A month had passed, and life remained a delightful routine of play and archery with Seraphina. We always laughed and had fun, but lately, my sister, now thirteen, seemed a bit different. She was spending less and less time with me, often appearing lost in thought. Despite this, I tried to keep our time together as joyful as ever.
"Ready, Isolde?" Seraphina called, her voice carrying a hint of the old warmth, though her eyes seemed distant.
"Yes, Sera!" I replied, running to join her in the courtyard. She handed me my small bow, and we began our usual practice. Seraphina was an excellent archer, and she always patiently guided me through each step.
"Like this, Isolde," she said, demonstrating the correct stance. "Hold the bow steady and aim carefully."
I followed her instructions, drawing the bowstring back and releasing it. The arrow flew through the air and hit the target, albeit not quite in the center. Seraphina clapped her hands, a smile breaking through her usual solemn expression.
"Well done! You're getting better every day," she praised, ruffling my hair.
We continued practicing, but I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Seraphina seemed distracted, her mind elsewhere. I decided to ask her about it, hoping she would open up to me.
"Sera, is something wrong?" I asked, lowering my bow and looking up at her with concern.
She hesitated, then sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "It's nothing, Isolde. Just… grown-up stuff."
I pouted. "But I want to help. You always help me."
Seraphina smiled sadly and pulled me into a hug. "You're so sweet, Isolde. I wish things were as simple as our games."
Just then, a guard approached us, bowing respectfully. "Princess Seraphina, your mother is waiting for you in the throne room."
Seraphina stiffened, her expression turning serious. She glanced at me, then back at the guard. "Thank you. I'll be there shortly."
She turned to me, kneeling to meet my gaze. "I have to go, Isolde. Stay here and keep practicing, alright?"
"But Sera—" I started to protest, but she cut me off with a gentle kiss on my forehead.
"I'll be back soon, I promise," she said, before following the guard.
As I watched her leave, a surge of curiosity and worry welled up inside me. I needed to know what was going on. Determined, I decided to follow her, but I knew I had to be discreet.
I tiptoed through the corridors, sticking to the shadows and avoiding the guards. The palace was vast, with its marble floors and towering columns, but I knew every nook and cranny.
I slipped behind a tapestry when I heard footsteps, holding my breath until they passed. My heart pounded in my chest, but I pressed on, determined to uncover the truth.
When I reached the throne room, I crouched behind a large potted plant near the door, peeking out just enough to see inside. Seraphina stood before our mother, Queen Elara, who was seated on the ornate throne. Their conversation was already underway.
"Seraphina," my mother began, her voice calm yet firm. "We need to discuss your future. You are to become queen someday, and there are responsibilities you must prepare for."
Seraphina's expression was a mix of defiance and sorrow. "Mother, I don't want to be queen."
Queen Elara's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean, Seraphina? You've known this your entire life. It is your duty."
"I know," Seraphina replied, her voice shaking. "But I don't want this life. I don't want to be trapped by duty and expectations. I want to live my own life, make my own choices."
"And what of the kingdom?" our mother asked, her tone softening. "What of your sister, Isolde? She looks up to you."
"I know, and I love Isolde dearly," Seraphina said, tears welling in her eyes. "But she would make a better queen than I ever could. She has the kindness, the heart for it. I just… I can't do it, Mother."
The weight of her words hit me like a blow. I felt a chill run down my spine, and my legs wobbled. Me? Queen? I didn't want that. I am 8 years old. I loved my life as it was, filled with play and laughter. The thought of such responsibility terrified me.
Queen Elara sighed, rubbing her temples. "Seraphina, this is not a decision to be made lightly. You have a duty to this kingdom, to your family."
"I understand that," Seraphina said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I also have a duty to myself. Please, Mother, try to understand."
I couldn't listen anymore. Panic surged through me, and I turned and ran, my small feet echoing through the corridors. Tears blurred my vision, and I barely noticed the servants and guards as I sprinted back to my room. I flung open the door and slammed it shut, collapsing onto my bed.
"I don't want to become queen," I sobbed, burying my face in my pillow. The weight of what I had overheard crushed me. I was just a child, and the idea of being queen, of having such immense responsibility, was too much to bear.
I cried until I had no more tears left, my small body trembling with fear and uncertainty. The life I loved so much seemed to be slipping away, replaced by a future I couldn't fathom.
"I don't want to become queen," I whispered again, clutching my pillow tightly. The words felt like a desperate plea, a wish to hold onto the simplicity and joy of my childhood just a little longer.