We walked down to the dining hall, the aroma of roasting meat and freshly baked bread filling the air. My father, Lord Thomas, was already seated at the table, chatting with my brothers.
"Ah, hello, my dear," he said, standing up to greet us. "You look lovely today, Aurora."
I smiled, taking my seat beside him. "Thank you, Father."
The lunch was lively, with my brothers teasing each other and my parents exchanging warm smiles. I felt grateful for this moment of normalcy before my life changed forever.
As we ate, my father turned to me. "Aurora, I've been thinking about your wedding attire. We should finalize the details soon."
I nodded, feeling a flutter in my chest. "Yes, Father. I've been thinking about it too."
My mother spoke up. "I've spoken to the seamstress, and she's prepared some beautiful designs. We'll go over them together soon."
"I'm going to miss you, sis," Edward said, grinning. "Who's going to put up with my antics now?"
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "I'm sure you'll find someone else to bother." Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, maybe one of the servants will take pity on him."
Edward playfully punched Lucas's arm. "Hey, watch it."
My parents smiled, enjoying the banter between their sons.
After lunch, my brothers excused themselves to attend to some matters, and my parents and I sat in the garden, enjoying the warm sunshine.
"Aurora, I want to talk to you about something," my father said, his expression serious. "As the future queen of the Kingdom of Tenebrous, you'll have many responsibilities. But I want you to remember that you're not just a queen, you're also a daughter and a sister. Don't forget where you come from."
I nodded, feeling a sense of determination. "I won't, Father. I'll always remember my roots."
My mother smiled, her eyes shining with pride. "We know you'll do great things, Aurora. You're a strong and capable young woman."
As the lunch went on, the conversation turned to my upcoming wedding. My father discussed the details with my mother, and I decided to go for a stroll. The fresh air and peaceful surroundings helped clear my mind.
I thought about my future with Prince Kael. What would our life be like in the Kingdom of Tenebrous? Would we be happy together?
I sat down on a bench, lost in thought. The sound of birds chirping and the rustling of leaves in the breeze were soothing.
Suddenly, I heard footsteps behind me. It was my mother.
"Aurora, dear, I wanted to talk to you about something," she said, sitting down beside me.
"What's on your mind, Mother?" I asked, curious.
"It's just that...I'm going to miss you so much when you leave," she said, her voice trembling.
I turned to her, feeling a surge of love and affection. "Mother, I'll always be your daughter. And I'll come back to visit often."
My mother smiled, her eyes shining with tears. "I know, dear. But it won't be the same. You'll be building a new life with Prince Kael."
I took her hand, feeling a sense of comfort. "I'll always cherish the memories we made here, Mother. And I'll make sure to stay in touch."
My mother squeezed my hand. "I know you will, dear. You're a good daughter."
We sat together in silence for a moment, enjoying each other's company. Then my mother stood up, her expression determined.
"Let's go inside, Aurora. We have a lot to do before the wedding." I nodded, standing up and smoothing out my dress.