After all was said and done, she waited for a sign. Anything to let her know what lay behind the walls of Hallesen manor-
The knock on the door startles me out of the world I had immersed myself in. A groan escapes my lips, tempting me to go back into the world of 'The Silence of Woodbrook Manor'. This was indeed a newer bestselling book, but it kept my interest for the most part. I close the thick cover, its leather brushing against my fingertips. Placing the book to the side of the king-sized bed in a wide-spaced room, kept clean, with a few beautiful flowers coating the empty windows with character. I notice one of the flowers, hunched over, dead-looking. I rise from the foot of the soft king bed, making my way over to the nearly dead plant near my window. I gently stroke the plant before me, tenderly checking for any disease or problem.
"You poor thing." I look around the room, searching for an answer. Something to fix so this flower doesn't rot away. I notice the curtains slightly obscuring the view of the sun.
"The light doesn't fully get to you, does it. Don't worry, friend, I'll take care of this." A mystical flow of sparkling light appears from my hands. The flow of greenish yellow essence flows into the flower, growing back to its original beauty, tall and fragrant. The sight of this beautiful plant makes me smile. The moment was interrupted by another knock at my door. I adjust my dress, making sure it's free before straightening my shoulders.
"Come in." The command rings through the room, almost bouncing off the walls. The door slowly swings open, and a woman wearing a dusty pale pink dress, followed by an apron to hold it together. Her hair is tied back into a neat bun with braids around it. Little strands of her dark brown hair nearly slip out of its place. She bows before me, waiting for permission to rise.
"My princess, your presence is required before the king and queen." She rises, only staring as if waiting for a response from me. Only a heavy sigh escapes my lips. My attention is turned to the window, the sun beaming into my room with its golden hue. My eyes were blinded for a moment, adjusting to the light behind the still glass.
"Thank you for the message. You may go Sarai." The maid Sarai bows respectfully. Exiting my room. As much as I'd like to say that my parents' summons is a surprise to me, it isn't the first time they have requested my presence out of the blue. I turn my attention towards the mirror on the back of my room. The golden rose frame glittered in my direction as I approached. Dressed in a fancy red, white, and golden dress, my honey colored hair pulled back into a fancy bun shaped into a rose. Little strands of my hair stray away from their neat place, making it harder for me to put them back into place. I pull back the strands behind my ear, looking into the soul of my own being. I may look like a perfect picture, but if only I could let the real version of me show, would I be happier? I have everything I've ever wanted, anything anyone could dream of. I have spoken out against slavery of the shiftlings, helped the sick with my natural magic gift, and I even used this gift for the good of my kingdom, one I'm set to rule one day. But why do I feel empty? What do I really want out of this life? I shake my head, shoving my doubt into the tight box of unnecessary emotions that are not meant to be seen, heading outside the doors to my room, my safe place, as I'd refer to it. The guards standing outside my room bow to me in a bit of a nervous scramble. Their nervousness only makes me giggle. Returning the bow with respect, we head towards the throne room. The halls of this castle feel almost too empty, especially this early in the day. Did I miss something? My mind fills with questions, the sound of the guards and my own footsteps echo through the quiet halls, only the whispers of maids passing by fill the space of silence I care to ignore. Making our way closer to the throne room, I catch a glimpse of a familiar peppy, high-pitched voice, which makes me roll my eyes. Off to the side, A woman with a light colored, pale pink-coated dress, followed by a tan-skinned, brightly colored layer of brown curls, and a big mouth, was chatting with the other staff members. Ranissa, the baby of the family, stood. She glances over in my direction with those annoying green eyes, only for me to avert my gaze. I could practically feel her staring at me. In the eyes of the people, she is the prettier sibling. Some would refer to her as the superior sibling. I only know her to be an annoying bitch. In a way, she had a funny way of showing her love for me. I was constantly picked on by her and always blamed for her errors. As the oldest, I had to ignore those feelings if I wanted to rule one day. I walk past her, feeling like she is enjoying seeing me summoned by our parents. I bet she took joy out of watching me walk to the throne room again and again. Honestly, I don't care for what she thinks of me. All that ever mattered was the kingdom. I held my head up high, ignoring the piercing gaze of glee searing into my skin from afar. The guard to my right notices my unease, glancing over in the direction of my bratty sister. He steps further forward, blocking my view of her probably annoyed expression. My eyes meet his ice-blue ones. I nod, giving him my thanks. The doors to the throne room open, making my stomach turn at the sight of the throne. I breathe deeply, concealing my nerves for noticeable bravery. Stepping into the throne room didn't make me feel any better. The echoes of my heels clunking against the marble floor feel even more empty and ominous than the hallways. Almost as if something was different or worse, wrong. Nearly gripping the soft fabric of my skirt, I bow down into a curtsy, holding until told to rise. In that moment, I couldn't have expected what would come next in this interaction with my strict royal parents.