Chapter 1: The Forbidden Tower

Mia was wandering around the abandoned tower that made up an entire corner of the palace, one of her grandmothers maids let her know it was her fathers place and gave her a set of 3 keys to access it, she wasn't really supposed to however. This specific tower had been closed off immediately after his death, Queen Clarise was too distressed to go through his things, 'Next week.' The Queen kept promising herself. Eventually weeks turned to months, which then turned to years and finally, the tower, the private wing of her father had soon left the minds of both her grandmother and the palace staff. Mia in her wish to know more about her father had asked one of her grandmother's handmaids whether there was a specific place her father loved in the palace. Now here she was. Exploring the most intimate secrets of her father's abode.

Wandering around the dusty, but beautiful tower. She'd stumbled upon his rooms, a gorgeous huge open plan bedroom with a stunning large walk in closet, bathroom and a gorgeous view looking out over the lake, which you could see from his own personnel balcony. The way to the balcony was through two huge French doors situated right next to the sitting room/small library also in his quarters. The balcony itself was covered with winding plants of ivy and climbing roses, she even detected lavender and rosemary amongst the oasis of plants that covered her father balcony.

Leaving the living quarters, she wandered a little more around the tower, there were many doors, but they were all locked sadly, she wondered where those keys were, she hoped to find them one day. Finally coming across a large heavy oak door with silver and gold inlays in the image of ivy, flowers and the beauty of nature engraved across the door. Using the ancient looking key the maid had handed her Mia unlocked the door and opened it.

She stumbled into a spacious office. It was beautiful, it much like his bedroom also had a beautiful view of the lake. The walls were lined with bookshelves, reaching all the way to the ceiling, the window looking out towards the lake was situated in the middle of the bookshelves, right behind a gorgeous dark oak desk. The air of the room was a little musty and stale. Dust covered the room. Her curiosity and general awe of the atmosphere the room created forced her to take a few more steps in, walking behind the desk she felt a rather sudden gasp leave her mouth. A photo of a little girl with brown curly hair and bright eyes, held in the arms of her father, clad in green sweater, sat in a beautiful ornate frame. It was a photo of them, when she was just a little child. Both their smiles were large and bright, looking around the desk she noticed the fountain pen engraved with her father name.

Feeling a spark of excitement at being able to discover even more about him even after his passing gripped Mia's heart, she'd started rummaging around the office, exploring to her hearts content. She found more than a few books that had corners of pages turned down and insightful passages underlined, a few copies of her own favourite books still with bookmarks left in them, probably from the nights he would read to her over the phone, photos and trinkets hidden away in little corners and shelves, all beautiful, all intriguing so much like her father and herself she realised. When she finally got back to the desk, she sat down in the huge comfy, but slightly dusty chair and had a look through the draws, she found letters addressed to her, grasping one she pulled it out and read it. A few tears slipped down her cheeks, it was beautiful, he spoke about his day, attending to the affairs of the public and governing the country, he wrote of small pockets of joy in his day and things that reminded him of her, little pieces of advice in handling certain parliament members and issues littered the letter. Gently placing the letter back in the draw she kept looking, finally coming to a small locked draw, noticing a familiar silver engraving she pulled her locket from around her neck and opened it, pushing the two hearts into the spaces she could see on the draw, much like her diary.

Opening the draw, she couldn't help but gasp again. Sitting in the draw, half obscured by the beautiful black velvet that held it, was a gorgeous blue leather-bound journal, her name inscribed in silver across the front. Mia. Once again using her locket to open it she found on the very first page a beautiful inscription.

Dear Mia, I hope that you loved the red leather-bound journal I gifted you just a few years ago, however I also picked a few more up with it. Knowing of your habit of writing all your emotions out across the page, much like myself I know that it will be bursting at the seams by now. Now, on your 21st birthday I gift you this journal. I do hope you'll love it as much as I imagine you would. It may seem troubling, but I feel my health fading and I fear not being there for your 21st and so I write this to you now. I hope you love your other gifts as much as this one my dear.
Please know my darling, you are the light of my life and I love you oh so very much. Follow your heart, have courage and above all remember I will always be proud of who you are.
Love Papa

P.S I know that sapphire has always been your favourite gem and so I may have 'invested' in a few pieces I hope you'll like. We have a lot in similar my darling.

Mia ran her soft fingertips over the cursive writing of her father, so much like her own, tears splashed onto the parchment paper. Gently closing the journal, she smiled softly, she missed him very much. Placing the leather journal down on the desk, she picked up another black velvet pouch from the draw, surprisingly her fingers brushed against a soft, what felt like knit, grasping the fabric she pulled it and the pouch from the draw, placing the pouch on the desk she turned back to what was now revealed as a green knit jumper. She recognized it immediately, his favourite jumper. She looked back fondly on the days she would curl up under his jumper, snuggling into his arms as her told her stories of princesses and fairies. Shaking out the jumper she quickly put it on. It fell just past her hips, looking a little like those fashionable oversized jumpers you see in fashion now days. Mia breathed in and realized she could still slightly smell the familiar scent of his cologne. Smiling she settled back down in the chair, turning her attention to the remaining pouch.

Opening the last black pouch, Mia pulled out a stunning silver fountain pen, her name engraved on the side in what looked to be sapphire. Mia. Alongside the pen there was a medium sized ring box, opening it up a piece of paper fluttered out. Picking it up she read it.

Mia, my darling,
I hope one day you have the pleasure to meet and fall in love with a man that will cherish and love you. When that day comes, I hope that you will appreciate this gift. You and your intended.
Love Papa

P.S If I am not around, know that I trust Joe's judgment, that man has been like a father to me and a confidant. He cares for you as much as a grandfather would his own granddaughter.

Opening the little ring box, Mia gasped. Inside nestled in a beautiful satin was 2 rings, a smaller feminine one and a larger more masculine ring. Both were made of a white gold, the smaller ring had a beautiful oval shaped sapphire as the centrepiece, while the bigger ring had a band of sapphire going around the entire ring. Once again, she couldn't help the tears slipping from her eyes. She slipped the smaller ring meant for her onto her hand and slipped the bigger one onto the chain that held her locket, now back around her neck. Close to her heart.

Reaching into the pouch she pulled the last item from it, a large brass circle, filled with keys, and another note.

Mia,
I hope my dear you have enjoyed the last few present, finally I gift you the thing of most material value to me, in the case of my death it is likely that my beloved tower will be closed and shut down, not to mention that only I have all the keys needed to access all rooms in this tower. The maids only have access to 3. My office, my quarters, and the tower door itself. The remaining rooms are now accessible to you, to explore at your leisure.

My darling, in my time as King I learnt the value of my own space, of my privacy and of having a tower to run around and do as I please in. This is my private quarters, this is my home and I hope that if I am gone, it will be yours.
Know you have my blessing to move into the tower if you'd like, or just keep it as an office, or even in the case that being in a place that contains the very heart of me is to much to handle to lock it up forever.

I love you very much my darling.
Love Papa

Mia beamed. Her own tower, just like the princess in the stories he would tell her. Gathering the keys, her journal and pen, not to mention her father's jumper that she was currently wearing, Mia set off.
She had to see her Grandmother and inform her off the move to her new quarters and the cleaning it would need. However, she didn't want everyone to have access, she didn't need the gossiping of the maids to clue everyone in on the secrets of the tower. Hmm maybe her grandmother would have an idea on how to proceed and with whom to proceed.