The Rightful Queen

Twelve Years Ago, the Farewell

When Alkas came back from her lessons, she found Tylen leaping in joy. He held Ariene's hands as he hopped, spinning her in a circle.

"It's official!" Tylen shouted to the ceiling, "We are betrothed!"

Ariene threw her hands in the air and squealed.

"I'll go tell Hayden!" Tylen said before he ran out of the playroom, a space they converted to help the princesses bond. Often times, they sat on the floor reading. Alkas would be buried in books about history while Ariene would pick out storybooks.

The younger princess would reenact a few scenes with the toys. Other times, she would drag Tylen and Amelia—sometimes Hayden as well—to play with her.

"Sister!" Ariene called when she noticed Alkas, "How was class?"

The first princess crossed her arms, a scowl on her face, "You would know if you had attended."

Ariene pouted. She skipped over to Alkas' side and wrapped her hands around her sister's elbow, "I'm sorry. I'll go with you next time."

Alkas sighed and changed the topic. She patted Ariene's head, saying, "So you're engaged to Tylen?"

Ariene nodded, a big smile on her face , "Yes!"

"Do you know what that means?" Alkas asked further. Marriage was something she learned when she had a lesson about the monarchy. Another class Ariene didn't attend.

"We'll be together forever?"

Alkas froze for a moment to think, "Well, that's one way to put it."

Then, Ariene pulled her sister away from the playroom, "Want to eat a cookie? Let's go to the kitchen!"

Alkas's stomach rumbled at the mention of food. She took her arm back and walked next to Ariene. She cleared her throat and straightened her back. Ariene followed her example and walked as if she floated.

They passed by the long hallway to reach the center stairs that lead down to the main ballroom. Maids were scattered all around dusting the various vases and paintings that decorated the place.

When they reached the bottom floor, Ariene murmured, "Sister, am I ugly?"

"What?" The elder princess turned to Ariene. Her little sister's eyes stayed on the path ahead of them.

"The maids always whisper when I pass by. They don't think I can hear them but I do."

Alkas heightened her senses. The sensitive hearing she inherited allowed her to hear subtle sounds a normal human wouldn't pick up.

She could hear the some of the maids on the second floor talking to each other. Alkas clenched her fists at their words. How dare they forget their place? She thought. To speak foully of a royal was blasphemous.

As Alkas's head throbbed by their servants misconduct, she checked on her sister. Ariene's impassive expression didn't change.

They turned a corner and reached the pathway to the kitchen.

"Ariene, don't list—" Alkas began to say but her younger sister cut her off. There was a new light in the second princess' eyes.

"Also, I heard the Duke of Quora wants to sell a part of his land. He has several buyers too. All of them have been trying to outbid each other for over a week."

Now that they were away from prying eyes, the spring in Ariene's steps was back. Not once did she face Alkas' gaze. Instead, she frowned curiously as if deep in thought.