Cost of the crown

She stood up from her bed swinging her legs over the edge. she heard a knock at the door.

" come in" she yelled toward the door.

the door opened and in walked her three maids. Katie, harla, and tia.

"good morning miss freyigha" they all chimed happily.

"good morning ladies" she chimed back.

they started her bath for her as she stood from her bed. she made her way to the bathroom. her feet padding across the marble floor. she went behind the privacy wall in her bathroom as she undressed. she stepped out from behind the privacy wall. she padded across the floor and made her way to the marble tub on the other side of the room. She stepped into her tub her body sinking into the warmth of the water. she sight as the water enveloped her body.

her maids hasted not on preparing her for the day. it was a big day she had almost forgotten today was the day she would chose a prince to court the night of the ball. Her mother and Father claimed she must marry. she never understood why she couldn't take the throne alone.

she had never been the type to want to marry she had been the type that was independent. She gave another long sigh. the maids could tell she ha more than just nerves on her mind.

" if it helps Princess freyigha i'm sure the candidates will not be that bad." they encouraged.

she gave a small smile. the maids continued to help her get ready for her long and exhausting day.

after they finished doing her hair and makeup she was helped into the dress she would wear .

it was a floor length ball gown it was a light blue with silver embellishments and pearls. it hugged her showing off her figure but still looking royal almost regal.

she looked at herself in the mirror. instead of smiling she frowned.

" do you not like our work miss" tia asked curiously.

" no its not that its just i never imagined i would be forced to marry a man i just met" she groaned in frustration.

the maids took that as their que to excuse themselves from the room and to busy themselves with other tasks. they curtsied as they left the room.

she let out a sigh of relief when the door shut and she was finally alone. she sat down on her bed pulling the journal she kept out from her night stand on the isde of her bed she opened it to a blank page. she grabbed a en from the drawer as well and began to write her emotions splayed onto the page in bursts of anger rage sadness anxiety and fear. her fear of what if the man she picks she never falls in love with. will she be forced to live in a loveless marriage her entire life.

once she had finished writing she re read her entry.

"well today is the day. today decides the day of the man i am to marry. why do i have to go through this this isn't fair. its not what i want f i had it my way no princess would be forced into.a loveless marriage. how am i suppose to know what the right choice is here. i feel as if my heart is beating out of my chest like i'm being suffocated. i wish i could escape this life and just be normal and find love the normal way not only have i never had a lover i'm suppose to meet these men and decide who i want to spend the rest of my life with. its also the choice of who will make the best king someday. i'm sure they all have at least some experience.

but why me i don't want this. i never have. "

she closed her journal. feeling only slightly relieved.

there was a knock at her door.

she placed the book back in the safety fo its hiding spot before yelling a quick

" come in"

the door opened and to what she thought was going to be her maids was her mother.

"Oh sweetheart" she cooned

" you look absolutely..." she paused looking for the proper word.

"miserable" she muttered under her breath so low her mother didn't hear.

"radient, you look like a true queen should." her mother finished. obviously not hearing the comment she had made under her breath.

she almost sighed in relief that her mother ha not heard her. if she did her mother would probably scold her. thats the last thing she needed today.

another soft knock sounded at the door.

" come in"

the door opened her maids came in. noticing the presence of the queen they quickly curtsied.

" your majesty" they greeted politely.

" good day ladies"

they hurried around the room straightening things and preparing the room making the bed and tidying.

" shall we go to greet our guests as they arrive they shall be here any moment now." the queen suggested.

"Yes mother" freyigha answered. its not like she had a choice in the matter anyhow. just as they descended the stairs to the main foyer the doors opened revealing carriages arriving in the front drive of the castle about 15 different carriages arrived. families of royals,dukes and knights began to exit their carriages. All of them with the same goal to get the hand of the princess.

they began to file in her mother was the first to greet.

"hello welcome" she said her tone as regal as possible.

freyigha mentally rolled her eyes.

The first one to approach was a duke. he had dark har and bright sapphire eyes. she couldn't lie he was very handsome.

"hello princess" he spoke " i look forward to further getting to know you"

she bowed and then made his way the guest wing of the castle.

the second one to greet her was a knight. he had cascading blonde hair and ocean blue eyes. he was the epitome of what she saw in the tabloids. the maids would sneak her tabloids sometimes. he looked like one of those famous models. she couldn't figure out why he looked familiar though. she would have to find out why.

this continued until all of the guests were greeted.

after she excused herself to the day room.

