Palace Life: The Rings of Secrets
In a post-apocalypse world, the world has finally resettled back to societies. The catch- the evolution chains had sped up. New species and new races have emerged since the world was turned upside down three thousand years ago. Old technologies have been lost, and new technologies have been found. The world has changed and so have the survivors' descendants. Mutations in their DNA have led to a world filled with superhuman powers. The strongest of the powers have always been the elementalists. All powers are inherited with few deviations in the bloodlines.
The Crown Prince of Glear is a student of the Royal Academy, where his classes are in the Government Department. He leads a normal life going to and from school with his princely duties on the side. His life turns stressful when his father, the King of Glear, does not have long to live. The Royal Court has deemed that the young Crown Prince must wed before the king passes.
Aphra "Ginny" Harkins is a scholarship student attending the Royal Academy in the Kingdom of Glear. She is widely known as "Director Ginny" for her artistic productions in the Arts Department in school. Everyone knows that she is from a lesser nobility that her maternal grandfather formed. She leads a peaceful life in school, even though her status is the lowest. Peaceful, that is, until she gets a decree to marry the Crown Prince of Glear.
Apparently, her maternal grandfather had saved the late King of Glear. In gratitude, the late King gave him a noble title and declared that their grandchildren would rule the kingdom since their children were already grown and with families of their own. Two rings were formed to symbolize their engagement agreement, and Ginny wears it around her neck with a necklace given to her paternal great-grandmother by the Queen of Edalelia. Why the Queen of Edalelia? Let's just say that "Ginny" has many secrets... including one with the Crown Prince of Glear.
Excerpt:
"Do not fear, I will make sure that I find the most expensive one (ring)," said Maxen (the Crown Prince of Glear) as he puffed out his chest.
"It does not need to be the most expensive, just that you have to have a story or a reason to getting that ring," responded Ginny.
"Oh, do not worry. Leave everything to me," he smiled brilliantly at her as she seemed to understand his hidden intentions and smiled back while giggling to herself.
"Heh! Once we divorce, that shiny expensive ring will be going to the Royal Vault. You will never see it again!" thought Maxen.
"It was easy to manipulate this naïve prince into buying a ring from my own wears. Even if we divorce, he still would have paid me for buying that ring. What's more, the publicity for a Crown Prince buying from my store will bring me more revenue!" thought Ginny.
Years later, while looking at her ring, "This ring really does suit my wife best! It belongs on your finger, only!"
"Hmph! If we had divorced back then, I would have bribed you for this ring. It was a ring that my late father had commissioned for my late mother. It is too sentimental for me!"
*****
This story is about two people forced into a relationship that both didn't want until forming an alliance to "Marry now, Divorce later." About letting go of the past, redemption, and ultimately, love.
