Liskook: The Switch{Hiatus}

The Past

16 Years Ago . . . 

"Mommy, where are we going?" a four year old Pranpriya Manoban asked. 

The girl's mother did not respond,

"Mommy?" she asked again. 

"Can you please be quiet?" her mother asked angerly. 

Pranpriya closed her mouth, she had no intention to make her mother angry, nor did she want to. 

Pranpriya's eyes lit up as her mother lead her towards a large castle.

"Mommy are we going to live there?" she asked. 

"You will." Her mother replied. 

"But what about you Mommy? Aren't you going to come with me?" 

Her mother sighed,
"Stop asking so many questions and just save it until we're inside." 

They stopped in front of the large castle gates, guards coming up to them.

Pranpriya quickly hid behind her mother, the tall figures frightening to her.

"Identify yourself." one guard demanded. 

"Aurelia Manoban." 

The guards all glanced at each other, then moved out of the way.

"Come this way." one of the guards said. 

Pranpriya grabbed her mother's hand, then followed the guards. 

"Your Majesty, Mrs. Manoban is here." 

The king quickly stood and greeted Priya and her mother. 

"You got here safely I presume?"

Priya's mother nodded, "Yes. This is my daughter, Pranpriya."

Priya hid behind her mother once again, scared by the new person. 

The man chuckled and bent down, 
"Hello." he said,
"I'm Bang Hyun-suk." 

Priya hid farther behind her mother.
Aurelia cracked a smile before patting her daughter on the head, 
"Go sit over there, okay Priya?" 
The girl nodded, before going over to an arm chair, and looking around the room. 

"How adorable." Hyun-Suk said.
"Yea she is. . . but that's beside the point, let's talk, we have much to discuss." Priya's mother said. 

Hyun- Suk nodded,
"Yes we do." 

Priya looked out the window, marveling at how beautiful the castle grounds were. 

She thought of the carriage ride there, and the boy who was with them before they left, he looked sad to see her go, but she couldn't recall why.

"Pranpriya, come here my dear." her mother called

Priya stayed where she was, staring out the window. Aurelia went to her daughter and crouched down next to her, 
"What are you looking at?" 

Priya pointed out the window,
"There are girls over there, I want to go play with them." 

"You can meet them later, right now, we're going to move you into the castle."

Priya's eyes lit up, as she jumped up and down in joy. 

Priya was settled into the castle, and was enjoying the room she was given. 
There were three other young girls there, Jisoo, Jennie and Chaeyoung. 

They helped Priya unpack her belongings, and played together. 

Aurelia and the King stepped out into the hallway, smiling as the four girls played happily.

Aurelia sighed, 
"I'll take my leave then." 

The king grabbed her arm, 
"Aren't you going to say good bye to Pranpriya?" 

Aurelia shook her head, 
"That will make this harder than it already is. . ." 

The king nodded, 
"I understand, please stay safe." 

Aurelia nodded, 
"Could you give her one thing for me?" 

"What is it?" the king asked. 

Aurelia handed him a small necklace, with the initials "A,M." on it.

"Give it to her when the plan is complete." 
"Also, please make sure that when the time comes, she drinks this."

She handed him a small vial with a black liquid. 
The king's eyes widened as he saw it, 
"But Aurelia-"

"Just do it." Aurelia hissed. 

The king nodded, 
"I will. Please stay safe."

Aurelia nodded. A guard came over to her, and escorted her back to the carriage she had arrived in. Taking one last look at the castle, she stepped in, and was taken away. 
"I love you, Priya baby . . ."