*Arden*

Arden sat up his room damp with the air from the summer night sun barely shone into his room. He looked around his small room his eyes adjusting to the light. He slid out if bed and padded over to the door walking to the bathroom he shared with hi sisters. everyone was still asleep he made sure to get up early so he could get a hot shower before his sister took the bathroom for three hours.

he turned on the shower and stripped himself of his cotton pajamas he already was shirtless. his tones chest prominent in the fogging mirror. he stepped in the shower letting the water fall down his body. lathering his hair he rinsed and washed the surface of his skin before exiting the shower and. drying himself off.

still in a towel he made his way back to his bedroom. riffling through his closet he found a suitable shirt and pair of ripped work jeans. he was off to the market to look for work again. he had been trying for months but his mother had been keeping up with bills until he could find a ob to help her.

a knock came at the door. he looked out the front window. three of the stein guards stood at his front door. what could they possibly want he wondered to himself. but he had to answer the door. he opened the door the cold callus faces of the guards stared back at him.

" hello we come with urgent news from the castle all boys or men older than 17 must come to work at the palace for the guard."

"does he have to go" a small voice comes from behind him.

it was his sister Emmaline was now awake. she was only three she had dark jet black hair and green eyes the color of a glass bottle. he picked her up in his arms. he spun her around if she was the only girl in the world he even cared about.

" dont worry emmaline i will be home again i promise" he looked at her sincerely.

the little girl nodded blinking back tears. her dad died as n infant so the only other man she knew was leaving too it hurt so much.

Tears fell silently down the little girls face. She hugged him looking up at her brother not knowing if it was going to be the last time she would see him.

He quickly went to his room and packed the essentials and walked back out to the living room where saw the soldiers talking to his mom. His mom noticed him in the doorway of the living room and ran to hug him. She didn't cry not because she wasn't scared she was too proud of her son.

Arden held in his emotions he couldn't show his emotions he had to be strong. not only for himself but he had to be strong for his sister. the guards ushered hm outside of his home.

he looked back at the place that he grew up. climbed into the wagon and it pulled away heading back to the castle.

there were many men in the back of the wagon some close to his age some he recognized from school. they looks older and worn down. once your out of school your pushed into the workforce. you either end up in a factory in a shop or in the mines. if your lucky you marry up and get out completely. but thats usually not the case. arranged marriages were all to common in the higher castes

he was drawn out of his thoughts when the wagon halted. he hadn't know how long he had been in the wagon lost in this thoughts. a loud creaking noise could be heard and the wagon lurched forward again . after a couple hundred feet the wagon stopped again. finally he heard shuffling outside the wagon the back of the wagon was dropped. thy were told to exit the wagon. as soon as he stepped out the hot September sun scorched his skin. they was lead into a back entrance of the castle. shown to the living quarters for the guards.

it was four to a room and two to a bunk. they all got their room assignments and started to settle themselves in. a knock sounded at the door. they all turned toward it as it opened revealing a man in a generals uniform. he entered the room his hard boots causing his steps to echo through the room.

"Men you are here to protect the castle while the princes of other kingdoms come to try for the heart of the princess you will cater to the royal guests as well as escort the royal family anywhere they need to go" he orders. '

"Menthis, Barker you will be protecting the prince" he pauses " Gardner, Hendrickson" your in charge of the royal family he didn't hesitate "Kalswell" you will guard the princess.

my eyes widened.

"you are to report to your stations immediately, guards will show you to your post on that wall is your weapons". he pointed to a far wall of the room were pistols and daggers laid on the table. we gathered around picking ours. we were all lead in separate directions. the gaurd i was following stopped in front of a big white double door. he knocked at the door. a woman in a black maids costume answered the door.

" yes how can i help you." she asked looking past him at me. i was nothing really to look at i stood at 6 ft 3 dark brown hair and eyes as blue as the sky.

" this is one of the new guards assigned to watch the princess," the guard began.

the maid looking un phased looks me up and down. and shut the door again.

" well all you basically have to do is stand here and when the princess leaves her room escort her an protect her at all cost." he says firmly.

the other guard walks away. i was left alone at the door of the princess. what was i to do.

freyigha sat in her dressing room as the handmaids stood around her fluffing and primping her air and makeup. today she was meeting a potential man she would be wed to. all was hustling and bustling until a knock came upon the door.

one of the lead handmaids stepped away and answered the door. she heard a male guard talking. she tried to listen but could not hear the conversation over her handmaids talking about how handsome the prince is and how they would look lovely together. the thought of being wed to someone she didn't love made her sick.

the door shut snapping her out of her daze. they all stood around her putting the finishing touches before she was to be escorted to the day room to meet with the prince. By the time they finished, she fell nothing short of looking like a proper regal queen. Her eyes sparkled she felt beautiful. Maybe I will like this prince she thought. She would give him a chance.

