THE SOUND OF HEELS CLACKING AND SLOW JAZZ MUSIC CONSUMED THE EVER-SO LARGE BALLROOM. WATCHING FROM THE BALCONY VIEW I COULD SEE YOUNG MEN HAD BEGUN OFFERING THEIR HANDS WHILST THE RECEIVING END WOULD REPLY WITH A CURTSEY. IN THE MIDST OF WATCHING THE YOUNGER GENERATION, THE CALCULATING FACES OF THE MADAMS WOULD BE GRACED WITH A SMILE THAT HELD ONLY ONES DEEPEST SECRETS.

WHILST BASKING UNDER THE MOONLIGHT, MY GAZE SLOWLY DRIFTED INTO THE BALLROOM WATCHING THE FACES OF EVERYONE I REMEMBERED. TAKING A SIP OF MY DOMAINE LEROY MUSIGNY CRU WINE, I WAITED IN SILENCE. THE JAZZ MUSIC HAD FINALLY STOPPED, THE TRUMPETS PLAYED, IT WAS TIME. HIS HIGHNESS, KING GEORGE MIDDLETON THE THIRD HAD STEPPED INTO THE ROOM WITH THE OTHER ROYALS BEHIND HIM.

EVERY NOBLEMAN AND WOMEN IN THE UPPER ARISTOCRACY STEPPED UP AND PAID THEIR RESPECTED BOW. AS I WATCHED THE ROYAL FAMILY IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN THE GLORY OF FLATTERY, A LIGHT LAUGH ESCAPED FROM MY LIPS, CATCHING THE ATTENTION OF EVERYONE IN THE ROOM.

HEADS BEGAN TO TURN, MURMURS AND DELIGHTED WHISPERS WERE SHARED AMONGST THOSE WHO WERE SPECTATING. WOMEN SOON BEGAN COVERING THEIR FACE WITH A FAN WHILST GOSSIPING AMONG THEMSELVES, WHEREAS THE MEN BEGAN OBSERVING THE SCENE IN HOPES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION.

“STEP OUT OF THE ROOM,” THE KING DEMANDED WHILE SIGNALLING FOR THE GUARDS TO STEP FORWARD.

SUDDENLY THE SOUND OF HEELS TAPPING AGAINST THE BALCONY FLOOR DROWNED OUT THE SOUND OF MURMURS. A SMIRK ADORNED MY FACE. IT WAS A TIME FOR A NEW ERA.

THE CURTAIN FLUTTERED GENTLY TO THE SIDE AS THE DOORS OPENS.

THE SIGHT OF ME HAD EVERYONE IN A CHOKEHOLD. NO ONE COULD BELIEVE THEIR EYES, THE MERE THOUGHT OF ME, A ROYAL CONCUBINE’S DAUGHTER OF THE PREVIOUS REGIME, ALIVE, IT WAS INCONCEIVABLE.

“ANNALIESE YOU, YOU ARE ALIVE?”

“OLDER BROTHER AREN’T YOU GLAD TO SEE ME?”

“WHY OF COURSE ANNALIESE, YOU CAN’T IMAGINE HOW MANY TEARS I'VE SHED FOR YOU”

WITH THAT SAID THE GUARDS LOWERED THEIR GUNS

“HOW UNFORTUNATE I DON’T SHARE THE SAME SENTIMENT, I SIMPLY CAME TO GIVE MY DEAR OLDER BROTHER JUST A PIECE OF ADVICE, THERE’S A REASON SOLDIERS SHOOT TWICE”

the everlasting vast skies dyed with hues of the loveliest shades of red and orange, had never seemed so contrastingly different nonetheless seductively unattainable. a warm yet comforting breeze caressed my cheek eagerly persuading me to delve deep into a wishful pleasure for the very last time. slowly my gaze drifted away from bewitching horizons to the person standing within the omniscient lake. a mirthful sigh escaped my lips. it was him. those eyes, that gaze, captivating all those laying their eyes upon him. my ideals, my values, my pride crumbled under that very smile. he's standing there waiting, arms outstretched, flushed in a colour of a blossoming rose which painted his cheeks, eyes brightly lighting up and curving with joy. that expression, that very same expression, the one i've longed for, the one which i wished had only been shown to me. ever since i've seen him talk to her, i had felt an unknown heavy feeling, it was so very suffocating, my throat had tightened, my eyes had stung and my palm was bloodied as my nails dug deep to understand this foreign sensation. his gaze shifted in my direction, eyes staring, not even looking away for a second, as if everything in this very moment would disappear.

“my love,” he called out like a siren to a sailor.

i felt the cold water as it flung onto my body. a faint sound of water ripples crashing against bare skin followed by a ring of an unrestrained angelic laughter which filled the atmosphere.

a bitter smile fell upon my lips. i didn't even need to look behind me for i knew who was running. it was her. he only had eyes for one girl and that was her. to him she was the most precious thing on earth. to him she was meant to be worshipped and praised like the gods, for she, in his eyes, amounted and deserved every single thing in this world and more. for her, he’d rather burn the whole world just to see her smile. for her, he’d rather be imprisoned and face a life time of torture than to witness a tear slip from those crystal eyes. for her, he would do absolutely everything and anything.

Oh how i wished I was her. But we were too different just like apples and oranges.