Humans' Kingdom
"Estella?"
"Yes, my highness?"
Estella was sitting in a purple velvet chair with a high back, holding an open book in front of her and reading.
"Come, my majesty, to take pride in our daughter."
His tone of voice contained a small dose of irony and a hefty amount of bitterness.
Estella closed her book, got up from her chair, and left the book where she had been sitting. She approached the large window where King Lucius was standing and watching the princess training in archery in their castle's large garden.
At a considerable distance from Princess Edith, a human model was made of wood and straw of her own inspiration, as she was got bored of the circular colored target. So, she asked, and they made this model for her, which had already been filled with arrows after so much practicing. Her technique was almost perfect in a relatively short time, as was her fencing too. The truth was that the archery was her big love.
The princess had turned eighteen a few months ago. She had become a whole woman. With her strong, well-built body, long dark hair, and big blue-green eyes, she won the impressions, causing admiration to anyone who looked at her.
In the surrounding kingdoms, she was famous for her beauty and her non-delicate manners as would normally be appropriate for a princess and, therefore, female. They called her a tomboy when they mocked her into the small feasts and gatherings they arranged in the royal yards.
"Look and brag about your daughter," he told her with displeasure but also disappointment.
It was not at all what he expected from his only child. He knew all the vicious comments being made about his daughter, and he did not like that, for his daughter, but also his pride that now it was hurt.
With bitterness in his voice, he continued to say to her: "Is this wise for a princess? Dressed in pants like a boy and do archery and fencing. These are for soldiers. I see the possibility of her getting married moving away every day more and more. No prince is going to want her for his wife," he told her and sighed.
Estella noticed his sadness. She touched him gently on the arm and said: "Do not be sad, my highness. I understand your concern, but the things it is not like this. Trust me. Our daughter is now eighteen years old. She has spent all her previous years with teachers and lessons. She has learned everything a princess needs to know.
Edith now finds interest and satisfaction in archery, fencing, and horseback riding. As long as I see her face glowing with happiness and smiling, I will not forbid her to do everything she loves. And if you ask me, I applaud and admire what she does. I'm proud of her. She is brave and fearless and daring as a man. Now I sleep peacefully that our Edith is able to protect herself, without having to be constantly surrounded by bodyguards. As for the marriage issue that concerns you, I'm sure somewhere out there, there is the man who will love her about exactly what she is, and he will desire to make her his wife. You will see, Lucius. Our child, one day, will get everything you dream of, and she will be completely happy. But be patient. Everything will be done on time."
King Lucius looked at his wife as if he were looking at her for the first time. He admired her words and the wisdom hidden within them. She had never spoken to him like that before, and the truth is that Lucius never asked her opinion. He always did what he thought was right. And it was the truth that until now, he was saddened by the fact that his daughter would probably remain unmarried.
He covered his wife's hand with his own and looked at her.
Estella looked at him too and continued to say to him, "You know I never interfered with your affairs. I always let you make your judgments and do what is right. This time I did speak because I see you being tortured, and I can't stand it. I mean, and I believe everything I told you."
"Okay, I will trust your maternal instinct, and I will not complain to our daughter again. But our problems do not end here."
"I know my highness," she told him sadly.
"He has been very persistent in recent months. He does not leave us alone. I am beginning to fear that he will carry out his threats, and the bad thing is that there is nothing I can do to avoid it. Since we do not have what he asks for. I do not know where it is, as he believes or anything. I have no idea. I was not even born then. All I know is this legend that has been circulating for years. Is it true? Is it lies? No one knows for sure. And we may never know. Maybe the next generations will come after our death. This whole situation has tired me out. And this year, it is our turn to organize the ball. And for the reason that I am not sure that really exists." he said and sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair, which has already started to get the silver color of maturity. Although he was thirty-eight years old, he was in excellent shape. His body was still strong and vigorous, and this was due to his frequent training, mainly in fencing. His eyes had the color of the blue of the deep sea, and when they were overwhelmed with rage, they turned gray-blue like the stormy sea.
He was a handsome young man in his youth, but even now that his first youth was over, he remained a very charming man.
He turned his head and looked at Estella in her beautiful emerald eyes, so sweet and at the same time so expressive. She looked at him smiling and with a calm look.
Lucius first saw Estella when she was sixteen, and he was nineteen. She stole his heart at first glance he cast at her. Estella had not seen him yet.
They were invited to a ball organized by King Aesop. His kingdom was more extensive than theirs and a few days journey by carriage.
The annual ball was held to celebrate the anniversary when the gem was lost, and the dragons lost their power and lost their power over humans.
Humans were no longer their property or their slaves.
That was an event that had to be celebrated with all due respect by the humans.
When Lucius first saw Estella, she was dancing with Prince Liam. He still remembered the beautiful green gown she wore and how beautifully she hugged her slender body down to her slim waist. Then the gown opened, covering her legs, leaning against the floor.
Prince Liam flirted with her intensely from the first moment he arrived at the castle as a guest with his family at the ball. On the other hand, Estella was not very warm to him and tried to avoid him as much as possible, even though her parents approved to get married to him. Her parents have praised Liam to her at every opportunity, but Estella did not change her mind. She did not like Prince Liam to accept him as her husband.
"The man I will fall in love with, at first sight, I will make him my husband, and I am not going to change my decision as much as I love you. Therefore, if you love me and wish happiness for me, you will respect my decision, "she said to her parents, and they accepted it for the sake of the cult they had for her.
