The Royal Decision (Book 1 of The Royal Series)

Chapter 1

An Introduction

“Your highness, Princess Aurelia, where are you?” I could hear the maid searching for me but I didn’t bother to let them know of my location. For some reason, every year of June 14th, I would feel very sad and uncomfortable. The only way to ease my heart was to go into the garden and walk in the maze. There, I could see the boundless sky and the warm sun shining on me. It seemed that my father, King Tyreus knew about my habit. One day like any other day, I was walking and venturing about the maze when I saw an opening between the green walls. My curiosity kicked in and I made my way through the hole.

 I gasped as I saw delicate roses swirling up to a white regal pavilion. Inside the pavilion, there is one bench and a golden cage with doves inside chirping. Ever since I was small, I couldn’t bear animals especially birds being caged so I would always release them. My father agreed with my actions but my mother opposed it as I accidentally release my mother’s favorite canary. As a result, my mother ‘grounded’ me for a week but is still can go into my father’s quarter and library.

I was very happy that now I could sit in the pavilion, admiring the sky with books as company that I didn’t realize the whole pavilion was a ‘trap’ made by my father. As I was going back to my room, my father caught me on the way and he kind of interrogated me about where I was. More often than not, I would always tell him that I went on riding or reading in the library. Usually, my father would buy my story even though he still looks suspicious.

However, on that day, luck was not with me as he said that I was in the maze, in fact in his newly built pavilion. My mouth opened in utter shock and he laughed at my expression. He then told me about his so called intelligent plan and I grinned at him sheepishly wishing that he would let me go for deceiving him. He placed a very strict expression on his face and said that he would really ground me this time. Being locked and forced to be alone in a room is something that I can never stand so I pleaded my father not to do so.

He laughed….That was unexpected…

Finally, he stopped laughing and hauled me into his study room. It was then I realized that he had been jesting with me and all I did was for nothing but his jests! It was unbelievable! I pouted at him as he gently dropped me to a cushion. He said that consider his jests as a warning as the next time I deceive him, he would surely do that. Before he proceeded to his desk, he said that the pavilion will be our secret hideout.

As I was recalling my memories, I could feel a smile growing on in my face but it quickly vanished when I heard the familiar but annoying footstep. He is approaching and that he whom I was talking about is Prince Dominique, my elder brother. “Aurelia, come here now or when I get you, you will be sorry for causing such a chaos in the castle,” said my brother.

It didn’t take seconds for me to run towards him. He shook his head when he saw me drenched in sweat and my dress was stained by mud when I was running towards him.

“Hello brother, what brought you here?” I said while smiling sheepishly.

He threw me you-should-know-why look and said, “Our mother will surely have a headache when she saw you like this. You are aware that our parents are hosting a ball and you are required to attend, aren’t you?”

The color on my face drained as I recalled the horror on the first ball I attended. That ball was hosted by Duchess of Lincoln, my mother’s close friend. As soon as my mother settled with talking to the Duchess, I sneaked out for some air and by the time I came back, my dancing card was filled and I was required to dance with everyone of them.

Sadly, those dance partners were just a bunch of boring lords and young bachelors who took interest to me because of power and wealth that they will held if they got me. What made matter worse was that I couldn’t refuse the dance and it would seemed rude. The last thing I need is another rumor about the princess’s rude attitude.

“Brother, can you please don’t let me remember my horrible experience with those boring dance partners?” I said with as-the-matter-of-fact look.

I could see that he was trying hard not to laugh at my statement and when he realized he failed, he held his mouth and cleared his throat. I could feel that the temperature in my body become hotter and hotter as I was angry and embarrassed.

Finally he said, “Very well, I will not say this to you again but now you must go into your room and prepare yourself.”

“Yes, yes, I will most probably let myself look uglier so that those ‘gentlemen’ will not come to me.”

“Don’t worry, when that time comes, I will surely snatch you from them,” he grinned

I frowned at him and said, “I would have to wait for a century until you come and be my hero.”

“Don’t be mad my lovely sister. I am sure that you will do well by yourself. After all, the royal blood runs through you.”

“Sure brother, thank you for your humble advice and the trust you put on me,” I stomped at his foot before leaving while mumbling about dresses and stuffs

Well at least half of my anger was spilled already and seeing my brother’s face when he tried not to scream the word ‘hurts’. It was indeed satisfying but now I am back to where I was; a dreadf-royal ball.