01 | meet carlie

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by Live_it_Real

by Live_it_Real

01 | MEET CARLIE

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I WAS BORN THE DAY THAT THE MOON TURNED AND SHONE A LIGHT ON A crystal that turned from blue to red. The crystal is said to have made the old young, shone on the while area and changed the weather. Only if the bearer of the child is to touch it and bring it to life.

That's the story my dad used to tell me when I was only a child. Before I went to bed, he could find a way to come to the castle, enter my room and tell me so many stories about the powers of the crystal. He said it made me special—being the child born on that night and all. Unfortunately, the bearer of the child died that night.

My mother, Princess Minerva, married Prince Hennessy right after coming of age —18 years in our kingdom. Together they had two beautiful daughters and a handsome son. Their life was pretty much complete. Until Princess Minerva —Now Queen— made the biggest mistake, punishable by death. She fell for another man—Reagan Bollow, a servant man who swept the royal throne room. Since King Hennessey was constantly away, fighting battles and taking care of the kingdom, the Queen got lonely and that's when her and the servant man got together. Soon after, the queen was pregnant and the child was, without doubt, Reagan's.

Being the mother of his three children, king Hennessy chose to forgive the queen only if she was to banish the servant man together with the baby. Minerva agreed but derived a plan to keep the child safe and close to her. But she died immediately after giving birth but without falling to choke out a dying wish; for her baby to live with the king and surrounded by the love of her half siblings.

Filled with guilt, sorrow and anger, the king complied but didn't feel the need to love the child as his own. The servant man, with the help of an old nice witch, changed his face and stayed close to his daughter. Every night, he would find a way into the child's room and tell her stories about the crystal he believed she had the power to work.

I, Carlie, am the child. The child made from the mistake my parents made. The child I doubt could be able to work the crystal because it is said that if not the bearer of the child, then the child of the bearer. Not the child born on the night, but the child with the purest heart, kindest soul and with the love of a prince.

It's all not in my favor and at this moment, my half sister Brielle is more suitable for this. Being pure, kind and generous, she's everything the crystal needs to come to life. She is even on love with a prince from our neighboring kingdom. All she needs is the crystal. Problem is, the crystal hasn't been found ever since the last bearer of the child on the previous special night, hid it because like all magical things, it can be dangerous in the wrong hands. For it to be found, a true and long search by a pure heart should happen. But Brielle is not one to go on adventures.

So the crystal stays in hiding.

Being the only child in the palace whose father isn't king Hennessy, I don't get all luxuries. I even lack the love of my half siblings because I think they blame me for the death of our mother. But who wouldn't? Without our mother falling for my father and having me, she would still be alive and faithful. And it makes me upset every day when I think of what would have been if things had only gone right.

Pulling on my other red woolen sock, I sing a little tune I picked up as I was helping out Madame Carlo in the market place. Since i don't consider myself true royalty, I never dress the part, act the part or even call myself royalty. I stay in the shadows, allowing my siblings the limelight and staying out of their hair.

I spend my time in the market place. Helping out the older ladies and gentlemen with their food stands, cat problems and even just cleaning. It's more than fun and satisfying to have something better to do than stay in the palace all day. King Hennessy doesn't mind me beinf away because even he doesn't consider me royalty so he lets me do as I wish, waiting for my eighteenth birthday until I have to marry and be out of his hair. It's the promise me made to my mother.

And unfortunately, my eighteenth birthday is tomorrow.

I honestly don't want to get married just yet. From my mornings at the market and my evenings trying to teach myself to read, I don't have time to find a husband. Reason being why I still have never been in love. I just don't have the time.

I tie my hair up, fix my dress and put on my comfortable shoes and and off to the market place as my singing gets louder and clearer. I love to sing and I have been told I have a great voice so I'm constantly singing since I'm always asked to at the market place.

On my way down the stairs, I meet my half brother, Sev, as he walks up the stairs with his pajamas and a coffee mug in his hand.

"Good morning, brother." I chirp only for him to nod my way.

Typical morning here at the palace. In minutes, I'm walking out of the palace with my hand clutching my straw basket and my other hand deep in my pocket as I sing.

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word count: 966 words