Chapter One
I stand by the window in my tower, looking out at the crowd outside bellowing my name from beyond the walls isolating the palace. Within the heavily guarded gates, hundreds of servants prepare the precincts for my grand exit. Seven of them climb seven ladders to adjust ornaments of yellow sunflowers inside seven, two metre-vases. Five sweep the grounds, so that the expensive dresses won't brush over the red dust blowing from the Westerly desert. While twelve others dispatch a gilded carpet, unrolling it to create a pathway for my guests, and then, eventually - me.
My eyes sting and I can no longer contain the waterfall of sorrow trailing down my face. Throughout eighteen years of my life - they've already concealed my fears with the purpose of demonstrating strength. But right now, I don't want to be anything. Just scared.
I have been holed up - in the highest tower of the Palace's compound to survive our rivals' assaults, as I watched my siblings socialising at the patio. And I have despised every moment . But I had to accept my destiny - to become the most powerful monarch in history. I've studied mathematics, logic, geography, literature, and language. I was taught how to eat appropriately. Sneeze with demure. I have learned how to dance like a lady; though, no boy has ever entered my chambers to test my skills. Nor have I attended a ball.
I know that I'm contradicting myself entirely. And that I should be pleased that in an hour or so, I will be rewarded with my hard-earned freedom. So, I should feel happy about being introduced to the world, but I'm also afraid of what the world has to offer. So I cannot fathom the idea of leaving my tower.
My hands shake, yearning to create a spell. But I fight the urge, clenching my fists tightly together, as I breathe slowly and tell myself that this situation is perfect. It has to be. But what if my beloved fairy-tale novels have eluded me about romance?
For years, I have imagined my deliverance with excitement; I've practiced coming down the stairs and not having to come back up. My bed will no longer be able to comfort me in times of grief. My books will have to wait until someone else takes any interest in using them as compensation for a lack of a friend. And I will marry Royalty - henceforth, my lips will finally taste my first kiss. My feet a proper dance. Maybe Prince Rieda will touch the dimples on my back as we walk into a ballroom. And then my cheeks might flush when I finally meet him face to face. And I hope that he will enjoy brushing my hair with his fingers during our tender moments.
Day after day, I have whispered that Prince Rieda will make me happy. I have invented songs about my impending matrimony and sang them as prayers. I am a daydreamer, longing to see my imaginings become reality. Nevertheless, I constantly feel a darn pang in my gut. Reminding me that the results from dreaming are harsher than the truth; for the truth beckons you into the right course of action. But an everlasting fantasy is bound to ruin the eighteen years in which I've relished my soon-to-be husband.
In reality, I know nothing about love. Even my hands aren't allowed being touched by the opposite sex for precautionary measures. The treaty states that I must remain a virgin inwardly, as well as outwardly for Prince Rieda. So I'm also a virgin in regards to living a full life, without any cohesive idea of what to expect from the masculine species.
The thought casts a gloom over my head as I stare at my reflection displayed in the only window in my bedroom. My nose is bloated from sobbing all night. Eyes reddened, as a glint of water spatters over the wooden floors. Outside, my personal chaos continues to erupt while I witness the immensity of the Kingdom. Thousands of locals are gathering to wish me luck, and dispose the weight of their burdens over my shoulders. They all think that I can miraculously change their lives. But I'm not sure how I can help when I barely have any control over my life. A queen is merely a steed for the King to show off at court. So I don't think I'll get to be a part of making any decisions to benefit the Kingdom. And the only reason why I was bequeathed the legacy of wearing a crown is because Prince Rieda was born a year before me. So father bargained my tittle with King Solonah - of Atsitab - to put an end to the bloody war that they've inherited from their great-great grandfathers'. Otherwise, my eldest brother should be the rightful King of Sumixam. Not me.
