The Empress

chapter:1

I walked down the corridor of the west wing , my blood red gown billowing behind me as my feet picked up their pace , glass slippers clinking dangerously on the floor . i stormed straight in the direction of my fathers study . my face twisted into a scowl , i beelined past the maids and guards . 

i found myself in front of the massive wooden  doors of my fathers study and took a moment to gather myself before throwing the doors open and storming in . My father , seated at the desk , looked up startled before a look of pure guilt sank into his features . i stood there , hands on my hips , my eyebrow raised and at that moment i knew that he knew . he knew exactly why i was there. 

"Rory sweetheart" he implored , hoping the pet name would melt me a little .

my father had loved my mother with all his heart . she was his absolute everything . I , however, had never even met her. she had left me at birth , and i couldn't bring myself to miss her . i missed a mother , but how can one miss a person they've never met . 

My mother's name was Aurora , and it found its place as my middle name . My father , king Rupert Magnus , wanted so desperately to name me after my mother , but she had wanted to name me Valentina ,after a character in an adventure novel she had once read. My father had always said that she used to brag about her daughter being as vivacious and alluring as the character in the book .

what a joke.

my father had conceded to making my middle name as as aurora .But that didn't stop him from calling me by my middle name , or 'Rory' as he had reduced it to. 

"Were you going to tell me or wait till i was stuck in a position where i couldn't say no?" i demanded , my chin lifting higher . my father sighed and stood slowly , making his way to me . At fifty , he was still strong and sturdy , the only indication of his age  being the few stray grey hairs on his head and the crow feet beside his eyes . He stopped in front of me , and reached over to hold my arm , dropping it when i stepped out of his reach . "Father" i said , my voice growing cold " Answer me right now" 

"rory , you know how the rules work" he began exhasperatedly. i scoffed , angrily pushing the stands of hair that had come loose behind my ear. "you know i am well capable of ruling this entire country by myself . i have never needed anyone to rely on and i certainly am not going to start now " I bit out . i clenched and unclenched my hands , my anger getting the best of me . 

"YOU ARE CAPABLE BUT THIS WILL MAKE YOU INVINCIBLE" he thundered . i rolled my eyes , knowing well where my temper came from."marriage is not an option ,father" i began "i dont need to be weighed down by a man " i finished , pacing the room. 

"he isn't just some miscreant , darling" my father said , visibly calmer after his outburst "he is a prince by his own right and he will give you the security that marriage brings " he said walking over to me and cradling my face . 

"i'm not getting coronated today , am i" i whispered , tears threatening . i forced them back .

after all , a queen never cries. 

i could see my pain mirror onto my fathers features . "sweetheart , you will be coronated . Just not today " he said , pushing away from me and stalking towards his desk . "so you're telling me , that the only way i can become queen is if i get married?!" i screeched , not caring about the guards positioned right outside the room . i could feel the blood in my body flushing my face , turning it near the colour of the dress i wore 

"you will become queen as soon as you get married , the very next day if you wish " my father continued , as he ignored me and shifted his attention to the huge mound of papers on his desk . After all , he still was king , and royalty never sleeps . i knew that more than anyone . He was done talking about this . I knew there was no point in arguing any further . My complaints would inevitably fall on deaf ears.

"i dont want to be tied down to prince whatever-his-name-is" i sighed , whirling around to exit the room , knowing full well that i had hopelessly lost this battle . i would have to marry to be queen and soon , if i wanted to assume the position at the earliest . 

"His name is stefan " my father called after me , but i had already opened the doors and walked out . 

A/N : Pilot chapters are always hard to write . they always start the story and literally make the path for the rest of the story . 

what does everyone think of our dear old val
P.S the picture above is of val's dress.

stay tuned . 

-sneha