01: Crown Princess

It is only 2 weeks until I celebrate my 17th Birthday. The day my whole life will change.

If only there is no tradition that on the 17th birthday of the heiress she has to be crowned queen, I won't be overly protected like this. There's so many do's and don'ts that irritates me so bad. Everything I do must be precise and regal.

Besides, why does it has to be the direct descendant of the reigning ruler, it could be my cousin, why does it have to be me 'a useless and careless princess' according to the society?

I'm not the first-born descendant of the Astraeian Royal Family, which means I'm not supposed to be the successor to the throne. However, because of our messed up traditions, I got first in line to the throne.

I have an older girl cousin but she's the daughter of my aunt who happens to be my father's younger sister so even if she's older than I am, I get to be the queen.

My Mother is the current reigning queen and on my 17th birthday, they will pass the throne to me. If I have a choice, I won't accept it.

Hypocrite as it may sound but I don't really want to be the queen. People would want to be the ruler and queen but not me; I saw how my mother lost her time for my father and me. I don't want that because I personally believe that Family should always come first but the whole kingdom is our family so I would really have to care for them too. Besides, I promised my father that I would take care of the kingdom our ancestors built with their blood and sweat and tears, the kingdom that every generation of the Astraeian Royal Family defends and protects.

There are different family traditions for every royal family, some are understandable and reasonable and some that are quite unrealistic.

For example, the Astraeian Imperial Royal Family crowns the heir on his 16th birthday, while the heiress will be crowned on her 17th birthday.

The Arcadian Imperial Royal Family crowns their King a week after his 18th birthday while their Queen is crowned when she's already 20, but if the eldest is a girl but she has a younger brother, the younger brother will succeed to the throne.

The Kingdom of Flashier crowns their King a week after their heir reaches of 17 and they don't enthrone a girl descendant.

The Holland kingdom chooses their King or Queen from the first born of their Noble Families through voting from the council.

The Kingdom of Orpheus chooses their ruler by who will manage to save the most people from a burning village, which they are also the one to set on fire. If there were casualties, they would diminish it from the contestant's number of saves though the people on the village are mostly slave and well prisoners.

Pretty crazy, right?

If you're curious why I knew those information, the answer is, I learned it from our history classes. I've been homeschooled ever since I know, my father allowed me to study in a prestigious school when I was younger but when I reached seven, Mother locked me in.

It was as if she was so afraid of something. Maybe, losing me.

"Patrice Avery Mae Jillianne, get out of your room this instant." I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard my Mother's angry voice

Oh, she's already here? I didn't notice.

"Coming, Mother." I answered politely as I open the door

Mother's scary whenever she's mad.

"What were you doing I was calling you several times already." Mother said angrily

"I am sorry other I was fixing myself at the bathroom maybe that's the reason I can't hear your voice. I'm sorry." I said while looking at her

"You are pardoned today because you gave an acceptable reason." Mother said I did get that pardon because I have a long hair that reaches my mid-thigh when it is not braided. Even though I braided it already early today before I fell deep into my thoughts.

"Avery, my dear, have you forgotten that today is the day that you decide what your crown will look like?" mother asked me with a raised brow

"No, I haven't Mother" I answered formally

"Good. Are you ready?" she asked again studying me meticulously

"Yes, mother." I replied

"Shall we go to the throne room?" She invited and opened the door

"Yes we shall Mother." I replied politely

When we arrived at the throne room, the people showed 3 crowns with numbers in it.

"Have you picked which crown you will wear on your coronation?" Mother asked

"I have, Mother, I picked crown number 3." I answered.

After that, Mother ordered her slaves to pick it up and keep it in the throne room.

Sadly, mother sent me back to my room I was sad at first but I realize I will get to sneak out for a bit then.

I'm used to being sent back to my room after fixing affairs associated with me because Mother's been like this ever since the King, my beloved father passed away. I was starting to prepare for my sneaking out techniques when the trial bells rang and I fixed myself immediately. I know my Mother will not miss this chance to make me watch the court trial.

It's probably just one of those officials. They rather have a court trial than settle it. I don't understand how their minds work sometimes.

I changed my to my magenta colored dress and changed my boots into silver strapped stiletto and I started to count.

One...

Two...

Three…

Four…

and Five

Mother entered my room and asked, "Shall we go to the trial court?"

"We shall, Mother." I answered.

Though it caused me to dismiss my sneaking plan, at least I get to learn the basics of being Queen as if I would need to. I slouched slightly while leaning on my hand on my armrest.

Mother did not notice my behavior throughout the trial and like it the man was sent to jail for stealing. I have to learn the degrees of Robbery.

The degree of Robbery in our kingdoms is consisted of 3 degrees with two classifications.

I. Stealing

A case wherein the judge of the accused is the captors or the General of the Army. The stolen thing should not be a very important thing it can be a fruit an accessory or anything that does not show wealth.

II. Theft

A case where in the accused is judged by the court. The stolen thing can be anything valuable. It's called theft as long as no harm or intimidation is given.

III. Robbery

A case where in the stolen thing is very expensive or important. The king/queen of the kingdom judges this case.

In addition, there are also two different classifications per degree of a case then there's also five degrees of homicide and betrayal.

