CHAPTER SIXTEEN: HER MAJESTY

Lana dragged her eleventh pink suitcase out of the ancient castle, her eyes fixed on the ornate door handle as she struggled to free it from the tight grip of the centuries-old furniture. But her efforts were halted by the sound of angry footsteps echoing through the hallway.

"What do you think you are doing, Svetlana?" Gyuri Ivan Fabianski, the arrogant prince and second in line for the Elysesian throne, barked in their native language, his thin lips curling in distaste.

Lana rolled her eyes and continued to ignore him, focusing on her suitcase as if it was the only thing that mattered. She knew Gyuri's temper all too well and wasn't about to engage in another one of his dramatic outbursts.

"Herik Perisic reported you to me, you know," Gyuri sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "You're causing a scene again, Lana. You're embarrassing our family and our kingdom."

Lana let out a heavy sigh and finally managed to free her suitcase, but not before Gyuri grabbed her arm, his grip tightening like a vice.

"Let me go, Gyuri," Lana warned, her voice low and even, but her eyes flashing with defiance. "I'm not in the mood for your drama today." Lana's gaze flickered briefly to Gyuri, taking in his traditional Elysesian attire, which seemed to accentuate his haughty demeanor. His fur hat and braided vest seemed to gleam with an air of superiority, and his green eyes narrowed into slits as he glared at her. But Lana remained unfazed, her expression serene as she continued to ignore him.

"I asked you a question, Svetlana," Gyuri's voice grew louder, his tone dripping with disdain. "And I will not tolerate your childish tendencies and disrespect. You may think you're above the law, but you're still a member of this royal family, and you will conduct yourself accordingly."

The servants nearby seemed to nod in agreement, their eyes wide with disapproval. But Lana just smiled sweetly, her red hair gleaming in the light as she continued to pack her suitcase. "Oh, Gyuri, darling," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'm shaking in my boots."

"You are a disgrace, Lana, you don't deserve to be a part of this family. You either tell me where you are about or..."

Svetlana's eyes blazed with fury as she confronted her brother, her voice dripping with venom. "And I believe I owe you no explanation, boy," she spat, her fingers jabbing into his chest. "Or have you forgotten your place? Have you forgotten I am the firstborn of this family?" She emphasized each word, her electric blue gaze piercing through Gyuri's dull green eyes like a dagger.

The air was thick with tension as the siblings locked eyes, the challenge hanging heavy between them. For sixty long seconds, they stared each other down, the only sound the heavy breathing of the prince and the princess. Finally, Gyuri's eyes dropped in submission, and Lana's smirk of victory was like a crack of thunder, breaking the silence.

"Show me some respect, you swine," she hissed, her voice low.The tension between the siblings was palpable, their eyes still locked in a silent challenge. Gyuri's bitter words hung in the air, "You act like a child, you do not deserve to be queen." Gyuri's bitter grumble revealed his deep-seated jealousy and insecurity. He couldn't help but feel overshadowed by his older sister's youthful appearance and striking features. Despite being fifteen years her junior, Gyuri looked older and less vibrant, a fact that gnawed at him incessantly.

He couldn't understand why fate had been so unfair, bestowing upon Lana the coveted genetic traits while he was left with dull, unremarkable features. Her electric blue eyes seemed to sparkle with an inner light, while his own green eyes appeared dull and lackluster in comparison.

Gyuri's mind often wandered to the possibility of plastic surgery, wondering if it was the secret behind Lana's ageless beauty. He couldn't fathom how she managed to defy the passage of time so effortlessly, while he struggled with the visible signs of aging.

But before Lana could respond, their father, King Soren, entered the room, his piercing grey eyes scanning the scene before him.The monarch's presence commanded attention, his tall, imposing figure exuding authority despite his advanced age. His white hair was a stark contrast to his still-handsome face, and his dull grey eyes seemed to bore into the souls of his children.

"What's going on here?" he asked, his voice firm but measured, his bushy grey brow raised in inquiry.

Lana's smirk never wavered, her electric blue eyes flashing with defiance. "Just a little disagreement, Father," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Nothing to concern yourself with." But Gyuri's eyes flashed with resentment, his face twisted in a scowl. "She's being childish and disrespectful, Father," he spat, his voice venomous. "She thinks she can do as she pleases just because she's the firstborn."

"Let it go, Gyuri. Your sister isn't fond of this old palace, and besides, she's destined to be Queen. It's essential for her to build relationships with our allies."

The king's words only fueled Gyuri's resentment, his eyes narrowing as he watched his father favor Lana once again. "Thank you, Papa," Lana said, her voice dripping with sweetness as she kissed the old man's cheeks. "I'll be back before you know it."

Gyuri's anger simmered just below the surface, his mind seething with jealousy and frustration. He couldn't understand why his father always sided with Lana, why he always gave her special treatment. Didn't he know that Gyuri was the one who truly deserved to be king?

As Lana flitted out of the room, Gyuri's eyes locked onto his father, his gaze burning with intensity. "One day, I'll be number one," he vowed silently. "And I'll make sure she pays for all the times she's humiliated me."

The king, oblivious to his son's turmoil, smiled benevolently, his eyes twinkling with fondness for his favorite child. "Yes, yes, my dear Lana. You go and make our kingdom proud. Your mother would be proud of you too."

Gyuri's heart twisted in his chest, his jealousy and anger boiling over. He knew he had to bide his time, but he couldn't help but feel that one day, he would explode in a fiery blaze of vengeance.

—_—

Lana's strut down the tarmac was a masterclass in confidence and poise, her pink headphones and baby pink Chanel top a stark contrast to the dull, grey private jet she had just exited. Her red hair cascaded down her back like a fiery waterfall, and her Jimmy Choo heels clicked against the pavement with a rhythmic precision that commanded attention.

As she waved to the paparazzi, her plastic smile never wavered, her eyes gleaming with a calculated charm. "Over here, Princess Svetlana, smile for the cam, your highness!" an African American paparazzo called out, and Lana's laughter was like a well-rehearsed script.

But as the questions turned more probing, Lana's smile began to falter. "Your majesty, there are reports that you are no longer the heir to the Elysesian throne," a paparazzo shouted, and Lana's eyes flashed with a hint of anger.

And then, the question that struck a nerve: "You're highness, is it true you were adopted as stated by your brother, Prince Gyuri?" a hot blonde reporter asked, her microphone thrust forward like a weapon.

Lana's eyes narrowed, her gaze turning glacial. That bastard Gyuri, she thought, her mind racing with a mixture of anger and calculation. She would definitely kill him, but for now, she would keep her cool, her smile firmly in place.

Lana's Elysesian accent thickened as she snapped, "No comment," her voice laced with irritation. She slid into the limousine, escaping the paparazzi's barrage of questions.

As she settled into the plush seat, she turned to Eddie Summers, her driver and loyal confidant. "What the hell, Eddie, why didn't you warn me of those sharks?" she snipped, her anger still simmering.

Eddie, a brown-haired man in his mid-thirties, dressed in a crisp white suit, remained silent, knowing better than to defend himself. Lana's ire was a storm that would pass, and he'd weathered many of them over the years.

Surprised by the news of Lana's adoption, Eddie had kept his thoughts to himself. He couldn't believe Gyuri had the audacity to reveal such a sensitive secret. "I'm sorry, Lana. Where to?" Eddie asked, deftly changing the subject.

Lana's expression softened, her anger dissipating. "To the hotel," she replied, her voice returning to its usual melodious tone.

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