His skin was pale and flawless. he had black silky long hair and silver eyes that pierced into my soul.
" Come with me." His deep voice sent shivers around my body.
" Show me where the crescent shell is"
Sweats drenched my face as I sat up on the bed while panting. It was that dream again. Same man but different words this time around.
I lit the candles and pulled my legs to myself. This wasn't the first time that I was having this dream. It started when I was twelve and now it kept haunting me once every crescent moon.
I got out of bed slowly and stood by the side of my window with my heart thumping in my chest. There he stood, in my garden not far away with his silver eyes sparkling in the dark. I felt chills on my skin and my legs went weak. He fitted perfectly into the darkness but I knew it was him. He was the silver-eyed man in my dream. I opened my mouth and screamed.
" Your Highness!" I heard the guards rush into my room frantically and I pointed at the garden but he was gone. Gone like he wasn't there some seconds ago before I screamed.
" There's nothing there your highness." They said in unison and I sighed.
That was it, this was how it had always been. He would appear in my dreams and when I wake up, he would be there in the garden and when I scream, he would be gone like he never appeared.
" You can leave now. I'm fine." I dismissed them but they hesitated for a while before leaving.
I saw him, it wasn't a hallucination. I don't know who this strange man was and I don't know what he wants from me.
I shrugged the thought off my mind. It had always been like this anyway. I won't be screaming anymore because the royal workers now think I was going mad. Having nightmares and screaming at night was enough to call someone a lunatic.
Dawn was fast approaching and I couldn't help but worry about my sister - Elena -. She would be leading the royal armies to the war between Brocrest and Baldish.
This was what we get as princesses. The king, my father Darius Robertson had no son so his daughters were the ones who acts as his princes.
I'm the crown princess of Brocrest and that brought animosity between my sister and me. We were born on the same day but an hour different by two different concubines of the king. My mother Louisa was one of the king's concubines. She was killed by the other jealous wives who never had children including the queen because she was the king's favorite.
Living in the palace as a crown princess wasn't easy as the animosity between the queen, and my sister became intense with each passing day.
I was my father's favorite and it scared me that he would leave the world someday and I will take over the throne. I wondered what I would do without him around.
The breeze blew on my face and I exhaled. This was it, I can't even go to sleep anymore, afraid of seeing that man In my dreams again.
" Your Highness," I felt the gentle tap of my maid on my shoulder.
" It's time for your bath." She said calmly and I pouted my mouth. I hated this since I was a child. I don't like being woken up at a particular time. Couldn't I just have some time for myself?
" I want it very hot like lava," I told her with my eyes still closed.
" It's hotter than the volcano." She answered and my lips twitched in smile even when I wasn't supposed to. These maids matched my vibes, they knew how to tag along with me and that was why I cherished them even when I couldn't show it.
I got out of bed and walked straight into the large bathroom that was filled with steam. She didn't lie when she said it was hotter than the volcano.
I stripped out of my robe and got into the hot tub. My usual morning ritual of bathing began. I lay inside the tub while my maids do the washing, massaging, and scrubbing. It was soothing that I almost drifted off into slumber.
" Why are you styling my hair that way?" I asked Yvonne my dresser. I don't like my hair being styled into a ponytail and she knows that. I like it when my hair Cascades on my shoulders elegantly.
" It's for your costume. You can't wear your hair loosely on it." She answered with her head bowed. I wanted to scream at her but I controlled myself.
What costume was she talking about? Today was just a normal day and there was no ball that I needed a costume for.
I just want to wear my normal princess attire and be left alone to think about the things that were weighing on my mind.
" Tell me Yvonne, what costume is that? Is there a royal ball that I don't know about?" I asked politely but deep down, I was scolding her which I knew was evident in my voice. Yvonne had been my stylist since I was ten and she knew more than anyone else that I don't like ponytails.
" Your army costume your highness." She answered and my throat dried. I gulped hard countless times and rose from the chair.
" What are you talking about Yvonne? Everyone knows that I don't have an army costume. I don't go to war. I'm the crown princess of Brocrest." I told her with a pissed voice and she fell to her knees.
" Forgive me if I offended you, your highness." She apologized and I sighed. I don't like it, I don't like it when the servants tremble at my presence or voice.
" I thought you knew already. I was just following instructions." She added with her head still bow and I squinted my eyes.
What the hell was she talking about?
" When did you start taking instructions from others?" I thundered and she trembled.
" Forgive me, your highness. I didn't mean it. The king instructed me to prepare you for the war between our kingdom and Baldish." I felt my head spin when her words fell into my ears. Prepare me for the war between Brocrest and Baldish? Wasn't Elena who was supposed to go to the war?
" Take me to my father now!" I growled.
I stumbled through the spiral staircase that lead to the throne hall. My mind was a total mess and I just want to believe that whatever Yvonne said was all made up.
" Your majesty," I curtsied.
" Princess Valerie," he called and I could sense the surprise in his tone. I bet he wasn't expecting to see me so early in the throne hall. Dressed in just a bathrobe and barefooted.
