When the King of Cinerea is threatened with war at his gates he must host five nations and their eligible heirs to compete for the hand of his daughter, Princess Charlotte. What happens when evil schemes and plots dethroning the crown sneak through...
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Bells clinked together as the sound echoed in the silent hallways. The last bell struck, and suddenly, you could hear feet scurrying about the stone walls. Whispers followed, and if you listened closely, you could hear the clanking of metal as the guards rotated stations. Faint smells snuck under the door as the baker began to bake fresh bread for breakfast. Today, the air is filled with sweetness and cinnamon.
Normally, royalty slept in, but I couldn't, not today. Today was the beginning of choosing day. My parents would host five royal families and decide my fate without a single question to me. Each nation would compete to earn my hand or truly win over my father. I would sit in a tight corset for hours, smiling and nodding as the young men presented their worth before me. I felt my eyes roll into the back of my head at the thought of it.
"Staring out that window won't change today," my mother spoke sternly as she opened the doors wide and let my chamber maidens in to make up the bed. My favorite one, Leah, winked at me as she slipped in to run me a hot bath with special sea salts just the way I like it.
"Charlotte Elizabeth Mae, who brought you food in the middle of the night!?" My mother screamed as she handed the empty tray to a chambermaid of hers. I swallowed hard but dared not speak a word. She grabbed my chin tightly, making me look her in the eyes.
"I swear, child, if you do anything to jeopardize the choosing process. If I find out that a man has bedded you-" I jerked away and moved back.
"Mother, my purity is the one thing I can control. The one thing you and Father do not get a say in, leave me so I may get bathed." I held my robe tighter as I brushed past her. Leah closed the heavy white bathroom doors as she helped me undress. I slipped into the soothing, warm water.
"So, who brought you the food?" She whispered, knowing that if anyone heard her, she could get lashed for speaking so freely. I didn't mind; she was my dearest friend. My father knew how dear she was to me, and he overlooked a lot to keep her safe.
"Phillip, he thought I should have one more childhood treat. He brought me all the sweets I could handle." I blushed at the thought of last night's sweet talks and stolen glances. Phillip is the head guard for my father, and he is a kind gentleman.
"Did he kiss you?" She squealed, and I sunk into the steaming water to escape that embarrassing question. Even Though we both knew a true kiss could never happen between Phillip and I.
I slipped out of the water after being cleaned from head to toe. I was wrapped in fluffy wool towels. After being dried off, my white undergarment was slipped on before my corset cinched around my waist. I then sat on my wooden chair as my hair was brushed gently by Leah. I stared at the dazzling dress that was laid across my entire bed. It was red with off-the-shoulder straps. My gold crown was laid next to it
