Chapter 1- My duty
My head pounded louder than the knocks at my locked door. Today is my 18th birthday, and I overslept thanks to the countless glasses of wine the night before.
"Effie, please open this door!" My mother shrieked, "Your father has some exciting news and is expecting you at breakfast."
Rolling my eyes, only adding slight nausea to my headache. Maybe if I stay quiet, she will just leave.
"Don't even think about it, young lady," my mother says gently. "I can hear your thoughts. Please put your walls back up; you never know who could be listening." At that, her footsteps fade down the hall. She was right; I was so exhausted and hungover that I hadn't bothered to shield my mind.
Swinging my feet over the side of the bed, I dragged myself to the bathroom where a steaming hot bath had been prepared. The elixirs in the water quickly cured my hangover.
Feeling brand new, I slipped into the emerald-green silk-and-lace dress my estranged aunt Illirya had gifted me a week earlier, and she only came around for special occasions. As I braided my ash-blonde hair, I added small protea and rose flowers throughout. One last look in the mirror before my father marries me off to some stranger for the political benefit of our kingdom.
A small knock at the door pulls me back to the moment. "Yes, yes, I'm coming," I say, trying not to sound too snippy. On the other side of the door is Claire, my oldest friend, who has also lived in our home, having lost her family to an unfortunate fire 11 years ago.
"Hey, Effie, how are you feeling about today?" Claire asks cautiously.
"Oh, ya know," I smirk in her direction, "like a pig heading to slaughter." We both smile and giggle, easing up the tension of the moment. I take one last deep, calming breath before we descend the stairs and into the future and fulfill my duty as the princess of Verenthia.
