Prologue

Diana White's POV

I hummed gently as my expensive red-bottom heels clicked against the marble floors of my home. Perhaps it was the fact I was humming that made my staff nervous, or maybe it was just my presence in general. I tended to do that - Put fear into people without lifting a finger. But for now, I was on a mission. A mission to convince my youngest daughter of what awaits her in her future...

Arriving at the backyard, she was the first thing I saw, and my oh my, was she a vision. Call me biased, but my children were heartthrobs—show-stoppers. No one could hold a candle to these children; they all knew it—all but Artemis. There she was, lounging on a chair under the sun next to the pool. Her straight, silky, raven locks flowed beautifully over the back of the lounger, pooling onto the floor. She was wearing a red bikini that contrasted something divine against that pale, milky skin of hers. Her eyes were closed in content as she patiently waited for the sun to do something...Anything! to that gorgeously toned body of hers that screamed 'I work out!'

I quickly rushed over, kicking my red bottoms off and falling to my knees beside the lounger. She sighed, exasperated. No doubt knowing what was coming next. "Arte, darling! Please, won't you just take up your mantle yet? Mummy is begging you!" I whined, grabbing her hand. What? We're all fools wrapped around this girl's pinky. We have been since she was a child. 

"Mother...Have you not embarrassed yourself enough? Why are you kneeling again? Honestly, someone of your stature should know better..." She hissed at me, scolding me as per usual. Truth be told, she was wise beyond her years. Ridiculously mature for a girl of just 16. I suppose that's what happens when your brother has been in a coma since age eight due to head trauma and poisoning. My poor boy...We still hold out hope. Our youngest Princess watched us fall apart and instead of falling with us, took it upon herself to pick up our pieces and put us back together. She's our glue. 

"Darling, Mummy will get on her knees on a live broadcast for you! Please, at least consider it, I've been begging for weeks now. The families are getting impatient!" I pleaded with her, gently placing her palm against my cheek as I gave her my award-winning doe eyes. She opened one of her eyes to peer at me, and my breath hitched in my throat as it always did. Imagine seeing those eyes for the first time after she was born...Magical, captivating, divine. One baby blue eye and one golden eye. She was the only one of my four children to have heterochromia. 

"Alright, alright. Just...You know I haven't told Cole about my identity yet. He still thinks we're a middle-class family of six, and I'd like to tell him the truth at the end of my week, after all of my competitions are done," she said with a small pout on those beautiful, full lips of hers, and I almost fainted! Thank you, mother and father, for being divine entities who gave our family such gorgeous genetics. "Of course, my darling Princess. I'll set up a banquet and invite the whole family! Then, if he feels inadequate, your father and I will give him some company shares to raise his status, how about that?" I asked with a gleam in my eye. No one would ever be good enough for her, but she had her heart set on Cole. They'd been dating for two years already, almost three. No wonder she wants to spill the beans, per se, at the end of the week on their anniversary. 

I shot up to my feet with a beaming smile, "Maria! Come quickly, we need to prepare for a lavish banquet. Contact my husband and tell him the good news - Our Princess is going to consider my request!" I squealed in delight as Maria, our longest-serving staff member and practically family member, came over with a chuckle. "That's fantastic news, Madam. I'll go and contact Master right away," she scurried off, an obvious pep in her step. No doubt she would be excited too - Artemis, finally claiming one of her birthrights. 

"Darling, I'm going to go and prepare invitations and a theme right away. You have a fencing lesson in an hour, please don't be late!" I said, quickly rushing off to my home office. I absolutely could not be happier right now. Arte deserved everything handed to her on a diamond platter after all the work she has put in for our family over the years. 

I sat at my desk and opened up my laptop to browse some inspiration for invitations when there was a knock at my door. "Come innnn~!" I practically sang out. Miguel, my left-hand man for many years, was obviously startled by my chipper attitude. His face said it all. "Something good happen, boss?" He asked, and I nodded immediately. "Arte finally agreed to think about my proposition!" His eyebrows shot up in surprise "The little Princess really said that? But you've been trying to get her to take over since she was nine...Maybe it's your persistence in the last few weeks that made her change her mind?" He contemplated my youngest daughter's sudden change. I couldn't care less, I was just happy she was coming around. I could finally let her in on the family secrets! 

"Unfortunately...I'm going to have to ruin your good mood," Miguel said with a sigh, acting a little shifty. I squinted at him, my smile falling off my face slowly. "Miguel...Don't fucking ruin this for me. What could possibly be so important right now that you feel the need to sour my happiness?" I scowled. Miguel came closer at his own risk and whispered in my ear. Immediately, my throat became like sandpaper, and every time I swallowed, it was as if my saliva was a ball of cotton, getting trapped in my throat. "Shit! Not a moment's fucking peace around here!" I stood quickly, briskly walking out of my office and toward the exit of my luxurious Castle fit for the Queen I am. Staff avoided me as if their lives depended on it, and I knew it was because my face looked like it had been struck by lightning. Each step I took, which was barefoot, mind you, was thunderous with rage.