Thanks for reading this. :D Please enjoy chapter two.
A young man of seventeen looked up at the tall gates to the Kingdom of Citrine. How many years has it been? Right…about a decade.
He ran a hand through his spiky raven hair. Grunting in frustration how it returned to its original spiky form. He could never get it to stay flat.
He narrowed his violet eyes and clenched his fist tight.
"My brother, I have returned to you, just as I had promised." He said aloud to no one in particular and continued walking. Unconsciously, he pulled his cloak hood on. The guards from ten years ago might still recognize him and he didn't want that.
He raised an eyebrow; the villagers seemed gloomy and quiet. Nothing like the kingdom he knew from years ago.
"Excuse me." He walked over to an old shopkeeper.
"Yes?" The old woman's voice was harsh and low.
"I haven't been to this kingdom since a decade ago. What has happened?" He asked cautiously. The woman eyed his face with the precision of a guard.
"You should not have come. The villagers will not be hospitable to you." She sighed.
"Why is that?" He questioned. She put a bony hand up to his face and he felt a shiver travel down his spine.
"You wear the face of the evil prince. This country is suffering while he lives in luxury. Ever since ten years ago, the kingdom was taxed and treated unfairly to this day! It's best if you hide your face if you don't want to be beaten to death." She said and shooed the confused teen away.
"Evil….the prince….that can't be possible." He muttered and pulled his hood tighter. He needed to get to the castle and get answers.
"Well, if it isn't my dear son. How have you been?" The queen smirked. In the inside she was in a rage, how is he alive? The guard from ten years ago had thrown the boy over a cliff into the river. He shouldn't be alive!
"I am well, your highness." He bowed with mock respect. He had never acknowledged this woman as his mother and never will.
"I'm sure you are. What is your business here in my kingdom?" The woman forced a smile to her face.
"Nothing much, your highness. Just to see my adorable younger brother. I trust he's doing well?" He smiled and the queen twitched in annoyance. Her son had also inherited her sense of sarcasm and dry humor.
"Very well, my child. I'm sure this is not all you came for." She said calmly, keeping her smiling façade on.
"Oh, you are very bright, your majesty. I came to ask a favor." He grinned with hidden malice.
"Oh, what is this favor, my dear?" She pressed on.
"I wish to stay with my brother, your highness." That made the queen's careful poker face crack.
"What? Absolutely not!" She hissed.
"I do not wish for power, your majesty. All I want is to stay with my dear brother. I will do anything for that." He bowed his head even lower. He hated it. He hated bowing down to the woman that ruined the bond between him and his brother but he will endure anything to see his brother again.
The queen narrowed her icy blue eyes. This boy…..was serious.
"Very well, my child. You can stay….however….you will stay as a servant. You will forever follow the prince and serve him." She smiled with triumph, happy with her condition. This way, the elder twin can do anything to ruin her.
"As you wish your highness. I will serve my brother." He bowed again and the guard escorted him out to see the prince. When the room was empty, the queen stood and laughed.
"You see your majesty? I have kept our country from collapse. The boy is back, but fear not, I will still prevail at the end." She said to the ceiling, to the heavens, to the late king.
Her laugh echoed through the throne room and throughout the entire kingdom.
"It's three o' clock." The prince murmured, glancing at the grandfather clock.
A knock at the door stopped his train of thought. He smiled when his mirror image walked in with a tray.
"It's teatime; today's snack is a lemon pie." The servant set down the tray in front of his younger brother.
"On time as always, my brother." The prince laughed, making something in the elder twin's fluttered. He smiled and laughed with him. It has been a few months since they reunited. But they didn't really get far. His brother was the prince and he was merely a servant.
"Is there anywhere you want to do today, my prince?" The servant asked politely as he poured the prince a cup of earl grey.
"Hmmm….I want to visit the Emerald Country." The prince said absentmindedly while biting down on his fork.
"Emerald Country…." The servant repeated and nodded.
"Shall I join you?" He asked and received a nod.
"Very well. You have a free schedule right now."
"Okay." The prince wiped the crumbs from the corner of his mouth and the elder twin helped him into a cloak.
"Wow! The Emerald Country is beautiful." The younger twin gasped and giggled softly as the wind played with his forever tamed hair. That was probably the biggest difference between the twins. His elder brother's hair was wild and spiky while his own was flat and never seemed to stick up.
"Yes…it's wonderful." The servant agreed with a smile. While their own country was known for their yellow gemstones. This country was known for emeralds and their green landscape.
"Um…hello?" The two turned to see the most beautiful girl ever. Her long hair flowed gracefully and her blue eyes were soft with a hint of green.
"Hello, milady. What can we do for you?" The elder twin immediately responded for the prince.
"Hello, I am the princess of the Emerald Country. This is my friend." She gestured to the teen next to her. The girl had a ponytail tied with a green ribbon and a nice smile.
"It's an honor to be acquaintances with the ruler of such a wonderful country." The servant nodded to both and the princess blushed. She glanced at the prince with curiosity.
"And who is your twin?" She smiled teasingly.
"The Prince of the Kingdom of Citrine." The servant replied and nudged the Prince, snapping the teen out of his daze.
"H-huh? Oh, um…it's a pleasure to meet you." The prince stuttered softly before bowing down to the girl.
"You are quite cute." She giggled softly and the prince looked away in embarrassment.
And for the rest of the day, the prince and princess chatted and laughed at many things. The prince hadn't had so much fun since he was young. The princess was truly beautiful and kind. She made him forget about all the problems at home.
However the queen wasn't happy at all.
You see, the Country of Emeralds was a rebellious country, despite the sweet facade it shows. If the prince continues seeing the princess, the villagers might get the idea of rebelling against her. She can't have that now can she?
"Guard! Bring me the Prince!"
The servant narrowed his eyes when a knock awoke him. He looked around groggily. He was supposed to be guarding his dear brother and doze off. It was a tiring day and the prince had fallen asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
He opened the door and frowned when he saw a guard.
"What is it?" He questioned.
"The queen wished to see the prince." The man replied.
"As you can see, the prince is asleep. It can wait." He said sharply but the guard held his ground.
"The queen said now." He pressed on. The servant growled.
"Fine, tell her that I will be seeing her in place of the prince." He glared and the guard nodded tiredly. After this, it was not his problem anymore.
"What are you doing here?" The queen hissed when her elder child walked into the throne room.
"The prince is asleep, your highness. What is it that you need from him?" He simply stated. She growled but didn't say anything else.
"Fine, you will do. I want you to wreak havoc in the Emerald Country." This made the servant' eyes widen.
"W-what?" He managed to choke out. The queen grinned sadistically.
"You heard me. And while you are at it, kill that sweet, stupid excuse of a Princess." She purred in delight as her child backed away in shock.
"N-never! Why must you do such a thing?" He stalled.
"Either you do it or I will have your brother do it. He will listen to me." She chuckled.
"Tch." The elder twin gritted his teeth, is this why his brother was known as the evil prince? That guard from ten years ago was right. His brother is nothing more but a puppet to the queen. The prince loves the Princess of Emerald. He…couldn't let his brother's hands become tainted even more. He looked at the queen with hatred before bowing down.
"Yes, your highness.
I hate the queen. 'Nough said. Please review.