As Cerys walked down the hall, she had every intention of spending the afternoon reading in the gazebo. But as she turned the corner, she came face-to-face with her step-sisters, chatting and laughing as they strolled through the castle. Their smiles faded when they spotted her.
Cerys tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her chest. She knew they wouldn't let her pass without comment.
The eldest of the sisters, Ember, spotted her first. Her gorgeous face immediately lit up mischievously as she drawled, "Well, look who's decided to show her face!"
Ember's sisters turned, their expressions going from bored to amused. Cerys took a deep breath and bowed a little while her companies bowed deeply. "Good day, your highnesses." She greeted politely.
Ember smiled, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Someone has really learned the ways of the royals, haven't they? What do you think, sisters?"
Cerys took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. Ember takes pleasure in picking on her. It's not the first, second and it surely wouldn't be the last.
"You've never been mistaken, dearest sister," The beauty that stood by Ember's right side, Olive said, her voice syrupy with false sweetness.
The one who stood by the left, who goes by the name Lotus, said nothing. Her eyes flicked to Cerys and then to the imposing figure behind her, her face revealing nothing of her thoughts.
Rei's gaze hardened as he looked back at her.
Noticing her lack of reply, Olive tapped Lotus's arm, gaining her attention .
Olive then glanced at the guard, her eyes raking him up and down. Immediately her gaze met his,a sly smile spread across her red lips.
"Is this your guard, baby princess?" she asked Cerys, her voice like a tinkling bell. Ember's amber eyes darted between Rei and the sisters, watching the exchange with growing suspicion, while Rei's face was cold.
"What a lucky girl you are." Olive continued slyly.
Ember rolled her eyes, "What is so lucky about that, Olive?" She asked, and annoyance could be spotted in her voice.
Olive didn't reply to that, she just smiled at Rei.
Ember grinned at Cerys, "Anyways. Baby Princess. Now that you are an official royal,I hope you are prepared for the numerous functions, the balls."
" I'll try my best to be, Sister Ember. "Cerys said as politely as she could, to avoid Ember twisting her words and using them against her.
Ember folded her arms," Hmm. "She glanced at Rei," Have a nice day then. " and with that, she gestured to her sisters so they can continue their walk.
Olive's hazel eyes raked over Rei once again before she walked on with her sisters, a smug smile on her exceptionally beautiful face.
As Ember and her sisters glided away, Cerys exhaled, releasing the tension in her body. Those girls are not a pleasant bunch, she thought. They are full of condescension, with mocking words and haughty pride.
Ember is the worst of them all, with her snow-white skin and short golden hair, her small lips and amber eyes. There is something about her that makes Cerys's skin crawl.
Olive is the opposite of her sisters in terms of appearance, with dark skin and long ebony hair that shimmers like silk. Her almond-shaped eyes are a sparkling hazel, and her face has an air of confidence and beauty. She is the envy of all the other princesses, who admire her unique beauty and style.
Lotus is a vision of loveliness, with long pink hair that shimmers in the sunlight. Her eyes are a striking lavender, and they sparkle with kindness and compassion, which she tries to hide.
Her face has a natural elegance, and she seems at ease with herself and the world around her. Her beauty is different from that of her sisters, but it is no less captivating.
Gina, now relieved at the departure of the princesses, asked Cerys, "Where are we heading to, your highness?"
Cerys replied, "I'll head to my chambers for a bit of quiet time." With that, she started to walk away, praying she wouldn't run into the queen.
Gina's gaze landed on Rei, who was following close behind Cerys, his face impassive as ever.
"You two can excuse me now." Cerys smiled a bit as she reached her doors. Rei and Gina bowed.
Cerys stepped into her chamber and closed the door behind her.
She made her way to her bed, a luxurious piece with a lilac-colored canopy. Sitting down, she allowed herself a moment to just breathe, to revel in the silence.
Her thoughts drifted to Rei Druss, her new guard. He was from the Druss family, one of the wealthiest noble houses in Alatrin. Why would a member of such an illustrious family choose to become a knight?
Though being a knight required training and dedication, it was also a prestigious role that came with a certain level of nobility. In Alatrin and the countries it rules over, knights were considered noblemen, equal to the sons of wealthy lords and ladies.
The image of Rei's piercing, steely onyx eyes flashed into her mind, causing her heart to jump for a brief moment.
She felt somehow... But still couldn't wait to get to know him better, and maybe Gina too because when she got initiated, her maid was replaced.
She rose from her bed and strode across the room to her vanity, where a small blue book sat, the title embossed in gold leaf. 'The Emperor's Heart,' it read.She picked up the book and made her way to her bed, sinking into the plush pillows and soft sheets. She laid back, opened the book and began to read.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
He stood on the balcony, its marble railings glistening with the dew from the night's rain. A light breeze blew through, rustling the leaves of the towering trees that surrounded the castle. The air was crisp and cold, carrying the scent of damp earth and the faintest hint of smoke from the distant city. The moon was just a silver rescent in the sky, and the stars glittered above like diamonds scattered on black velvet.
Suddenly, he felt a presence behind him and whirled around. There, standing just a few feet away, was his companion, his cobalt eyes downcast in respect. "Your royal highness," he said, bowing deeply.
He sighed, his perfect features twisting into a frown. "Dre, please. We're alone, and you don't need to address me so formally. We're equals, remember?"
Dre looked up, his cobalt eyes shining in the moonlight. "Of course, Rei."
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