This ball has been taking place every year for the last forty-nine years. This year, this tradition will be fifty years old, half a century, and it was Lucius's kingdom turn to organize it. It was not the first time the dance would occur in this kingdom, but it was the first time that Lucius held the domain.
As the days for dance approached, his anxiety and stress grew.
He did not have a good feeling about it, but it was something he kept to himself and struggled on his own to find a way out.
My throat burns with each swallow.Each step only sharpens my thirst, making it hard to focus on anything else. My thirst is the only thing I can feel.Then-A voice breaks through."Look," Ballyan's voice carries the first hint of hope. "Light, right ahead. We're almost out."I look where he shows us, and he's right.He turns to me. "So? What's next?" he asks. His voice is firm, unwavering—no hesitation, no doubt."We are meant to encounter a rocky area with a cliff below. There will be a sea featuring a small bay with a beach and a cave. "Although the cave will be visible, we will need to swim to enter it," I reply calmly.The forest ends, and we keep walking. The light is bright, and we squint our eyes until we adjust to it.Every now and then, I discreetly run my tongue over my lips. I admit this does not quench my thirst, but I can't stop doing it. Somehow, it provides relief.The first thing we notice is the smell of the sea. A crisp, intense taste in the air, like a wind soaked
We have no choice but to keep running. My stamina is increasingly failing me. My breaths are short and sharp. My lungs are starting to burn so much that it hurts like knives are being stabbed into my chest. My legs are shaking, barely obeying me. They beg me to let them collapse, but my mind refuses. One more step. Just one more. Then another. Please continue.My heartbeat is screaming inside my head and deep in my throat. A branch tears my arm, but I barely notice the pain.The landscape before me is blurry. Shapes swirl in the corners of my eyes, shifting like ghosts, like the evil spirits that are chasing us. Their creeping follows us, sending shivers down my spine.Only at the last moment do the blurred shapes take on their standard form. An invisible shape now approaches me, and as its image clears, I recognize it as a tree. I don't have time to avoid it. My shoulder scrapes against the rough bark. My heartbeat is now pounding in my ears, deafening.I grit my teeth. I won't give
An Update from the Author – New Chapters are Coming!Dear readers,I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your love, patience, and support for "Finding the Heart of Magic." Your messages asking me to continue truly touched my heart—I see them, and I appreciate every single one of you who has been waiting for more.I haven't forgotten this story—it's been in my heart all this time, waiting for the right moment to continue its journey. And now, that time is near.Here's the plan: Before I return fully to Finding the Heart of Magic, I want to complete another story I've been working on first. Once that is finished, I will be back with new chapters and exciting twists! I promise it will be worth the wait. In the meantime… If you're reading this, it means you've received a notification about a chapter update. While this is not a full chapter, I wanted to ensure you all saw this message—so you know the story is not abandoned and will return stronger than ever.I also want to s
I feel beads of sweat run down my spine and collect in the dimple at the base of my waist."Did you feel that?" I ask the knights wanting to know their thoughts on what had just happened. Maybe there is some logical explanation. Perhaps it's a unique phenomenon in this magical forest that I don't know about.I wish to be."Yes," Brian answers."What is it?" I ask again."It was just o breath of air."I narrowed my eyes and pursed my lips. "I'm not stupid, Brian. It wasn't just a breeze like all the others. Not a leaf was moved. How do you explain that?'The knight stops short and scratches the back of his neck."You notice that, don't you?" asks me."Of course I noticed. What is it? Why did it happen?"The other knights seem to have heard our conversation because they are approaching us."The truth is, we don't know what it might be. Various legends circulate in people's mouths, but it is difficult for me to believe all I hear." Ballyan informs me, and then I remember."Aida before I
I remain frozen in my place while my heart starts hammering. I must inform the men immediately. Brian is closer to me, and I decide to tell him.I lean slightly towards him. "Brian," I whisper, wanting to get his attention first.He turns and looks at me. "What's up, princess. Why are you whispering?" he tells me with carelessness, and I want to bring him the plate I was holding on his head. But he is right. He doesn't know."Wild animals are here watching us. They may have surrounded us. Tell to Robert who is sitting near you. Everyone needs to be informed," I tell him, and he nods in agreement.From my seat, I watch the process as the information was transferred from one to another and how their behavior changed from the moment they learned.They left their plate on the ground and put his hand on the handle of the sword, ready for defense.When the information reaches Ballyan, he leaves his plate on the ground, and he carefully searches th
EdithWe reach the edge of the forest very quickly. Knight Ballyan approaches me and tells me:"It's time to let go of the horses, my princess.""Okay," I answer, and Ballyan gives the order to the other knights.We dismounted from the horses, and the soldiers who had followed us took the horses' reins and, with a simple "Good Luck," took the road back to the castle.We watch them walk away for a while, but when the dust raised by the horse's clattering of feet and drowns us causing us a cough, we decide to move on.We begin to enter the forest, and the drop in temperature is quickly felt. The vegetation is dense. Gigantic trees with massive, thick trunks and low and tall shrubs cover almost all the ground. Somewhere we find some flowers with huge blossoms. This is the first time I see such flowers. They have lovely bright colors and a delectable scent.I gape for a moment at this incredible beauty of theirs when, at some point, a large insect comes and sits on the bloom to feed itself