Prologue (General POV)
Robert Fitzgerald and his group of men ride through the streets of Rosewood on a rainy winter night. The village square is empty, but the sound of a little girl crying is heard from a distance.
"Robert, what is that?" The man's friend Stephan asks him.
"Men, ride forward!" The king commands.
His subjects obey, and the sound of galloping horses drown out the girl's cries. King Robert gasps when he sees a young peasant girl crying in the middle of the road.
"Halt!" Robert screams.
The men stop their horses, and stare at the shivering girl in front of them.
"Who are you?" Robert asks the girl in his loud and booming voice.
"A-Aria." The girl stutters.
"How old are you?" He asks her.
"Eight." Aria says as she stares at the ground.
"Why are you out here alone?" The king asks her.
"My mommy sent me out here to pick berries, and I got lost." The girl says with a frown.
"Do you know who I am?" Robert asks Aria.
Aria shakes her head slowly.
"I'm the king of Rosewood!" He exclaims.
Aria gasps, and bows before the man.
"Should we return this girl to her family?" Stephan asks Robert.
"No, we're lacking servants in the castle, and this little girl might be able to help us." Robert says as he stares at Aria.
"Sir, I'm sure her parents would miss her." Stephan says with a sigh.
"Who cares? I do so much for the peasants in this kingdom, and the least they could do is give me this worthless girl." Robert says as he gestures towards Aria.
"I suppose you're right." Stephan says after thinking about it for a minute.
"Come with me." Robert tells Aria sternly.
Fear fills Aria's hazel eyes, and she tries to run away from the group of men. Robert catches up to her, and slaps the girl's face forcefully.
"You belong to me now, so you are to do as I say." Robert growls angrily.
Robert lifts Aria up and sets her on his horse. The girl's cries become louder as the men take her away from the only home that she has ever know. As soon as the royal men are out of sight, a peasant man from the village enters the square.
"Aria!" The girl's father yells.
He doesn't get a response, and Byron Montgomery begins to weep bitterly. The man return to his small house and tells his wife Ella that their little girl is gone. The couple stays up all night crying, and praying that one day they will see their daughter again.
Line Break
Ezra Fitzgerald sits at his desk in the palace and tries to focus on the arithmetic problems that his tutor instructed him to complete. The fourteen year-old prince sighs and slams his notebook shut. He wanders into the castle's library and takes a seat on the black leather chair near the window, where he reads for the rest of the afternoon.
"Ezra, your father is home!" Queen Dianne says as she enters the library.
"Already?" Ezra asks as he hides the book that he was reading earlier.
"Have you been in here all day? You need to stop reading these ridiculous books, and start focusing on the duties that come with being a prince." Dianne tells her son angrily.
"Yes mother." Ezra says as he avoids eye contact.
"Come with me, your father wants to see you and Wes." Dianne says as she leads Ezra to the corridor.
Ezra enters the castle's living quarters and gasps when he sees a girl who is about his brother's age standing next to his father. The boy stares at the girl and takes in her image. She has dark brunette hair, pale skin, and the most beautiful hazel eyes that he has ever seen.
"Who is this?" Ezra asks as he gestures towards the little girl.
"A peasant that I found in the village. She got separated from her mother and father, and I decided to bring her in as a servant." Robert says flatly.
"So you kidnapped her?" Ezra asks his father in disbelief.
"I wouldn't call it kidnapping." He says with a shrug.
"I don't want her in the house, the girl is filthy!" Dianne exclaims.
"It's nothing that a little soap won't fix. I'll have the nurse bathe her and change her into some suitable clothes. She can start working in the kitchen tomorrow." Robert tells his wife.
"What's you're name?" Dianne asks the girl.
"Aria." The girl mutters as she stares at the ground.
"Look at me when you're speaking, didn't anyone teach you manners?" Dianne asks as she storms out of the kitchen.
"Great, now you've upset the queen. If you're going to live in this castle, you need to behave yourself." Robert says as he slaps Aria across the face.
The little girl begins to cry, and clutch her swelling cheek.
"Father why did you have to do that? She hasn't done anything wrong!" Ezra exclaims.
"Don't question me son! Take this girl to the Nurse's bedroom!" The king growls angrily.
Ezra nods, and walks Aria out of the room. As soon as the king is out of sight, Aria wraps her arms around Ezra and begins to weep. The prince stares at the peasant shocked, before kissing her forehead lightly.
"Don't cry Aria, living in the castle isn't that bad." Ezra says trying to comfort her.
"I miss my mommy and daddy." The girl says through her heavy sobs.
"There are plenty of nurses around here that will take care of you." Ezra tells her gently.
