Chapter 2

As I skipped down the road, waving to kids playing and running, I could hear Margot screaming out my name, asking me to stop. Sighing, I turned backwards.

"I asked you to wait for me," She frowned at me.

"Sorry, I just felt like running," I replied walking into my home, with Margot. We walked into Aunt Kiara setting the table for lunch.

"Auntie," I smiled, kissing her cheeks.

"I was worried sick Oceania, you just left without having your breakfast?" Aunt Kiara ranted on and on. I ignored her, already sitting down on one of the chairs and digging into the delicious lunch.

"Hmm," I moaned, with my eyes closed.

"Margot, how are you?" Aunt Kiara turned to Margot who smiled, nodding in response.

"Aunt, this is amazing... Wish I knew how to cook," I muttered sadly. The crazy truth, at 19, I didn't know how to cook, wash, scrub, or clean. All I knew was how to take my bath. Aunt Kiara made sure of that. She doesn't let me lift a finger at all.

"Eat up, after this... We are going on a trip." Aunt Kiara said, and my spoon fell out of my hands. Trip? Like out of this boring village? Margot smiled at me.

"Where are we going?" I asked, not interested in my lunch anymore. Aunt Kiara looked sad, but she tried to mask the look with a smile. I had seen her for too long to be fooled.

"Auntie, are you okay?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Well, why are we suddenly going on a trip?" I asked again.

"Just eat up, it's a very long journey okay? And remind me to give you your mum's box before we leave." Aunt Kiara said, then she walked into the kitchen, I was left with Margot.

"Something isn't right," I said more to myself than to Margot.

"Why don't you focus on your meal now, and ask her later," Margo suggested, I sighed and continued eating. Stuffing myself with food. Margo left after helping Aunt Kiara bring down my mum's box from her room.

"So, I was asked to give you this. It's for your mother, she wanted you to have it when you turn 19, at your engagement ceremony. It's a gift,"

I shook my head in confusion, what engagement ceremony was Aunt Kiara talking about? I had lots of questions as I stared at her dust the big book and wrap it up.

"Don't ever lose it, you'll need it someday." Aunt Kiara said, I took the book with shaky hands staring at it strangely.

"Aunt, what's going on?" I asked again. We had gotten on her horse. She didn't reply but began riding so fast that I hung on to her so I wouldn't fall off.

It took us seven hours to get out of Lilach, I couldn't sleep even with the wind whipping against my face. I had never gone out of my tiny village, so everything looked so strange to me.

Aunt Kiara had slowed down, stopping in front of a very gigantic gate, with guards in front. She handed a letter to them and they opened the gates wide for us to ride in.

We got down from her horse and I just realized were in a castle. Looking around, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder. I had never seen a place as beautiful as this place.

As I walked with my Aunt through the halls, the sound of our footsteps echoed off the stone floors, leading us to the grand throne room. Aunt Kiara walked in, her head bowed, I didn't bow my head because I didn't see a need to.

The throne room had some people in it, a king I guess seated on the throne and a mean-looking woman, I guessed was the queen. A few old-looking men and some guards flanked about.

"Your majesty," My Aunt bowed looking so nervous. I folded my arms watching the king, in his robes walking down the throne majestically. His eyes were on mine,

"Ocean, bow before your father, the king," I heard my Aunt's voice. I blinked twice, looking so confused. Whose father was this king? I didn't move or make any attempts to bow.

"Ocean," Aunt Kiara almost yelled at me and immediately, I was so angry at her. How dare she yell at me like this? When I don't even understand what's going on.

"Aunt," I called her.

"Bow," She said, her voice demanding and urgent.

"And why should I bow? I don't understand a single thing. Why are we here? You'll have to explain that to me because it's strange," I yelled and I could hear whispers.

"You are a princess, Princess Oceania of Valtoria. Your mother, late queen 'Beatrice' was the first wife of the king. Does it make any sense to you now?"

My head began spinning, as images blurred and I'm sure I passed out because I woke up to find myself in a big bedroom, on a huge and soft mattress.

I got up, looking around maybe to find Margot and Aunt Kiara so they'd confirm I had only been dreaming. But no sign of them, the door opened to reveal two young ladies with their faces bowed.

"My Lady," they both said.

I could not open my mouth to say a word. Just stared at them as they walked to me. "My Lady, we are here to get you ready for the introduction party today." One of the ladies said.

"Who are you?" I asked. They glanced at each other, before nervously replying.

"I am Sydney, your maid, My Lady,"

"I am Rebecca, your inner maid,"

"What maids? Where is my Aunt?" I asked them, frustration evident in my voice.

"We don't know, My Lady,"

"Can you stop calling me that? I am no one's lady, I am Oceania!!!" I screamed out, throwing a plush pillow I held on Sydney.

"I'm sorry My Lady, we have been instructed to teach you everything about being a princess. And this is not very ladylike," Sydney said to me.

"I'm not a princess," I said again.

"You are the daughter of the first queen of Valtoria, that makes you the first princess and the rightful heir to the throne since Queen Eleanor doesn't have a son," Rebecca explained.