Hello. My name is Felicia May Maniliron, but I prefer to go by Felicia. Unless I am talking to my parents. They want me to go by my full name, but just Maniliron is a bit of a mouth-full. I guess that is one of the perks of being the Crown Princess when my personality does not even fit the title. If anything, my sister Malinda Jay Maniliron should be the Crown Princess. I have spent days with my father (the king), and all that he does on a busy day is sit on his Throne in the throne room, or go to meetings with the council all day. If I could have my way, the ruling Monarch would be doing things like going out and signing peace treaties, and training recruits for the army, with less sitting around, and more going out in the world. 

I wish that things were the way that they used to be exactly three thousand three hundred thirty three years ago. But the way things were run changed after an incident with two of my ancestors. But if (or when) I ascend to the throne, I will hopefully be able to change some things for the better. At least according to what I think. But I understand why the monarch cannot do much in combat because of the risk of death. Which is understandable. 

But there are many people in the world that want to be themselves instead of what society wants them to be. Just like me. I want to be a warrior, and serve my kingdom instead of sitting on a throne all day. But there is still the royal image that everyone in the kingdom counts on. I just wish that things were different, and I wish that things could change.

But knowing my father, I don’t see that happening anytime soon. 

≈≈≈

I woke up on what seemed to be a normal day. The sun was shining, birds were chirping, and there was not a cloud in sight. I hopped out of my bed, and slipped into my school uniform, which consists of a gray pleated skirt, an itchy white collared shirt, white knee high socks and black shoes. 

To me, the uniform seems ridiculous because the shoes are pretty much impossible to run in, and half as hard to walk. I never understood why the uniform for girls, or “ladies” as the “proper” person would say, is the polar opposite of the uniform for the boys, or “men”. They have pants that one of my friends says is easy to run in, same with the shoes, and a comfortable collared shirt. If I only knew my kingdom by history, I would have never assumed that this is the same place. 

I had just finished pulling up my socks, and grabbed my shoes to put on later (the shoes that are mandatory to wear for school that happen to be impossible to walk in) when someone barged through my door. I automatically knew that it was Malinda. (I nicknamed her Malinda J, which she hates. There is virtually no difference unless it is being written on paper). 

“Put on your shoes. Father wants us in the throne room.” She said authoritatively, and left the room before I could ask; “What does he want now?”

I groaned, and pulled on the impractical shoes. I tried going to school in a different pair of shoes (that looked the same, but had different material), but Malinda J knew from my agony free facial expression that I was wearing a different pair of shoes. That is one of the reasons why I hate her. 

I grabbed my school bag, and walked out of my bedroom, and through the long halls. (another one of the things that I do not understand the practicality of). There are many things that I would want to change. 

But practically, all of those changes would be impossible.

≈≈≈

“Felicia, just in time.” My father said as I entered the throne room. “You should try to be more like Malinda Jay, she is on time, and the exact image that the kingdom needs.”

“I know, father.” I said, and looked over to my sister. She was the perfect image of a princess. I agree with my father. Malinda J is the exact image that the kingdom needs. Maybe she could skip over me to the throne. She has already found her magical ability, while I am sitting here wondering if I even have the Royal Magic flowing through my blood. All that I have is this stupid birthmark that is written in my kingdoms mythology to hold great power, but there was nothing.

“Anyways, there has been some suspicious activity around the kingdom. Be on high alert, girls. If anything happens, alert the guards.” 

“Yes father.” Malinda J and I said in unison. 

I walked out of the throne room with a weird feeling in my gut. What does he mean with suspicious activity? Does he mean the possibility of another civil war? 

≈≈≈

Years ago, there used to be at least more than two civil wars every 4 years. They started so fast, took so long, and were so dangerous that there was not an official ruler on the throne for at least one hundred years. These started three thousand three hundred and thirty three years ago, back in the year BCE there-thirty three. The first civil war was caused by someone of the royal family wanting the power of ruling the kingdom. There is no longer a solid story, because there used to be so many civil wars that the people that had solid information about how the wars originally started would perish. Until one man, who was known as “The Great Wizard Algard''. He was the only person that was able to survive long enough to engrave the story into the walls of the Sacred Cete Grandia Caligo temple. The most sacred temple in my kingdom's history. Nothing could enter it except for those whose life’s purpose was to fight for the better of the kingdom. That is what I want my life’s purpose to be. But I don’t know if that is what I was meant for. I long to know, but there are so many possibilities for my future. 

But I guess that I will just have to wait and see. 

≈≈≈

I continued walking down the long hallways. I never thought that long hallways were practical. In the event of another civil war breaking out, the royal family would definitely perish because of the length of time that it would take for them to escape. But then again, that possibility is low. At least according to what my mother and father say. 

