Reign [ h.s. ]

01

Chapter 1

Lina.

"The blue. I like the blue." I said pointing to the long blue gown lying next to a sparkly peach one on top of my comforter.

"Darling, I really do think the peach color would look better on you. Don't you agree?" My mother told me, her voice completely leveled.

"No mother, I obviously do not agree since I have just told you I liked the blue rather than the peach or the orange or any other color you have shown me thus far." I argued back.

"Do not use that kind of tone with me, young lady! You are a princess, you shall always show respect especially towards your elders!" My mother scolded me, raising her voice a bit.

"I apologize." I surrendered.

"Very well." She concluded, tilting her chin up, as if the imaginary book ever present on her head had tilted out of balance. She turned around, picking up the fold of her dress so she could walk without tripping. You would think they would have changed the dress style by now but it seems just as it was a century ago.

"Oh. And I still want you to wear the peach." She commanded before exiting from my room.

I huffed and flopped back on my bed, hearing the dresses bunch under me; but I didn't care. I didn't ask for this life, I was just born into it.

Harry.

"Well look at you. If I didn't know any better I'd call you a professional baker!" My boss, Richard, commented as I carefully decorated the wedding cake for a customer of ours, Ms. Winston. I chuckled as I placed the icing tube down next to the cake and looked up at him as I wiped my hands on a nearby dishtowel.

"Perhaps I am a professional, Richard. I've been doing this for quite a while. Age shouldn't matter." I said, giving him a teasing wink.

"Oh, Harry, 19 years old and you're still as cheeky as you were when I hired you years ago."

"I learned from the best." I said, pointing at him.

He got up from the stool he was sat on and shrugged his coat on.

"Don't forget to put that cake in the box. Ms. Winston should be here to pick it up soon." He reminded me as he walked towards the door. When he proceeded out I was left alone inside.

"Grab cake. Put in box. Place on counter. Get money from Ms. Winston. Lock up place. Leave. Sounds easy enough." I murmured to myself.

A few minutes later the bell to the bakery rung and Ms. Winston walked in, along with a wave of her strong perfume.

"Good afternoon, Harry. Are you in here all by yourself?" She questioned as she looked around the empty bakery.

"Yes ma'am, you're our last customer for today." I said handing her the bill for the wedding cake. It was a small one for a wedding cake so I assume it's just going to be a small wedding.

"I'm surprised. I thought you guys would be running around like a chicken with its head cut off right now." She said as she signed her name on the bill.

I laughed. "And why's that, Ms. Winston?" I asked, leaning forward on the counter, giving her my full attention.

She looked up at me and her pale blue eyes met mine. A strand of her chestnut hair, slightly greyed, fell over her face and she looked at me in complete surprise.

"You really have not heard?" She asked. I shook my head as I rested my head on my hand.

"Well you know that small island, kingdom or whatever they call it off the coast of here?"