This story is a sequel to my previous story, 'The One and Only True Love,' and although it is not essential that you read that first it is highly recommended :) There are many new characters and a few old favourites, including a certain mischievous King :) I hope you enjoy this introductory chapter.
Prologue...
Twenty years after Illea rose from the ashes of rebel attacks and a war in New Asia it prospers under the rule of Queen America and King Maxon. Rebels have become a distant memory, a soft hum in the background of a thriving nation. After the fire, the palace along with Illea was rebuilt from the ground up. The castes, an ugly smudge on the nations past, one in which the people were eager to put behind them. The king and queen worked tirelessly to bring in the new, freer age of the nation they loved. However, the rebels still lurked in the background gaining numbers and looking for the perfect opportunity to strike again.
Several years after the birth of their first child Amberly and their second, Prince Adam there was an attack on the palace. After the extended period of peace the palace was unprepared. Only Adam and Queen America were in the palace at the time with King Maxon, Princess Amberly and the newborn twins, Michael and Marinda away discussing trade with King Frederick in England. Queen Olivier had been dying to see the twins so Maxon agreed to take them with him on his trip. He would always be grateful that he did.
The attack came in the middle of the night when the palace was sleeping and unsuspecting of the dark shadows that crept within their walls. Adam was four at the time and terrified when the alarm sounded. He ran for his mother's room who quickly scooped up the young prince and rushed for the nearest entrance to the main safe room.
However, there was a maid roaming the halls that night trying to calm her newborn child and when she heard the alarm she searched in terror for somewhere to keep her and her child safe but the rebels found her and the Queen. Just as a rebel loosed a shot towards the young prince, who was waiting for his mother to open the door the young woman launched her body to protect him. Still clutching the baby in her arms she looked up at the startled queen as a guard took down the rebel.
'Please, save her,' the young maid whispered as she took her last breath.
The prince reached for the crying baby and wrapped her tightly in his arms like he would one of his twin siblings. He held her firmly to his chest as Queen America tried to move the child's mother, but it was too late. Hearing another rebel approaching Queen America quickly rushed her young son inside the passageway still clutching the small baby to his chest, protecting her from harm.
Once they were inside the safe room he refused to let her go and she finally calmed in his arms and fell asleep. However, the young prince stayed awake simply looking down at the small child in his arms with a curious expression. His mother was busy ensuring everyone's safety as he sat peacefully with the girl sleeping soundlessly in his hold, unaware of the loss she had just suffered.
When the palace was safe, Adam continued to carry the baby in his arms refusing to let even his mother take her from him. When a man came, who some of the staff knew as the father, the prince reluctantly gave the child up. The baby screamed reaching for her saviour but the man continued to carry her away as Adam watched on sadly, feeling deep inside that she was safer with him. Even with his young heart he knew the man who took her away didn't want her, otherwise he would have been there from the start.
'She's safest with her father Adam.' Queen America tried to sooth but the prince refused to take his eyes off her as the man walked her away from the palace, away from him. He would never forget those green eyes staring back at him through the pink blankets. They were so bright, as if they were alight with all the dreams of the world.
However, the rebels weren't the only threat lurking beneath the surface in Illea. With the castes all but abolished there were others plotting against the crown. Those who stood above the rest rejected the change. Those who had all the power and riches of the country walked in the shadows plotting the downfall of the current king and queen.
The royal family continued life, blissfully unaware of the threat hiding right in front of them. They were far too focused on bringing peace and harmony to their country and when finally the castes were a memory rather than a reality they learned Queen America was pregnant again with their fifth child, Princess Harmonia. She was named to signifying the promised unity of their nation. She was the hope and the dreams of the people for the future. She along with the other children born of this new nation were the light in a long tunnel of recovery that always seemed to be getting longer. The new generation held the dream that with each generation they would be one step closer to removing the stigma of the castes, one step closer to achieving equality among the people.
Although, from the palace it was easy for the king and queen to miss the unrest in their people. After all, it is hard to remove the prejudices of a caste system when people are so sure of their supremacy above another. Within their country despite the removal of the formal titles the knowledge of the castes still existed and people still discriminated against their fellow countrymen because of it.
A young girl without a mother and an ignorant, absent father was still seen as nothing but a lowly eight serving in a house she should have been welcomed in as a daughter. Yet despite it all her eyes still held the promise of dreams and the other staff would often find her high among the tree's top branches lost in a world of her own invention, dreaming up dreams of a better future, a freer future. Where she was more than the prejudices people placed upon her.