Royal Pains

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Chapter 1

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Their kingdom was beautiful and happy. Everyone was healthy and had homes. Their wealth kept going up. They were lucky.

My father wasn't pleased..

Our kingdom was the complete opposite. We were a poor kingdom. Our people had no homes and were on the streets. There was yet another disease going around. And wealth was going down. We weren't so lucky.

My father was jealous of their kingdom. That's how the war started. We had only a few men who could fight. And we were loosing them. We needed a new strategy. And we found one.

Her name was Allyson Marie Dawson. Princess of the Sun Kingdom. I haven't met her yet. From what I've heard, she was the most beautiful woman of our time. And it intrigued me.

Our plan was, that in order to restore our wealth we needed Princess Ally to marry me. So the war could end and the wealth can rightfully be mine as well. It was the perfect plan. But we needed to get her. That was our only obstacle. To reach her. There are many guards in that kingdom. It's very tricky to get in. But somehow we will.

Marrying Princess Ally seemed pleasant to me. But what I didn't like is that once I get married, the throne will belong to me. And I don't want to be king. It's too much responsibility. Too much work. My mother is always correcting every single movement I make. She says she's preparing me for the throne but she's being very annoying.

I want to just be a prince and have a little fun. Sleep with woman and drown in riches. (Fuck bitches get money. Haha no? Ok...) I want to live my life.

But I know that I'm going to be taking the throne whether I like it or not.

"Austy!" Princess Kira exclaims.

Kira was a very kind but very clingy woman. I know she fancies me. And I do a little. But her kingdom was the Star Kingdom. It wasn't very wealthy and rich though. So my father doesn't want me to marry her or have any romance of any kind with her. So I chose to just be allies and friends.

She clearly doesn't see it that way. Every single day she comes and visits me. She gets awfully close and seductive. Not to mention she brings me gifts. Cheap ones though. Also the countless love letters. I even have a room for it. It's just filled with them. She's getting more and more insane.

And then there's Lady Brooke. My maid. All she wants to do is sleep with me. She's very seductive. More than Princess Kira. It disgusts me all the time. The way she wears those revealing work uniforms and talks in a very dirty way. She has absolutely no respect for her own self. Very sad it is.

However, there is indeed one specific woman who caught my attention once. I was hunting with my father in the woods nearby the kingdom a year ago. And I saw a woman with brown hair and the most radiant light skin. She looked beautiful from afar. I sadly couldn't get a chance to get a closer glimpse of the beauty. She ran off and my father ordered me to get going. And I never saw her since.

When we go hunting every once a week, I go to the same spot. Hoping to see her. But I never do. I try to venture further to where she ran but my father said I was getting too close to the Sun Kingdom.

I wondered how the Sun Kingdom looked like. I imagined everything made of gold and silver. The people would be in fancy and expensive attires that probably are from different counties. They would be having festivals and feasts. Many different delicious foods to choose from.

We have none of that here.

That's why I was eager to marry the princess and see what lies in the Sun Kingdom and their happiness. Yet not so eager because I would still have that big load of responsibility of taking care of not one but two kingdoms. And I thought one kingdom was enough for my to rule but two was completely absurd.

Marrying the princess will most likely lead to both good and bad things. Am I really ready for that responsibility?

"Hello princess Kira." I put on the best smile I can muster.

"Oh I've told you countless times to call me Kira."

"And I've told you countless times to call me Prince Austin. Austy sounds ridiculous. Mind your precision of language."

"My apologies."

"What are you even doing here?"

"I came to see you. Did you get my letter?"

"Yes, princess I've gotten all your letters. It's not necessary to keep writing me them."

"But they show you how much I care for you. You need to know that. Don't you care for me?"

"Of course I do." I reply. Kira grins and walks closer to me wrapping her arms around my waist. "As friends and allies." I remove her arms from me.

"Austin it's okay. You don't need to hide your affections from me. I know your father would approve if you would just talk to him. Then we can sort things out. We can be happy."

"Kira, I appreciate everything you've done to me and this kingdom.. But I cannot be with you. Whether I have feelings for you or not, it's not possible."

"But-"

"You must go. Perhaps maybe your family can dine with us tomorrow." I hurry her out the door. Before she can say another word, I close the door on her. But I still hear her shout from behind the door.

"I'll see you tomorrow for dinner then!"

That girl cannot take a hint.

"I feel sorry for you." Lady Brooke says from behind me. Great, another woman getting thrown at me.

"I simply invited her FAMILY for dinner. Not just her."

"Why don't you have dinner with me tomorrow then?"

"I've told you Lady Brooke, no. I do not approve of this behavior and your affections for me. Neither does my father if he were to find out. You know what would happen if he did. You're lucky I'm not telling him."

"I know but can't we just-"

"No. Go on and fetch me some water. I'm parched." I order. She nods and walks to get me water.

