“Jaxson! Are you paying attention?” My father almost shouted, as I jolted out of my thinking.

“Sorry, Father, I just zoned out. Politics has always bored me.” I quickly apologized, as I internally smacked myself.

My honey brown eyes met Father’s own chocolate brown eyes.

Father sighed in a you’re getting annoying, and you tire me out tone. “Jaxson, how will you ever rule Evenrale if you don’t learn the laws and politics?”

“Sorry, Father.” I repeated, holding back a snarky remark, and avoiding his question.

I stood up, and he sighed again. “I’m going to the library.”

“Catch up on your studies if you’re going!” Father called, as I left.

The royal guards fell in line behind me, marching in unison, as I walked to the library. I stood at the doors to the library, and glanced over my shoulder at the guards staring at me blankly.

“You don’t need to come and follow me, you know.”

“Sire, with all due respect, we’re here so that way somebody doesn’t try to kill you.” One said.

“It’s the library guys!” I said, exasperated, turning to face the guard. “Seriously, who’s going to kill me in the library? Throw books? It’s fine, seriously, just stay here.” I told them, turning to go into the library.

I scan the bookshelves for my favorite book. At the Sea, a romance-fiction book. One I’ve reread over and over again.

I located the book, and pulled the well-worn book out of the shelf. Settling on a small couch chair, I started reading for what had to be the 50th time.

But barely five chapters in, though, my mother came in, wearing a simple leaf green gown, her bright blue eyes scanning for me. Her eyes locked on mine, and she floated over. Not literally, it just means she walked daintily.

“Jaxson?” She asked, her gloves fingers laced over her own book.

“Yes mother?” I responded, closing my book.

“Are you rereading that book again?”

“Yes. You know it’s my favorite.”

“Ah- While I was in town, I found a book that I thought you might like. The shops-keeper told me that it’s a romance-fiction themed book, like the one you keep reading.” She put the book in her hand on the side table next to me.

I read the title.

Where the Sun and Stars Meet, is what it said.

“Thank you, mother.”

She nodded.

“Go get changed, we have guests coming over for dinner soon.”

“Where from?”

“Burryly.” She answered, leaving, then stopped and turned to me. “Also… do something about your hair.” She waved her hand around my head.

I touch my messy, dirty blonde hair, grab the new book, and walk to my room.

I set the book on my nightstand, before going to the closet. I grabbed a fancy jerkin I only wear on special occasions, a sash of the kingdom colors (cream, dark grey, navy, and light blue), and black trousers. I ducked into the bathroom, changed, and stared at myself in the mirror.

I sighed, and started to comb my hair into the neat, cropped style, expected of a prince, my messy hair gone.

The bathroom was a version of a Jack and Jill room, but there was a wall in between the two bathrooms, giving privacy. The other Jack and Jill room has been empty for a while, even so.

When done brushing my hair, I walked out and the guards looked at me expectantly.

“What?” I asked, their stares making me want to squirm. I force myself to relax.

“Your crown, sire.” One said. I sighed, and went to the bathroom to grab my crown off of a velvet red pillow in the bathroom. Does a 17 year old really need to wear a crown? It’s so heavy. But being a prince has things to do, like this. Stupid little things, really.

I stepped out of the bathroom, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the light again.

“Little sister?” I asked, as I spotted Ella, my 10 year old younger sister, in a baby pink dress and tiny tiara. She looked up at me.

“Jax!” She grinned widely, her face soft lighting up. At times she can be so innocent and younger than her age, and at others, she can be so brave.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

“How’s my favorite younger sister?” I smiled back.

“Great! How do I look?” She asked, twirling, her dress fluttering like a butterfly.

“Beautiful.” I said, bending down to her height and pinching her cheeks lightly. “How long have you been here for?”

“A few minutes. I was here both times you came out of the bathroom. You just didn’t notice me.”

“Ahhh-”

“Sire, Miss, you must get going before you are late for dinner.” One of my guards reminded me.

“Oh right. Thank you.” I said, as I picked up Ella in my arms, carrying her.

“Hey! Put me down!” Ella laughed, as I walked out of my room, guards trailing behind me.

“Never.” I teased her, walking down the Grand Staircase, to get to the dining room.

Ella grunted, struggling to get out of my grasp. “You’re strong- and tall.”

“While I may be six feet-three, you’re just light. Feather light.” I smiled widely at her frown, approaching the dining room.

