Milina sat in the carriage next to her sleeping sister, staring out of the small window. Racing past her were large, dark trees; the beams of light shining through their green leaves gave the forest a warm, cozy feel. Scattered between them in small clusters grew small yellow flowers. Sitting there in silence, she tried to organize her thoughts.

  Since her uncle had suppressed the rebellion and regained control of the capital, the immediate threat to their family had been taken care of. But he had decided it was no longer possible to keep her father’s death a secret.

  When she returned to Castle Salizia, she would have to make an announcement, proclaiming to the world that her father had died from health complications, peacefully in his bed, surrounded by loved ones. A lie.

  Absentmindedly taking in the passing landscape, she felt worried about the future, thoughts of failure bouncing around her head like a crazed cat. She would be starting her reign as Queen with a lie. A necessary lie, but a lie, nonetheless.

  Realizing that she was unconsciously holding her breath, she slowly exhaled, feeling the tension ease from her body. When she was under stress, she had a bad habit of holding her breath.

  She drew in a deep, steady breath through her nose and let it out slowly before closing her eyes.

  Don’t hold your breath, she reminded herself, turning her attention to the worries bouncing around in her mind. Each one caused her anxious heart to beat quicker.

  Among all her concerns, one loomed larger than the rest: she had to find a husband within three years.

  Frustrated at the Kingdom’s laws, she gripped her hands tightly, feeling her short nails leave marks on her rough palms.

  I’ll only be Queen until I can find a suitable husband, she thought, her breath slowing down. Then I need to have a son so he can take over when he comes of age.

  Signing internally, she kept her face devoid of negative emotion, she had to radiate strength and confidence. But deep down, she cursed the fact that she had no real control over her life. Her wishes always came second to the well-being of her people.

  I will never do anything to fail my people. Unlike father.

  Ever since the day she fled the castle with her sister, she had tried to understand why they had been attacked, going so far as to ask Mr. Maliri to send her regular reports of the Kingdom. The more she read, the more it felt as if the ground below her had opened up, swallowing her whole. The Kingdom was on the verge of collapse, and it was her father’s fault.

  Setting aside the issue of her marriage for the moment, she turned to the other problems crowding her thoughts, trying to analyze each one. But no matter how hard she tried, her mind kept circling back to the greatest of them all: religion.

  Vanura was being torn apart by it.

  The clash between the followers of Gera and Alumus was still ongoing, General Calahan’s rebellion creating even more distrust between the two. Many in the capital had hoped that once the statue of Gera was returned to the capital, tensions would calm down. But the act seemed to do the opposite. Violence was at an all-time high.

  Why is this happening? she wondered, brushing a strand of hair from her sister’s forehead. I understand that the followers of Alumus are upset… we did remove the statue of Alumus. But why are violent actions from both sides rising? Why are the followers of Gera so upset? They got everything they wanted.

  Feeling her sleeping sister shift next to her, she glanced down at her, noticing a small bit of drool on her sister’s mouth. Smiling, she reached over and wiped it with a handkerchief. Stirring in her sleep, Elina mumbled something before closing her mouth and snuggling against Milina’s arm, clutching it, she continued to sleep.

  Careful not to wake her, Milina stared out of the window, her thoughts drifting back to their departure from the Maliri residence this morning.

  Before they had left, her sister had promised Ashely, Shina, and June that she would visit whenever she had time. The journey between the Capital and the Manor took less than two hours in good weather. Watching Elina hug Ashely, she had felt a momentary sting of regret. She, too, had wished to be friends with everyone, but she could not, her personality preventing her from making such connections.

  Turning away from the sound of her sister laughing at something Shina had said, Milina had caught a glimpse of her uncle’s scowl. His lips were pursed together as he watched Elina interact with Shina and June. Milina had always known her uncle disapproved of people from the lower class, especially when it came to Elina’s interaction with them. Even as a child, Milina could see his disdain for Elina’s mother. Her commoner origins caused him to argue with her father on more than one occasion.

  Milina didn’t agree with her uncle. He was too rigid in his thought process, his desire to keep House Salizia’s reputation blinding him from reason. But she couldn’t argue with him either, she didn’t have the courage to say anything to him yet.

  Stroking her sister’s arm, she hoped that Elina’s promise to visit frequently would not become a bigger deal in the future, but with her sister’s personality, she was positive that it would clash with their uncle.

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  I really wish I didn’t have to take a side, she sighed. I don’t want to get on Uncle Hector’s bad side. But she knew she would—if it was for her sister, she would.

  I need to learn to mediate between parties, she thought. Once I become Queen, I’ll have to mediate between the religions, the Lords of the Great Houses, and my own family.

  Remembering that the Great Lords had already started to suggest possible marriage partners, Milina had to remind herself to breathe again. In through her nose, out through her mouth.

  So far, the two possible candidates were Prince Orda of Kandula and Prince Mayaga of the Silkbug Kingdom. Both were men she had never met.

  When Milina was young, she had often wondered whether she would marry for love or for the good of her country. At the time, knowing her father had always married for love, she believed that love was her path too.

  But that belief had shattered the moment she looked into her father’s reign, her innocence crushed by reality.

