Chapter 1 ______________________________________________ Sigh... Tap. Tap. Tap. I’m bored out of my mind. Also, very sore. I’ve been sitting for almost two hours in my seat with perfect posture. My back is aching. I slouch for just a moment as I rap my fingers anxiously on the table, but my mother shoots me a withering glare. After I correct my posture, she goes back to chatting with the person next to her. A noble, maybe Countess Margareta, but I’m not sure. There are so many nobles to keep track of, and my mother tried to make me memorize them all. Unfortunately, I don’t have a very good memory or attention span, so that didn’t go very well. The Countess- I'm sure it’s Margareta- is wearing a flashy gold necklace. Her earrings are made of the same material and studded with emeralds. Still, she doesn’t compare to my mother. With her diamond-studded silver necklace, earrings, and tiara, my mother is the center of attention in the room. Her stunning silver gown is bejeweled to match, and her silky, dark chocolate hair is up in an elaborate hairdo. Everything about her screams queen. However, I’m not so sure I scream princess near as much. My curly, wild red hair had been tamed into a bun, but a few stray hairs have fallen loose. The matching silver dress I’m wearing really doesn’t go with the simple gold choker I chose to wear. No earrings. I doubt that my tiara’s even straight. I go to touch my tiara and see my mother glare at me again. I quickly put my hand down. “Hello, dear.” I turn my head to the side. The person seated at my right- I think it’s Duchess Seraphina- smiles at me. Remembering my manners, I smile back and say, “Hello, Duchess Seraphina.” She smiles a little brighter, knowing that I remember her name. Nobility love to be known. “How has your week been?” “Oh, it has been fine. However, yesterday, my lady-in-waiting fell ill, and I had to call in a replacement. It was such hard...” She starts to go into account how her day- interrupted by this hiccup- had gone. This statement is extremely boring, but I sit through it, trying to look interested. When she finishes complaining, she looks back at me. I think of something to say back when I hear my father clear his throat. His golden crown glints in the light as he starts, “Respectable nobles, thank you for coming to this joyous celebration. After all, my eldest son, my heir, turns sixteen today. As you all know, sixteen is an important age for this family...” he goes on to talk about tradition and maturity and other boring things. I can guarantee that no one will make any speech or celebration like this for my sixteenth birthday, which is just a little more than a year away. At the end of my father’s speech, he gestures to my brother, who slowly stands up and walks over. Even though he looked excited earlier today, his face is calm now, showing no emotion. I wonder if he’s nervous. Probably not. My father holds up a gold ring. It’s just a solid band, but it has elaborate markings engraved in it. “It is a tradition that on an heir’s sixteenth birthday, he is presented with the royal signet ring.” He hands it over to my brother. “May you bring peace and prosperity when you are king.” All the nobles clap, me included. Soon, people begin to slowly file out, the feast coming to an end. A few people go and talk to my brother, probably wanting to buddy up to the future king. I slowly head over to him, taking my time. Finally, I reach him. “Hey, there, Charles.” I lightly shove him in the shoulder. We’ve always been close, considering that we’re less than two years apart. Technically, his full name is Charleston, but neither of us says that. My name is Beatrice, but he calls me Bee. He lightly nods his head. “Beatrice.” That was really weird. He’s never formal with me. Seeing the confusion on my face, he lightly nods towards our father and mother, who are watching us. Oh. Charles leads me over to somewhere more private. “Hey, look, Bee...” He must be trying to find a way to say something. But what is he trying to say? “Now that I’m sixteen, Father says that I’m supposed to act more... grown up. Mature, you know.” I nod. I understand. My father and mother are always onto me about this stuff. “Father also said that...” he sighs. “I shouldn’t be hanging out with you anymore.” The shock must show on my face, because he sighs yet again, fidgeting with his new ring. “This isn’t your fault. He just thinks that I need to be focusing more on my duties as an heir now.” I nod again. I am obviously not one of those duties. “I understand. If it makes Father happy...” I smile at him, but it’s a forced smile. He takes it as acceptance. “Thank you. And... I’m sorry.” Charles walks away, over to another noble. I look over to my father. He’s smiling. Ugh. I’m about to head to my room when I see my mother start walking towards me. I sigh. What is she going to chastise me about now?
Thank you so much for reading! Next: Coming soon!
