Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Five

Lilia Corryntine was a low born girl who was planning to lead an unremarkable life. She was the daughter of a farmer and a seamstress, and she planned to live a very similar life.

Anyone looking from the outside might think that she was unhappy with her life, but the truth was, she was very happy. Sure, the workload got to be a bit much sometimes, but she liked working. She liked being busy, and feeling like she was actually doing something with her life.

So, she had no plans to leave her life.

Her mother, however, had different ideas. Her mother was very unhappy with living in poverty, and would take the first chance she got to get out of it.

When Queen Cassandra died, Lilia's mother saw it as an opportunity rather than a tragedy.

"Mother, no!" Lilia exclaimed when her mother told her her plan.

"What, it's perfect!"

"His wife literally just died, I don't think he's looking for a second one, and even if he was I doubt he'd consider me."

"You're a beautiful young woman, what more could he want?"

"Oh, I don't know, someone with more diplomatic skills, and maybe someone closer to his age. He's probably old enough to be my dad!"

"It couldn't hurt to offer."

"Yes, it could. It would be so embarrassing to be turned down, and we all know how important your image is."

"Lilia, that's enough. I've already made the offer."

"I- wait, you what?"

"I already offered. I wrote a letter to the king and sent it."

"Are you out of your mind?"

"Watch your tone, young lady. If the king accepts, you're going to be married, and that's that."

Lilia could think of nothing to say, so she stormed out.

~~~

Aldaren set down the letter he had been reading, thinking hard. It was from a working class woman living relatively nearby, offering her daughter's hand in marriage to him.

He had to admit, it was extremely unconventional, and the woman had to have serious guts to even suggest it.

But, the more he thought about it, the more perks the idea seemed to have. While no one would be able to replace Cassandra, maybe it would be good for Neva to have a mother figure around. God knew that no one else was going to step in.

Maybe this could work.

~~~

"Good news! The king accepted!"

Lilia dropped the plate she was holding in shock. "He what?"

"You're going to be the queen!"

Oh God. Lilia was starting to feel light headed. She sat down in the nearest chair and held her head in her hands.

"Isn't this exciting?"

For you, maybe.

"We're going to the castle tomorrow to meet the royal family. Make yourself presentable." Lilia's mother walked out without another word.

What the hell is going on?

In the span of approximately a week, the kingdom had lost their queen, Lilia had been offered up as a replacement against her will, and the king had accepted. Her entire world had been turned upside down, and it was never going to be the same again.