“Ugh, mean!” She scowled at me playfully.

“No, very nice and honest.” I played along, not noticing the stares of the rulers of Burryly and our parents.

Father cleared his throat loudly, and I immediately stiffened. I set Ella down, who went to her chair, as I bowed.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Mother, Father.”

“Oh it’s alright!” The lady in most finery said. “It’s always nice seeing two siblings getting along so well.”

Silently, I walked to my chair, next to a girl around my age, who must be the princess of Burryly.

“I’m Queen Rowena.” The lady continued, with a weird accent.

“I’m King Braeden, ruler of Burryly.” The man at the other head of the table said.

“And I’m Kala.” The girl next to the left of me said, in a soft voice. Ella squeezed my hand from the right of me.

“We’re glad you made the journey to come to Evenrale. We hope you enjoy the meal.” Father said.

“Thank you for having us. We really hope that we can negotiate something for our treaty.” King Braeden said. A bell rang in the distance.

“Ahh, that is our signal that dinner is ready.” Father said, as servants came pouring out of the kitchen, carrying dishes and platters of food, setting it on the table .

“Let us eat a full dinner, and discuss after.” Father announced, raising his glass of wine.

“Agreed.” King Braeden responded, raising his glass too. And with that, dinner started.

Ella ate quickly and finished fast, as always, and stood.

“May I be excused?” Ella asked politely.

“Yes you may.” Mother answered her, and Ella left for upstairs, after pushing in her chair. I finished my food quickly, and stood, too.

“May I be excused too, Mother?”

“No, you may not.” Father answered sharply. I silently sat back down before asking.

“Why not?”

“Because, we want you to converse." Father said. “Get to know Kala, prehaps?”

“Uh…” I turned to Kala, who was writing something on her napkin with a small feather, neck hunched over.

Go. She wrote.

I must have had a questioning look, so she wrote more.

They aren’t my real parents. They took me from my home. Go.

“What?” I whispered to her, silently. Our parents were too immersed in their treaty discussion.

They’ll kill you. My parents. Don’t eat anything they give you.

“Alright.” I whispered to her, giving her a reassuring squeeze, on her hand. She flinched, but didn’t cower away. “I’ll find a way to get you out of here.” I stood.

“Mother, Father, may Kala and I be excused?” I asked them, as Kala looked at me, confused. “I must confer with her about something.”

Without waiting for their answer, I grabbed her hand lightly, as she stood, and gently pulled her out. Our parents looked at us confused, and we left.

The minute we were out of earshot, I started jogging, with Kala following behind me. We jogged up the stairs, and into my room.

When we got into my room, I twirled Kala in front of me, as she was behind me earlier, and I turned swiftly and closed the door. I turned the lock, and pressed my ear against the door. No sound.

I turned to Kala, who had sunk to the carpeted floor.

“Kala?” I asked, as she looked up at me. I knelt down, so we could see eye to eye, without her looking up at me. “Are you alright?”

“O-oh, yes- I’m alright- thank you-” She stammered, looking grateful. “Why did you do that?”

“Because you looked nervous.” I answered. “Your eye had a frantic, stressed look, and you were so quiet that it sounded like you were scared of talking. I thought I should help you escape that.”

“Ah…” She looked down. “Well, thank you anyways. I should probably explain myself, right?”

“It would be helpful. But if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s alright too. We can talk about it another time.”

“No, it’s alright.” She took a deep breath. “Let me start from the beginning.”

“A long time ago, I wasn’t a princess. I wasn’t even royalty. I was a normal commoner, living a simple, but nice life. When I was 1 , royale guards kicked down the door to my father and mother’s home, and killed them and my baby sister and brother, in the middle of dinner. The guards took me from my home, dragged me to the palace, where they crowned me as princess of Burryly. They trained me to be and act like a princess. And when I hit age 16, they wanted me to marry somebody of royalty and then kill the person I married, to gain power.

And when your parents sent out the invitation to us, they jumped at it, telling me that I will make you my husband.” Her face scrunched up at the last word. “They want to kill you, using poison. Which is why I said to not eat anything I give you.”

“That’s a lot of burden to carry alone. I’m glad you told me. I’ll help you get out of this.”

“I appreciate the off-”

The clock struck 12, and at that moment, Kala let out a gurgled gasp, as she crumpled to the floor, blood leaking out of her thigh, under the thin fabric of her dress