My Home, Celeste

Celeste was not a name of a person, it was a glorified kingdom where people prospered in the harvest. Celeste stood in the Northeastern territory of the continent of Uryasha. It was known for its enormous fields and regions. The regional fields occupied 45% of the entire kingdom's turf. The kingdom traded their harvest to other kingdoms that earned them more bounty for it, because of its abundance in stock of food, Celeste never experienced famine. Instead, the other kingdoms flock toward them when famine will arrive.

In the gates of Celeste by the southeast wing of the kingdom where the Royal Palace stood lived the honored princess Selestia. Unlike other princesses who lived their lives as if they were in the tales, timidly subsisting, Selestia oozed with confidence and courage. She was bold, headstrong, and independent. She had an attitude of her own and was also assertive and fierce, due to this, Selestia was neither adored nor abhorred.

On some days, Selestia was adored because of her grace and beauty and because of her independence. And on the consecutive days, Selestia would be abhorred for being less ladylike, unlike most.

Selestia was a great asset to Celeste. She'd harvest with the farmers, go on a hunt with her father or even join war without even getting bruised. Many had thought that Selestia was growing to be a man and not to be a proper princess. They had thought that she'd willingly abandon her post and not perform her royal duties. Greatly, they misunderstood her.

"You should really act ladylike, Selestia…" A tiny voice approached her.

It was a young lady with a book in her hand, she had a glistening pink dress and her neck and wrists were covered with jewelry.

"Celeste would not prosper even more with this… Father would not be able to marry you off for the sake of the kingdom if you continue to act like this."

Selestia grimaced and glared at her, "Since when did an illegitimate child have to tell me what to do?"

The young lady shrunk herself in humiliation. Freiya was the King's child from an affair with a commoner lady who lived by the shore. After learning of the woman's pregnancy, Queen, Esther, ordered for her head. But it was not in the Queen's knowledge that before she has killed, the baby was already given birth to.

The King's other woman had summoned a knight from the Palace to bring the child to the King, thus, Freiya had the opportunity to live in the Palace.

Though Freiya was not considered a princess, she was a duchess. Because of all this, Freiya was antagonized and persecuted by the Queen.

"All I'm saying is we have to look after the kingdom…"

Selestia straightened her poise to exert her dominance, she looked at her menacingly, "I am looking after the kingdom. You should tell that to yourself, Duchess Freiya."

Selestia emphasized Duchess, she was showing that Freiya's title was too little to be compared to her. Selestia bore in her mind that the duchess was an arch enemy, and so she did her best to offend her in many ways possible.

"I need no man to give me better prestige, I can be my man…" she mentioned and stormed out of the Palace gates.

Her feet wandered around the garden until it held her to a belvedere that stood in the middle of the royal garden. She plopped herself and sat down while the maids prepared her tea and macarons. She sat dazed in thought as she paused from eating.

'Is it because Freiya wanted me to leave Celeste that bad? Is she vying to step up as the next princess, that's why she wanted me to be married off to some stale man?'

Her elbow stood from the table, her face lay on her palms, and she pouted amidst her thoughts.

'There's no way she can do that…' she aforementioned. 'The Celestial article did not mention that an illegitimate child can surpass even a noble, no matter what. It also did not mention anything about a person of the Duchy being able to succeed the royal family.'

She looked at the wilting rose that was left neglected by the corner of the garden and her thoughts continued, 'Though all of those articles did not conclude anything about her situation. An illegitimate daughter of the King who joined the Duchy, no one ever said that she can succeed me if I were to be married off. There's a possibility she might be able to.'

"You're getting paranoid again…" a man snickered.

She looked at him with a scowl that coveted her face. "Duke Grandel, wow…nice to see you…" she spoke a greeting with no interest whatsoever in her apertures and her voice.

"What a lovely greeting!" he beamed.

Selestia rolled her eyes.

"From what I'm seeing here, you're feeling threatened again by the Duchess of Gelhalla, Freiya."

She was reserved, but her eyes reacted, she glared at her teacup after her ears had given attention to Grandel's spoken words.

"And I was right." he laughed as he taunted. "The Princess of Celeste, Selestia LeCelestine is compelled to think a Duchess can steal her throne."

He laughed harder. Indeed, it was wholly true, and Selestia felt that she should not rest. She already gained the people's trust, yet she felt that wasn't enough. 'The people of Celeste wanted a ladylike princess to step into the throne.' She thought.

"You shouldn't worry about this. The Duchy had never and was never allowed to win the throne, which I say to you is true. And in fact, it will not be you or the duchess who's competing for the throne, cause someone already won. Prince Fritz, your brother is the chosen heir, you should not be working up a sweat."

Selestia grinned. It was alright for her if she does not take the throne, as long as Freiya will not be taking it either. Selestia felt the urge to be competitive since Freiya's arrival, in her mind, any time Freiya can push her off a cliff, and it compelled her greatly.

"Anyways, why are you here?" she spoke, trying to change the subject.

"I came to congratulate you!" Grandel glistened.

"Congratulate me? What did I do?" Her eyes looked mightily confused as she stared at him.

"Well, aren't you getting married?" Grandel tilted his head.