Two hours have passed since Diane was told to wait in the hospital's waiting room.

Diane's feet swung back and forth as she sat alone reading her mother's old favorite book, Legends of the Forgotten. The book did not name an author on its leather cover, nor was it in Diane's native language. Those who knew Latin could only read the inked words on the honey-colored pages, and Diane was almost one of them.

"Sweetie, your mommy is ready to see you," said Bianca, the nurse who attended Diane's mother's care. Diane's feet stopped swinging as her eyes navigated from the book to Bianca, who was standing in the hallway with a bright smile and tired eyes.

Diane closed her book and jumped off the chair. She rushed towards Bianca and grabbed her hand.

"How's my mother?" Diane asked as she and Bianca walked down the long fluorescent hallway.

"She's doing better, thanks to the chocolate you brought in yesterday."

"Really!? I should bring more tomorrow!"

"Oh, we're here."

The room was dim where Emma, Diane's mother, rested at the center-the sight of her mother's pale complexion filled Diane with worry.

"Mom?" Diane softly called out. Her steps filled with concern as she approached her mother's bed.

"Hey there, pumpkin." Emma's voice sounded weak. She wasn't able to hide it. "How are you? Have you eaten?"

"Yeah, I ate some soup at the cafeteria."

"Must of been delicious."

"It was alright." Diane felt relieved when she heard her mother chuckle for the first time in the day.

"Come. Lay down next to me." Emma said as she moved herself to the edge of the bed to make space for her daughter.

Diane climbed onto the bed carefully to not pull any of the cables that were attached to her mother's body. Once next to her mother, she was held in a warm embrace.

"I see you brought my book."

"I tried reading the Forgotten Princess, but I'm having trouble in reading some of the words." Diane had opened the book to the story of The Forgotten Princess. A story that used to be told from generation to generation that was left in the unknown.

"Oh, I know that story. It's one of my favorites."

"Can you read it to me?" Diane looked at her mother with sparkling eyes. Her heart beating with anticipation. .

"Anything for you, pumpkin," Emma said as she poked Diane's nose.
Listening to her mother always felt like magic to Diane. Her imagination would automatically transport her inside the story.

"Let's see." The book was now in Emma's trembling hands. She flipped to the next page, unveiling an illustration of a medieval palace atop a green hill, painted in Romanesque art. Diane gazed at the image in awe and wonder.

"Around the fifteenth century, there was a kingdom known as Castellan. And in that kingdom, there lived Princess Amelia, who was loved and respected by her people." Emma narrated as Diane imagined a medieval palace with towering stone walls and turrets reaching towards the sky. Closely resembling the palace depicted in the book, as if the pages had come to life.

<><><>

It was a Sunday morning, a day when the palace servants would wake up to the sound of birds outside their windows and dress to begin their daily chores. As for Amelia, a knock on the door was all it took to get her up from bed.

"Your Highness," said Estefan, the King's private messenger from the other side of the door. "The King sends me to deliver the message that he -"

Amelia quickly opened the door, and Estefan jumped back, frightened at the sight before him. Amelia quickly jumped out of bed when she heard the knock on her door because today was the day she was to be named the King's heir. To be more exact, she hadn't slept a wink, and her hair was a tangled mess.

"I'm to see my father, right!?"

"Yes, Your Highness. The king has some important news that you are to be aware of."

"Excellent! I won't take long."

Before Estefan could bow, the door had been shut in front of his face. Not like he cared, but before he could take one step away from the door, the door opened again with Amelia behind it.

" Sorry about that. Thank you, Estefan." Amelia had felt a bit of shame for closing the door in such a rude manner. Not fit for a princess.

"Not at all, your Highness." Estefan bowed and turned to leave as Amelia closed the door but this time more gently.

Inside her chambers, Amelia ran straight to her wardrobe, opened the doors, and inspected each dress she had when another knock on the door caught her attention.

"Enter!" Knowingly of who was knocking, Amelia permitted her ladies in waiting to enter her chambers.

"Good morning my lady." The three of them said in unison as they curtsied. The leader out of the three was Katherine a tall red-headed woman with pale skin and next to her were the brunette twins, Sophy and Emily.

"Good morning, ladies! Sophy, please help me choose a dress for today. I am to see my father." Sophy hurried next to Amelia to inspect all the options. "Should I wear the white with gold or the pink dress?" Amelia displayed both dresses in front of her for Sophy to judge.

"I say my lady should wear the white dress since today it's a special day."

"We think the same!"

"My lady, may I also suggest this golden necklace to accompany your dress?" Said Emily as she held the expensive detailed necklace in her hands that would match Amelia's honey eyes.

"I love it! Let's use it."

"My lady, I'll assist you with your hair today," Katherine said, at last making her way to the hairdresser.

The three ladies-in-waiting were as happy and excited as Amelia since today was going to determine a new beginning for their lady.

<><><>

In the long and narrow hallway of portraits, ten servants diligently cleaned the windows and the golden-framed portraits of Castellan's past and current rulers hanging from the walls.

Among them was Amelia's portrait. The artist had instructed Amelia that day to pose with a soft smile as her eyes held a look of determination. The opposite of what the other portraits looked like. Stern faces, scary auras, and power were what all those paintings conveyed.

"Coming through! Sorry! Coming Through!" Princess Amelia announced to the servants in the hallway as she ran at full speed like a wild horse with her dress pulled up to avoid tripping and falling on the marble floors.

Quickly, the servants hugged the wall, making way for Amelia and her three ladies to pass through.

"My lady! Please don't run!" The three ladies said together as they tried to catch up to Amelia.

Amelia ignored their pleas and kept running forward, leaving her ladies halfway through the hall to catch their breath. Only one more hallway and she arrived at the throne hall.

Upon seeing the grand oak doors and the knights aligned in the hall, Amelia stopped in her tracks to catch her breath. She straightened her dress, groomed her hair, and positioned her crown to the center, which was slightly tilted to the right. Amelia sighed and her eyes became narrow. The smile that she showed to her ladies had vanished. This was the real Amelia.

"Open the doors," said Amelia with authority, and the knights obeyed.

The throne hall was spacious. It had two columns of pillars at the center that led the way to the throne where King Richard sat. The walls were decorated with rich color tapestries that tell the foundation of their kingdom.

"Enter," said King Richard with a deep voice that echoed through the hall.

For a moment, Amelia felt intimidated when she heard her father speak but made herself inside with regal until she reached the throne.

"I apologize for my lateness father. " Amelia bowed and waited for her father to respond. She could feel his cold hardened gaze upon her.

"You may rise," said King Richard.

Amelia lifted her head and took upon the appearance of her father. His eyes were droopy, and the lines on his forehead were more visible. His hair and beard were whiter than the last time she saw him. Amelia knew that his father's health was deteriorating because of the war with the Toverian kingdom.

"I was informed this morning that King Loth has fallen ill and that his first son Prince Edmund has taken over as regent."

"Prince Edmund?" Amelia was confused. She was waiting for her father to deliver the news that he chose her over her brother Amon to become the heir, not about the war.

"He has reached out to me expressing his wish to stop this bloody war between our nations." Upon hearing this Amelia knew where the conversation was heading.

"At what cost!?" Amelia began to get nervous.

"Your hand in marriage."

Amelia's eyes widened in fear, and her heart accelerated. Her ears couldn't believe what her father might have agreed on. Marriage was the last thing on her mind. All Amelia wanted was to become Queen of Castellan and nothing else. At this point, Amelia couldn't faze her father. She felt betrayed.