Chapter 1

Priscilla sighed. As she recognized the hallways that she was in right now. She has been in this dream for a thousand times, and it still a riddle for her to be put together or solve. Howling cries of a woman fill her ears, she follows where the noise came from. The darkness consumes the hallway, but she has grown accustomed to this place that she can walk where she wanted to be without looking. The noise came from her father’s room. A woman was laying on his bed, two midwives were tending to her need. Her legs were wide open, as she screams again.

“Just a little more push, Your Majesty. Your son is almost out,” The maiden said. The woman screams at the top of her lungs, a babe burst out crying. The maiden who pulled the babe from her let out a sob as she looks at the Queen with concerned eyes.

“It’s a girl, Your Majesty”

That dream was not hers, but her father’s. She looked around the room to find herself alone in the darkness. She pushed the duvet from her body, and climb down from her bed. She padded towards her enormous window and pushed open the curtains. Her chambers were lightened by the moon’s reflection on the window. She looked at the window as she suddenly felt being watched. There was no one in the garden. But, she can feel the eyes from the Old Tower across from her window. The Old Tower was once used to be a jail for the Rogue Witches who violates the rules of Sandsteel by using Dark Magic. She reminded herself that no one would dare to go to the Old Tower. It was rumored to be cursed. Her walls are painted with dirty white with a hint of caramel. In front of her windows is her vanity mirror with a huge table, painted with dark brown. Two more sands, and the sun will rise. By then, my loneliness will be invaded by Lysa, my handmaiden. She thought. To make the most of her time alone, she padded towards her vanity table and pulled open the drawer to grabbed her journal inside. She giggles as she feels the excitement flowing inside her to write down what she feels. This is the only entertainment Priscilla knows. She’s not like any other princess who has excessive and extravagant entertainment. She takes a look at herself through the mirror. Her long wavy blonde was placed on her right shoulder. She may not be as beautiful as the other ladies in her father’s court, but she was blessed to have flawless olive skin. She bit her full lips to give them a little color, for she is too pale to look at. The pupil of her blue eyes dilated. She smiles at herself, the way the Maestra has taught her. With a sigh, she grabbed her pen and started to put her thought in her journal.

Dear Diary,

It’s the 137th time I have dreamt of my mother. I know these dreams are not mine, but His Majesty’s, my father’s. But, I’ve always wondered why he kept having these dreams. It has been 17 moons since my mother left us. Which makes me think that he probably regrets having me. After all, if it weren’t for me my mother would be still alive. Sitting next to my father on his throne. I have told my father about these dreams. I’ve told him that I could get into someone else’s dream. But, he refused to believe me. Even though the Maestra and the attending Masters were encouraging him to send me to the Enchanted Academy of Unseen Arts. Still, he refused to believe that I have such power. I’m a constant reminder of my mother’s death. She was the only woman he ever loved. The Council of the Lord of Sandsteel is pressuring him to remarry in order to have a male heir, but he refused many times. Saying that I am enough to be the future Queen of Sandsteel. But, am I really enough? Even I doubt myself. Ruling over my father’s kingdom is a heavy responsibility I will wear until my last breath. I don’t think I can do that.

The sun has risen the moment she put her pen down the table. When she heard the approaching footsteps, she runs to her bed, and cover herself with the duvet. The moment she closed her eyes, Lysa opens the door. Her eyes immediately landed on the opened curtains, which Priscilla has forgotten to close back. The handmaiden smiled while she was glancing at the princess, who is pretending to be sleeping.

“I know you’re already awake, your highness,” said Lysa, and crosses her arms against her chest. Her dark hair was in a loose braid, it fell down to her waist. Priscilla sighs. Because Lysa has caught her again. She giggles. Lysa padded towards her and takes a seat at the edge of her bed.

“Why are you up so early, my lady?” The handmaiden asked. The princess lowers her eyes, and her hands were entangled with one another.

“I dreamt of my mother again,” she said in a low defeated voice. Lysa knows about her dreams since she’s the only person she has closest to a sister. The two were close friends, which makes everything easier for Lysa. Because the princess does not treat her like a servant. The way her parents did.

“Have you think of her again?” 

The princess shakes her head. “No. I barely know her,” she mutters. “I don’t even know what she looked like until I realized she was my mother,”

“You’re just overthinking everything, my princess. I know The Council is pressuring you to get married. Perhaps, that’s the reason you’re stressed.” said Lysa. She sighs and loses hope.

The Handmaiden had dressed her in a blue velvet dress that compliments the small shape of her body. A knock came on the door, and when Lysa open it. She dips into a low curtsey, Lord Frey enters the room. “Your highness. Your father, the King, has asked me to fetch you.” The right hand of King Raemond said, giving the princess a small bow. Lord Frey is the Lord of Freysad state land. He comes from a very rich House. But, he wasn’t appointed by the King because of his family background, but because he’s a man of wit and vicious when he had to be.

“Of course, my lord.” The princess said in a shy voice. It was the voice that always annoys the Lord Right Hand. He was among the Lords who encourage the King to remarry because they find the princess weak. He believes that Sandsteel needs to have a strong ruler, the way Galapornea does. He envies the House Lapornea who has ruled Galapornea for thousands of years. They were the blood of the Old Celarion, that’s why they can tame their dragons.

The King was already in the Dining Hall when Lord Frey and Princess Priscilla arrived. Raemond’s dark hair was pushed back. He’s wearing a black suit. Black has always been his color ever since Queen Taleeya’s death.

His daughter gave him a curtsey, and he acknowledges his daughter by a small nod. The princess took a seat across from him. She wonders why did her father invite her for breakfast. He usually eats alone. He only does that when he has an important thing to tell her. She started to dig on her waffles. Taking small bites like how a lady should do. The King glance at her. She looked so much like her mother. Her blonde hair with a hint of gold. He closed his eyes as if regretting that he’d looked at her.

“Prince Kai Lapornea has taken his journey from Galapornea to meet you.” The King said in a low voice.

“My cousin?” The princess said in a surprised voice. She still remembers her cousin Kai. He was her cousin from her mother’s side.

“He’ll get your hand in marriage, and I have already said yes,” Raemond said in an authoritative voice. The princess stares at her father with disbelief in her eyes. As if she couldn’t believe what he just said.

“He is like my brother.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, because of Lapornea’s tradition of wedding brothers and sisters. That’s very convenient,”

“I am not a Galapornean, father. I am a Sandsteeler,” she said. It was the first she ever raised her voice to her father, which surprises him.

“You are. But, we need this alliance, Priscilla. The Lords of the Council do not favor your claim on my throne unless you have a powerful husband on your side. In doing so, you will unite the two Kingdoms.” The King said.

Her vision started to blur as the tears started to fill her eyes. “I don’t want to be Queen, father,” she mumbles. Raemond’s eyes widened in horror. He slammed his fist against the table.

“You will be Queen because that’s what I want you to be, Priscilla! You do not get to make a choice.” Raemond shouted.

“But, you did.” Priscilla said in a small voice, “You married mother because of love.”

Her father’s eyes soften. An image of Taleeya’s smile flooded his mind, making his knee go weak as he realized that he will never see her smile again. “That was a different situation. Sandsteel’s survival depends on you, Priscilla. I know you love your people.”