Born to Rule

Chapter 1

The morning air was cool and fresh for a summer morning. The sun had barely risen, showering my room with golden light. I threw some water at my face from the basin in the corner of my room.

As clockwork, there was a knock at my door. My Lady's maid walked in, and I dried my face before turning to her.

"Good morning, Lady Blair," she said while curtsying.

I smiled at her formalness. No matter how hard I tried to tell her she did not have to be so formal with me, she insisted it was for the best.

"Morning, Courtney,"I said putting the towel back in the basin.

She walked towards the bed and started making it.

"Have you thought of what you would like to wear tonight?" she asked.

We have always dawned over the dresses ever since Courtney got the position as my Lady's maid. Edward had told me it was time to treat me like the lady I was growing up to be, which comes with a whole wardrobe full of new dresses, and Courtney of course.

"Do you think the blue and silver dress from Edelin would work?" I asked.

She walked to the dressing table and grabbed my brush. "Oh, it will be perfect, only the best dresses come out of Edelin!" She had so much glee in her voice that I felt guilty she could not join me.

She brushed my hair and opened the box of hairpins.

"Let us wait for tonight to tie my hair up, I feel like my scalp needs a break," I feel a hand against my head feeling the tiered roots from all the hairpins.

"Of course, my lady," she said smiling at me.

I slip into a yellow dress with long loose sleeves. Courtney helped to button my dress and brought me a pair of slippers.

We walked down to the dining room where the servants had put out the plates and decorated the table with fresh flowers. The cook had prepared freshly baked bread with butter on the side. There were bowls of fruit and fresh parsnip for something sweet. Then we had the usual plates of eggs and sausages.

Jane and Edward were in deep conversation when I entered the room. Jane was her cheerful self, with a plate full of scrambled eggs.

I took my seat opposite Jane. Closest to the sausages and baked bread, my favorite. "Good morning," I said filling my plate up.

"Good morning, Blair, did you sleep well?" Edward smiled at me before he gestured to the servants to bring his daily cup of herbal tea for his stomach pains.

I put a piece of bread on my plate reaching for the butter, "Quite well, yes," I answered.

"I will not be here for long, I just need my tea and then I shall leave you two to talk for yourselves," he smiled at Jane.

The sweet stench of warm herbal water filled the room. Edward had been struggling with abdominal pain for a long time. He had tried everything on the market.

"Will you join us tonight, Father?" Jane asked.

He took his cup up to his mouth and blew on the hot water. "No, not tonight. Fredrick will take my place at the Hillsburry ball," Freddy had been gone for six years, learning to be king. He was on diplomatic trips to our allies and stayed at military camps near the borders of Gillhand and Torvelia. He came home a year in-between but I kept my distance.

Jane pushed her plate away in excitement. "I cannot wait to see him, how long is he home for?"

"Prince Frederick is to stay home from now on, he will take on important tasks here-" he took a big sip of his tea grimacing. "-He has a lot to learn at home, it is time to make a true Sundolvian King out of him. If you girls would excuse me, I have a meeting with the general."

"Another meeting?" I could not help the awful feeling growing in my gut.

We had been at war with Gillhand since before I was born. I grew up to the rumors of the old king, they say he is a crentesj; a man who lives for the misery of his people.

The servants hurried to clean the plates in front of Edward as he stood up. "There is nothing to worry about my darling girl, it is the same old as always," he gave me a comforting smile as he sent for Graham.

"You two have fun tonight, Frederick will travel directly from the Torvelian border," Graham held out Edward's coat. Edward slipped his arms into the coat and walked to Jane while straightening it out.

He bent down and kissed his daughter. "Behave tonight girls, and I will see you tomorrow."

I watched Edward walk out of the room with Graham on his heels. As the door closed, I turned to Jane. "You must be excited about Freddy," I tried to sound happy but my voice failed me.

Jane stared at me. "Are you all right?"

I haven't seen Freddy much since mine and Jane's coming out. The times he came home I kept my distance. His whispers still echoed in my head:

"I will not have a peasant's daughter at my side."

I smiled at Jane, "I am fine, it is just... I haven't talked with him since that night." I took a nervous sip of my tea.

"Blair, it's been five years I am sure he is no longer that same rude child," Her eyes were full of concern and I knew it wasn't fair of me to talk about her brother like this with her.

I gave her my best comforting smile, "You are probably right."

Jane got up, "Lord Camble asked for my first dance tonight-" she smiled so brightly when she continued "-and to escort me to AND from the ball!"

There had been, and still were, many suitors at Jane's door. But no one has quite caught her eye like Lord Nicholas Camble, soon to be the Duke of Winsberg. Since their first meeting, Jane talked about him all the time.

"You naughty girl, going around stealing the duke's hearts," I mocked her. Red took place on her cheeks. "He is not a Duke, yet," she tried but I was now an actress on stage, speaking to the masses.

I stood up putting on my most serious expression as I made my way around the table, my voice getting louder. "I should have to speak with his father the way you are acting. Talk about his son's intentions with my Jane. My poor sweet Jane, who has fallen so hard, she who used to be the strongest of us. Bewitched by a mere boy!" I put my hands on her shoulders. "How will it go with the rest of us-" Jane shook my hands away. "Blair, Stop it."

She started fidgeting with her skirt and I laughed. I took her hand and we walked out of the dining room. "All joking aside, I am truly happy for you."

We intertwined our arms and walked down the hallway. "He is really sweet and-" she stopped us both and gave me a mischievous smile. "He has a cute friend," I gave her a funny look. "What have you done?"

"Nothing, he's just bringing a friend... and maybe you could grant him a dance?" she said sweetly. Jane has tried to set me up since she met Sir Nicholas.

She smiled at me. "We are family. I just want you to be happy," she said. I smiled at how kind she was. She has been trying to match us up with every available suitor since our first ball as women.

"You do not have to worry about me. I will be fine with you and your lover boy," I teased her as I walked down the hall leaving her behind.

I was about to round the corner when I heard her yell out behind me, "he is not a boy by the way, he is a man." I can't stop smiling as I heard her whisper down the hall.

"My man."