chapter one
I use to think that dying of starvation was the worst thing that could have possible happened to me. But no I'm being swapped out for the true blood princess just because out of everyone in this village we look the most alike . Just tragic I guess god wanted to play another cruel trick on me , but I'm not going down without a fight.
"Get up" "now Mwei" that's all I heard along with sounds from the fireplace. I finally opened my eyes slowly blinking and there was jei standing above me .she was an orphan girl my parents took in and the most important person to me.
she stood about the same height as me ,pale skin with blonde hair and the cutest freckles. she had theses grey eyes that sometimes felt like you were staring into the void."I'm up now you can stop" I said a little annoyed.
Then I pushed my fingers down on the wool blanket wrapped around me. "it's very important "she says while walk a couple steps towards me. Then she sits right at the bottom of the bed near my cold feet.my bed was a large bed, canopied, with thick pink curtains to keep in the warmth. With this cute fur throw that took me forever to save up for.
"what is so important now that I just had to wake up " I say quickly before she could speak" is the world ending " tossing my head back laughing my white hair which is mostly straight besides those pesky little curls at the end, sway with my every movement. "mwei shut up they want to send you away"tears start to swell at the corner of jei eyes.
" wait what do you mean send me away " "my parents barely have enough money to feed us most days"I replied. she starts to fold her hands over her chest."I heard them somebody form the royal castle came here earlier, only thing I'm sure of is they want you to marry some king from the north" she said louder .
I gasped but my first thought was what's going to happened to jei when and if I leave here. "and what did they say would happen to you" I say while keeping my eyes on her.she stays silent.finally I pull my wool blanket off me completely revealing my ivory color slip dress made of linen. It gripped just right at my hips.
my feet landed on the cold stone slabs.A quick shiver goes through my spine. "speak jei what happens to you when I'm gone " I say squinting my eyes at her.she quickly tries to look away ."promise me you're going to stay calm mwei" she replied "yes I promise just tell me Im dying to know" I said , then I walked over to the foot of my bed.
bent down to open up my Ornate chests , trying to find something to change into not just because we were poor meant I had to look like a begger. my parents have a very small Merchant company focusing on fabrics and other goods."I'm still waiting my love"
lifting my head up slightly."she finally looked at me again full on crying "they're going to sell me to work on the fields at duke marcels estate " my stomach drops , my body feels like it was filled with ice water , the room tilts . this can't be happening right now .
I rose quickly dropping my favorite green dress with the gold emblem on the floor"that won't be happening " I yell louder than I ment to" ."mwei you have to we both know the only reason they even took me in was because of you" she cries."okay and you want me to abandon you now"I replied "yes if it means you can become Queen" she says " I don't want to become that if it means leaving you behind" I yelled tears sting my cheeks as they roll down.turned and begun to storm out the room.
jei grabs my hand "stop you mustn't " I pull my hands away reach up to touch her cheeks "I know I promised but i must get to the bottom of this " finally I turn back and run out my bedroom chambers, make a right turn then down the old brown wood steps that creak with every step . jei foot steps echoed behind me.
I finally reach the common room this was were they would be at if they had to entertain someone of importance. their my father was behind his desk. he was wearing a black Broad shouldered, narrow at the waist Silhouette, with navy blue wool doublet, sword on his hips. my mother looked like colder ,older version of myself . emlard ear ring and necklace. brown square cut dress waistline unbelievable small. her eyes the color of blood and lips that look freshly bitten.All of my family members had skin that resembled milk chocolate.
"what the hell is going on""what have you done why is jei being sent to the fields and I'm being forced to marry a man I do not even know or love" I yelled "my father slowly looks up "why are you dressed so indecent sugar apple" he replied calmly
" don't play games with me father " explain I say but jei tried to interrupt "I tied to stop her " "I know" my mother says sweetly "she's a very spunky young lady" "tell me what is going on or I will end it all right now" I say seriously stomp my right foot on the floor
" stop being so dramatic, this is the best for everyone and we couldn't refuse, you will become the next queen of the north by marry king raelix " "and what happens if I refuse "I replied raising my eyebrows .
