see what recipe she is looking at. "Oeh I loved those cookies last time we made them!" "I know right they are so good! Shall we make those?" I nod my head in excitement. "We could make some extra and sell them at the market tomorrow." I propose. It's something we do more often. Not only with cookies but with other handmade stuff too. We sell it for like two coins, that way it's affordable for the people. 

"Have you seen Star today?" She asks after putting the cookies in the oven. "Yeah this morning," I already know where this is going.. "Why?" I ask while wiggling my eyebrows teasingly. A blush creeps up her cheeks and she looks away trying to hide it. To late though. "No reason" "Oh come on Mon, just ask him out already" 

I swear to god, they are so in love with each other but neither of them has the courage of them to do something about it. It's cute though. The way they stare when the other isn't looking, the way they blush when their eyes meet accidentaly, how they try to avoid eye-conatct. The only thing is that both of them only tell their feeling to me instead of each other. If I hadn't promised that I would keep my mouth shut I would have told them everything they said about each other. As an hopeless romantic with no romance in her own life, their love story is what keeps me going.

Monica turns her head back around to look at me. "You know I can't do that Drea, it could never work out." We had this conversation before. She is scared my family won't aprove their relationship because he is part of The Royal Family of South Ascana and she is 'just' a housekeeper. "You don't know that Mon," I take both her hands in mine. "But hey at least talk to him at our birthday diner tomorow." She nods her head and I let go of her hands. "Good, now let's clean up our mess before the cookies are done."