Too many woman. Will I even stand another one in my life like the princess. I hope she isn't any like the ones I've met.

If she is... I'd hang myself.

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I've always wanted to see the world. Like actually see it. Not travel to different countries. I mean, yes. It would be absolutely amazing. But to actually just step outside and breath in that fresh air and sunlight and just go on an adventure to see things that are nature like.

Is that too much to ask for?

I can't even look out a window. Or leave my room for that matter. And it's all because of my father. And me.

I did venture out once. Not far from the kingdom. I saw these big tall wooden sticks with green leaves. And the fuzzy and itchy green little delicate stuff on the ground. I was taking it in for the first time in my life.

I then saw a brown big object with four legs move. It made a noise. I saw a man with blonde hair on it. He was far to see his face more clearly. But when the brown creature made a scream like noise I was frightened and I started running. I've never ran in my life. I got tired easily.

Before I could make it back without anyone noticing I was gone, one pack of guards found me.

My father blew a gasket. He locked me in my room ever since. He gave me lectures every day. He reminded me of my dreaded curse. As if I wasn't aware of the burden that kept me from my happiness.

Ah yes. My life haunting curse. How I love even thinking about it. Every. Single. Day. Of. My. Life.

I'll get to that in a bit... I have other matters in my hands.

"Princess you must put your gown on. Your father will be furious if you aren't dressed for the prince. " Lady De La Rosa tells me as she pushes the gown to me. I push it back.

"Let him be furious. I'm not going to that dinner."

"Why do you always have to be so stubborn?"

"Me? What about my father?! He's the one who forbids me to venture outside. I never leave the palace. Or my own room! To top it all off he's sealed my own windows shut! There is no light anywhere!"

"You know why he does this right?"

"To protect me. I understand that. But an hour wouldn't hurt to just get some fresh air."

"I wish I could help but I can't."

"No one can help. Not even myself. Oh how I hate this curse."

"It's not your fault."

"I just hate how my father was responsible for the curse. And I'm paying for it."

"But your father regrets it and is sorry. He's doing all he can to help protect you."

"It just seems to be making everything worse. How am I suppose to even rule this kingdom and even find love with this kind of thing?"

"You'll manage. You're a strong woman. I have faith in you."

"At least I have you to encourage me to keep moving forward."

"Speaking of moving forward. We must hurry. The prince of the Neptune Kingdom is coming. You must look your best."

"Alright alright. If it means getting out of this room then I'll go."

"Finally!" She hands me the gown. "Hurry before the king throws a tantrum."

"Alright alright." I take it and dress myself. "Would you mind?" I ask Trish pointing to my back. She nods. Then starts tightening my corset.

When I'm done with my hair and my face, I slip into my slippers and Trish unlocks the door. Yes, my father makes Trish lock the door when she comes in. Thats how serious my father is. He worries about the curse every single moment of his life since I was born.

Oh right. The curse. You see, long ago there was a man who was in poverty. He was a good and innocent man. But his wife had gotten very ill. Since he couldn't buy any medicine to help his wife, luck struck him. It was as if the sun dropped some of its sunshine down to earth. It made a pond magic. It is said that if you drink it, all your troubles will be gone.

This man heard of the magic pond and went on a quest to find it. It took him days to finally find it. When he did, he brought it back to his wife so that she could drink it.

However, magic always comes with a price.

The water did make the wife all better. But in return, the wife was cursed. The curse didn't allow the one who holds it into the sunlight. Basically, it's like a vampire. You cannot go into sunlight otherwise you'll die. But it will also put others in risk. The curse will go loose, striking everyone who is near to have it.

I didn't believe in such fantasies. Until I almost went into the sunlight myself. I was only burnt a bit. But I was fine.

The wife had children. Who thankfully didn't get the curse. They come from my bloodline.

Somehow I'm the only one who has gotten it from the family generation. So that means, I can't go outside. I'm trapped inside my room without any sunlight. The only light I get is from a candle. The only time I get fresh air is at night. Father allows me to open my window. But there isn't much of a view. There's a stone wall a few feet away that blocks everything out.

My father managed to get a special necklace. It allowed me to go into the sunlight.

But yet, all magic has its limits.

I could only spend one hour in the sun. After one hour, the necklace is useless until the next day. My father still wasn't satisfied. He didn't want to risk anything. He told me to have it on every second just in case something happens. But I've only used it once that time I escaped. Never done it since.

All because of this stupid curse that has been ruining my life...

"Ah, dear Allyson." My father greets.

"Father." I bow my head to him. Then spot someone behind him.

"Princess Allyson." He bows.

And I have a feeling there will be another thing ruining my life...

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First chapter! Woohoo! Haha anyways, tell me what you guys think. I appreciate your thoughts.

((I don't own anything))