I went to the library because my Mother's vizier told my Mother that my lessons are here. The moment I arrived, I saw three stacks of books, which made my eyes watery.

It reminded me of something.

{"Don't worry, Patrice." She said and smiled

"What's all of this?" I asked her while pouting

"All of this? You need to read it." She said and tapped my head

"But, Darcy…" I know I shouldn't be whining but I hate reading, because it's boring.

"I'm just kidding, Patrice. We'll be using this to keep your posture correct." She chuckled and took a pair of books.

"Are you disrespecting the princess, Ms. Klein?" We looked at one of my mother's follower who is looking at Darcy dangerously.

I think she heard Darcy calling me Patrice, which none of them is allowed to do. They must always attach my title as the crown princess of Astrae. I am announced as Crown Princess Avery so hearing a woman, my instructor, call me Patrice and without my title must've given a wrong impression and intention.

"I am not, Ma'am." Darcy bowed her head

"Stand up straight, Princess Avery." She said and I stood up

"Stomach in, chest out, shoulders straight, do not slouch." She said while tapping me lightly with the stick

"Can't you leave? Mother's not paying you to slack off." I told my mother's follower who's just standing and watching us

"Your mother told me to overlook your training for today." She replied which made my brows furrow

"I don't need you to overlook it. I can report to my mother on my own. Now leave." I said irritated and placed my hand on my waist

"But the Queen said – Are you defying me? Do you think you're that high?" I cut her off and she bowed her head

"No, your highness." She said and left

"Patrice, control your temper." She said and patted my head the moment my Mother's follower left

"But Darcy." I tried to reason out but she shook her head

"Respect them even if they don't need to be respected for their position. Respect them for being human, alright?" she explained and caressed my hair and chuckled

"I understand, Darcy." I said and nodded

Suddenly, a couple of knights arrived along with a General; they talked to Darcy while I remain on my posture. When the knights and general left, Darcy came back and removed the books from my head.

"I think that would be all. Just some reading assignments." She said and handed three books

"Reading assignments? But I thought…" my voice trailed off when I realized why she gave me those reading assignments.

No. No. Not again. Please, not again.

My eyes began to become watery while looking at her fixing her things.

"Darcy…" I began sobbing and her face softened when she saw my reaction

She stopped what she is doing and walked towards me.

"You know the rules, Patrice." She said and I hugged her

"But you're a great teacher, Darcy." I said complaining but my voice is breaking

"But attachment isn't allowed." She said softly while caressing my hair

"You will return right? You have to come back. I'll fail if you don't." she chuckled when I started crying

"Of course, I will, but that will take me years to decades and you'd be queen by then. You won't need me." She said and I shook my head

"No, I'll need an adviser. I don't know how to rule." I whispered to her but she shook her head and wiped my tears away

"You can rule just by following what you believe and what you heart wants." She said

"But what if I'm wrong?" I asked her still not allowing her to leave

"What if they are right? What if I can't rule?" I asked not letting her go

"You are the King's daughter, Patrice. You can rule." I sobbed harder when she release me from the hug and knelt to wipe my tears away.

"I love you, Patrice. Stay strong, little queen." She said and kissed my cheek before leaving.

I was left on the library crying so I ran to my tower and locked myself in.}

I shook my head and removed the tear that fell from my eye.

Several years had already passed by since Darcy was sent back to where she came from for having an attachment with me and since then I asked Mother to stop sending instructors to teach me.

Why send instructors to teach me when they'd take them away too? It's just too tiring.

I was eight when I first was attached to my instructor, Mother was really mad when she found so she locked me up, Father tried to stop her but Mother was manipulative enough to win over him. Then I was thirteen when they sent Darcy away.

I learned to study and learn on my own. Of course, I would sometimes need help but I have someone I trust the most to help me when I need one.

We help each other in studying but I never changed. I still don't like reading. I think I only read whenever we have a royal evaluation and tests and when my teacher asks me to but on daily basis I would be in my room sewing, drawing or I would be outside the palace gates.

"Your Highness, the Queen ordered us to help you bring these books to your study room." A knight said and two more arrived and picked up the stack of books.

I lead them to my study room, which is located beside my room. It's connected to my room through a secret passage that only three people knew, my father, my best friend and me.

They stayed outside and I scowled after closing the doors.

I feel so locked up, so I sometimes sneak out from this tower and when I do that, I interact with the people of our kingdom.

I deem this unfair because my Mother can get out of the Palace whenever she likes and my aunt and cousin is living outside the Palace; they are living in the Noble's village.

If you're thinking I go there when I sneak out, I don't because if I do then what's the difference? They'd just send me straight back to Palace the moment I step foot there.

I go to the commoners and enjoy their simple life, a life I wanted to have since I was locked up inside this massive palace. I don't know but I see them as free people, yeah they lack at something but they aren't bound by anything apart from the kingdom's laws.

Unlike us, royalties are not only bounded by the laws of the kingdom but also of the tradition, beliefs and rules and etiquettes set by our ancestors and before I forgot, we're hindered and bounded by the blood feud that has no meaning apart from having uncountable casualties and destruction.

There are so many kingdoms that are allied with two blood feuding kingdoms so they serve as the mediator. Moreover, I'm lucky to have Flashier Kingdom as our mediator with Arcadia.