Scarlet Heir

Chapter 4 - Scarlet

I find it outrageously predictable that my mother and I loathed one another since first glance. I am, without using unladylike language​, her fault. So really she has no right to flare her nostrils at me.

The issue with my very existence is that Reds and Silvers alike despise me greatly. Reds hate me because of my title - my crown. Silvers hate me because I am a Red with every right to do their job - not every right may I correct myself, for I am a girl, a bastard and a Red. Those facts mayn't be forgotten - that is how I'm seen at court. I am not sure what deception of me I prefer - a snobby Princess or a Red Bastard Princess, neither is of preference to me. I ask myself what I am though - my answer is that I am simply no label, I'd prefer not to be labelled by the world but that is not what someone as respectable as I is gifted with. For Alfie it is simple: Reds hate him Silvers adore him and call him Prince - most see him as the rightful heir.

He looks almost a picture of father - Smokey grey eyes like that of smoke from a pile of burning wood. His hair is the same sleek dark black color as mine. Daniel and Henry inherited Father's eyes both with Evangeline's hair color.

I wish it were Alfie's Grey eyes that clicked to mine as I awoke. I need his guidance through this mess. I shall always need his guidance, for he was the one trained to think like a King - while I was trained to sit like an obedient dog and look pretty. I loathe my education now - I should have been trained battle strategy. As much as I hate Silvers - I wish I were born one.

Instead of Alfie's eyes I am awoken by the warm breeze of - wait which part of the country are we in. No matter it must be south for it to be this warm. Wait. I sit up.

"I thought you had silent stone."

"We did but Julian convinced​ them we could be trusted. We figured you could use a fire."

I nod and give myself a moment to look around. We're in the same cell with a few changes: a warm fire blazing in the middle powered by my brothers - a roll mat and pillow beneath each of us and duvets bundled around me. One more thing I note is that my brothers are no longer in their rich silken robes and I am no longer in my corset training gear.

“What happened?”

“I haven't the slightest clue,” He says furrowing his eyebrows. “I assume you - well - exploded?”

“Sounds accurate, but you're sure it wasn't imploded I'm pretty sure the pressure was from the outside.”

“Yeah maybe.”

Julian beckons to us from the door.

“You're being relocated.”

We say not a word as we follow him. Many questions burning on our tongues - but our brains are just too​ confused to utter them.

“Oh and just because the circumstances in palace are different doesn't mean you'll be dismissed from training.”

I smile - maybe I hate many parts of my life, all the same, I enjoy some parts. Etiquette lessons are not the latter however lessons with Julian are.

“And Scarlet will continue Etiquette.”

“What!?”

“Any questions?”

“Are you giving me a choice?”

“No.”

“That is unjust.”

Julian rolls his eyes at me and unlocks one of the many doors in a long, grand, almost similar to Whitefire, hall.

“The boys.”

Julian holds a key out to Alfie. He takes it and leads Henry in.

Julian takes me down more hallways and eventually outside and along cobbled paths. We come to a small cottage with a thatched tooth and a chimney burping up smoke. Red roses and Ivy grow up the walls twisting each other. The door opens. A woman with vibrant red hair and my eye color steps out. She nods at Julian.

“Um Julian I-” He cuts me off but pushing me forwards towards the woman.

“Scarlet, Gisa. Gisa, Scarlet.”

With that he leaves me. Gisa smiles.

“Come in everyone's excited to meet you.”

I raise my eyebrows.

“Your mother isn't home yet.”

I clench my fists drawing blood. Maybe this is my only method of keeping myself sane now. Once she opens the door I inch away.