Fated to Rule (The Royalty Series #1)

There's an adage that goes, 'it's a bit easier to run a private family than a huge country,' and I agree. My name is Alice Windsor, and I am the future ruler of Bridgeton. My life revolves around the palace, following a set of rules and training. I had actually never been free. My father often reminds me that a queen has to embody twice the qualities an ordinary person has. Instead of going out, I spend my leisure time reading and practicing. "Are you excited for tomorrow?" my cousin, Harriet, inquired. She's referring to my father’s birthday. I sighed, then shook my head and stared at the target. I was not a big fan of parties, not to mention the fact that many royals would arrive to attend. The need to socialize is draining the energy out of me. It wasn't really ideal. "Don't you like it? Maybe you'll run across your future husband?" she teased. I drew the string, relaxed my muscles, and let go of the bow, striking the center. I glanced at Harriet for a moment as she sat

Alice It was almost midnight when we reached home last night. A couple of realizations hit me, and somehow, those realizations made me want to become a more humble ruler in the future. Ianie, the kid, slept in my arms last night as I tried to give her comfort before my cousin and I went home. It was such an experience that I've treasured. This morning, I woke up early, just as I do every day, for my daily training. Contrary to the common belief that a princess's life is easy, it's far from the truth. I dressed in a pair of well-fitting black shorts, matched with a snug, buttonless long-sleeved top. My hair was neatly tied up in a bun, and I wore comfortable combat boots. Today's training focused on archery, though I wasn't sure if my cousins, Harriet and Karina, would join me. We had different trainers. After getting ready, I headed to the underground training area. "Good morning, Princess," Niccolò, the head of the castle's weaponry, greeted me. "Are you ready?" he asked. I nodde

Alice As my cousins and I ventured deeper into the Enchanted Forest of Doria, the conversation from the day before still lingered in my mind. Karina's desperate plea weighed on me, and I wished I could have helped her more. But the truth was, I couldn't. The wand, Elizabeth's wand, could only be used by her descendants, and I wasn't one of them. "Alice, as much as I may appear thick-faced... can you assist me in detecting who the culprit is? You have the greatest authority among the three of us. Can't you use Elizabeth's wand?" Karina's anguished plea had tugged at my heartstrings. "Of course, I'll help, Karina, but as you know, I'm not a sorcerer. I'm unable to utilize the wand," I explained, the frustration evident in my voice. Elizabeth had been the kingdom's most powerful sorceress, and her wand was a symbol of her unmatched magic. Even though she had passed away many years ago, her descendants were yet to be found. "Wait! Do you remember the Mirror of Truth in the Longsati c

Alice Even though it was 9 a.m., the sun refused to shine. Thunder and lightning raged on the ground, and thick clouds obscured the heavens. Rain fell in torrents, making a buzzing sound on the ground. The weather seemed to mirror the kingdom's misfortunes and reflect my own turbulent emotions. Confused thoughts raced through my mind as I paced back and forth in my room. The fire in my heart grew stronger with each passing minute; I felt an urge to sneak out of the castle and venture into the enemy's den to find the diamond. However, my mind was torn as I weighed the possible outcomes. If I left, my father would undoubtedly worry, and it could ignite a sudden war, which I desperately wanted to avoid. This was turning out to be one of the most complex decisions I had ever faced in my life. I finally sat down and scratched my head in frustration. The King's birthday was approaching, yet retrieving the gem felt increasingly difficult. Not only could the coronation be delayed because

Alice Two days had passed since Karina’s disappearance, and there was still no news. I felt as if everything was moving at a snail’s pace, but deep down, I knew I had to trust my father—he knew better than I.“Princess, the King would like to see you,” a maidservant called out, interrupting my thoughts.I took a deep breath, pushing aside my worries about Karina as I made my way to the throne room. I hadn’t realized how distracted I had been; today was my father’s birthday, a day I should have been celebrating instead of dwelling on the missing pieces of my life. As I entered, the grand room was adorned with decorations—streamers and banners of gold and blue hung from the walls, and the scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air.“Ah, Alice,” my father said warmly, looking up from a pile of documents. “I’m glad you’re here. We have much to prepare for today’s celebration.”“Father, I—” I started, but he raised a hand to silence me gently.“I understand your concern for Karina,” h