Letters To The Heart

Dear Stranger,

I think I'm going to be sick.

Right now, I sit in the royal stables with Sapphire, my most trusted companion. Her white mane, long and flowing, contrasts against her cream coat—a horse born of nobility, bred to pull heavy loads, but treated with the care of a prized royal steed. Her mother, Kit Kat, was my mother's horse, a legacy in itself. When mother passed, father considered selling Kit Kat, but decided against it when we discovered she was pregnant. Despite her age, Kit Kat endured the hardship, and from her, Sapphire came into my life. Now, Sapphire is mine, a small part of my mother's spirit still with me.

But none of this calms the storm raging within me.

I think I'm going to be sick. The last two days have been a disaster, and I don't know how to fix what's unraveling.

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Two Days Ago

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"You know, I used to win this game every time," I said with a teasing smile, watching Christian's furrowed brow as he focused on the checkers board.

He exhaled dramatically, running a hand through his tousled hair. "I hate when you do this to me," he grumbled, frustration showing in his otherwise composed demeanor.

Feigning innocence, I twirled a lock of hair between my fingers. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

He shot me a skeptical look before returning his attention to the game. "Sure you don't." He paused and then smirked, moving his piece. "And by the way, you need to king me."

I glanced down at the board. "Of course, your majesty," I said playfully, but I knew better than to underestimate him. "Just give me a moment to—"

Without warning, he made his move. "And there, I've dethroned you. Oh, and I believe those are two of your pieces."

I laughed, throwing up my hands in mock surrender. "Fine, I forfeit! Happy now?"

He grinned in triumph, and I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my chest. We had fallen back into our easy friendship, as if time had never separated us.

"You are something else, Elise," he remarked, his voice full of affection.

"I know," I replied with a cheeky grin. As we began to clean up the game, I noticed the sound of footsteps approaching. A tall guard stepped into the room, his face unusually solemn.

"Your Majesty," he said, bowing slightly before me.

"Yes, Sir?" I asked, my tone turning serious at once.

"Your father requests your presence in his study."

Christian immediately stood beside me, his posture protective. "I will escort the princess."

The guard hesitated, but spoke firmly. "Forgive me, sire, but His Majesty has asked me to personally bring the princess."

Christian's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he gave a nod of understanding. His sudden shift in mood confused me, but I met his gaze and gave him a small reassuring smile. There would be time to discuss whatever this was later.

The walk to my father's study felt unusually heavy. The guard's expression never softened, and the air seemed thick with unspoken words. I could sense something significant awaited me.

When we arrived at the grand double doors, I knocked softly, announcing my presence. "Father, I've come. May I enter?"

His voice came from within, calm yet carrying weight. "Yes, Elise. Come in."

As the doors opened, the dimly lit room revealed my father standing near his desk, his face shadowed but unmistakably troubled. The drapes were drawn, leaving only the flicker of candlelight to illuminate the room. But that wasn't what caught my attention.

A young man stood beside him, tall and commanding. His blond hair glinted in the faint light, and his piercing blue eyes, as clear as the sea, fixed upon me. I couldn't read them, but something about his presence felt... unwelcoming.

I could no longer keep my questions at bay. "Father, what is this about?" I asked, stepping forward but stopping short of the unknown man.

My father remained composed, though there was a sternness to his voice. "Elise, allow me to introduce you to Prince Cullen, the Crown Prince of Malian."

My heart skipped a beat. The Kingdom of Malian was well known, not only for its wealth but for the cold calculation of its leaders. An alliance with them would be politically advantageous, but the thought of a marriage...

Prince Cullen met my eyes, his gaze unwavering. My father's words echoed in my mind as if they were falling into place piece by piece.

"To strengthen our alliance with Malian, Prince Cullen has come to seek your hand."

I felt the ground tilt beneath me. Marriage? To him? My thoughts were spiraling, trying to process this revelation.

Before I could fully comprehend, Prince Cullen's voice broke through. "A pleasure, Princess. Though next time, you might consider bowing a little lower when addressing a man of title."

I froze, disbelief and anger welling up within me. How dare he speak to me in such a way? Had he no sense of respect for my station?

My father's voice cut through the tension, sharp and unyielding. "I would advise you to be mindful of your tongue, young prince. You stand before my daughter, the next Queen of Cair Paravel."

Cullen seemed momentarily taken aback, but his arrogance did not falter. My father turned to me, his expression softening slightly, though his words held no less gravity.

"Elise, you are already spoken for."

The air left my lungs. Spoken for?

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Present Time

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I will finish this later. I am no longer alone in the stables.

~ Princess Elise

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