Chapter 1
Astrid's POV
In this world filled with both goodness and cruelty, there lived a princess named Astrid Falin. She was living in the walls of a huge but cold castle with her father who was trapping her inside with his commands. She also has a brother who is protective of her and he will soon be the king of their kingdom named Chartancil.
Astrid was a kind, generous, obedient and gentle princess, who barely has any flaws. She was perfect. She always has been. Aside from that, she was very beautiful and everyone in this kingdom wanted to be her spouse. But no. She was too beautiful for them. Therefore, all she has to do was stare at the window and wait for a prince—
No need to sound so dramatic.
"Prince? Seriously?"
"Yes! Astrid, you need to find a handsome, loving prince who will love you for who you are. You can't just be naughty all the time! You have to behave like an actual princess! Look what I described you: kind generous, obedient, gentle... Beautiful is an exemption because you already are. You can't just avoid everything that your father tells you to do!"
"Eew." I fake gag that almost turned real as I stared at the mirror. "Princes are so overrated. Besides, you, I, same person. You're just my alter ego, so you have to agree with what I'm doing. And I am kind and gentle, not sure if I'm generous, and... remove the obedient part." My reflection in the mirror bothers me since my other self wouldn't stop mentioning princes ever since the day I was born. I bet she started babbling to me about princes that time I'm still inside my mother's womb.
"You do know that I know what you're thinking right? Besides, you have to be real to yourself. No one is going to tell you that aside from me and the other one." The other one. I like her more. This version of myself that I'm talking to right now is no fun. But the other one is very cool. She agrees with me all the time! I love her, although she's meaner. It's much better than this one I'm talking to who's very kind and all she thinks is getting married.
"At least you have me to tell you all of that. If only you have friends, you might not even complain about me and you won't have to talk to yourself." Yeah, she's right. I barely have friends and the only person in this room was myself and... my reflection in the mirror.
"I- I GOT LILLIAN!"
"Then, where is she now?" A few seconds of silence was unleashed as I was embarrassed to respond to myself. "As you should be."
"Speaking of Lillian..." I quickly grabbed my coat and wore it, getting ready to leave.
I could hear her yelling at me on the inside saying "nO AsTriD StAwP YoU'Re SuPpOseD tO Be aN ObEdIeNt PrInCesS!" But I didn't let her use my mouth because she's too noisy for my ears.
I ignored her as I looked from side to side to see if anyone is around. This castle is very risky to escape from, but I managed to escape every time. And I succeeded this time as I ran towards the back door and seeing the fields. The large field of dandelions held a lot of memories and there will be more sooner.
Walking down this concrete road leading towards the town square calms me since this is how I escape the mousetrap. That thing where my other self said that my father was trapping me inside the castle, wasn't true. It's a bit true, but my other self made it sound like I have a mean father. In reality, my father, or King Arthur Falin was actually thoughtful and gentle when it comes to me. But I don't know when it comes to his work as a king. I don't really get involved too much.
He wanted me to just stay in the castle because he thinks that something might happen to me. Yet here I am, escaping from the castle. He won't get mad at me, he would just tell me a hundred times to not go away from the castle unless I went away from the kingdom.
My brother however, Maxwell is just like my father. We used to be close. Notice how the word 'use' has a 'd' in the end? Yeah, that's because it's in the past. He can't even stand to be in my room for thirty minutes anymore! Not that there's anything wrong between us, he's just busy with work. If not work, then he's probably making out and hooking up with other girls just like any other man would do.
My mom... Dead. Murdered ten years ago by an 11-year-old criminal. The murderer named Sear killed the Queen, Melissa Blyndel. Very ridiculous for someone that young to kill the queen, right? The only thing he wants was the Sacraia. You know, gorgeous stone with a yellowish color with a bit of red and orange that glistens in the sun. It belongs to my mother but it was actually my father's, but he gave it to my mother instead.
Back to Sear. I hate him. Everyone was afraid of him. He got me traumatized since I was eight. He's not just the youngest criminal ever in this kingdom, his parents were also both criminals. So it made sense that he himself became a criminal. No one knows him behind the mask, for he always wear clothes that covers most of his features. But ever since both his parents died, no one actually knows where he went. He just disappeared. No one has heard of him since ten years ago. The kingdom was now safe, but I could feel his soul still existing in this world.
The town square was busy today. Most of the people who sees me would greet me. As you look around you could see stalls with people buying. This is what our kingdom look like: peaceful. No chaos.
I stumbled upon this one stall who's selling fresh, red apples. Seeing that familiar face of the vendor brought a smile to my face. "Good afternoon Princess. Oh, I almost forgot! Happiest of Birthdays!"
