CHAPTER ONE - The return home

Nineteen-year-old Charles of Kyrria sat back in the plush seats of his carriage, happy that he was going home. He had spent the past three years in Avaian at his school, learning the court customs that he would need to know to become king after his father after his grandfather. Charles raised a gloved hand and lifted the curtain up, glimpsing his father's kingdom rushing past the carriage. He sighed before dropping the curtain and looked around the small, yet elegant, coach. The hinges and edges of the door was glided gold, same as the outside, and the inside was an art of crisscrossed lines and color. In the back of the carriage was his trunk and the three emptied barrels of Tonic Mandy had given him before he left. Next to Charles was a smaller trunk, filled with books, a change of clothing, writing materials, and a half-filled glass bottle of Tonic.
"Oh, I do hope Mother and Father won't make too much of a fuss that I am back," Charles said softly.

Several hours later, Princess Eleanor (Ella) and Prince Charmont (Char) were waiting outside their castle, eagerly anticipating the arrival of Charles. A green, gold gilded carriage soon met the castle, the court's insignia on the side of the carriage: a blossomed rose with a teardrop falling into the center of the flower.
"Charles!" Ella called out as the carriage stopped in front of them. The door opened and a dashing, brown-haired, young man stepped out, a brush of freckles sprinkled across his nose.
"Mother!" Charles grinned, running to greet his parents. Ella enveloped him in a huge, kissing his face dozens of times.
"Darling, you'll suffocate the boy," Char laughed. A quick hug was exchanged between Char and Charles. "I trust the trip wasn't too tiring?"
"Yes, Father, it was fine," Charles nodded, clasping his hands behind him and following his parents into the castle.
"Good, good. Now, unpack and come down quickly. Mandy and the staff are just finished with making dinner," Char said.
"Yes, Father," Charles bowed and ran up the stairs to his room. He opened the door and quickly went to his bed, sinking into the inviting mattress.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Boom!
Another clap of lightening lit the air, filling the sky with sudden brightness. Seventeen-year-old Lilia wandered about, searching around for some sort of house to stay the night. As the lightening lit the night air, she glimpsed a shadow of a castle, and a smile grew on her face. Bowing her head down so as not to have rain shower down onto her face, she ran to the castle. Reaching her destination, Lilia grabbed the gate and began shaking it with all her might.
"Hello? Anyone, please, open the gate! Anyone!" she shouted over the roar and shrieks of the thunderstorm. The castle doors flew open and a woman ran out to the gate, holding a shawl over her hair.
"Yes?"
"Please, may I stay the night?" Lilia pleaded, rain dripping down her face.
"Who are you?"
"A stranger looking for a place to sleep and some food to eat," she answered.
"All right." The woman stared warily at Lilia before opening the large gates and letting the girl in. "Oh my goodness, you are soaked to the bone! Quickly, get inside." The woman led Lilia into the warmth of a kitchen and draped a dry blanket over Lilia's shivering shoulders.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Just what were you doing out at this time of night, girl?"
"I-I-I got lost, ma'am. It was such a beautiful morning today and I was out o -- I was out. And then the rain began and I got caught in it," Lilia replied simply.
"Can you wash clothes?" the woman asked abruptly.
"Y-Yes," Lilia nodded.
"Make food?"
"Yes."
"Do the housework, such as dusting, mopping, and the rest?"
"Of course!"
"Can you make beds, fold up clothes, and such?"
"Yes."
"Then you have just become my new, as I call it, dedicatee. I am Victoria, the head of the staff of this castle," the woman said, sweeping a mock curtsy. Lilia stared at Victoria in awe.
"You mean I can stay here?" Lilia asked.
"Yes, sweet thing. Now, come towards the fire and warm yourself up. Tomorrow you will begin," Victoria smiled. She turned to leave, but stopped and turned back to look at Lilia. "What's your name, sweet pea?"
"Lilia," Lilia murmured.
"All right, Lilia. Warm yourself up and sleep."