  The Kingdom was on the brink of collapse. A famine in the southeastern region had driven a wave of peasants to the capital, desperate for food and work. But instead of hope, they found more despair. The corrupt officials serving under Queen Kina’s father refused to give any aid. Those who didn’t starve were forced to live outside the city walls, where a massive tent city had sprung up at the base of the outer wall.

  Murder, sickness, and theft plagued the canvas settlement, while the city guards turned a blind eye. On top of it all, the religious conflicts between Alumus and Gera had turned the capital into a giant tinderbox, ready to catch fire.

  Taking a slow, controlled breath, she kept the hate she had started to feel for her father from taking hold.

  Hating him won’t change anything. As long as I learn from his mistakes, I can save the Kingdom. Father let his emotions choose his decisions, and that caused the Kingdom to be in this state. So, I need to be different. I won’t let history remember Father as the reason our House fell. I won’t be the last ruler from our House.

  Feeling her sleeping sister against her arm, Milina silently swore to herself. I will do anything to protect you, protect our House, and our Kingdom, even if I have to sacrifice myself. If marriage is all that it takes, I will do it.

  The days after the two princesses returned home were hectic, the ringing of the bells proclaiming the King's death, the meetings and organization of his funeral, and catching up with all the ongoings of the Kingdom. By the time the actual funeral came, Milina was so tired it almost felt like a blessing. The day was a blur to her.

  Funerals for royalty in Vanura were usually a lengthy affair, days and even weeks of mourning followed by a blessing ceremony held by whatever religion the deceased individual followed. But in this case, Milina and her uncle chose to speed up the process, cutting down the almost month-long affair into a couple of days, not wanting to drag out the unpopular King’s death.

  Long after the condensed funeral ceremony had ended, Milina stood alone in the Royal Burial Vault, her mind numb from the endless times she had forced herself not to break down crying. She had pushed her grief deep within her soul. Surrounded by her ancestors, she felt the heavy weight of responsibility settle on her shoulders, the helplessness of the situation pressing down on her like an anchor, keeping her rooted in place.

  In this cool, dark vault now lay both her parents. Her father’s new resting place also entombed her carefree future. In a way, she mourned the loss of her freedom more than her father’s death, an admission that filled her with guilt every time it crossed her mind.

  Letting out the breath of air she had been holding in, she studied her father’s resting place, her eyes moving slowly. Her father’s headstone was constructed next to her mother’s—precious white marble cut into a simple but perfect rectangle. Carved onto it was the face of a young and strong-looking man, nothing like the sickly man who had been murdered.

  Sitting on the white marble between her parents, Milina stared up at the low ceiling, softly humming a lullaby that Elina’s mother, Queen Pulina, used to sing to her when she was little.

  “Fly little horse, with your wings so strong,

  Fly little horse, past the golden sun.”

  It was a lullaby from Arioria, where the Horse Lords ruled. According to Queen Pulina, her mother had come from Arioria with nothing but the clothes on her back and a dream.

  Queen Pulina was not buried here. Uncle Hector had seen to that, arguing that someone whose bloodline could not be traced should not be laid to rest among their ancestors. Instead, she was buried just outside the Royal Burial Vault, in a small garden created by Milina’s father.

  As the minutes slipped by, Milina knew it was time to leave, her Kingdom needed her.

  “Mother, Father… I have to go now,” she whispered, rising to her feet and brushing the dust off her mother’s tomb. “Don't worry. I won’t dishonor our family name. I will bring glory to our House once again.”

  With that, she turned and made her way out of the Royal Vault, heading to the small garden, where she knew Elina would be.

  Elina was standing where her mother was buried, her head hanging down, tears silently running down her face. Quickly rushing over to her sister, Milina hugged her tightly, feeling the tears soak through her clothes.

  “Can you tell me about my mother again?” Elina quietly whispered, wiping her eyes on Milina’s dress. “I don’t even know what she looked like.”

  Carefully leading her sister to a nearby bench, Milina sat down, stroking her sister’s head. “Your mother was beautiful and kind, her soul purer than any other soul I have ever seen. She was steadfast in her morals, helping the poor in more than just words. I saw her go down to the poorest districts and hand out food and blankets. Everyone loved her. When Father married her, she took care of me and our late brother, Perseus, like her own.”

  Looking down at her sister, Milina began to sing the lullaby once more, waiting for her sister to join.

  “Fly little horse, with your wings so strong,

  Fly little horse, past the golden sun.”

  As she began the second verse, Elina joined her, their voices rising together and drifting into the afternoon sky.

  Sitting there with her sister, Milina wanted to freeze this moment in time, a moment she knew she would miss dearly once she became Queen.

  Afterward, there was no time to rest. Her coronation had to be planned: writing invitations to all the Great Lords and foreign kingdoms, maintaining peace in the capital, and arranging accommodations for the visiting nobles and guests. Every day seemed to fly by in the blink of an eye.

  During this time, Milina only saw Elina at breakfast, too preoccupied to notice that her sister would travel to the Maliri residence each morning and return at night. As the day of her coronation approached, she felt a nervous electricity in the air, one filled with the hope that a new and prosperous chapter for the Kingdom of Vanura was about to begin.