Chapter One
Most girls Genevieve Sparrow's age were envious of her position. She was well-fed, well protected and extremely wealthy. She, however, couldn't possibly be any more miserable. Being the only living heir to the throne is tiresome and boring. I've been on this earth for 18 years, yet I've only left the castle grounds five times. I haven't lived—I've been protected and preserved for most of my life, treated like a prized possession instead of a daughter.
The King, her father, has her under constant surveillance by a guard I assume would rather have a different position. When she is in her chambers, they are posted outside of the large oak door, forbidden to step foot inside; that is the mistake she chose to take advantage of. For so long she waited for her chance to escape, not that she want to leave forever, she simply wanted to show them that she is smarter than they realize and she's getting tired of being taken for granted. For months she had been hoarding bed sheets; tying them together to escape out of the bedroom window onto the balcony below, memorizing the schedule of the guards to know when she could most easily slip out without any altercations.
As she slipped through the window and clung to the rough sheets, the thick August air hit her like a brick wall. Though she had timed it perfectly she couldn't help but feel nervous, and as she got closer to the ground, the anxiety built in her chest making it hard to breathe. The sound of her feet hitting the ground sent sparks of excitement through her veins, she wasn't even sure she would make it this far. The sun peaked over the distant trees, soon her maid Elizabeth would come bring her breakfast, and her absence would send alarm through the castle.
Hearing the clamor of shouts behind her forced her to break into a sprint, she looked back to see if she was being followed. Unsurprisingly a pack of the King's men were trying to catch up to her. William—she thought that was his name- her current personal guard led the group, his face red with embarrassment. She almost felt sorry for him.
To her dismay the men steadily gained on her; she pumped her arms willing herself to run faster as she jumped over a small creek. The feeling of empty air beneath her feet sent her heart soaring, though her body was doing anything but that. Her legs barely cleared a massive rock that lay at the bottom of the creek bed, she turned to see William jump after her, and the guards were closer than she thought they could get in a matter of seconds. The unforgiving rock seemed to reach up and grab William by the ankle causing him to plummet to the cool water below. She heard his head hit the rocks below, and a groan slip from his lips.
She stopped dead in her tracks, gasping as she turned and ran to him. Blood seeped out of his skull, into the cold water and swept past him. His eyes lost their glimmer and emptiness took its hold. Sadness rushed into her heart, filling every gaping crevice. She didn't know this man, she barely even knew his name, yet he lost his life trying to keep her safe. He died because she chose to be reckless.
"You see what you did?" a deep voice growled, it belonged to the Captain of the Guard, "Because of your foolishness, this man lies dead! Come with me, I'll let His Majesty deal with you.