Chapter 2: The Princes

♪~"Bet you're saying that because I'm your half-sister"~♪

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"I can't breath," I mumbled through clenched teeth.

The dress that my sister had picked for me was one that I had buried under different others fearing for this exact moment. It was bright pink, with flowers and frills, it had looked so childish. This was not the first impression I was trying to make but Lia wants to hear none of it. Moreover it was years ago when that dress was first given to me as a present from Father, now that I had grown, the dress is tight, so tight. I could barely breathe in it let alone move.

"Silence," she said watching me with furrowed brows. "Now give me a twirl."

I huffed and with extreme difficulty did a spin hoping she could sense my discomfort however even if she did notice I doubt she was paying much attention to it. This must be her sense of a punishment. Hezekiel was lucky to not be bothered by her.

"Perfect," she smiled and handed to me a small box. "Here put this on. Quickly."

I clasp open the box and inside of it was a small brooch pin the shape of a silver swan. The words the small swan convey is 'agility and grace' .

But I didn't understand, normally a lady wears this on a special occasion like a ball. This, happening today is a welcoming party. Such message is not needed.

"Sister, what's this for?" I asked.

"For today of course. Why? Do you not like it?"

"No sister, I do but this is not a ball, why do I have to wear this?"

She stared at me, a blank look on her face. "Just put it on, I will explain later.

I threw her a suspicious glare before pinning it to my shoulder. Once that was done she clapped her hands and smiled softly. Then her face turned stern.

"Please don't start lecturing me now," I said. "It's worst enough that I have to wear this dress."

"But-"

"No buts, now please I need a minute to myself." I was already pushing Allelia out the door and quickly closed the door before she could protest. I sighed rubbing my temple, I checked myself in the mirror and felt beside myself.

So, I decided to make some alteration on my dress. I teared off some of the frills at the bottom and the ones at my collar. Then I rolled up the long sleeves, just long enough for me to move my arms. Suddenly I had an idea and called one of the maids to bring a cup of purple and red dye. I then smeared bits of both color near the flowers allowing bits of the dye to drip on it. After, waiting for a few minutes, for the dye to dry, I was finally satisfied with the dress, at least it's appearance, otherwise it was still difficult to move.

I moved closer to the mirror and pulled some hair strands free from where it had been slicked back tightly by my sister. Added a darker lipstick and rubbed away some of the bright pink blush from my cheeks. I gave myself a once over and gave myself a confident nod before stepping out of my chambers.

At last when I opened the door, Allelia was pacing back and forth, as soon as she laid eyes on me, she gasped and slapped a hand to her forehead.

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"Why did you do that for?" she asked for the hundredth time.

"I just wanted to be myself! Why do you have to be so against that?"

"Your sense of style is too---how do I say this---simple and unique. We are the royal family Mareena, we have to fit like one."

"Bet you are saying that because I'm your half-sister," I grumbled. Before she could say anything I made a sharp turn and moved further away from her. Which I shouldn't have done, when I saw Avelon and Erica huddled close together. I turned to go back the same way I came from when a heavy hand gripped my shoulder.

"Going somewhere," the person asked, I recognized the deep voice in an instant.

"Zeke! Lord you almost scared me to death!" I threw a punch at his shoulder.

"Ouch! The heck was that for?"

"Don't be a baby for goodness sake," I rolled my eyes and he grinned annoyingly. "So? How do I look?"

"Like a frog wearing a dress for the first time."

"Thank you." I looked around the crowded hall, judging by the relaxed look on everyone's face I assume the princes hasn't arrived yet.

"Hmm--Fathers not here yet," I observed the empty throne.

"Fashionably late, I tell you. It's a clever tactic, to make others know that you're superior than them," Zeke explained.

"Well it's not showing good hospitality. Besides they're our allies not enemies."

"You will understand if you're a Queen."

"Yeah, as if that's going to happen," I chuckled mockingly. He shrugged nonchalantly.

"Hey, don't predict the future. Who knows, maybe you will become Queen of Reattvea one day."

"Either you all start dying miraculously or I have to kill the lot of you, for that to take place."

At this, Zeke struck a dramatic pose and held a hand to his heart. "My little baby sister won't do that to her lovely big brother, would she?"

"Actually you would be the first," I said darkly. "And if you're lucky I will make it quick and clean."

"You'd hav-" he was interrupted when the giant throne room door burst open and a man in a blue shirt hurried in, the man spotted me and Zeke standing near the entrance and addressed us.

"Prince Hezekiel, Princess Mareena forgive my interruption but the Princes of Caesandria, Dentcer and Tyriad have arrived," the man passed the message.

For a moment all was quiet then, Avelon raised her voice, "Well, what are you lot standing around for? Go set everything up!" And everyone set off to do their part of the evening.

Hezekiel, Allelia and me hurried towards the throne, saw the others, my siblings Erica and my youngest big brother Dimitri already standing on one side of the throne, Hezekiel gave my shoulder a squeeze and went to stand with Allelia and Avelon. I walked over to stand beside Dimitri, on my way I caught Erica's eye and she gave me a small smile.

