A Broken Kingdom

Chapter one

1 year earlier-
            I never understood what the true meaning of royalty was. People always look at royalty as snooty people who wear dresses that fit too tight, and look down at their people like they are a bag of empty chips. But the truth is, royalty has always been more than that. My father constantly stresses over what the people need, want from him, and how he can fix it. My mother does of course dictate how I dress, eat, and speak, but she has more of a true personality than anyone I have ever known. My two brothers are more spirited and humorous than I could ever be. Just know that I am more than what people think of me, I am just like any other 15 year-old girl. I secretly hoard junk food in my room, don't care to get up early, and I loathe work and responsibility. But, (as Mother always says) being a princess comes first. I must follow orders, I must always look mature, and I must always present myself as a princess should be. Typically I don't have much to do as royalty at this age but do interviews and photo shoots. I don't have a say in anything that will happen or should happen.

I often spend my days that I am not busy doing royal business junk exploring every nook and cranny of my gigantic castle. There are three libraries with hundreds of books piled on old rustic wooden shelves, our own theatre, a pool, and my personal favorite, the enormous kitchen with a hundred people that will cook food just for me. Good thing I like it in my castle, because I will ever leave it.

I have read books about what the outdoor world is like. Of course I have a courtyard and a garden full of beautiful flowers; however, I have never been outside of the castle gates that hold in all of the comforts and feelings of safety. I hear that there were city markets where you could buy all the food you wanted and people smiled and waved as you passed by on the busy streets. Things are different now though. Now you can hear gunshots as soon as you take a step outside. Father has told me about how the streets are filled with piles of trash, remainders of buildings and some things that I would rather not speak of. I want to explore the outside world, but fear imprisons me within the gates of this castle.