my father shifts in his seat" if you refuse king capeak will have us all publicly executed " he says grimly as if choking on the words. I turn my head slowly to look deep into my mothers eyes"why me there's nothing special about our family we don't even have a tittle "I said
" well that's the thing darling they need a replacement for the true blood princess the king doesn't want to send his daughter to the north when no one ever returns from" she continues "you are the exact carbon copy of the princess " she says "so it can only be me" I replied almost to my self "I refuse to go to a wasteland alone jei must come with me " I plead
"no she can't ,she's a orphan'my father yells "no she's not she has a family me and princesses do have ladies in waiting or maids. she can come as one of my maids it not up for decision." I said the most confident I've been all morning "fine but she must behave and the king will be sending grauds to transport you to the royal castle " he says
"what is our family getting in return for this knowing your greed father " my first balled up at my sides " I didnt agree for materials I agreed for our lives and me and your mother we be given the tittle of duke and duchesse of lianrose , its one of the greatest honors that possible could be bestowed upon us, we won't be commoners anymore " he says proudly, a wave of disgust washes over me
"there it is well I'm happy for y'all from this day forward do not come near me and jei agin we have no parents especially not lowly trash like you will to sell their own daughter " I yelled tears now falling , reached my hand out and yanked jei "lets go I'm done here " jei looks at me stunned but complies .
I storm out dragging jei behind me. back up the steps and finally reached my door . dropping jei hands quickly turning the knob . once we are in the room I turn and face her " this is the best day ever jei ....well besides marrying a man I don't know or my parents spelling me for a tittle " I say face gleaming " why.. would .. that even be great mwei" she replied "because your coming with me , I'm bout to be the queen of a whole county ... I will finally have power to protect you"
"you say it like its all so simple are you forgetting your not the real princess and what if he finds out the truth one day , then what?" she cries "well then lets make sure that doesn't happen, we go in with a plan make him fall in love with me " I said "that won't work" she replies " don't worry about the details ... help me pack so we can start our new lives sisters forever no matter what"
"sisters forever" I walk over to my green dress that was still on the floor and transferred it back in pulling out the red dress the hugged me little tighter.the game of love was about to start and need to look impeccable. "how's this dress looks""beautiful, everything does " she said ,I nod once. pulling the dress over my body.
no jewelry so they would have to provide it."fetch me cherries for my cheeks" "okay mwei" . she says . walking over to this small table in the corner of my room and pulled out the stool.
staring at my self in the mirrior. I brushed my hair and stylied it neatly pushing it behind my ears and all my features were contradictions , red eyes same color as my lips and standing about five feet four, small waist wide hips. good for bearing children my mother would say. the thought alone makes me sick .
sounds of foot steps then jei finally emerges with the Cherrys cut up nicely on the plate she was holding "for you princess "she giggled passing me the flat . then I picked up one cherry squeezed it lightly rubbing it in circles on my cheeks three times. being poor ment you learned to use what's available. took one swipe of my fingers over each eye lid. " how do I look now " I asked "like the most beautiful women in the world " she says proudly " I'm in second place ,compared to you jei "
night came sooner than I expected but thats fine I rather get the day over with anyways. Waiting outside the manor with jei both our arms tangled together. first we heard the Horners before even seeing the carriage.
The king's carriage arrived in a blaze of gold and authority. Its gilded panels bore the royal crest, and six white stallions drew it with disciplined precision, their harnesses gleaming with brass and silk. Velvet curtains as the wheels struck the cobblestones.
Within, crimson velvet lined the chamber, perfumed and lit by trembling brass lanterns. It was not a carriage but a moving throne, crafted to remind all who saw it that power did not walk it arrived. it stops to a halt. within twenty second a knight comes out, tall broad shoulder, plated with sliver armor cream linen below it, with hazel eyes .
"Declared by king capeak, Dutches mwei thauk must come with us to the royal place in bltexsi" I reach my hand out "in the flesh my maid jei will be traveling with me I hope that won't be a problem " I say with a small pout trying to look helpless. "yes you're allowed to watch your step"he says . his gaze is so intense, I try to focus on stepping on to the carriage followed by jei. the knight came in last shutting the carriage door behind him."we won't be arriving in bltexsi until after two night falls" he says "what is your name knight" "sir Loka " he grunts
"its nice to meet you I hope we can get along " I say warmly as I can .need to get as many allies under my belt. "nice to meet you duchess " he says flat then turns to watch out the window . great he's going to be a hard shell to crack . I gently squeezed jei hands her face looked like a beet red tomato . she definitely nervous.
"Everything's going to be okay sister, I love you and will always protect you" I whispered to her soft only for her "I know always "jei whispered back. looking out the window the moon looked the brightest its ever been. I know some of the nobles won't accept us here or in the north , but I'm not going there to be liked I've been struggling my whole life sharing whatever I had we jei. this is the start of my villain arc doing what's nessescy for the only family I have.