"You look charming," I said to Dimitri, nodding at the red suit he was wearing.

"Got to look my best to keep up appearances with the ladies."

"Lord, Jimmy can you get any more arrogant."

"My arrogance, is what's most attractive about me. Or so I'm told."

I scoffed. "Wonder which poor princess is going to marry you."

"I mean, marriage is the last thing on my mind. And speaking of marriages, who are you thinking of choosing?"

"What?" I asked abruptly. Dimitri stared at me in disbelief.

"You honestly don't know about tonight do you?"

"I don't understand," I looked towards him and saw a mischievous smirk on his face, his blue eyes sparkling.

"Well, I am certainly not going to be the one to spoil the surprise. But be warned, you're in for a rude awakening."

Before I could ask him anything else, an intimidating sound of boots could be heard over the deafening silence and our Father, the King finally arrived and took his sit on the throne.

King Aran of Reattvea sat on a throne that was neither gold nor silver but it was made of stone indicating of his loneliness and heart that had turned cold. He motioned to Zeke who leaned towards him and he whispered something in his ear.

Suddenly he caught my gaze which made me jump then he quickly averted his eyes as though I was not there. It's been like this for years, him not acknowledging me in the slightest. I know I remind him of my Mother, Queen Everleigh Rivers the second wife of the King, but it pains me all the same. In time I've learned to deal with it and ignore him too.

Then, a trumpet sound filled the silent room and in came the princes and their acquaintances. The first prince had black hair and well built in body, he strode forward and bowed politely to us to which we had to bow back.

Prince Carlton Simone Emmanuel Sandria of Caesandria had arrived.

Next in came the second prince, who caught my eyes and smiled politely before bowing to the King, then he went to stand beside Prince Carlton.

Prince Eric Hemlock Thorne Nesorth of Dentcer had arrived.

He had dark red hair and was tall and lean. A contrast to the muscular man beside him.

The trumpet sounded for the third time and in came the final prince. He carried himself in a regal way but there was something distant about him. I could immediately sense that something was wrong but when I glanced around the others and by the way their faces are I figured that I was the only one. Unlike the other prince, he approached me first and bowed lowly, feeling startled I didn't return it until Dimitri nudged my ribs hard. I quickly gave him a clumsy curtsy. When I looked up I saw that he had a smirk on his face before he went to address the King.

Prince Artemas Cerberus Azalea Ryde of Tyriad had arrived.

Father clapped his hands loudly, getting the full attention of everyone in the room and stood up. "I King Aran Anyagreda, welcome Prince Sandria, Prince Nesorth and Prince Ryde to my humble abode," he gestured one by one to them before continuing. "Feel free to roam the palace and make yourselves at home, try to get enough rest. Next week, is when we will begin conducting the competition to determine which Prince will marry my daughter."

'Marry? Surely it's meant for Allelia or Avelon. I'm still young after all'

Prince Carlton stepped forward. "If you will forgive my intrusion Your Highness, might I ask which of the four Princesses are we to compete for?"

The King's grave eyes turned to me for the second time tonight but he didn't turn away immediately.

"My youngest daughter, Princess Mareena Anyagreda the Second."

My eyes went wide and I almost fainted but quickly pulled myself upright since I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of these people. Dimitri smiled sympathetically at me and I felt the sudden urge to punch him right in the face, breaking that perfect beauty every girl fawns over. I wanted to yell at the man who calls himself my Father but I held back.

'Not today Mareena. Not today'

Instead I swallowed my anger and flashed a fake smile that may seem a bit too real but I didn't care as long as they didn't know what I was thinking I am perfectly safe. Prince Carlton satisfied with his answer stepped back and focused his gaze on me.

Marriage was the last thing on my mind, I had always thought that all my other sisters would marry first and then I will be last. My childish theatrics was because I never knew this day would come sooner than expected.

'Of course, Father wants to get rid of me quickly.'

The thought made me sad, I wanted to cry. That's probably what I would do once I've got some time alone.

"Ms. Raine would you please escort the princes to their rooms. They must be tired after such a long journey." The chamberlain lady, Ms. Raine quickly escorted the gentlemen and their acquaintances to their rooms. Once the giant double doors closed again, everyone started about doing their own businesses.

I turned to retreat to my room but then Dimitri stopped me. He handed me a glass of wine which I gulped down in one motion. "Easy, sister. Father said he wanted to speak with you."

Hearing the last sentence almost made me choke. The King had never spoke to me in years, no matter how hard I try he always so bluntly refused, and that too was said through servants. And after all these years, he didn't even felt like talking to me about being married.

I felt angry, so very angry and hatred surge through me for the person who neglected his duty purposely as a Father. I stared at the man sitting on the throne with as much of the hatred as I felt and saw him looking at me. So I said the words that had been said to me many times before and damn was it satisfying.

"I do not wish to speak to His Highness the King Aran."