Chapter 1
Lina.
"The blue. I like the blue." I said pointing to the long blue gown lying next to a sparkly peach one on top of my comforter.
"Darling, I really do think the peach color would look better on you. Don't you agree?" My mother told me, her voice completely leveled.
"No mother, I obviously do not agree since I have just told you I liked the blue rather than the peach or the orange or any other color you have shown me thus far." I argued back.
"Do not use that kind of tone with me, young lady! You are a princess, you shall always show respect especially towards your elders!" My mother scolded me, raising her voice a bit.
"I apologize." I surrendered.
"Very well." She concluded, tilting her chin up, as if the imaginary book ever present on her head had tilted out of balance. She turned around, picking up the fold of her dress so she could walk without tripping. You would think they would have changed the dress style by now but it seems just as it was a century ago.
"Oh. And I still want you to wear the peach." She commanded before exiting from my room.
I huffed and flopped back on my bed, hearing the dresses bunch under me; but I didn't care. I didn't ask for this life, I was just born into it.
Harry.
"Well look at you. If I didn't know any better I'd call you a professional baker!" My boss, Richard, commented as I carefully decorated the wedding cake for a customer of ours, Ms. Winston. I chuckled as I placed the icing tube down next to the cake and looked up at him as I wiped my hands on a nearby dishtowel.
"Perhaps I am a professional, Richard. I've been doing this for quite a while. Age shouldn't matter." I said, giving him a teasing wink.
"Oh, Harry, 19 years old and you're still as cheeky as you were when I hired you years ago."
"I learned from the best." I said, pointing at him.
He got up from the stool he was sat on and shrugged his coat on.
"Don't forget to put that cake in the box. Ms. Winston should be here to pick it up soon." He reminded me as he walked towards the door. When he proceeded out I was left alone inside.
"Grab cake. Put in box. Place on counter. Get money from Ms. Winston. Lock up place. Leave. Sounds easy enough." I murmured to myself.
A few minutes later the bell to the bakery rung and Ms. Winston walked in, along with a wave of her strong perfume.
"Good afternoon, Harry. Are you in here all by yourself?" She questioned as she looked around the empty bakery.
"Yes ma'am, you're our last customer for today." I said handing her the bill for the wedding cake. It was a small one for a wedding cake so I assume it's just going to be a small wedding.
"I'm surprised. I thought you guys would be running around like a chicken with its head cut off right now." She said as she signed her name on the bill.
I laughed. "And why's that, Ms. Winston?" I asked, leaning forward on the counter, giving her my full attention.
She looked up at me and her pale blue eyes met mine. A strand of her chestnut hair, slightly greyed, fell over her face and she looked at me in complete surprise.
"You really have not heard?" She asked. I shook my head as I rested my head on my hand.
"Well you know that small island, kingdom or whatever they call it off the coast of here?"
"Yeah, the Spanish ruled island, Costa Lana I think it's called." I said, becoming fully interested in the conversation.
"Yes, yes that's it. Well the queen is finally presenting her heir, the princess, to the public. They're throwing this huge ball in celebration for her 18th birthday." She informed.
"She has had her daughter in hiding for the past 18 years?" I asked, shocked, as I raised myself off from the counter.
"I doubt it, they don't seem that inhumane. They've just never presented her as the princess before."
"I see... And why would this make our bakery busy?" I asked still not seeing the connection.
"Why darling, they're going to need caterers, and this bakery is the finest on the coast. No doubt they're going to pick you."
"Well that's not good." I said running my hand through my hair.
"Why not? The amount of money this bakery would get from the event is tremendous." She said sounding exasperated that I was not seeing the benefit of this.
"Oh no, it's not that Ms. Winston, it's just the New Year is coming up and I'm going to the city for it. I was hoping the Christmas deliveries would be the last of what I have to do before I leave." I told her, trying to arrange everything in my head.
"Well the ball is not until a few days after New Years so that should give you some time." She told me trying to assure me, with a slight smile. "Why are you going to the city though for New Years? Is this little town not enough for you?" she teased.
"I always hear talk about how amazing the New Years celebration is in the city and I've just always wanted to see it for myself. And I've saved up enough money for a ride out there so I figure why not."
"I see... Well have a good evening, Harry, and thank you for the cake. It's lovely." She bidded me goodbye as she grabbed the cake and left.
I watched her get in her carriage, and the driver command the horses off. These were just mere observations though, my mind was completely entranced in the news Ms. Winston delivered.
So the princess is finally making her big debut huh...
Lina.
"I hate this. Why can't I just do normal teenage things without my mother hovering over my every move?" I vented to my friend Cara, who was seated on the bed beside me.
"You're a princess, Lina. Everything you do reflects on her." She said, reminding me for the thousandth time. I looked up at my childhood friend. She was the daughter of one of my mother's advisors. Her short blonde hair curved around her face, little curls framing it. Her eyes shined blue and her lips naturally pink. We were opposites in looks. Whereas she had blonde, short hair, I had long, brown hair, the curls running from my shoulders to my ribs. My brown eyes contrasted with her blue ones, and my lips a natural soft red.
"So you're going to the city next weekend for New Years I heard." I stated, trying to hide my jealousy. I've never been off the island before.
"Yeah, my uncle is throwing a New Years party at his cottage there. Guess he finally realized this part of the family existed and invited us." She said shrugging as if it was no big deal.
"How are you going to get there?" I asked, curious.
"Take the bridge to the coast, there's a small town there, then take a carriage into the city." She informed me. I looked down at my lap. I wonder what life was like outside of this island. I wonder what life was like in the small town on the coast, how many people lived there, what was their lifestyle like? Their dress? And what about the city? I've only heard stories of all the adventurous possibilities there. I wanted to go.
"My parents said I could bring a guest." I heard Cara murmur. My head shot up and I gave her the most hopeful look. But it was gone in seconds, my mother would never let me go.
"We could ask your father." suggested Cara, seeming to read my thoughts.
"No need to girls." A deep voice sounded from behind us. Startled, I got up and turned around facing my father.
"Father, I --" he held up his hand stopping me.
"Go, Catalina. I'll deal with your mother." He said giving me a gentle smile.
"Wait, what?" This didn't make any sense, it couldn't be that easy, that simple.
"Lina, you've been stuck on this island, in this kingdom for almost 18 years. It's time you see what's beyond this. There's more to the world than Costa Lana."
"I - I don't know what to say..." I said, shocked that I was being given this freedom.
"Well a thank you is the standard response." He said, chuckling afterwards.
I smiled, and walked towards him with my arms open until I reached him and embraced him.
"Thank you father." I spoke into his chest, and I couldn't take the smile off my face.
I was actually leaving Costa Lana.
A/N:
So as I've written this I've realized I am practically incapable of writing really long chapters. I'm not sure if that is a good or a bad thing but i'll try to make them longer. Anyways, remember this is only the first chapter so sorry if it seems a tad boring, but you know the introductions always have to be made haha
Anyways hope you'll keep reading, I'm really excited for this story, it's different.
New update soon! Perhaps later this week. Comments, votes, follow, etc. and I definitely will! Thank you for reading :)
-Mandy