The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden glow across the grand meeting room, our cradle where the five of us had gathered. A tapestry of the Cassiopeia constellation adorned the walls, setting the scene for a conversation that felt as weighty as the world itself. Elanor, always the serious one, leaned forward, her brows furrowed in thought.
"There are eight continents in this world," she began, her voice steady and full of purpose. "Each ruled by a kingdom, each following a unique belief system tied to their constellation. This is the key to understanding how everything works between the kingdoms. The constellations are Andromeda, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia, Gemini, Cepheus, and Orion. Then, there's the holy kingdom, which doesn't focus on one constellation but honors them all."
She paused, clearly enjoying her moment as the wise one. "Let's start with the Andromorion Kingdom. It's known for its art and trade. The royal family, the Alarics, are celebrated for their cultural contributions. Their capital city is practically a masterpiece, full of color and design, drawing in merchants and artists from everywhere."
I glanced at my sisters, appreciating how well Elanor could explain all of this. She kept going without missing a beat. "Next is Ursmorica, famous for its strength. The Ursolin family rules here, and their military is unmatched. They're the warriors of the world, embodying the might of their constellation."
Dorothy leaned in, her curiosity shining through. "Strength is great, but it also makes relationships with other kingdoms tricky."
Elanor gave her a grateful nod, acknowledging the depth of her comment. "Exactly, Dorothy. One wrong move, and things could go south fast. And that did happen." Elanor looked somewhere distantly, as if looking into the future, or past as it lays.
Alice, ever the joker, chimed in. "I'm more interested in magic than politics, honestly. Remember the mess I made last time?"
Elanor shot her a look. "Yes, we all remember. But this is important."
She continued, unbothered by Alice's teasing. "Then there's Minoros, famous for its wealth. The Ursaheim family rules there, and they control vast resources, especially ores."
I couldn't help but pipe in. "That sounds like a treasure trove! Can you imagine all the jewels and stones? We'd be rich!"
Elanor smiled slightly but gave me a look. "Yes, but wealth often breeds greed. Minoros has its own political problems because of that."
Before I could respond, Alice jumped in again, brimming with excitement. "Let's talk about Cassidoria—our home. The Natra family rules here, and we're known for our agriculture and wealth."
Elanor's tone grew more serious. "True, but we also struggle with corruption and a lack of military strength. Our kingdom has grown complacent. People enjoy their wealth without understanding the hard work behind it."
It was a sobering thought. I could feel the tension in the room rise as we all considered the reality of our kingdom's flaws.
"But our father is different," Dorothy added, her voice soft but resolute. "He's trying to fix things, but it's not easy."
Elanor nodded before moving on. "Next, we have Geminus, the kingdom of the twins. They follow the Gemini constellation, and the rulers are chosen by the stars. One twin sees the past, the other sees the future. After being crowned the king they take upon the name Gemini. I have to say that is quite bold of them."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Creepy twins. I've met them once—better to stay far away from them."
Elanor ignored her and pressed on. "Then there's Cephyria, ruled by the those with name Cephalus , known for its incredible blacksmiths. Their weapons and armor are some of the best in the world."
Iris's eyes lit up. "Imagine having a sword forged by dwarves! That would be legendary."
Elanor smiled softly. "Their craftsmanship is unmatched, but their isolation makes relationships with other kingdoms difficult." I noticed that Elanor was much more considerate of Iris than others.
Finally, Elanor wrapped up with Orionis Kallisteia, the kingdom of fairies, spirits, and mystical creatures. "It's ruled by a celestial fairy who's been there forever. Their magic keeps them stable, unlike any other kingdom."
She paused for a moment before adding, "Oh, and the holy kingdom, of course. They don't have a royal family. The bishops and cardinals pray to all the constellations. They also prophesied our birth."
The room grew quiet as we all took in the weight of everything Elanor had shared. I felt a chill, realizing how much was at stake in this world.
Trying to lighten the mood, I finally asked the question that had been lingering in the back of my mind. "Sisters, what happened in your past lives?"
Elanor shot me a look, clearly not thrilled with the change of subject, but before she could respond, Dorothy jumped in. "I'll take this one," she said, her voice gentle but firm.
She explained how our father, the king, had once loved my mother, Consort Petunia. "They were so in love," she said wistfully. "But when the previous king died unexpectedly, everything changed."
Dorothy continued, explaining how political alliances forced the prince—now our father—to marry the daughters of five powerful families. "Our mothers were best friends with Consort Petunia. They all married the same man, not because they wanted to, but because they had to."
Elanor nodded, adding, "Our father treated all his consorts with respect, but Petunia was always his first love."
Alice sighed. "Our mothers tried to push for power after that. But Consort Petunia kept them in check—until she passed away. That's when everything fell apart."
I felt a pang of sorrow for my mother, a woman I never knew but whose presence loomed over our lives. "She sounds amazing."
Alice nodded. "She was. She was more my mother than my real one." The others nodded.
"We will protect her this time" There was fierce determination in Iris's eyes.
"For sure." said Dorothy comfortingly.
I couldn't help but realize something else. "Wait, I'm two months old now. Why haven't I seen our parents yet?"