Kalia is a modern day princess. Living with her parents and three sisters in their royal kingdom in London, she had convinced them to let her go to a normal school and live a normal teenage life. And apart from the occasional ball and family dinners...
"I don't know," Kalia hushed her sister, but she couldn't deny that Ophelia's eyes mirrored the same burning curiosity that Kalia felt inside, minus the anxiety that heaved on her chest like a rock crushing an ant.
They sat at the glorious dining table along with their two sisters, her mother and Celeste. They had three separate dining rooms here, and they had occupied the regular one the royal family used, according to Celeste. Kalia wondered where the rest of the family was, and these so called brothers.
"It's tradition," Celeste started, raising her glass to make it easier for the butler - she didn't know what they called them here - to pour her drink. "Well, more of a family superstition. It entails bad luck for the groom and bride if they were to see each other before the wedding," she took a sip, looking as elegant as she always did. "I'm sure you've heard of it. We don't take it seriously as our ancestors did, but we like to respect it like a tradition."
"Could be fun. Creates some tension. You know, other than the tension that already exists," Ophelia whispered and Kalia resisted the urge to kick her.
Kalia turned her attention to Tessa on the other side of her, but she was in her own little world. How Kalia envied her in that moment, able to escape reality so easily. She considered reading more books.
"Kalia, my sons have been dying to meet you. They haven't stopped teasing Elec the moment we got back from visiting your palace."
She almost blushed at that, but continued to fiddle with the right sleeve of her dress distractedly. They teased him? Did that imply that they were considerably older? The fact that they wanted to meet her intimidated her a little bit. If they were anything like the son she'd met, she was going to have trouble avoiding that encounter.
"Ever so handsome, your sons. Bright young men they are," Queen Lania spoke with delight.
"Cheeky is what they are," she laughed gloriously, warmth clear in her voice. "Especially my youngest, Elijah."
Elijah, from they way Celeste described him, seemed to be a child, and to that Kalia felt almost certain. Kalia visibly relaxed. At least that was one less brother to be intimidated by, but there was no telling how many more there were. She hoped she wouldn't have to meet them until the wedding. She was still having trouble wrapping her head around Prince Elec, but now she had to look out for a few more?
Kalia walked with her sisters to their floor and saw them to their room, tucking Lena in bed like she was used to, kissing her and Tessa's forehead. Ophelia waited for her at the door.
"Are you sure you don't want us to sneak into your room in the middle of the night? I don't feel right leaving you alone in there."
Kalia wanted so badly to say yes to her, but she knew better. "I don't think these guards sleep," she whispered glancing discreetly at the guards that lined the hall. "It's not worth getting in trouble over."
"You are worth it."
Kalia pulls her into a hug, a tight one, and lets her go. "I'll be fine," she reassures her, but Ophelia was still looked unsure, so Kalia put on a convincing smile for her sake. "I'll see you all tomorrow."
She headed up the steps and when she was on level ground, she started to pull at her sleeve again. It needed stitching, she realized a bit too late. She had changed out of the outfit she had arrived in, and into a peach dress her mother had packed for her, because she had worn out that last ensemble. She was regretting it now.
Her sleeve was still her focus when she almost bumped into a guard on the way down the hall to her room if she hadn't noticed the pair of shiny black dress shoes before her ahead of time. She was about to apologize frantically but upon looking up, she was stunned into place.
This was no guard.
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