Chapter 1
The land of Crystalia is broken up into five main kingdoms with five smaller island kingdoms around the mainland. They are ranked in order of how prosperous their perspective lands are and thus constantly at war. Each kingdom has their own rulers but the Diamond kingdom in the North sits the high King of Crystalia. The other four kingdoms, in order of current rank are the Sapphire kingdom, the Emerald kingdom, the Ruby kingdom, and the Amethyst kingdom. The lesser island kingdoms are Peridot, Citrine, Pearl, Garnet, and Turquoise. As princess of the Emerald kingdom it is your job to-" the school teacher paused in his lecture, noticing his student wasnt listening, "pay attention to this, Emeralda." he snapped, snatching the arrow Emeralda had been fletching out of her hands.
Emeralda swung her green eyes up to the teacher's muddy brown ones and said, "We've been over this so many times I can give your speech verbatim. I'm just a second daughter of the king. Why should I learn this if I have no intention of having a hand in politics?"
"King Emerson has commanded that you act like a princess and be taught to be one. Whether you like it or not." the teacher smiled meanly. "Besides, some lesser kingdom noble might decide to gain position by marrying you."
Emeralda was the second born and least liked of King Emerson's three children. Verdanta, the oldest, was their father's chief advisor because she was so smart and capable of running the kingdom on her own. If she'd been born male, she'd have already taken the Emerald throne. Verdanta had compensated by marrying Oliver Kelly, head of the royal military. Father had been so proud, especially when Verdanta had given birth to her daughter Olivetta last year.
"Why isnt Emmett getting to enjoy this today?" Emeralda asked sarcastically, noting her younger brother was absent from lessons yet again.
"The king and the crown prince are having their own lesson today. You should only worry about gaining more attractive qualities. Who would want a wife as unlady like and smart mouthed as you?" the teacher said, sharing the king's opinion of the royal children. Emeralda would have been much happier to just be ignored but her father took great care to remind Emeralda that she didnt measure up to her siblings. She was always getting compared unkindly to Verdanta and Emmett.
"That's enough, Cyril." a prim voice said from the door of the classroom. It was Verdanta, with little Olivetta in her arms. the girl squirmed and whined in her mother's arms, trying hard to get down to go to Emeralda.
"My lady, how pleasant it is to see you and the lovely little princess." Cyril, the teacher fell all over himself in an attempt to flatter and praise Verdanta.
"Emeralda, would you come get your niece before I drop the wiggling worm." Verdanta said with a smile, ignoring Cyril in an effort to keep Olivetta from falling. She finally put the child down and Emeralda scooped the now happy girl up.
"Hello, Olivetta. Did my sweet girl miss me?" Emeralda asked as Olivetta bobbed her head and cuddled into her shoulder. Her niece had been born five months before Emeralda had turned twenty one. She'd had plans to leave the Emerald kingdom and see the rest of Crystalia but on her birthday, Emeralda hadnt had the heart to go. She adored her niece and Olivetta showed her the same affection. It was as if Verdanta had planned on her daughter being the one thing Emeralda just couldnt leave.
"Yes, she did. Would you mind taking her to the gardens while I go see Father?" Verdanta asked, disregarding Cyril's unamused expression.
"Where's Mother?" Emeralda asked, nodding as she accepted the much more pleasant job of watching her niece over the boring schoolwork. Verdanta didnt generally let her daughter be cared for by servants so their mother usually had charge of Olivetta.
"She's getting ready for the trip to the Seaside Festival tomorrow. Mother can't wait to see Aunt Merna. Do you have your things ready?" Verdanta asked as they left Cyril and the classroom behind. The Seaside festival was a joint effort of the Emerald and Sapphire kingdoms. They shared a border and after years of fighting had reached another tenuous peace agreement. The festival had been set up as a reward for their people to share their kingdoms' prosperities. It was to be held on the two kingdom's borders and both royal families were to be in attendance.
"Yes, I'm ready. I fully intend to stay out of the way and not draw anyone's attention. We wouldnt want to embarrass Father." Emeralda muttered. Emerson had wanted to leave his middle child at home but it would have looked like he was hiding something if Emeralda didnt go. Aparently rumors were worse than anything she was suspected of being capable of.
"Just try not to embarrass the kingdom. This festival took a monumental amount of effort and cooperation with King Azur and it has to go perfectly. No mistakes." Verdanta said sternly. She'd spent months with their father planning and all her life striving for perfection.
Emeralda hurried off to the garden so she wouldnt have to hear anymore of how much of a screw up she was. As she sat of a wrought iron bench with Olivetta, she looked into the child's grass green eyes that were identical to her mother's. "Dont ever let them turn you against me, Olivetta." she whispered as she stroked her niece's cherubic face. She got a coo and a kiss on the cheek as a reply.
