Labyrinth

01

Lilac's POV

A prince on his eighteen birthday is supposed to get betrothed to a princess or a lady, and Prince William was no exception.

My father, Lord Clinton of House Dale and King Philip Clave had agreed that my betrothal to Prince William will lead to great prospect since we have the ports and they have the wealth.

My family was present at Prince William's eighteen birthday celebration as honoured guests of the King and we were officially betrothed before the whole Effendale. Prince William and I danced the traditional dance of Effendale to seal our betrothal and I had thought him shy with how badly he had danced and how he didn't look me in the eyes like he was supposed to as my betroth. But a feeling in me told me that he didn't want to get married to me but allowed for our betrothal because "royals' duties are to the throne first before themselves".

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I never saw Prince William since his eighteen birthday celebration and our betrothal. It's been five years since then and I was to get married to him in less than a month from today.

I wondered as the months turned to weeks and the weeks to days who I was going to get married to. What type of prince he'd become? We were betrothed five years ago and we haven't seen each other in that long time and I doubt he's the same young man I got betrothed to all those years ago and if he'd change what type of prince was he now?

My family and I made our journey to Effendale like we had five years ago. The journey was longer than I had remember when last we travelled there. Perhaps it's because the enthusiasm I had when I was going to get betrothed to him is not the same enthusiasm I have going to get married to him.

We had arrived at Effendale and as I expected, Effendale had grown and changed far more than I could imagine possible for a kingdom in five years. I just hope thier Prince too hasn't, I guess I'll have to wait and see.

We made our way into the Effendale castle, the biggest in all of the twelve kingdoms. In there my parents Lord Derrick and Lady Aubrey were led to the throne room, where our marriage ceremony was to take place while my hand maid and I were taken into a grand chamber by a young lady.

The grand chamber was practically empty; for some reason all it had was a huge mirror with a table and chair in front of it, and a huge wardrobe. There was a huge bed also.

On the table was a variety of cosmetics, some I'd seen before others alien.

They young lady who'd brought Amy and I to the chamber introduced herself as Olive and told me that she was to be my hand maid, an order from the queen. She opened the huge wardrobe and in it were three beautiful gowns. One of the gowns was white and carmine and the other two were green. Olive told me that they were made by Andrea Snow the best designer in the twelve kingdoms on request of the queen.

I chose the gown of carmine and white and was dressed in it by Amy. I had worn gowns made by Andrea Snow, beautiful gowns but the one which I was wearing today was just... flawless. The gown flowed with white from my shoulders and then to carmine at my feet. It had tiny crystals made into flowers all around the bottom part.

My face and hair were made with some of the cosmetics that sat in front of the huge mirror and when I looked at myself in the mirror all I could see was utter beauty. The carmine in my gown complemented my fiery red hair and my hazel eyes just seemed to look the more beautiful as I stared at them in the mirror, twirling slowly to admire myself in the gown.

I was to appear in the throne room, where I'd see my betroth and the king and queen of Effendale.

I was walking down a long hallway with my hand maids behind me. As we got closer to the grand gates of the throne room, I heard people chattering lively from within. It was a tradition in other kingdoms that the celebration be held after the ceremony but in Effendale the celebration is held before the ceremony.

I wasn't afraid of anything but for some reason unknown I couldn't move me leg, they were numb. I guess it was because deep within my heart I didn't want to get married to the prince of Effendale and I was realizing now that I never did want to get married to him not now and not all those years ago when I got betrothed to him.

I was young then and being betrothed to the prince and the heir to the throne of the wealthiest kingdom just seemed like something that would make my kingdom and family proud to my naive and young self. It did though but now that I'm twenty-one years old, I know that it wasn't the right thing for me.

'Well I can't change the past, but can adapt to the present and hope for the best in the future'. I thought to myself before I heard a whisper in my ears. It was Amy's voice I heard.

"Your parents love you and want the best and only that for you and I know the lord and lady wouldn't choose Prince William for you if they knew you wouldn't like him".

"But -". I made to say but was interrupted by her whisper again.

"'But...' I know you have your doubts but whatever they maybe there's no turning back now. You had that chance the day of your betrothal but don't anymore, so let any doubts you have about the prince wash away. I have a feeling he's kind and more handsome than he was five years ago".We both giggled at this and I smiled at her.

Amy though my maid was like the big sister I never had and the best friend I have and her advice is what is going to get me through all that is to come.

I could feel my legs again and I walked almost forgetting that I couldn't just some moment ago. The grand gates slowly opened when we made it to it's front as though the guards that manned it had the ability to know it when someone was or was not behind the gates.

"Lady Lilac Tandrew, daughter of Lord Derrick Tandrew and Lady Aubrey Tandrew and heir to the House of Tandrew" one of the two guards that manned the door exclaimed as an introduction and to get everyone's attention before I enter the room. I walked through the the gates into the throne room with slow steps and I felt all eyes magnetted to me as I did this.

My parents and the king and queen were sitting at a colossal wooden table that had been placed before the king's throne with all it's surface filled with food and wine.

I looked at everyone on the table and by the king were to empty seats before I laid eyes on Prince William and a girl. Prince William had silvery blonde hair like I remembered, his eye color I couldn't recall but he had blue eyes now and he looked young, almost as young as I was though he was three years older than me.

I walked to the flight of stairs that ascended to the throne and at the same pace walked up to the table and took my seat by the king and queen. Silence still echoed in the throne room after I had sat down and everyone present still had their eyes on me. It had not occurred to me to wonder who the other empty seat by the king was for until I had taken mine.

'Who is the seat for?'. I was to be answered when I heard one of the guards, the same one who had introduced me exclaim "Prince William Clave. First son of King Philip Clave and Queen Evie Clave and heir to the throne of Effendale".

I was utterly confused. If I wasn't sitting by Prince William who was I sitting by? I asked myself as the grand gates of the throne room opened slowly to show Prince William and gods he really had changed from when last I saw him but I hoped the changes were only on the outside.

Question: What's your favourite fruit?
Me: Bananas.
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Something new I'm working on. I hope you enjoyed reading it like I enjoyed writing it. Thanks for reading. See y'all on the next chapter. Love y'all.
Silhouette(⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠³⁠˘⁠)⁠♥