Shadows of the Crown
All who see the Kingdom of Eloria consider it to be a place of beauty. The glistening castle towers stretch toward the heavens. The golden rays of the sun kiss the stone facades. The vibrant banners dance in the wind. In the shadows of the castle corridors are where I call home. My name is Lilianna. I am a servant in Eloria Castle.
Not much is known about my past. My mother was a kitchen maid. She was revered for her beauty. One stormy night, my mother cried out in agony. The storm drowned out her cries. My birth cost her everything. I was born a servant, and it seemed that was all I would ever be.
My mother never spoke about my father to anyone. Some servants believe he was a nobleman. Others believe he could be the king. They say he was infatuated with my mother’s beauty. Others believe he was a stranger just passing through. A stranger who vanished before my mother learned the truth. I learned long ago that my lineage did not matter. I was a servant, and that was all I would ever be.
Princess Astrid was everything that a princess should be. She was always dressed elegantly. She had grace, and she was admired by everyone for her confidence. Her gown always trailed behind her like a river of silk. In the shadows, I learned to serve. I learned how to be seen and not heard, and how to disappear into the background. I knew the castle’s layout by memory and all the secret passages.
There were always whispers in the corridors, rumors about a girl in the lower halls who bore a striking resemblance to the princess. The guards laughed them off, calling it a kitchen tale meant to stir gossip. I learned to blend deeper into the shadows, where faces are forgotten and names fade like dust. It was safer that way.
I stole glimpses of the princess from my view in the kitchen. She glided through the halls. Her laughter echoed like soft bells. Beneath her charm, she held a penchant for cruelty. She barely wasted a word on the servants unless it was to blame them. She would dismiss the servants with a flick of her wrist. We averted our gaze and swallowed our pride.
One night I was in the kitchen preparing for the kingdom’s biggest ball. My hands were stained with flour from helping the cook bake. The air was filled with the mouth-watering smell of roasted meats and sweet pastries. The sound of distant music drifted through the corridors, a haunting reminder of a world I was not meant to belong to.
Tales of a plot to kidnap the princess drifted through the halls, carried in anxious whispers. Extra guards had been put into place, though they knew nothing of the queen’s true precaution. Kael Nightshade’s name echoed through the halls. He was the most feared pirate captain on the sea. He was described as ruthless. He plundered ships with no mercy, and he never took prisoners unless they could enhance his wealth and power. His name alone scared me. I was captivated by the tales of his daring adventures, yet terrified knowing he intended to strike that very night.
I glimpsed the ball through the kitchen doors. Ladies danced across the floor in gowns that caught the light. Laughter and music echoed in the air. I wanted to step into that world and escape the lot that life handed me. I was destined to stay in the shadows where I belonged. I was shocked when the kitchen door suddenly burst open. The queen stepped into the kitchen. Her gown shimmered faintly in the flickering firelight, her expression grave and resolute. I dropped into a curtsey quickly.
“Lilianna, you must listen carefully.” “Your Majesty?” “The rumors of a kidnapping are true. We cannot risk Astrid’s life. You will take her place tonight.”
“Your Majesty, I…” “There is no time for hesitation. You bear a striking resemblance to my daughter, and the guards and people will not know any better.”
Her words struck me like a blade. My heart raced so violently I thought she might hear it. I had spent my life in the shadows. Now I was being forced to impersonate the very woman who had always looked down on me.
“What if they discover the truth?” “Nobody will know the difference,” the queen said softly, and there was something in her eyes, knowledge that chilled me. “I have known about you for quite some time, Lilianna. You were never as invisible as you believed.”
Her gaze lingered on me as though she saw more than just a servant. A strange mixture of fear and resignation tightened my chest. “You must mimic Astrid’s every move,” she continued. “It is imperative that you keep up the façade. Kael Nightshade will not hesitate once he believes he has found his prize.”
I had no choice but to accept my fate, even if it meant stepping into the thorny vines of a crown I could never truly wear. My heart ached with dread, yet beneath it was something else, a quiet, dangerous spark. For the first time, I was being seen.
Princess Astrid had refused to cancel the ball, dismissing the warnings as foolish superstition. While she danced in silk and splendor in the minds of her guests, the real princess was hidden away in a secure wing of the castle, beyond the eyes of everyone, even her own guards. The queen had ordered silence among the staff. The guards had not been notified, so the illusion would remain intact.
