The Arcana: My MC origin story

Suitors?

(Celest's P.O.V)

I wake up to a knock on my door, "Princesa (Princess) Selene, are you awake", I hear my lady in waiting say.

"Come in Cassandra", I say as I sit up.

She opens the door and puts down a tea set, "Your father asked me to wake you this morning."

"Of course, he did", I say, slightly annoyed as I get out out of bed, "Also Cassandra, you can just call me Celestial, it's what my mom wanted to name me."

"How about I call you Celestial when we don't have to see your father or grandfather", she asks.

"Yeah, that'll be fine", I say as I dink on my tea, "So what does my father want with me?"

"He wants to discuss your suitors", she says catching me off guard and making me spit out my tea.

"Is he serious", I say almost yelling, "I just got back from the war front and he wants to discuss who I'll marry?"

Cassandra comes over and cleans up the mess I made and says, "Well Celestial, with the war going on, he and your grandfather are thinking that if you married a general's son from a  neighboring kingdom, it might help build a better army."

"Is it really both him and my grandfather thinking about it, or just my grandfather", I ask even more pissed off.

Cassandra stays quiet for a moment then says, "Well you know how your grandfather is."

"That's bull shit", I yell and put on my robe, "Tell my father if he really wants to speak to me, I'll be in my mother's garden", then I walk out of my room.

"Wait your shoes", says Cassandra scurrying after me.

"I didn't need to wear shoes before and I certainly don't need them now", I say and storm off.

-Time skip, in the garden-

(Celest's P.O.V)

I grab a watering can from one of the gardeners and walking into my mom's greenhouse/memorial.

"Hola mamá (Hello mom)", I say and start watering her hydrangea bushes, "I don't want to do it mamá, not like this. War and blood shed should not be the reason I marry. When you were here, you told me that you and papá (dad) married because you were in love even if grandpa did not agree", I put the watering can down and sat in the grass, "I want to fall in love just like you did mamá."

I sit there in silence for a moment with my eyes closed. Letting the warmth of the greenhouse surround me just like her hugs used to. Then I hear footsteps coming closer, "Hola Papá (Hello Dad)", I say.

"Hola hija (Hello daughter)", he says and sits down next to me, "You know, I visited your mom everyday while you were gone and watered the hydrangea just like you would. I would talk to her and I only asked her for your safe return."

We sat in silence for a moment then hear rustling through the bushes. Out from it comes an older white cat followed by a small black and white one who runs towards me.

"It looks like Star and Astroid missed you too", he says as Star sits on my lap and Astroid climbs up on my shoulder.

I pet them and let my self relax then look at my dad, "I really don't want to do this."

"I know sweetie", he says, "If it was up to me, I would never let him do this to you and we would listen if your mother was saying it, but you know how he is."

"But papá (dad)", I say, "I don't even know what I like. I know I am supposed to be with a 'man' so I can make grandpa his 'heir' or whatever, but that is not what I want. I wanted to experience and fall in love just like how you and mamá (mom) did."

"Well, the only way we can figure something out is if we go talk to him", he says.

"Can't you talk to him", I ask, "You are his son in law."

"I was only a royal consort to your mom sweetie", he says, "I can talk to him, but my word has no power without your mom being here. Ultimately, you have more power than I do."

"He won't listen to me though", I say, "I'm not my brother and I'm not a man for him to want to listen to me."

"You'll never know if you don't try sweetie", he says.

I sigh then say, "Ok papá (dad), if there's nothing else I can do, I guess I'll go talk to him."

"Esa es mi hija (That's my girl)", he says and hugs me, "Now let's get you dressed to see him."

"Do I have to wear a dress", I ask.

"Well", he says, "You have fought in the war and you're old enough to make your own choices, so you wear what you want. He'll just have to deal with it.

-Time Skip, in the throne room-

As I enter the room, I see a few young men speaking to my grandfather. None of them are paying any attention to me since I'm not dressed "how a princess should be". I'm pretty sure none of them even know what I look like.

I walk up directly to my grandfather and say in a hushed tone, "We need to talk."

My grandfather hides the look of distain he has for what I'm wearing and turns me toward the crowd and says out loud, "Gentlemen, I present my Granddaughter, Princesa Selene."

Everyone looks at me, stunned for a second then bows while I just role my eyes.

"These are the suitors who are visiting to see who can be the one to marry you", he says to me.

I bring up my best fake smile and just wave at everyone then turned to my grandfather and whisper to him, "We need to talk about all this."

"Shush Selene", he says in harsh whisper, "I don't want to hear it from you right now", then he turns to his attention back to the men and says out loud, "Please enjoy your tea and delicacies gentlemen. My granddaughter and I must discuss a few things before tonight's ball, but we'll be right back."

My grandfather then proceeds to grab me by the wrist and almost drag me out of the throne room and into the study down the hall.

After he closes the door as calmly as he can right now then tuns to me and says, "What's the matter with you Selene? Dressing up like that and demanding just to speak to me?"

"Grandfather, I know what you want to do, and I don't want to go through with it", I say.

"You're doing it and that is final", he says, "It's not something that's up for discussion. I don't have an heir anymore and your mother isn't here to give me another one."

"Is that all I am to you", I say almost yelling, "Some 'heir' making factory to you?"

"That's the only thing you females are good for", he says, "I already let you go play soldier long enough. Now you are to go get fitted for a gown for tonight and at least be happy that I'm letting you choose who you'll marry."

He then walks out and slams the door behind him as I begin to cry. I sit down on the floor again and say through my cries, "Mamá, desearía que estuvieras aquí (Mom, I wish you were here)."