Once I get into my room, I fall to the ground just by my door. I lean against my room door and sob uncontrollably.
I get that I have to do certain things because of who I am but it seems I am always stuck and forced to do the things others want me to do. Once the sun rises, my choice will be made for me and I will have to get engaged to someone in a year.
Knock knock
I sigh deeply, "Who is it?"
"Kris, Your Highness," he says kindly and I smile, open the door and let him in.
"What happened?" he asks kindly. "I expect expectations," I say seriously, "I knew that when I found out my true identity but I never expected to be the heir and to be forced to...get engaged and possibly married to someone. I do not even know if I want to get married...after everything."
He listens quietly, "So why not tell your father this?" "He does not know the whole story yet," I remind him and he nods, "so he will not understand. Anyways, would a guy even want me after being with so many guys? Like I would have to explain such things before getting into something with someone because I cannot lie to them."
He nods, "My mother felt the same way, Your Highness. Remember her story?" I nod. "Well," he says honestly, "she did not say the whole truth. It was not only one guy but many guys. The one guy was just highly protective and wanted her to himself so he stole her. Dad loved her despite this and, yes, he had a past too but if someone really loves you..." I nod, "Then they will get past it."
I hug him tightly and head to bed once he leaves my room.
In the early hours of the morning, the meeting convenes once again.
My father looks at me and sighs as everyone looks at him, "I think it is Princess Anthurium's choice and not mine to make." I gulp and look at him with wide eyes, "Uhm...I have given it some thought and decided that I...agree with your point of view so I agree to your terms."
My father, mother and Aster smile brightly as well as a few others in the crowd of Dukes and Duchesses but Magnolia looks sour.
"I would just like to announce that, as usual," my father says, clears his throat and continues, "some royals from around the world might join at some point in the season and I look forward to seeing you all starting January."
Everyone leaves for their homes soon after and the preparations start so as to arrive a few days before the season starts.
I am, currently, sitting on my bed with Kris as maids run around me.
"Your Highness, this dress?" they ask or "Your Highness, what is this?" they ask as they run around. I just get to nod or shrug as they solve my problems.
Days go by fast as most of my days go with studies and packing. I catch up on two years in the last six months and just stay to myself. Aster talked sometimes but Magnolia has outright avoided me.
Soon, it is time to travel and that is when I find out we have stables.
A carriage awaits my father and mother to travel in with me. My siblings are separately placed in another carriage and a whole other two-to-three other cars are behind us filled to the brim with baggage.
The travel down the mountain begins as we make our way with the castle behind us and the mountains on both our sides. We make our way to Azure first and the kids being introduced will be announced there.
A day later, we arrive to stay for a week.
My guards are beside me as Kris walks beside me chattering about the day.
"We will have a ball tomorrow with all the Azure nobles as well as the newly introduced ones," Kris says kindly as he leads me to a room in the Azure Duke's home, "but, today, you are free to do as you please as people will be arriving throughout the day from the surrounding nobles as well as the Duke of Gamboge and the Baron of Aureolin." I nod as I continue walking nervously through the home.
He continues, "Duke of Gamboge arrived two days ago and the Baron of Aureolin as well so it is just the other nobles of Azure that will be arriving today as they live a maximum of a day or two to an hour away."
I nod, "Thanks, I just do not feel like I am good enough." "Stop it," Kris says seriously, "just do your best and stop worrying about everything else." I nod and sigh deeply.
"Your Highness," Duchess Lotus calls out and I walk towards her, "it is so nice to see you again." I smile and nod, "Same to you. I am wondering who else has arrived."
"Oh, the ones who will be introduced are not allowed out by most parents even though it is not a rule," she says kindly and I nod, "have the other nobles arrived yet?" "Yes," she says politely, "everyone is here but settling in, mostly."
Soon, she is called to some important matter and I am left with my entourage following me.
I look to Kris, "What about the other nobles?" "They will all be at Sable by the end of the season," Kris says kindly, "these are more of the part that helps the newcomers meet people they have never met and the Azure family is the one to start this year but in the next years, it will change." "Are you sure this is tradition or is this just for me?" I ask and I notice him smiling, "so, just for me." He just smiles. I sigh.
"Not everything is for you," he says with a laugh, "it is truly because of the tradition and so it is not overwhelming for the newcomers." I smile and nod.
The day goes by fast and I notice the King of Freesia as well as the Prince arriving.
The next day arrives and, as the night falls later that day, the ball begins.
Once everyone is there, I notice two young boys standing by each other.
"Duke Lantana of Gamboge and Baron Tobin of Aureolin," a man announces loudly.
The ball begins and I look around at the other nobles. I try to find someone to make conversation with so I can get to know them.
Soon, I find a man and woman standing alone at a small table. I make my way over and notice them watching me.
"Your Highness," they say, bowing and curtsying. "It is nice to meet you," I say kindly, "and you are?" "I am the Marchioness of Azure and this is my husband," she says kindly. I smile and nod, "Do you live nearby or far away?" "We live twelve hours away," the Marchioness says politely, "I must take my leave now as there are many to talk to and many events to celebrate." I nod as they leave me alone, once again.
I notice the young thirteen-year-old boys in a similar position as me and I laugh a little inside but do not make my way over so as to make their nerves less.
"Your Highness," a, not too old, man says kindly, "I am the Count of Azure and I would like you to meet my child. He is around the same age as you." I smile politely, "Oh for sure." I follow him through the crowd as he makes his way to his child.
"This is my firstborn Count Chester 21," he says kindly. I notice that he cannot possibly be 21 so that must be his intelligence.
"It is nice to meet you," I say politely, "and how old are you?" "I am fifteen, Your Highness." I nod and smile as a young boy makes his way over.
"Your Highness," the young boy says kindly, "I am Viscount Amell 15." "It is an honor to meet you," I say politely as the boy looks at me with awe.
"So you are how old?" I ask him kindly. "I am sixteen, Your Highness," he says politely.
"Are these all the children of the Azure house?" I ask curiously and they nod. "There are not many noble children anymore as alot get stolen," Count Chester says seriously, "I worry about my sister every time we leave her at home with a babysitter." "Oh wow," I say nervously, "that must be tough." "Yes," Viscount Amell says kindly, "it seems that the poor will soon get the nobility as there will not be much of us left. The Marchioness lost all their children to theft and if you ever heard the Ponceau family story..." "No," I say seriously, "I have not." "It is a tragedy," Count Chester says honestly, "anyways, you must meet the Baroness."
I make my way to the last noble of the house of Azure and see her to be quite young looking.
"Hello," I say politely, "you must be the Baroness of Azure?" "What gave it away?" she asks kindly, "yes I am." "It is nice to meet you," I say kindly. "Likewise," she says politely, "my husband is at home, sickly. I wish he would not die otherwise I must marry someone of an appropriate age and gain children just to lose them. Then I must hope I am as lucky as your parents."
"I have heard that many lose their children here," I say kindly, "has that happened to you?" She shakes her head, "It happened to my parents. My twin sister went missing. It was supposed to be me because they figured out our intelligence and all they want is to control the helpless."
I sigh and nod, "It is true." She smiles sadly, "But she is definitely dead." I sigh, "I am sorry for your loss." She smiles and thanks me then she leaves me alone.
I notice people dancing a style I was taught recently as every family has their own style of dance but I do not want to join them at all.
All I know about Azure is that they love hunting and their lovely lake as well as any activities related to these two areas.
Soon, dinner ensues and then the night comes to a close for the first day of a long week.