CHAPTER ONE
The throne room was full, countless lords and ladies from all over the kingdom gathered in a single room to watch the crown of my ancestors placed upon my brow.
I recognized all of them, Count Maximillian and his wife, duke Herbert Valendel and his daughter Melissa, the bitch and my worst enemy, and the rest of them who dared underestimate me simply because I was a woman, they deemed me unfit to rule. I saw the guards who wouldn't as much as bat an eye when I was beaten, and all the servants who dodged their way out of my service.
I also saw my brother, my mother's golden boy and the reason she cast me aside, I stifled a laugh when I thought about how she would be feeling at this moment, watching her rejected daughter ascend a throne she tried so hard to hand over to her son. My baby brother.
They will get what's coming to them, I'll see to it personally.
I spotted my cousin, Baron Acrisius, whose mother raised me when mine cast me aside and when my father paid me no attention. He was my one true ally, my one true friend whom I planned to reward handsomely at the end of this.
I knelt before the priest, ready to receive what was rightfully mine. "Do you, Natalya Kastillion swear to be faithful, loyal and serve the people of Korghon to the best of your abilities?" he bellowed the question loud enough for all to hear. "I swear it" I answered. My breathing steadied after I said those words, everything I endured, all I went through, and now I finally get what is rightfully mine.
"By the power vested in me, I name thee Natalya Kastillion, Queen of Korghon" I anticipated the feel of the crown upon my brow, but it never came, I raised my head to see what exactly was happening and when I did, everyone in the throne room was frozen in place, and the crown inches away from my head.
My heart raced, it pounded so hard I thought it would explode inside me. I tried pulling the crown from the priests' hand, but it would not budge. I looked to the crowd, but everyone stood immobile, all except my brother, whose grin spread wide across his face, when I tried to move closer to him, the ground beneath me gave way, and everything around me fell with me into blackness.
My screams were swallowed by the darkness, and there was nothing for me to grab on to as I quickly descended into what I thought would be my doom. As I quickly descended, I heard a familiar voice "My lady… my lady" I looked around but still, no one.
Natalya!
I jerked awake, gasping for air as the darkness receded. Sweat dripped from my forehead, and my heart still pounded in my chest, echoing the terror of my dream. I lay there, disoriented, as the familiar contours of my bedroom slowly came into focus. The soft morning light filtering through the curtains, the gentle hum of the servants outside my door, and the comforting scent of old books and leather all helped to ground me in reality. But the memory of that dream lingered, refusing to be shaken.
Destiny has a way of toying with me doesn't it?
"Good morning, your highness" Alice, my personal maid greeted. I tried to muster a smile, but it would not come. I looked at her face and felt slightly better because she wasn't smiling either. "Is it really a good morning Alice?" I asked her, getting a nod in response.
That's what I thought.
We best get ready, the ceremony begins in two hours" I looked outside my window, and realized that the sun was at its brightest, the chirping of birds would not have annoyed me if this was any other day. What exactly merited a song on this awful day? I thought.
Alice returned, holding up two dresses from my closet "Gold or Black?"
"Neither" I sighed, rolling over on my back to stare at the ceiling.
A few seconds later, I decided that getting angrier would not make the situation any better "The black one" I decided at last.
"Black has always been your color" she said.
I mustered all the strength I could and stood up from bed and into the bathing chamber, where a steaming bath awaited, my absolute favorite.
As Alice styled my raven black hair, I stared at myself in the mirror of my vanity, at how gorgeous I looked and all that remained was a single piece of jewelry to make me look even better.
I internally cursed the triple goddess for bringing me this dream, knowing full well what today was.
In my dream, it was I who ascended the Crescent throne, but in the waking world, my mother and brother had won.
My father passed away last week from an illness that proved too strong for his frail body to take. Naturally as his first-born child, the throne should pass to me. But my mother had other plans. The moment my father breathed his last, my mother, duke Herbert and the rest of her spineless court planned to have my brother crowned. Alone and without allies, I was forced to accept my fate and give way for my brother.
And today I was getting all prettied up to watch him ascend my throne.
"There," Alice said "You look beautiful your highness"
I gave her a small smile, she always puts so much effort into styling me and I appreciate her for it. "Thank you Alice"
I tapped my mahogany doors twice, and it was immediately opened by a man in armor, his brown hair rested on his shoulders. "Amenadiel?" I greeted.
"Your royal highness" he responded.
Amenadiel is my personal guard and my fiercest protector, he was captured as a slave when my father put down a revolt in the northern plains of Wintermist. Immediately I laid eyes on him, I could tell he was special, I couldn't say exactly what, but I knew. He has proven to be better at wielding a sword than most men in the royal guard.
"The baron has requested an audience with you in his office" he said.
"Lead the way" I answered.
We walked the hallways and climbed a few flight of stairs and stopped in front of a pair of oak double doors. Amenadiel opened the doors, and I saw him sitting behind his desk. The baron is an attractive man, he has short brown hair and blue eyes and like me, he favors black above other colors.
"Stay here" I commanded, as he closed the doors behind me.
"Your highness" the baron greeted, then stood from his chair and walked towards me.
"Cousin" I responded, then enveloped him in a tight hug. Baron Acrisius was the sole inheritor to a financially unstable household, his father lavished so much of their wealth that it was a relief to his mother when he finally died.
His late mother Erynis did all she could but could not bring back their finances to what it once was. It also did not help that his house was one of the lowest but oh well.…
"I know that this day is not very ideal for you" he started, but I stopped him.
"There's no use talking about it cousin, there's nothing to be done about it now" I told him.
"And your mother?" he asked.
"Still hates me" I answered.
My mother and father were always expectant for a male child, and when she had me she was disappointed and with it came resentment from my father until she had my brother Ramiel two years later. I think I'm a constant reminder of her failed expectations.
"You do know that after this coronation a lot is going to change right?"
I sighed, taking in his words, combined with everything I've been thinking about. It didn't make me feel any better, not in the slightest bit.
"I know" I answered.
As we stood there, the silence between us grew, until he spoke up again.
"I want you to know that I still remain your one true ally, I know I'm not enough, but I will use all my resources, however limited, to support you in any way I can"
My cheeks warmed at his declaration, feeling truly grateful for him.
"Thank you cousin"
He smiled and hooked our arms together, his eyes crinkling at the corners,
"Come, let us make way to the throne room and witness your feckless brother ascend the throne" he said, his voice low.
I nodded. As we walked out of his office, the cool air of the corridor enveloped us, carrying the faint scent of old stone and dust. I glanced at Acrisius, his profile set in a firm line and felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support.
Together, we made our way down the corridor, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the walls.
"Woe to us all" I replied.