Lydia’s POV:
I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Serah was…a princess?
“You’re a…a…a royal?” I demanded.
Serah winced, “Lower your voice Lydia, please. And I will explain everything.”
“Everything?” Colten demanded.
“Wait, you knew, Colt?” I asked.
He hesitated, “Well…yes.”
Serah suddenly reached out, grabbing my arm and dragging me farther away from the royals.
“I’m a princess, Lydia.” She said simply, “I ran away from home with my older sister when I was fourteen. I had a stepmother who just wanted to get rid of me, so that her five children could get the throne. So Sammy, my sister, and I just made a run for it.”
I stared at her, “And…Colten? What do you have to do with this?”
“I was a stable boy. Serah and I have been friends for a long time. So when she ran…I did too.”
“And you have a sister?” I whimpered.
Serah was silent for a moment, hurt flashed across her face, “Had. She…died. Right before we met you guys.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Died?” I asked, “How?”
Serah swallowed hard. I could see it was hard for her to talk about it, but I needed to know.
“How?” I repeated.
“I don’t…know.” Serah said slowly, “I woke up one morning, alone. I found her sword, and her jacket but nothing else. I searched for days, but I couldn’t find her. I even snuck back to the palace to find her, but she was gone. Eventually, I managed to grow my hair over my face, so no one would recognize me. I asked around towns, around the isles, but no one had seen her. My father eventually gave up the search, convinced that we were gone.”
“So you…moved on?” I asked.
When Serah didn’t answer, Colten did. Watching his words carefully, he said, “Serah moved on from anything in life. Family, emotions…” He hesitated, “…Love.”
I looked back at Serah. She seemed to have drifted off to some far off place, where she was alone and no one could join her.
A sudden yell behind us made me turn around. The royals were waving me over. I ignored them. This was more important.
“So what now Serah? You’re a runaway princess, who became a pirate captain.” I froze, “Will you ever tell Perryn?”
Immediately Serah looked horrified, “What? No! Never!”
“But he fancies you! And don’t even start to make up the excuse of, ‘oh I don’t like him’ because I know you like him.”
“He’s a prince.” Serah said coldly.
“And you’re a princess, so nothing is keeping you two apart except you.”
Serah sighed, “I don’t like princes Lydia. They get a wife and they’re all about showing them off to the public, or making peace with a neighboring kingdom. That’s why I ran away in the first place, because I didn’t want to be some trophy that a prince held out for a while to show off but eventually just forgets about and shoves into the closet.”
“I don’t think Perryn’s like that.” I protested.
“So what do you want me to do?” Serah sighed.
“Be sweet!” I said, “He’s not that type of prince, Serah. He’ll never forget about you.”
Serah sighed again, defeated, “Fine.”
I nodded as I turned to go back to the royals, who seemed to be in a panic.
“Lydia.” Colten said suddenly.
I stopped and turned to face him.
“Don’t tell anyone.” Serah said slowly, “I’ll tell them when I’m ready.”
I sighed, “Okay.”