Chapter One: The Diary's Secret

Diary,

A tragedy has once again struck me. There came no warning. There was no defense I could procure. After trying for so long to conceive an heir, I finally became with child. I told my husband, who has been pestering me about this since we were first married. He was happy, though not for having a family rather than having a new political device. Many months have past since that day, but yesterday, the doctors told me the baby died.

I asked them to keep this from my husband, claiming that I wanted to be the one to tell him. Though, I do not think I will tell him. Not anytime soon, at least. If he finds out I have miscarried he will be furious. He will surely execute me and take a younger, fertile wife as his new queen.

I am heartbroken beyond repair. I needed to tell someone- or I suppose something. Keep my secrets.

Dorian stared at the first entry. He wondered what kind of pain this woman must have felt. More than that, however, he wondered who the woman was. She talked as if her husband was a high ranking aristocrat, if not king himself. But what queen would be so silly to write in a diary. It was almost like she wanted her secrets to be found out. Dorian shook his head and continued onto the next entry, which was dated a few days after the first.

Diary,

They say there are five stages of grief. I believe I am going through them one by one. I didn't tell my king because I myself could not believe it. I wanted to try to find a way out, however illogical that may sound. There is no way out of death. Then I became angry- more angry than I have been in a long time. I took it out on the serving girls. I told them that they were ugly inside and out; I told them no man would ever love them. I haven't apologized yet.

I met a rather handsome stranger today. He was tall, tan, and tantalizing! But, there was a very certain sadness in his eyes that no one could deny. He looked broken, defeated, desperate. I think he was grieving, too. We made a bargain. He must have some kind of magic, because as soon as I agreed, a horrid black whirling tattoo crawled up my arm. It has been there ever since.

My end of the bargain is rather simple: to raise and protect his child. In return I have my life, and my status as queen remains. I also gain the child I always wanted. He warned me that he might return one day, when darkness and evil had left his land. I hope that day is not soon. Keep my secrets.

Dorian wondered what had happened to her. The entries were dated very close to the day of his birth, but this queen must have come from somewhere else. The diary must have traveled from a very distant land, then. Many a foreign queens had visited this castle, one of them might have simply forgotten their dear diary before they left. Dorian leafed in his head through the aristocrats he had met in his lifetime, but none had a story quite like these. He continued reading:

Diary,

That stranger was my salvation. This child is the greatest blessing I have received in my lifetime. When he smiles, the world turns to color. When he cries, I wish to comfort him. Is this what love is? I never thought I could know.

I paid the doctors to keep quiet. They agreed, and didn't ask questions.

My husband, the king, is none the wiser. He loves the child as his own. I suppose he believes that this child is the heir to his throne. I don't believe I have seen him so happy in all my life. We call him Dorian.

Keep my secrets.

Dorian blinked, rereading the last entry over and over again. We call him Dorian. Those words echoed in his head. It couldn't be him, could it? But if the king and queen were not his biological parents- he had no right to the throne. And if the serving girls had been passing around this diary-

"I'm finished," Dorian said. "It's a giant conspiracy- a scandal even. Hollin will take the throne. Adarlan will fall." Passing footsteps made Dorian shiver, but they soon faded into the distance.

"I must hide this," Dorian thought, tucking the diary into his waistcoat. He swiftly left the library and flew through the corridors. Guards were rushing everywhere.

"My lord," One addressed him, huffing,"You must come with me. It's an emergency."

As if on cue, the warning bell began to chime. The guard looked pleadingly to his king. Dorian nodded and followed the guard deeper into the castle.

Dark stone halls surrounded them now. The echo of each footstep rhymed with the beating of their hearts. Down they still went- until they reached a small room with no windows and a thick, iron door.

"Yes, this should do nicely," The guard said to himself.

"What kind of emergency is this anyway?" Dorian said. The guard locked the iron door, and slowly turned towards Dorian.

"Your reign is over." The guard murmured. Then he stabbed Dorian in the jugular with a thin needle. "This won't take long."

Dorian felt upside down. He felt backwards. Vomit rose in his throat, but he swallowed it. His vision went blurry. In seconds, even the bright orange glow of the torch dimmed. He could faintly hear the sound of the door opening.

"Goodbye- King Dorian."


Author's Note.

Thank you so much for reading this little fic of mine! I hope you enjoy it :)