"Why is there a street rat in the castle?" Prince Wes asks as he enters the room.
"She isn't a street rat, she's going to help out around the castle." Ezra tells his eight year-old brother.
"She's dirty." Wes says with a scoff.
"Shut up Wes." Ezra says with an eye roll.
"I'm a prince, that means you have to do exactly what I say!" Wes tells Aria.
"I'm the future king, and she doesn't have to listen to a word you say." Ezra tells his brother angrily.
"Whatever." Wes says as he storms out of the room.
"You're going to be the king?" Aria asks Ezra as her eyes grow wide with shock.
"That's right." Ezra says with a nod.
"Will you take me back to my mommy and daddy?" Aria asks him hopefully.
"I don't think I can do that." Ezra says with a sigh.
"Why not?" Aria asks as her face falls.
"Because that would upset my father." Ezra says apologetically.
"Oh." Aria says with a frown.
"Don't worry, when I inherit the throne I'll send out a group of soldiers to find your family and bring them to the castle." Ezra declares.
"Promise?" Aria asks.
"I promise." Ezra says as he wraps his arms around the little girl.
The prince leads the girl to the nurse's room, and hands her to the loving woman.
"Who do we have here?" The nurse asks as she strokes the girl's hair.
"This is Aria, she's going to be your apprentice." Ezra tells the woman.
"It's nice to meet you sweetheart." The nurse says as she admires the beautiful eight year-old.
"Take good care of her." Ezra begs.
"I will." The nurse assures him.
"Goodbye Aria." Ezra says as he leaves the room.
Line Break
Ezra storms into his father's room angrily.
"Hello Son." The king says as he glances at Ezra.
"I want you to take Aria back to her family." Ezra says boldly.
"Why would I do that?" The kinds questions.
"She's only eight, and she misses her parents." Ezra tells his father.
"I have bigger things to worry about than a stupid little girl. Who cares about that worthless peasant?" Robert asks his son angrily.
Ezra's heart breaks for Aria, and he decides to do everything that he can to make her life in the castle bearable.
One Year Later
It is the night of Ezra's fifteenth birthday, and all the royal families of Rosewood are invited to the castle for a banquet.
"Ezra honey, sit over here with Jackie." The queen tells her son.
"Mom!" Ezra groans.
"You two are betrothed, so you might as well get use to each other." Dianne tells her son sternly.
Ezra nods, and takes a seat next to the royal brat.
"Don't I look lovely in this dress Ezra?" Jackie asks the prince.
"You look stunning." Ezra says as he tries to contain his annoyance.
Ezra smiles when he looks across the dinning room and sees Aria serving a young couple. Over the past year, the Aria and Ezra have become inseparable. He taught the girl how to read, and she tells him about her old life in the village.
"Hi Ezra!" Aria says as she rushes over to her friend.
"That's Prince Ezra to you." Jackie says with an eye roll.
"It's okay Jackie, Aria and I are buddies." Ezra says as he smiles at the little girl.
Aria beams, and gives Ezra one of her sweetest smiles.
"Fill my glass." Jackie tells Aria sternly.
Aria nods and rushes out of the room.
"I have an announcement to make!" King Fitzgerald shouts.
Silence fills the room, and everyone focuses their attention on the king.
"Dianne and I are sending Prince Ezra to a boarding school in England, where he will continue his education. When he returns in eight years, Ezra will aid me in ruling Rosewood." Robert announces as the crowd bursts into cheers.
Ezra's heart sinks, and he looks across the room and sees Aria crying softly. He rushes over to the girl and carries her out of the room.
"Don't cry Aria!" He begs.
"Oh Ezra, I'll miss you so much." Aria says through her tears.
"I'll miss you too." Ezra says truthfully.
"Who's going to read with me?' Aria asks sadly.
"I don't know Aria." Ezra says with a sigh.
Aria continues to sob and hold on to her close friend.
"When I come back in a few years, I'll bring your parents and brother to the castle to see you." Ezra says trying to comfort her.
"Really?" Aria asks as her face lights up.
"Yes Aria, but I need you to promise me something." Ezra says seriously.
"Anything." Aria responds.
"While I'm gone, don't let anyone treat you badly. You're more than a worthless peasant girl." Ezra tells Aria.
"Am I?" Aria asks skeptically.
"Yes! You're smart, sweet, and so kind-hearted." Ezra says as tears form in his eyes.
"Ezra, get in here!" Dianne shouts to her son.
"Good bye Aria." Ezra says as before he walks out of her life for eight years.
What did you think of the first chapter? Do you want me to continue this story? Please review and let me know :).