Page 1 of The Stolen Throne
PROLOGUE
We are all the villain in someone's story, the hero in others. It all depends on who is telling the story. This… this is my story. I’ll let you decide if I’m the hero or the villain.
“D
addy!”
The dark-haired man turns, his smile hidden under his beard as he laughs. “My Little Snowflake.”
He catches me as I jump into his arms, giggling. My mother chuckles beside him as she tries to reprimand me. “Eira, you must act like a proper princess.”
My father holds me close and says, “Nonsense. She has only a few more years before she comes of age. Let her act like a child a little while longer.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head. “You are growing so fast, daughter. I must enjoy it while I can.”
“I suppose you have a point, husband. Thirteen will come quickly, and childhood will soon be forgotten.” My mother pinches my cheeks before pecking my father on his. “I will handle today’s duties. Enjoy your time with our daughter before you must leave.”
My eyes widen at that news. “You have to leave?”
He sighs and replies, “I must visit Cybele. We need to solidify our treaty with the country.”
“Why can’t someone else go?” I whine.
He chuckles. “I am the king, my Little Snowflake. The kingdom will be yours one day. I have to ensure it is at its best for you.”
“I’ll be queen!” I squeal happily.
He boops me on the nose. “Yes, you will.” He lowers me to the ground before kneeling himself. Now at eye level, he continues, “It is necessary that you remember to protect the people. They will be your responsibility one day.”
My head tilts in question. “How do I do that?”
He smiles. “You are a snowflake in this world. Pure and delicate. One of a kind. But you must also remember that even if you are delicate, that does not make you weak. Kindness and love are not weaknesses.”
I nod, my curls bouncing as I do. “I need to be kind.”
“I have no doubt you will be.” He sighs before wrapping me in his arms. “You won’t understand this now, but one day you will. As a ruler, you will have to make hard decisions. Do things that are distasteful. You will need to do what’s best for everyone, not just one person. You must always do what is right.”
My small hands pat his back. “It’s okay, Daddy. You and Mommy will be here to help me.”
His hold on me tightens. “Of course we will.”
“I’m not scared, Daddy.”
He pulls away with a smile. “My fearless snowflake.”
Little did I know that would be the last time I saw my father. The last day I would hear him calling me his Little Snowflake.
1
Seated in my father's chair, I swing my legs back and forth. His desk is large compared to my thirteen-year-old self. But my mother needs help to run the Kingdom of Arcelia. My father disappeared years ago, so he’s no longer around to help. I am the only heir, much to the disappointment of my mother’s advisors. They believe a king should sit on the throne instead of a queen.
That means my luxurious life as a Lady of the Court will never be. My lessons became focused on the nuances needed to rule. Finance, the art of arbitration, the state of the kingdom and its surrounding nations; these are now a permanent part of my life. The advisors wanted me kept in the dark, to turn me into their puppet with a crown who dances on their strings, but Mother wouldn't allow it. If I am to be Queen of Arcelia, it is important for me to learn these things.
However, tensions with the neighboring Kingdom of Wylan lead me to believe that there may not be anything left for me to rule over. I have never met the King of Wylan, but I have heard many stories. A despicable man filled with nothing but greed and death. He lays waste to any who oppose him.
We have only been able to keep them at bay because the number of soldiers we have far surpasses theirs. I am not sure how long that will last, though.
He sounds like one of the villains I used to read about in my stories when I was younger. But this is not a fairy tale. My father’s words about doing what is right are ingrained in my brain. But I wonder if there is a difference between doing what is right and doing what is necessary. Is doing what is necessary always right? Is doing what is right always necessary?
My mother often said that I was still a child, and it would take time for me to understand adult concepts. Is it wrong of me to question things? Why don’t adults question things more often? Would a villainous dictator be ruling over Wylan if the adults had questioned things more?