Her midnight black hair flowed with the cool breeze, her constellation-blue eyes brimming with life and joy, and her plump, pale-pink, heart-shaped lips stretched in a smile.
As she hurried to her parents' chamber, her slender fingers held up the end of her dress, which had fallen to the ground at her 5"7 figure, to keep it from getting dirty.
She knocked and slowly opened the door, walking inside gracefully. She moved silently over to the massive king-sized bed in the center of the room, chuckling to herself as she looked at her sleeping parents.
Her mother was facing the right, and her father's arms wrapped protectively over her waist." Mother," the girl said softly to her mother.
The eyes of her mother fluttered open, revealing bright constellation-blue eyes.
"Astraea?" her mother inquired, her sleepy eyes squinting to see the person in front of her. When she realized it was her daughter, Astraea, she sat up in bed, albeit with difficulty due to the bulky arms still wrapped around her.
"What are you doing here, sweetheart?" Her mother inquired, her expression befuddling. Astraea couldn't help but admire her mother's beauty, despite the fact that she grew up with her.
"I came to wake you. Today we're scheduled to travel to town."
She stated this while trying to keep her excitement for their journey in check. Her mother smiled and snatched her husband's hand from her waist.
"Can you tell me where your brother is?" Selene inquired as she arose from her bed. She strolled over to her closet and took a quick look at the clothes inside.
"He's out with his friends. He claimed he'd be right back before supper."
Selene let out a sigh. "His father is becoming impatient, waiting for him to mature intellectually and ascend to the throne."
"I think brother Astrophel is responsible." Astraea smiled adoringly.
Astraea adored her brother beyond anything else. He raised her and safeguarded her as they grew up, and he still dotes on her even now that she is nineteen.
Selene smiled and shook her head, knowing that Astraea will always see Astrophel's better side. A grunt from the bed caused both ladies to turn to face the source, who was finally waking up. He sat up sluggishly and glanced at the two people who were staring at him.
He inquired after noticing his wife's hand on the dress she was going to remove. "Are you on your way somewhere?" She nodded and took the garment from the closet.
"I'm going to town with Astraea." Alon paused for a minute in thinking before asking Astraea the same question her mother had asked before.
And she reacted in the same manner as she did to her mother.
"He's out with his friends. He claimed he'd be right back before supper."
"tsk" Her father shook his head in dismay. "When will he mature? He's already 24 years old." He groaned and climbed out of bed. "I'll have someone accompany you two."
Astraea was the most polished one of the two. She had mastered all of her studies and had grown into a lovely princess. Her brother was the one who wanted everything without making any effort.
The carriage drove over a rough route, which caused the two to bounce in their seats often. Astraea didn't mind because she was too preoccupied with the passing scenery outside the carriage. Her mother observed her with a tiny grin, noting how pleased her daughter was despite the fact that she knew she was doing her best to keep her cool.
Astraea gazed at the lofty mountains covered by fog, yet the mist just added to their beauty from this distance. She noticed people on dragons flying in the sky in the same direction; it was unusual to see dragon riders, and it was a lovely sight. She showed her mother the dragon riders, and Selene was enthralled as well.
Astraea's smile widened when she spotted something ahead of her.
The carriage was slowing down as the town came into view.
The carriage came to a halt a little distance away from the enormous gate, but it was still visible. Astraea didn't waste any time getting out of the carriage and walking until she was in front of the golden gate that stood between her and the town.
The gatekeeper was ready to scold her for interrupting his lunch when he spotted the tiara on her head and her expensive-looking outfit and smiled his typical business grin. "Ma'am, what can I do for you?"
Her mother approached her from behind and smiled. "Your Majesty," the gatekeeper said with a bow, and he opened the gate without hesitation. The gate creaked as it moved, and it seemed like an eternity before it eventually opened to Astraea.
