Trapped Beauty

Prologue

At my christening a soothsayer was asked by my father about my future. That was where my life began its downhill turn. He said that I would suffer death-like misfortune before I could be married. For his dark prediction my father banished him from the kingdom.

I really wish my father had never asked. If he hadn't maybe he wouldn't have been afraid to get close to me, to show me his affection. I can't remember my mother, as she died shortly after I was born- weakened by my birth and further shocked by my future. If she had lived maybe she would have shown me a true parent's love. It's hard to say though.

So, instead of being lovingly raised by my parents, my fate became that of the castaway daughter. I was raised in the wing of the castle furthest from my father by three fussy, and rather silly, nursemaids. From a distance I got to watch as my father remarried, and my many half-brothers were raised with all the loving affection that I wanted for myself. The affection that would have been mine to share if only a prediction had not caused many to treat me like a living ghost.

I may be a little bitter, it's true. If you had lived the life I have so far though, you might feel bitter as well.

Not long ago I had my 16th birthday, the first one my family had ever actually celebrated. I was so happy! My father had recently betrothed me to the second prince of a neighboring kingdom, and everyone had begun to believe that the soothsayer may have been wrong about my destiny. To rejoice the good fortune of my upcoming marriage, the entire castle was decked out with garlands for my coming-of-age party. I was given a beautiful rose-colored gown to wear, and a marvelous banquet was prepared in my honor. For the first time in my life, I felt like the princess I was in name. I saw my whole family gathered, and they were actually looking at me and smiling. I was so happy that I cried a little as I was coming down the steps to be received, and maybe that was what sealed my fate.

Somehow I missed a step. I lost my balance. I remember falling and a terrible crack. My head hurt so much that I blacked out, and then when I woke up, I found myself trapped.

My name is Princess Rosalinda Amelia Cordilla of the kingdom of Kanadon, and I am stuck in a body that won't respond to me.