The Vortex (1)

"There is no true victor in war," Marlena concluded the book she was reading. 

She had read it more times than she could count. At this point, she no longer needed the book to read about the war between Yorucia and Itrusia two decades ago. She could practically recite it. 

Alas, it was one of the only books she could access. She and her mother were only maids in the castle, and although she could easily find books in the grand royal library, it was not allowed. 

How unfair, Marlena thought. Those snobby royals wouldn't even read all those books if they lived as long as deities did. 

King Cassius would rather burn all those books to ashes than let anyone else have them, and his queen was a worse nightmare. No one liked her. No wonder they were each other's mate—there was no way fate would let either of them end up with better people. 

"Marlena! Are you still daydreaming?" Her mother yelled into the room.