The Unlucky Day

A happy smile formed in Queen's fair face after reading the letter sent by the king. Queen Leila's purpose wasn't bad like every ruler think, Phoenicia still stands and the growth of their economy can be seen and it was all because of the support of the kingdom of Windshire.

Their weak king has done a modest aid for Phoenicia and Queen Leila ponders of reuniting both kingdoms and can be strengthened by their new rulers, the prince and princess of Windshire and Phoenicia will become the next king and queen.

Lost in her brilliant plan, the queen hasn't notice Prince Blythe— the handsome thirteen-year-old son of Queen Leila, he just entered the chamber where her mother was.

"Mother? Mother! Didn't you hear me?" he asked.

"Pardon, I was distracted. Please say it again," said Queen Leila while folding back the letter and put it back to its envelope.

"Never mind it. Is that the letter from King Edmond? What did it say, did it mention her daughter is a coward like her father and doesn't want to accept our marriage?"

She smiles at his joke, "Unfortunately for you, the girl is not a chicken like his father, it says she accepts the offer."

Prince Blythe's smile slowly vanishes, replacing it with a frown, and crosses his arms.

"Why do we have to do this? I don't even know the girl," he complained.

"Come on son, we discussed this. Tomorrow you'll get to know her because they are visiting us, so go to sleep it's late." She approached him and pat his shoulders before leaving the chamber.

Blythe glance at their gothic-style wall clock and it was almost quarter to nine in the evening. Her mother peeks inside the chamber and sees his son hasn't yet left the room as she expected, Queen Leila burst the door open, "WHAT DID I TOLD YOU, GO TO BED. NOW!" She ordered and gestured for him to walk out.

The prince jumps in shock. He looked at her startled, "No need to wake the whole kingdom mother," he said and march to the door.

"Goodnight my loud mother,"

Queen Leila's eyes narrowed.

"Just kidding." He said quickly with a smirk and runs away from her.

"Naughty little prince." She mumbled.

###

She had arrived at a castle ball thrown in her honor, Lynea sees herself as an eighteen-year-old lady in her white ballgown. She placed her right hand to her heart and Lynea felt its fast-beating because of fear as all the guests made way for the Prince of Windshire to approach her.

His face was blurry but she can see his tall perspective, shiny and thick dark hair, smooth skin, and an attentive prince.

Lynea turned pale when he began to kneel in front of her and opened the jewelry box he's holding, showing her the sparkling diamond ring inside. Before the prince could ask, loud knockings on the huge doors echoed all over the room.

Lynea instantly opens her eyes and looks around, she was still inside her bedroom and wearing her purple nightgown but the knock on her door continues, she breathed in relief. The knocking was real but the scene wasn't, 'It was just a dream.' She thought.

"You may come in!" she answered the continuous knock on her door that began to annoy her.

A skinny maid enters carrying a breakfast tray for Lynea, she put it on the top of her night table and said to the princess, "Princess Lynea, your father wants you to know after an hour you will be accompanied by the other maids to help you prepare for your visit to the kingdom of Windshire."

"Tell my father I don't need anyone to help me, I can prepare myself," Lynea said coldly. The skinny maid bows her head and left.

Lynea begins to eat her breakfast and suddenly her door opens again, Giselle walks in with a pout on her face and her arms are crossed. The young princess tosses herself to Lynea's soft mattress.

Lynea blinked at her, "Hey, are you okay?" she asked, worried.

"No. Father didn't let me come with you two in Windshire, meaning I can't see their prince," Giselle answered.

Lynea sighed, "I wish we are twins so you can replace me in meeting him,"

"That's not a bad idea," Giselle looked at her sister, grinning.

"But we're not twins,"

"I know, but I have another idea so I can come instead of you."

Lynea stared at Giselle, confused.

"Listen, you can pretend you're not feeling well and I can be your substitute in meeting him. Good idea, huh?" Giselle explained proudly.

Lynea rolled her eyes as she thinks about Giselle's dumb idea. Instead, she began to convince herself not to escape this, it will be nonsense if she won't meet him today since this will not be their last meeting.

"Your idea won't work, and that excuse is very common Giselle."

Giselle was disappointed but she forced a smile for her sister, "Promise you'll tell everything about him when you return here."

"You can count on it, dear sister." Lynea smiled.

Looking at herself in her full-length mirror as she did a dramatic turn to showcase her outfit causing her dress to swirl in the air. Lynea wears a pink floral design dress and glittery silver sandals that go with her outfit. Her long blond hair was threaded with curling red ribbons.

Lynea walks outside her walk-in closet and found Giselle waiting inside her room, Giselle was astonished at the beauty of her sister.

"I'm sure the Prince of Windshire will be mesmerized in your beauty." Giselle commended.

Lynea was flattered, all she can do is hope everything will go well when they arrive in Windshire.

###

"Blythe! They will be here in a minute. I hope you are ready," the queen said, trying to call his son to come outside his room.

Blythe locks himself inside his room and has no plan to go out. He looks prepared in his royal blue shirt but he wasn't ready to face the princess. He can assume the awkwardness later will fill the room, who wouldn't feel discomfort if he's meeting the girl he didn't love but only marrying her eight years before now because of force and for the sake of the privileged of both kingdoms.

"Blythe!" her mother called again. "Their carriage has arrived, come out now!"

The prince began to panic. He doesn't want to meet her but it will be a shame if he won't show up because of his doubt in this agreement.

Blythe holds the doorknob but has a hard time deciding if he'll come out or not.

"BLYTHE!" she urged him once more.

He exhaled and opened his door.

"Finally, let's go, son. It's bad to keep our guest waiting." Queen Leila leads the way with the prince following in her back. They meet King Edmond and her daughter at the ballroom.

Lynea and Blythe's eyes met but their expressions were blank, no one smiled.

Silence.

King Edmond gently pushes her daughter forward, she looks at him nodding as if understanding what he wants her to do.

Lynea curtsy in front of the queen and prince, "I am Princess Lynea daughter of the King of Phoenicia. It is a pleasure to meet you." She said before standing up straight.

Queen Leila notices his son not moving like a stone and has no plan to respond to her introduction, she pushes him forward and offers an encouraging smile.

"Um, the pleasure is ours. I am Prince Blythe heir of the throne and son of the Queen of Windshire." He gulped and took her right hand and kissed it, both of them looked disgusted.

"What a lovely daughter you have, Edmond. Don't you agree son?" the queen said.

He sneered as he observes Lynea's perfect frame heart-shaped face, emerald green eyes, and her accentuated red button mouth. She does look pretty but he doesn't like her at all.

Queen Leila flicks her fingers, "I have an idea. My dear son, why don't you show your princess our garden, I'm sure she'll get bored if she will only stay here." She suggested.

The prince shakes his head, disagreeing.

"Do it." Queen Leila whispered in a demanding voice.

Left with no choice and afraid for her mother to get mad, he leads the way to take Lynea to his favorite place in their palace, their grand garden.

Queen Leila and King Edmond watch the children walk together. The two lovebirds but not in love, too bad the cupid's arrow missed hitting their hearts.