Chapter 3

The footman brought the carriage to the front door and opened the door. My Uncle, aunt and cousin climb in first without a glance our way. I walk toward the carriage holding my Magnolia and Callumn's hands. The servants ignore us as we approach, I frown as I help my two siblings up into the high carriage. When I am master of this place they're all fired.

The carriage ride was silent. No words were spoken the whole thirty minutes to the palace. Judging by how slow carriages are I'd say if we were in a car it would only take like 5 minutes. When we arrived, I prepared to get up when the palace servants opened the door but was immediately slapped by my aunt. "You will wait for us to leave before you come down." She murmured through her fan that covered her mouth. I can tell by her eyes she's wearing her signature evil smile.

The slap stung but i believe it wouldn't leave a mark too bad. When aunt Aster, uncle Noah and cousin Kathrine left the carriage I hurried as I slapped my own face as hard as my 6 year old body could, surprising my siblings. I turned to them and looked into both their eyes "Trust me. I have a plan but you both must be very brave. I love you both so much.". "We do sister" Callumn said with a tear in his eye but gave me his bravest face " we love you too." They both say at the same time, eyes burning with determination to go along with whatever I do.

Since I hit where my aunt already did my face reddened and swollen a little. When I exited the carriage I held my cheek looking as pitiful as I could. I then turned back to help my sibling down from the carriage. This was usually the head woman's job or a servant but i made sure to do it myself like I was used to it. This made the surrounding nobles and palace staff look at us with pitting gazes. They started whispering among themselves. How should my aunt a mere count leave the ducal children behind. How was I hurt? How cute we look, and so on. It seems the mood of the room is on our side, sympathetic to us children. Now I just have to gain more sympathy before we head over to the king.

I grab the twins hands and make my way over to aunt and uncle as they head to the line to greet the king and queen. We entered the palace ballroom. It's gorgeous about the size of a professional basketball court filled with people all dressed in beautiful ornate dresses of all shapes and colors and suits, the ones with the long tailcoats. It was decorated with expensive ornate tugs and golden crystal chandeliers. The whole room had a golden tinge to it as the room was lit by yellow magic stones. Magic Stones here are elemental, yellow for light, blue for water, red for fire and so on. They start off clear and when you put mana in you can choose the purpose you want for them. The most powerful magic stones are ones filled with natural elemental mana, ones you find in nature. There is a high abundance of them in the holy island and island of the damned, they're islands in the middle of the two different oceans on the opposite sides of the world. Both oceans are terribly treacherous but the kings of each country always send voyages over to collect as many natural magic stones as possible. But I have bigger troubles right now than thinking about magic stones, I have to keep focused.

I look around for any of the love interests. I really don't wanna see any of them, but in case they're here i wanna know where they are so that i can avoid them. I spot the the prime ministers son Vincent speaking with the knight captain's son Mather with a crowd of young girls looking at them longingly from nearby. I admit they are handsome. Vincent who was 7 at this point but still had his characteristic long green hair in a ponytail with glasses and Mather looking just as handsome with his dark orange hair and freckles on his tanned skin. It looks like Mather has already started his training since even in his formal shirt and coat you can still see some muscle definition but not much as he is still only 7. They'd be good husband material if Vincent didn't turn into a gross masochist with a inferiority complex and Mather wasn't mind numbingly dumb. They have their plus sides but they're not for me.

The line is pretty long to visit the king and queen and adults aren't allowed to do anything before showing fealty to the royal couple so all they can do is wait, but the children are free to wonder until it's their time. I still haven't spotted either one of the two princes and I'm a little worried. In the game flashback the prince approaches Charlotte because he likes how she looks and her demure personality. He chooses her as his new abuse toy *barf*. You see the first prince is a real dick. William Auburn Henry Schist III is an abusive, blunt, crafty, user who thinks people are infinite and disposable and has a deep hatred for commoners. And that's keeping it PG. He's a sick son of a bitch. Only the brain dead dunce Heroine could love him and vice versa. The dude is nuts.

I sure am lucky he's not around right now, I hope it stays that way. "Hey you there. Your prince demands your audience." {Fuuuuuuck, not with Callumn and Magnolia here}. I turn toward the voice behind me. Its him, you can't mistake the characteristics of the royal family. His blonde hair, grey eyes, and olive skin is shared throughout the family. He's very handsome but his personality is straight trash.

I make eye contact with each of the twins and nod at them. Trying to find strength not to punch this child in his fucking mouth. I know what's coming when I get there. The twins and I walk over, I would let them go but I really don't want them to go too far away from me for now. In case butch aunt Aster somehow sniff m plan and uses them as leverage. "You there. Greet your most handsome and wonderful prince!" Prince William says haughtily with his nose in the air looking down on my siblings and I. Did I forget to say he was a giant narcissist? Cause he is.

With my brightest and fakest smile I curtsy and introduce myself "Charlotte Aster Lydell greets his Highness crown prince William. These are my siblings Magnolia Lark Lydell and Callumn Larkspur Lydell." {That's right. My father named me after his sister. Fucking aunt Aster}. At my introduction the twins bowed and curtsied respectfully. "It's your lucky day. Your semi-decent appearance has caught my eye. You may bask in my presence now. And later you may even sit at my feet. Aren't you happy I've given you this pleasure!" {I really really fucking hate this dude.}

I try to make my face smile but i think its coming out more as a grimace, "Your honest as much as that would….please me. It is almost our families turn to greet His majesty the king and we mustn't be late. Excuse us" I curtsy again and turn around grabbing the twins hands and speed walk as fast as I could away. Behind me, the prince was watching my retreating figure with curiosity and interest, since every girl he had met since then had been groupies and would have been overjoyed at what he just said and I looked like i wanted to throw up. He then mistakenly decided I was probably just shy and went about his business.

I'm glad I wasn't lying. Aunt and Uncle are second in line. With the twins in tow we head over towards them but im stopped again. {What in all hell is it now?}. This time it's cousin Kathrine. At two years older than me she looks just like her mother with the same facial structure, same short straight nose, big eyes and full lips but she has her father's blonde hair and green eyes. It's a pretty contrast of blonde on her light brown skin. Too bad she's just like her mother.

"Come on cousin. We're going to be late to greet the king!" She says a little too happily. She nonchalantly slaps Callumns hand out mine and replaces it with hers. Her grip on my arm is painful and I try not to flinch. "You must not make me or mother look bad in front of the king and queen. Otherwise what happened this morning, it won't be just Mother having fun." She whispered in my ear gripping my arm even tighter. I whisper back "Fuck you bitch. I do what I want." And grabbed Callumn's hand back and made my way to Aunt and Uncle leaving Kathrine standing there mouth agape. Her face started to turn red in anger but she kept her face as passive as she could since we're in public.

When we arrived next to my aunt and uncle Kathrine had already joined us. It's already our turn. I give my cute babies hands a little squeeze and let go for the first time since we entered the palace. As we head towards the throne I trip. It's showtime!