-Victoria-
Everything moved incredibly fast. My father wanted to get the announcement done as soon as possible and King Romonar agreed. They summoned their courts and the press to Pelmora that same night.
The next morning, servants came to my room to help me dress. They did my makeup and placed my hair in an eccentric braid. I thought that I wouldn't recognize myself after all the work they did but it looked natural.
"Your friend, Anna, stopped us on our way down," One of them informed me, "She told us you'd likely prefer your hair to be up and for the makeup to be more subtle, unlike the Princess Ustrea."
Ustrea. That's someone I hadn't thought about. She and I are sisters. And I not only outrank her but I pushed her off the throne. Not to mention out of her engagement. I couldn't help but feel bad for her. I had to talk to her. Clear the air, maybe start fresh.
My father came to collect me while I was putting on my red school robe. He smiled brightly as I gave a very awkward curtesy.
"I apologize for not having a proper dress made," He said as the servants smoothed out my robe, "I'm not certain of your style but I'm sure it does not match Ustrea's. I would have you transfigure your own clothes however, Zekora believed you'd be unable to maintain it and might end up wearing nothing."
"Probably for the best." I agreed with a shrug, "By the way where is Ustrea? I wanted to talk to her about this whole sisters thing. Hopefully get a do over."
"Regrettably, Ustrea was quite upset learning the two of you are sisters and that you are meant to be my heir." My father informed me with a disappointed look, "I had her taken back to Varezia for the time being. You can talk to her before you are presented formally to the court."
"She has more than the right to be upset," I told my father, "Her whole world, everything she thought to be true just unraveled."
"Be that as it may, she was more than likely to cause a scene and we can't have that." He told me in a soft but stern voice, "We must appear unified."
"Won't her absence give the opposite appearance?" I argued.
"An official story was released to the press late last night about her being ill and returning to the castle to recover." My father informed me.
"Well isn't that convenient." I mumbled under my breath.
"Victoria, enough." He sternly ordered, "Ustrea will come around eventually and until she does she will remain out of sight as to not cause trouble."
"And if she doesn't come around?" I asked.
"Then she will be sent away from court until she learns her place." He told me, "And that is the last we will discuss it. This is a happy day."
"Maybe for some." I said under my breath.
I choose to drop it after the firm look my father gave me. He held out his hand for me to take. I carefully placed my hand in his as I felt magic swell around us. I blinked and we were in front of a large bank vault.
"Welcome to the royal vault." He said with a smile.
I looked around the room in awe. The room was massive, made of white marble and soaring columns with a domed roof. Scarlet accents coated the room and the royal seal of Varezia was constructed of tiles on the floor. Hallways led out left and right of the central room with other bank vaults lining the walls.
"There's no door." I pointed out.
"Only the royal family can come here." My father informed me with a smile, "And only the royal family knows of its location."
"So no one else can come here?" I asked walking around to look closer at the walls.
"There are protections but they can only do so much," My father told me, "The biggest thing protecting this place is that no one knows where it is and it must stay that way."
"Which means I can't tell Azax." I concluded.
"I have no say of what you do once you are Queen and married but until then, yes, you cannot tell him." He informed before adding, "And even after you are Queen, I would caution against telling him either way."
"Secrets really don't help with the whole peace and unity thing." I laughed a little.
"Take it from someone who knows, Victoria," He told me, laying a comforting hand on my shoulder, "Marriage. Relationships. They don't always go how you plan. Even those driven by fate."
"Then I'll just have to play it by ear," I replied, taking his advice to heart.
"That's all I ask." He gave me a smile then clapped his hands together, "Now on to why we came here. Can't keep everyone waiting."
"Why did you bring me here?" I asked as we moved back to stand before the large central vault.
"You are a princess and you need a crown," He said, waving his hand as the locks began to undue, "This vault can only be opened by the reigning monarch and contains every crown, jewel, and magic artifact ever seized or crafted by the monarch, except those held by other members of the royal family."
The large door opened revealing a two floor interior decorated identical to the room outside. Cases of weapons and gear lined the walls. I approached a case with a simple wooden staff inside. A label called it "the staff of salvation" and described its ability to heal any ailment or treat any wound as long as the person was still alive.
Across the room, a black cloak caught my attention being so out of place in a usually colorful world. The label read "the night-shade cloak", granting the ability to walk through the shadows of the world with out detection. Next to it was a dagger that oozed darkness. Called "the seal", the smallest cut from the blade could remove a person magic forever. I felt my father's presence behind me.
"Have you ever used any of these?" I asked.
"I haven't," He assured me, "And I'm positive that that dagger has not left this vault since its creation."
"With the dagger and cloak, Varezia could've won the war for Evania centuries ago." I pointed out.
"There are lines we never cross, no matter how desperate we get," He told me, "That dagger should never have been created but no one has ever been willing to destroy it. You must promise me no matter how dark it gets, you'll never use it."
"I plan to bring peace," I said confidently, "And when that's done we'll destroy it together."
"Come." He said, guiding me away from the dagger and up the stairs.
We arrived at the top to see lines of pillows holding crowns and tiaras of different styles and sizes. My father motioned me forward to look around while he hung back.
I had barely made it up one row, when a tiara several rows in caught my attention. I couldn't remove it from my vision, it was like it was following me. Eventually, I gave up pretending to look at the other ones and walked towards it. I barely noticed my father standing a little straighter as I got close.
As I examined the tiara something felt wrong. It looked strange but also familiar. It was out of place amongst the other crowns. The silver that made up the majority of the piece contrasted with the bright red rubies that adorned it. I picked it up. It felt right in my hands.
"Is that the one you want?" My father asked.
"Yes?" I answered, unsure, "I don't know. It feels right but looks wrong."
"Probably because it was never meant to be set with rubies rather-" He began to explained before I cut him off.
"Sapphires." I finished, "There are supposed to be sapphires in this tiara."
"Exactly," My father smiled lightly, "It was taken as the spoils of war 500 years ago. The queen at the time choose to have it reset with rubies and had planned to wear it as a trophy but could never stand the sight of it."
"So it ended up here." I said, still staring at it in my hands.
With a gentle smile, my father carefully guided me to one of the nearby mirrors. Taking it from my hands, he placed it on my head. It fit perfectly. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked at myself. It felt so right but looked entirely wrong.
"I have to admit," He told me wiping a stray tear that fell, "Though it might look strange now, I'm sure when the time comes, this tiara would look stunning set in amethyst."
"Thank you," I whispered, "This is the one."
"Then we best be on our way back to Pelmora." He told me holding out his hand.
I wiped what tears were left and grabbed hold with a smile taking over my face. We reappeared in the central hall of Pelmora, Azax and his father waiting for us. Azax was dressed in his full crown prince attire with his crown sitting on his head. I smiled at the gold crown set with sapphires as he approached me. He pulled me in for a soft kiss.
"You look stunning in that crown." He told me.
"Spoils of war from 500 years ago." I informed him with a laugh, "What about yours?"
"Coincidentally, a very similar story to yours." He replied with his own laugh.
"Are we ready?" King Romonar asked.
Azax and I looked at each other, sharing a nod.
"We are." I told our fathers.
Our fathers led the way out before the gathered crowd of reporters, select courtiers and students. Azax and I followed hand in hand. Moving forward together towards peace in this new life.