" Mommy, why does the princess die at the end.... shouldn't there be some kind of special kiss to bring her back?" Little Diana asked, her wide eyes brimming with curiosity.
Her mom pulled her closer into her arms and kissed her hair.
"Some things aren't meant to be darling, after all the Princess sacrificed her life for her kingdom."
Diana squeezed her face showing dissatisfaction.
"And the King? He didn't get the chance to mourn his beloved and was sealed away." She said sadly
Her mother sighed and closed the book making Diana groan.
"Mom please, I wanna know what happened to him. How would he live on when the love of his life died for some stupid cause?" Diana scoffed and folded her arms
Her mother suddenly gripped her tightly making her wince in pain. She looked up at her mother and whimpered when she saw the look in her eyes.
"It wasn't for a stupid cause, Princess Andromache sacrificed her life to bring peace to the kingdom, if it weren't for her the Luminiar Tower would have crumbled long ago. Do you understand Diana?"
Diana winced when she felt her mother's grip tighten on her. She nodded her head frantically to show she understood perfectly well.
Her mom smiled softly and let go of her arm. " There's my good girl, now it's time for bed."
Without arguing Diana crawled into her bed and covered herself as her mother placed a kiss on her forehead.
"Mommy loves you." She whispered and turned the lights off before walking away.
Diana shuddered. It wasn't the way her mom gripped her, but the look in her eyes.
Her mother always had a gentle look in her eyes but tonight it was different, there was something fierce and intense in the way she looked at her earlier.
Was her mom hiding something?
She turned to look at her twin brother who laid quietly on the other bed like he was never there.
"Do you think Mom is hiding something?" She asked softly
"What do you think...is she hiding something?" Her brother turned to look at her, his heterochromic eyes glowing under the moonlight.
Diana bit her lips and faced the ceiling.
"I don't know. I hope not." She muttered softly
The room grew silent for a while until Diana stood from her bed and walked towards her brother's.
He stared at her with a frown.
"Heavens sake, not today Diana." He groaned but she only giggled and crawled into his bed, gripping his arm tightly
"You're not a kid you know." Dimitri mumbled
"You talk as if you don't like it when I'm close." She scoffed and he glared at her
"Okay that's it, get off my bed. Now!" He tried pushing her away but Diana held onto him tightly, protesting widely
"I'm scared." She suddenly said making Dimitri stop his shove. He stared down at her and when he saw the vulnerable look on her face, he relaxed and began to stroke her hair soothingly
"Why?" He asked and she shook her head in response
"I don't know.....Just....." She faltered when she couldn't find a good explanation as to how she was feeling at the moment.
Dimitri sat up to look at her fully and gripped her hands gently.
"I'll always be here to protect you okay, there's nothing you should be scared of." He assured
Diana beamed at him making him blush.
"What's with that look on your face." He said gruffly as he looked away.
Diana laughed, "I've always known you were a softie for me." She wiggled her brows teasingly and Dimitri pushed her away, turning his back to her as he pretended to sleep but Diana jumped on him.
"C'mon play with me a little." She whined
"Go away!" Dimitri yelled and began to wrestle with her.
The cool windy night was filled with Diana's laugh and giggles.
•• 15 YEARS LATER ••
Diana stared back at her pretty reflection. She was all grown up now and had become a beautiful lady. Her hair was decorated with sparkly gems and ornaments and her green robe fitted her figure perfectly. She was ready, ready to become an adult.
The door slid open and the maids who were beautifying her stopped as Dimitri came in, his presence filling the room instantly.
Dimitri on his part looked like a demigod, so well built and chiseled in the right places. His eyes now had an intense glint in them but the one thing that didn't change about him was the indifferent look on his face, especially when he was around people who weren't his sister.
The maids bowed and immediately left the room leaving both twins the bond.
Diana stood and twirled around slowly with a smile.
"How do I look?" She asked excitedly
"Beautiful.....as always." Dimitri replied and Diana beamed brightly but then the smile immediately died down as she sat on her bed with a grave expression
"I'm nervous." She muttered nervously and Dimitri chuckled
"I figured you'd be like this. I could sense your anxiousness from the training ground." Dimitri sneered as he sat beside her
Over the years their twin bonds had grown stronger making it easy for them to sense each other's emotions.
"Training ground? What were you doing there? It's our birthday remember!" She frowned at him
"You're the one who's excited about stuff like this." Dimitri tilted his head to the side and stared at his nails like they were conveying a message
"Oh c'mon, stop being so bland about this. Today is the day we become adults, ready to take on the world." Diana raised her fist in the air, a dramatic posture
"I mean...." Dimitri continued staring at his nails, "I became an adult when I turned 18, you're the one who still acts like a kid." He said calmly and was rewarded with a pillow thrown at him
"You're not helping matters you know? I'm already nervous as it is." Diana whined and Dimitri stared at her, amused by her antics and expression.
"You're adorable." He muttered with a teasing smile and Diana whirled around to snap at him
"Shut up already!" She yelled and Dimitri raised his hands in surrender while Diana went back to rambling about how nervous she was, how she was expected to act at the party and most of all, turning twenty meant her marriage to the crown prince was finalized.
"I'm going crazy." She crumbled dramatically on her bed, curling up like a foetus
"I could just get him out of the way y'know." Dimitri said from where he stood, his eyes showing how much he hated the crown prince.
"You already tried to remember, it didn't end well for you." Diana scoffed from where she sat and Dimitri glared at her
"It's all Father's fault. I would have won the duel if he didn't interfere." He muttered through gritted teeth and the room went silent
"You don't have to marry him." Dimitri spoke softly this time
"Do I have a choice?" Diana sighed and stood up, she flicked her fingers and a flower wreath appeared in her hands which she placed on her head.
"I have to do this, even if it's against my will."
Dimitri frowned in disapproval but didn't say anything. He knew deep down that Diana wasn't ready for the political world much less getting engaged to the Crown Prince.
The door opened and a maid stepped in, her head bowed.
"It is time, Your Highness." She announced
Diana inhaled slowly and glanced back at Dimitri who was still staring at her. She rolled her eyes
"Stop being broody for once and come walk me out." She said and stretched her arm towards him
A slight smile touched Dimitri's lips as he closed in on her and took her hand. Diana gave him a soft smile.
"I'll be fine. Hopefully, I won't make a fool out of myself today." She mumbled
The door opened and both twins stepped out of the room and into the garden full of dignitaries here to witness the both of them step into a new age.