" Father, what's going on?" I asked, ignoring his glare. I knew he must be scolding me in his head.
" You're dressed in a bathrobe and you walked out of your Chambers barefooted? " He demanded angrily and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I'd lived by these rules all my life for the past seventeen years and I was getting tired of them already. I looked down and saw that my feet were truly bare.
" I'm sorry Father," I apologized and he patted my shoulder. I know he wouldn't get mad at me for long.
" Thank you, Valerie," he said, his voice hoarse and husky.
" For what father?" I asked, my heart racing in my chest at a very fast pace. I waited for his response and he saw the confused look on my face.
" For volunteering to replace your sister and lead the army to the war" He answered and that instant, everything stilled, and everything around me stopped working. The time stopped tickling and the air froze somewhere.
" Elena is sick and you volunteered to replace her two days ago. I hadn't had time to thank you because of the royal court matters." He added with a grateful smile that was laced with sadness, as well as pride.
" Yes, she is sick in the head because I never volunteered to replace her and lead the armies to the war." I snarled furiously and the king was taken aback. That Elena of a sister was something else. How could she tell a huge lie about me?
" Father, how could you believe such lies? You know I don't know how to use a sword. I can't even defend myself.." my voice trailed off as tears streamed down my face even if I never wanted to cry. But this was a war we were talking about. A big war and I was only a princess, a princess who couldn't fight.
" You're good at archery," Father said with conviction and I looked at him in a daze. It felt like a dream and all I wanted was for someone to pour me a cold bucket of water so that I could wake up from the nightmare I was in.
" That's not enough father," I cried and held his hand.
" I believe in you, Valerie. The people of Brocrest already got the information and they're all waiting for you to go and conquer our enemy. The decree has been sealed and there's nothing I can do about it anymore." He said and I crouched to the floor. Tears gushed out of my eyes like waterfalls. I wasn't ready for this, how was I going to fight in a war when I don't even know the warrior codes?
" Now go and get ready, the warriors are ready." He told me and the maids helped me up. I wiped my face with my hand and brought back my princess's signature expression. I knew there was a high chance of me walking into Elena on my way to my quarters.
I wasn't going to give her the satisfaction she craved for.
" Seemed like the crown princess is having a bad morning already, " I heard Elena's mocking voice from the side and I stopped to look at her. She was dressed in a red and black off-shoulder gown that reveals so many parts of her body and cleavage. She had her crown on her head and she looked elegant as ever.
" Thanks to you," I told her with a smirk and she chuckled. Why wouldn't she be happy when her rival was going to die in the front of war hours from now?
" I made Mother do it. I made her tell father that you volunteered but you were too scared to let him know. " She said with a proud smile on her face and I felt like strangling her against the wall. Well, that was one of the advantages of having a mother in a royal home, In a castle filled with vipers.
" I pray for you to die before the war will start. The throne is mine Valerie and I will do everything I can to claim it. I'm the future queen of Brocrest and I will make sure you never step feet into this castle again. I will make your maids my slaves and your guards my loyal dogs. I will wear your crown and take everything you ever own." She enunciated each word, with her gaze fixed on mine.
Her brown eyes showed with fury and the way she moved her lips, one could tell that she was having fun and boiling inside. I had tried myself to hate this witch but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.
" Even if you become the queen, the people will never accept you because they wouldn't want to have a ragdoll as their queen. " I spat and her face turned grimmer. Yes, I love that reaction.
" Until then princess, I would advise you to share a long hug with your father before you leave because both of you will be joining each other in hell soon. " So this was it. Get rid of me and take the crown princess place then get rid of the king and become the queen. I wonder what would happen to Father when I'm gone.
"Ragdoll." I mocked and laughed all the way to my quarters.
I couldn't help but worry about what would happen to my father if I don't return from the war alive. Baldish is known for its powerful armies. King Cerum has thousand of armies and allies. Brocrest had thousand of armies as well but the chances of us winning against the Baldishians are very slim. It was like embarking on a suicide mission.
I stood before the mirror as I stare at the woman who was staring back at me with golden eyes. Cladded with golden armors and red hair was packed into a ponytail with no makeup or lipsticks.
Yes, crown princess Valerie of Brocrest.
" I will do my best father. I will come back alive. " I told the king and gave him a hug even when I wasn't supposed to but I just couldn't help it. This might be the last time I would see him.
" I love you Valerie and I believe in you, my child," Father said and tightened his arms around me. I saw Elena roll her eyes from where she was standing and I ignored her. She wasn't important anyway. She was just a random scheming bitch who took after her mother.
" I love you too father," I replied and fought back the tears that were burning in my eyes. I quickly disengaged from the hug and took one last glance at the castle where I had grown up.
The armies were already on their horses already and were waiting for me. I glanced at Elena and gave her the middle finger. The smile on her face disappeared and I smiled towards my horse, glad that I was able to infuriate her before leaving.
With the help of one of the armies, I mouthed the horse and held the reigns.
I had only one thing on my mind, and that was to defeat the Baldish army as the horse trotted out of the castle.