A Crown's Game|✔︎UNDER MAJOR EDITING

-Prologue-

-ANASTASIA

"Dead?" I turn my head over my shoulder. The messenger bows his head and steps back.

    "Yes, ma'am. The Queen is dead."

    "What time?"

    "Half-past nine."

    I sigh, facing the dark city. "Alert Carter, it's time he knew the truth about The Queen. And please tell The King, Lilah, and Alice."

    "Your father, I mean, The King already knows, ma'am." He says. "I shall alert Princess Alice and Princess Lilah, and Prince Carter."

    "Yes, do so." I walk out of the room, straight to my room. I must change. "Martha!"

    My maid scurries into the room, a black dress in hand. "I already heard." She zips me up in the dress and places the black shoes on the floor.

    "Damn!"I rush my feet in the shoes.

    "Ma'am?"

    "I forgot to tell the messenger about The Crown's Game." I turn to face her. "I need to meet with Carter, Alice, Lilah, and Papa."

    "Yes, ma'am." She rushes out of the room and so did I, right after her, running as best as I could in six-inch heels down the carpeted staircase. The family room was on the second floor, and I arrive, straightening invisible wrinkles in my dress and loose ends in my hair before Martha opens the door. Carter was in a discussion with Papa, and Alice was playing a game of cards with Lilah. They did not know. My father did, of course, and by the looks of Carter, he did too."Dead?" I turn my head over my shoulder. The messenger bows his head and steps back.

    "Yes, ma'am. The Queen is dead."

    "What time?"

    "Half-past nine."

    I sigh, facing the dark city. "Alert Carter, it's time he knew the truth about The Queen. And please tell The King, Lilah, and Alice."

    "Your father, I mean The King already knows, ma'am." He says. "I shall alert Princess Alice and Princess Lilah, and Prince Carter."

    "Yes, do so." I walk out of the room, straight to my room. I must change. "Martha!"

    My maid scurries into the room, a black dress in hand. "I already heard." She zips me up in the dress and places the black shoes on the floor.

    "Damn!"I rush my feet in the shoes.

    "Ma'am?"

    "I forgot to tell the messenger about The Crown's Game." I turn to face her. "I need to meet with Carter, Alice, Lilah, and Papa."

    "Yes, ma'am." She rushes out of the room and so did I, right after her, running as best as I could in six-inch heels down the carpeted staircase. The family room was on the second floor, and I arrive, straightening invisible wrinkles in my dress and loose ends in my hair before Martha opens the door. Carter was in a discussion with Papa, and Alice was playing a game of cards with Lilah. They did not know. My father did, of course, and by the looks of Carter, he did too.

"We need to talk about the Crown's Game." I head to my seat. Lilah and Alice looked up, clearly shocked, since they didn't know about the death.

"But the Crown's Game isn't held until the Queens dead, or a reins end?" Alice sets down her cards, and rushes towards me, Lilah following.

"Yes." I place my hand on her shoulder. "Of course."

"Wait..." Lilah scratches the back of her neck. "Mama is dead?"

I nod. "Sit down."

Lilah and Alice rush to the other end of the table, right next to Papa, whose face was so pale, it could pass as a porcelain doll. Small tears sit in his eyes, but he doesn't let them spill. He loved her, so did I, Alice, Lilah, and Carter. But she was so busy that we barely saw her. Papa and our maids usually did.

"The Crown's Game must be announced, the rules need to be printed, for the people who don't know, and we need to get to the provinces and select the girls." Papa sits up straighter, and I nod and sigh.

"Alice, Lilah." I turn towards them. "Since you are 14 and 15, in age, and the daughters of the queen, you must complete. Power must be won, not given without a purpose. Understood?"

"Yes." Lilah sighs.

But then, Alice lets out the most ear-shattering scream that I had ever heard, before sinking to the ground in tears. Lilah rushes to her side, and she speaks, tears idly drop to the ground.

"Mom would..would not want this to happen. I refuse to partake in it. Instead, I want to go somewhere else. This reminds me too much of her." And she leaves the room, still sobbing.

My father runs his hands through his hair and turns to Lilah, a stern tone in his voice.

"On that note, you will partake in the Crown Games instead." Lilah shakes her head, and my father slides his hand from behind his back to touch Lilah's porcelain face.

"I said, you will partake in the Crown Games for our district. Do I have to make myself clear?"

Lilah still shakes her head and raises herself to leave.

"I said, you WILL partake in the Crown's Games. That is an order!" Papa bellows. Lilah freezes for a moment, nods her head and runs out of the room.

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Authors Note -

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