I am betting that they are wrong. Because the monarchs never know what is going on. It is always the advisors that know everything. They are always keeping secrets from my parents. I bet that they are keeping secrets from them right now. 

≈≈≈

“You do know that if they find out that we are working with the True Ruler that we could be executed, and the mission can be ruined?” 

“I know that. But we have to do this. For the good of the Kingdom, and the good of the World.” 

≈≈≈

“Make sure that your posture is perfect, straight, and graceful. Women around this kingdom and in the high positions that you all will be in will require everything about you to be perfect. There is no margin for error.” 

“Yes, Madam May.” All of the traditions class said in unison. In my opinion, traditions class is the worst. I would rather want to be trained to fight for the good of the kingdom rather then being trained to sit around all day not doing anything to help the people of my kingdom. 

“Listen up, girls.” Madam May said to wrap up the lesson. “As you all know there is going to be the final exam of this unit that you have all been studying for. We have been preparing for it all month, and I will not accept bad results. Have a lovely day.” 

I mouthed; 

“Have a lovely day Madam May,” while my classmates said it, and swiftly walked out of the room. 

I already knew my schedule, so I knew that I had at least an hour before my next lesson took place. I knew this school like the back of my hand, so I took a short cut that I knew would lead to the forest that was on the school grounds. A long time ago, I crafted a shack out of branches, leaves and mud (I had a tunic and pair of pants that I would wear while I would be in any woods so that I would not get my uniform messy). There I would just spend my free time during school hours and on the weekends when I had nothing going on. In the hut, I had a few wooden bow staffs that I had crafted, along with an axe, a few spare daggers, and a sword that I had found around the woods, and throughout the piles of scrap metal that was being taken away. 

I liked to hang out here at least once a week. This was a very good place for me to by by myself, and for me to train myself in combat. I knew nearly all of the moves in combat. There were many for swords, bow staffs, spears, and my personal favorite, battle axes. There are at least two in my shack from what I can remember, and my memory is quite clear. 

I arrived at the edge of the forest, and pulled the extra clothes over my uniform as my precaution, and continued to my shack. I got to my shack, and to my relief, everything was were it was supposed to be. I grabbed my favorite out of the two battle axes (which is one that I built myself, which is double headed, can fold into itself in a way, and would be very useful if the design was used in battle), and walked out, to practice combat with the logs that I set up that act as training grounds for me. 

I practiced my combat fighting; doing several slides, ducks, and maneuvers that I saw warriors in training use. When I finished going through the training course I made, I spun the double headed axe in my hands as I walked. It was one of my favorite things to do with any weapon that has a long enough handle to do so safely. 

I walked back to my shack to put away my axe so that I could go up to the library for half an hour before my next class. And I do not like being at my shack for more than thirty minutes, because anything after that feels like a risk of getting into trouble. 

As I put my axe away, and pulled off the clothes that I pulled on over my school uniform, I remembered the words that my father said this morning. Both the suspicious activity going around, and what he said about Malinda J and I. It really hurt. Thankfully I force myself not to show these emotions. Mainly because I would never want to talk about them. 

I shoved the tunic and pants to the bottom of my school bag, and walked back inside of the main school building to the library. I found a small table in a quiet corner, and got out a sketchbook, and drew. I tend to draw with the same prompt every time that I draw in a sketchbook, or on the side of a paper during class. My prompt is always the wale, because it is the symbol of the kingdom. 

Some time had passed, and I was about to put my things away when one of the boys in my maths class walked up to me and sat at my table. The same boy that basically every girl in my year at my school is drooling over. Both figuratively and literally. I am serious, a girl was really drooling. This boy had thick brown hair and dark brown eyes, and an attractive face and body which is evidently the type of boy that the average girl at my school would have a crush on.

But not me. I don’t see the practicality of being head over heels for a guy when most marriages are arranged nowadays. 

“Hello there, Felicia.” He said, and pointed at my open sketchbook.  “What do you have there?”

“Nothing that is of your concern,” I said, and put my sketchbook in my schoolbag. Which conveniently was not going in. 

“Why are you in such a hurry?” 

“Well, unlike some people, Austin, I do not prefer to be late to class.” 

“I know that you are the princess of the kingdom, and you have high expectations, but at least let me talk to you. There is still at least ten minutes until the next lesson starts. Which is math.” 

“I am perfectly aware of that, but there is no such thing as on time. You are either early or late.” I finally fitted my sketchbook in my bag, and promptly left the table. 

I knew that he was not following me, because when he sat down at my table, I noticed that he would not be able to get up without moving his chair backwards, and the chairs in the library are relatively heavy, so he would have to drag it on the floor while making noise in the process; and said noise did not occur. 

I walked off to class feeling annoyed. I knew that he was not following me, which was a relief. I had a suspicion that he liked me, but I did not like him back. He is just a pain, and I do not want to waste time on him. 

But should I?