Duties and Responsibilities

I wake up to the golden rays of sunlight, seeping through my transparent linens. My hair, black like obsidian is tangled in the sheets.

I hear a knock on my door.

"Come in." I mutter as Elva my handmaiden walks in.

"Good morning Karina, your presence is being requested by the king and queen."

I sigh. "Another busy day. I have not even had breakfast yet."

Ever since my eighteenth birthday I've been forced to take my royal duties well, a bit more seriously.

"Should I get you something to eat?" Elva asks, almost bolting out the door.

"No no Elva it's fine. I don't think I can wait to have breakfast anyway."

I roll out of bed reluctantly, thankful for another day and head to my crystal bathhouse to get ready for the busy day ahead.

I'm done with my bath in no time. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to get a good soak in. Elva helps dry and style my hair. After much debate and indecision we both agree on the dress that I should wear. As soon as I'm done, I hurry out the door, wave Elva goodbye, gather my skirts and try not to trip on the extra high heels she picked out for me. Now I'm thinking maybe these heels aren't such a good idea and the only reason I even listen to her in the first place is because we've been friends for as long as I remember.

I walk to the throne room, scratch that, I gracefully walk to the throne room. I'm royalty after all, nod slightly to acknowledge the workers who bow on my way there.

I kneel in greeting. "Good morning father, mother. I was told you wanted to see me." I say to both of them as they are seated high up on their magnificent thrones.

"Ah yes we do."Father rises to his feet.

I tense as he approaches me. My father and I haven't always seen eye to eye. This is not going to end well.

"As I'm sure you've noticed there's been a slight increase in your duties. You know this land will be yours to rule one day."

"Ha! Slight?" I exclaim.

He glares at me.

I look up to his gunmetal grey eyes, silver swirling his irises, faint lines across his forehead and grey slightly streaking his raven coloured hair.

"Your majesty." I say mockingly. "I think what you mean to say is that you have tripled my work load without even asking if I was okay with it. You didn't even talk to me about it."

"Well we're talking now aren't we?" He retorts.

"We're talking huh? When you've made and finalized your decision months ago. I think it's a little too late for that." I say while crossing my arms over my chest.

He looks at me in a stoic manner even though I'm sure he's boiling inside. I could almost bet that I'll start seeing fumes erupt from his ears any second now.

"Is that why you have not reached your quota?"

"In other words you mean I've been slacking. Well I haven't. It's just some of the things you listed and the methods you insisted I handle them, that's what I don't fully agree on. Like I said we should have talked about it earlier."

"Well Karina I'm telling you now..."

"No." I say sternly.

"I'm not talking to you as a father I'm talking to you as a king." His voice reverberating leaving no room for further discussion.

"You will make sure you get your work done the way I told you to before your deadline." He continues.

"What your father is trying to say is that with great power comes a greater responsibility." My mother finally speaks up before we can tear each other apart. "You need to be more responsible Karina. You're not a child anymore. You are the Crown Princess of the House of Abraxas.

One day you'll be Queen and the transition doesn't just happen overnight. I know you think that we are a little hard on you but it's only because we want the best for you and see you become one of the greatest rulers this land has ever had." She touches my cheek and draws a stray strand of my dark curly hair behind my ear.

"I love you so much Karina." She says as she places a kiss on my forehead then looks deeply into my eyes. "And your father loves you as well."

I wince as soon as she says that.

"Well he has a funny way of showing it." I mumble to myself.

"What was that dear?"

"Nothing." My reply comes quickly. "I understand mother." I wrap my arms around her really wanting to drop the issue so I can leave as soon as possible.

"I'm glad that settles it." My father says. "Because you have work to do."

"Why am I not surprised." I deadpan.

"You are to train with Master Erlan."

I cock a brow. "I've never heard of him."

"Don't worry you'll get to meet him tomorrow." My father walks towards his throne.

"This is exactly what I'm talking about." I raise up my hands in frustration. Perfect. Another one of the decisions he makes on my behalf without consulting me.

He pauses midway.

"You don't involve me in most of the decisions you make. The funny part is that those decisions are about me. You only fill me in on the information when you've finalized it. Don't I get a say in what happens in my own life? What makes you so sure that I need a new trainer or I'll even like the one you've gotten me?"

"Firstly, you need a new trainer because I've relieved the old one of his duties. And secondly, you don't have to like him. All I need is for him to train you." He turns around for a brief second before heading back to his throne and sits on it, one hand under his chin and the other on his lap. "I hope that answers both of your questions."

I sigh out of frustration and raise my fingers to pinch the bridge of my nose. I am tired of having the same conversation that we've had for years now.

"Yes, It does father." You are never going to let me make my own decisions. "If that is all you wish to discuss with me I would like you to please give me the permission to leave."

"Granted." My mother replies and without wasting any more time, I walk out of the room.

By the time I get back to my room I see that Elva had already brought me breakfast.

"Finally I can get something to eat." My eyes light up.

"You were gone for quite some time and I figured by the time you returned you'd be really hungry."

"Have I ever told you I love you so much?" I say to her as I grin from ear to ear.

"As a matter of fact you have." She smirks. "You tell me that every time I bring you food."

"True." I giggle. "I really mean it though."

"I'm sure you do. Now enough talk. Time to eat, I'm sure you must be starving."