Crimson Princess and the Phoenix

chapter 1

"Penelope!" My piano instructor yelled, "you have been playing the piano for five years now yet you still can't get a few simple notes right!" "What am I suppose to tell your mother? you do know your coming of age is right around the corner. You are supposed to play the piano at the ceremony so I can't afford to have you make any mistakes!"

My piano instructor took her pocket watch out and stared at it before placing her gaze back on me "I need to take my leave now, go over those notes again until no mistakes are made. Am I clear?" I nodded my head before watching her exit the room

"Phew" I sighed my piano instructor isn't one of the people who terrorised me but she can be frightening I look at the piano keys then out the window before deciding to take a little break and go to the garden.

But before I could get a chance to leave the room a servant came in saying my mother was asking for me in her tea room, I nodded and sighed. My mother doesn't usually ask for me and when she does it usually means she is going to scold me for something pointless.

I make my way to her tea room and knocked on the door before entering. "You called?" I say in a sarcastic tone.

Mother raised her hand to point at a chair for me to sit down. I take my seat and raised an eyebrow. "My goodness, Penelope you have gotten so much more impolite since the last time we've had a conversation." I gave my mum a blank stare before taking some tea that has been placed in front of me and slowly sipping it.

"I'm surprised you remember our last conversation mother, how long ago was it? Five months ago maby?" I say giving her a forced smile.

My mother simply sighed before saying "I don't need your bitterness today Penelope."

"You're here because I simply need to talk to you about your coming of age that's coming soon" My coming of age? I wondered what that got to do with anything "so?" I asked "So Penelope I need you to make some friends or at least comrades." comrades? I raise my eyebrow "why?" "Because Penelope after your coming of age you'll be eighteen and in this kingdom, it's custom to start a business of some sort after your coming of age to prevent poverty."

My mother rolled her eyes before continuing "those rules didn't apply to nobels until my father the late king added that to the regulations and since he died such a gruesome death I can't bring myself to change that law so even your father, your sister and I had to follow that rule."

That does explain why my sister started an art gallery. she has always been so good at art which is why when we both set eyes on a pair of shoes we both wanted she suggested that we draw those pair of shoes and the person who has a more detailed sketch of those shoes win and of course I stupidly accepted not knowing about her artistic ability and suffered a bad lost

"Whatever" I quietly sighed "I don't need you to fill me in on the details I'll find out myself" and with that, I get up and leave the room but before I exited door I saw a glimpse of a ruby red neckless on a table beside the entrance which looked kind of familiar to me but I didn't have time to examine it so I just left and decided to overlook it.