I almost forgot my birthday too!
"Oh, thank you! Anyways, I would like an apple." I picked one of the finest red apple I saw in my eyes. I'm very picky when it comes to choosing apples.
"It's on me, princess."
"Thanks." A lot of vendors are like that. They would give it to me for free. Isn't that nice? Call me a bad person, but I actually forgot to bring money. Looking at the red apple, I saw it's beauty, and I can't wait to eat it! I flashed the vendor a smile, now going to my actual destination.
But before I could even leave and walk away, a hand took away the apple I personally picked and I was surprised since he just snatched it in front of me.
"Heard it's someone's birthday." A man appeared in front of me examining the apple. Not gonna lie, though he annoyed me, he's pretty handsome, especially with the flat cap. "Ooh nice apple." I watched as he was about to bite the precious apple that was supposed to be mine. NO! The white part was now peeking out of the red skin with the bite visible.
"That's for the princess!" Yelled the vendor who's in front of the two of us.
I, Astrid Falin, would certainly not do this act ever to a person but I feel like hitting this man with that apple until he shouts in pain.
I glared at him, not doing anything. He could keep the apple. I won't eat it anymore anyways. I left the stall mad with the thought of still hitting h and walked towards the direction of where I'm going which involve going to the green pastures which is peaceful and quiet.
"OUCH!" I heard him shout behind me but I couldn't care less.
From the expression I have, it's very obvious that I'm mad because of him. At least I'm finally away from that handsome, and annoying man.
That's what I thought.
"Princess!" I heard someone yell and judging from the voice, I knew that it's him.
I walked faster and faster but to my surprise, he ran faster and within a second, he's now beside me. "What do you want?"
I watch him throw something at me and it directly shoots into my hands. It was an apple, looking shiny, but it's not shinier than what I picked. "I don't want it." I was about to throw it at him, but before I could even do that, he ran up to me and his face was clear. His face was now in front of me.
"Princess. Just take it. Consider it as my gift."
"Thanks, I guess. It was a pleasure meeting you. Go away now." I continued moving forward and I finally saw the orphanage. I was relieved because if this man won't leave me alone, I'll ran up to the orphanage and leave him to the owner.
"Wait. Do you not recognize me?"
"How could I recognize you when you're a stranger who stole my apple?"
"I repaid you, and I'm serious. How do you not recognize me?" I'm getting annoyed by him.
"Look. Whoever you are is none of my concern and can you please seal your mouth shut before I bring you back with me in the castle." This man beside me who wouldn't leave me alone is the most annoying person in this whole planet. And he's creepy too. What if he's one of that creepy old man who drinks and doesn't talk any sense?
"I would be happy if you bring someone like me who's poor and is alone in this lonesome world into a royal princess's castle." He's making everything a joke, although I don't have time for jokes.
I stopped walking. "Stop being a creep and stay away from me!"
"I am no creep! I'm innocently asking you if you remembered me because I believe that the both of us have history. Or maybe... you just don't want to remember." His voice was very much seductive and it makes me want to punch him in the face.
"What do you mean by history, mister...?"
"Call me... hmm... R. You'll know my real name when the time comes."
"Ok, then... Mister R...? Yeah what do you mean by history for I do not remember meeting an annoying person like you. Even if there is, it wouldn't be your face." I'm praying to the heavens that he would leave me alone because I already answered his question.
"Try to remember."
"If you're talking about sex then you're probably drunk right now and you just thought that I'm the one who had sex with you." Astrid, what just came out of your mouth? We didn't discuss anything about telling him about sex.
"Miss Astrid Falin. What do you mean by sex? I don't know if that topic has any relation to what I'm referring." He took a bite of my apple that I picked especially for me and I want to choke that apple in his throat.
"Let me tell you this random R guy. I do not know you. And I don't remember meeting someone who has a name like you. So maybe, I'm not the one you're finding because I am the princess of this kingdom. So it's pretty rare for me to communicate with people. Do you expect me to say that we met in my backyard and we played for the whole afternoon when we were kids, then you left me alone and you came back just right now?"
"You remembered?"
Ok. This guy doesn't make any sense anymore and I'm tired of talking to him. "What did I remember?"
"You just said that we-"
"You know what, I'm sick of your face. Just leave me alone, and don't even think of following me. Thanks for the apple by the way Mister Creepy R!" I said as I started walking away from him.
That wasn't easy.
Let's just hope that he won't ever follow me again.
After some walking, I finally arrived at my destination and this time, without him. I'm thanking the heavens for making him go away.
"PRINCESS WAIT FOR ME!"
WHAT!?