The two made their way inside, trailed by their guards. They made their way from stall to stall. "Mother, I'd want one of those," Astraea said, pointing to a stick with caramel pouring from the top. It looked delicious to the girl who had never gone to town and was used to eating costly cuisine every day. However, expensive cuisine is not as good.
Selene purchased the apple and handed it to Astraea before purchasing another for herself. When her mother noticed that Astraea was traveling at her own pace, she took out a purse full of money and handed it to her. Selene turned to face the two soldiers behind her, choosing the one who was the same age as Astraea because she felt her daughter would be more at ease with him. "Keep an eye on her. We'll meet back at the carriage at 3 p.m." Selene gave him the command.
For some reason, the guard's cheeks brightened at the prospect of guarding the princess, but he kept his excitement in check and bowed before catching up to her.
He recounted what the queen had said to her, and she nodded in agreement.
After a few seconds of staring at her daughter, the queen turned and proceeded towards other vendors that appealed to her. The guard who was following her closely glanced around carefully, scanning for danger every minute.
"Can you tell me your name?" Astraea inquired, her gaze drawn to the young soldier behind her. She was relieved to learn that, despite his youth, he was twenty years old.
The guard responded cheerfully to her query with a smile. "David, princess," As he gazed at her lovely face and saw her grin directed at him, his heart erupted in his chest. Astraea was regarded as the most beautiful woman in her kingdom. Many wealthy men had approached her for a marriage proposal, but she was uninterested.
They strolled about, and Astraea purchased a few more items. She was captivated by individuals doing magic acts in the middle of the street. Selene came from a witch bloodline, but she didn't practice magic since she didn't want to, so Astraea, who wanted to learn magic, didn't get the chance.
The guard had to carry a lot of baggage, but he didn't mind as long as the princess was satisfied when it came time to return to the castle. Astraea scowled, knowing that she might not have another chance like this for a long time.
They both returned through the gate. When the gatekeeper saw Astraea, he bowed and pointed in a direction to ensure she recalled where the carriage was, as the queen had told him to do. Even though she knew where she was going, Astraea thanked the gatekeeper and proceeded in the direction he indicated.
Before walking up to his horse, David grabbed Astraea's hand and assisted her into the carriage. He kissed his hand as he recalled her warm and gentle hand. David mounted his horse and pursued the carriage that had already taken off.
"Did you have a good time?" Selene inquired, a tiny grin on her face. Astraea nodded and told her mother everything that had happened that day. When Astraea told her about a hilarious guy they met, Selene laughed. The sparkle in Astraea's eyes dulled as the pleasure she had faded and the realization that she wouldn't be returning for a long set in.
Selene scowled and decided not to console her or offer her false hope because the outer world is hazardous for royalty. She will go to any length to protect her daughter.
When the carriage went through the castle gates, which closed behind them, Astraea looked at the exit she wouldn't see again for a time.
It took some time for them to notice the castle, and the carriage eventually came to a halt in front of it. Astraea was the first to leave, but not with the same zeal she had when she came into town earlier.
Astraea waited for her mother to come out before heading inside with her.
As they passed, servants bowed to them. One of the servants approached them with his head down in reverence. "His Majesty is in the dining room." The servant had a dubious expression on his face, but he bowed to both girls and rushed away before the queen could say anything.
The dining hall wasn't far away, since they were already on their way there, realizing that it was dinner time. The guards stationed outside the dining hall pulled open the entrance for them, and they entered.
Selene screamed in terror at what she saw in front of her. Astraea gazed in the same direction as her mother. A decapitated body lay in a pool of blood, dressed in clothing similar to her father's. Astraea's eyes welled up with tears, and bile rose in her throat as she bit her lips to control her scream.
Astraea moved her gaze away from the body.
When she saw the person holding her father's head in one hand and a bloodied blade in the other, she dropped to her knees.
The lips that used to smile lovingly at her while reading her bedtime stories now bore a menacing grin.
"Brother?"