She stood making her way to the door Arden stood guarding the door. He turned to address her.

"My....." his breath caught in his throat his words trapped by her beauty and elegance. A flush spread across her cheeks she looked over the speechless guard.

"excuse me' she says muffled and shy. trying to hide the flush that covers her cheeks. She hurriedly walks past him her dress flowing behind her like the ocean waves. she hurries down the hall to the grand staircase where a woman stands she looks like she is in mixed '40s a stern look planted on her face. hurrying down the stairs. almost losing her balance she catches herself on the railing. she looks up and a pair of eyes meet hers. an arm outstretched in front of her. if she would have fallen he surely would have caught her. at a glance, it looked like a normal interaction but it was far from it. it was the moment they felt it the sparks the butterflies. nobody else was aware of their feelings but them. she caught herself staring for a split second she quickly pulled away dusting herself off. she was sure her face was even redder. she pushed back the feeling and continued down the stairs. her heart still racing.

*Arden*

I don't know how or why but I felt the urge to stick my arm out in front of her. her gaze met mine her blue-grey eyes meeting mine. not a soul could feel what I felt at that moment a rush of electricity surged through my body when she touched me. at that moment the world fell away. but we quickly got brought back into reality when she pulled herself back dusting her dress off and rushing again down the stairs. her cheeks even more flushed. her dimples on her cheeks prominent. she reached the bottom as her Lady in Waiting quickly hurried her off to the throne room. Following behind we reached the door they went into the throne room disappearing behind closed doors. I stayed at the door, another set of guards approached. this time behind them was a boy about my age. dressed in the finest clothes I have seen he was obviously a royal.

a guard spoke his voice was gruff. " The prince would like an audience with the princess. you will let us through" it came as an order. deciding it was best to abide since I knew the prince of elmwood was coming to try to marry the princess. I know I didn't have a chance with her. stuffing the pang of jealousy I felt back I moved out of the way so they could pass. The doors opened, and they disappeared behind the doors.

I was having an internal battle with myself I couldn't deny those sparks I felt. I was conflicted. I had to remember why I was here. what would my family say if they knew I was going to write home soon. my mother will think I'm insane she will tell me to forget about it.

I let out an audible sigh in frustration.

"what's bothering you," asked the guard on the other side of the door"

" nothing" seemed like anything" he poked.

I rolled my eyes, visibly annoyed. I didn't know him I didn't know if I could trust him. " I don't want to talk about it" I started to say.

" aha! I knew something is bothering you" he said a little too loudly earning us glares from the staff.

I again roll my eyes keeping my mouth shut.

a few hours later the prince exited the throne room but not without sending a glare in my direction. at that moment I decided he would be my rival.

*freighya*

Inside the ballroom, my mother my father, and I sat upon our thrones. A knock sounded on the big wooden mahogany doors. It echoed through the room altering all of us to a new presence. Of course, I knew it had to be the prince of elmwood I was scheduled to meet him today.

The door swung open and in waltzed a tall brunette he had dark hair and bright blue eyes alike with mine. I felt eyes on me the whole room stopped the servants stopped to watch my parents awaited patiently of my judgment but the truth was I couldn't pass judgment on him.

One thing I was sure of was I couldn't get those green eyes out of my head. He had similar features to that guard. I had to try. I reminded myself. It was up to me to take my place as the next queen. Everything was denied for me who I shall date who I shall marry who will try to court me.

Then and there I made myself a promise. My kids would have the freedom to love whomever they want. I won't force my children into a loveless marriage.

All the while I was entertaining the ice of this prince he did have a few interesting qualities about him. I nodded quietly while listening to him. Ramble on. eventually, it came time to freshen up before lunch. I would be having lunch in the courtyard with the prince as a first date.

the prince was led out of the room and was taken back up to his guest chambers.

I sighed in relief. My mother and father gave me a look. i spent the rest of the day thinking about that gaurd that escorted me. He was soo much more handsome than the prince.

"Freyigha, it's not lady like to stare off onto space" she scolds me.

Father frowns.

"Sorry mother sorry father," i stand straightening my dress.

If i may excuse myself i would like to excuse myself for some fresh air.

Mother gives a curt nod and father gives his approval.