Lilac
Tonight is Malachi's seventeenth birthday and the palace was busting from so much excitement. Tonight is also the night he'd be officially crowned as the heir of my father's throne.
I sat in my bedroom, resisting the urge to burst into tears, because that was supposed to be me.
If I wasn't forced to disguise myself as a girl, on my seventeenth birthday, I'd have been crowned the official heir to the throne. But now, I have to watch what actually belongs to me gets given to Malachi.
And that hurts so much.
All my life, I spent it being envious of Malachi and wishing my life was as easy as his. While growing up, I used to constantly wish my life wasn't so hard and complicated.
I had to force myself to like a lot of things, because the things I actually love- are forbidden for women, thanks to sexism.
My door suddenly opened and Kira came in without knocking. She was in my bed the next moment, hugging me and burying her head in my chest.
"You okay, Lilac?" She asked because she already knew why I was feeling so gloomy today. When she found out what I had to endure in the hands of Sir Albeit yesterday, she got so mad and wanted to go speak to the king on my behalf to not let me get married to Sir Albert, but I didn't let her.
Father liked Kira, she was his favorite daughter of all his daughters- another reason why Tracy hates us, but despite being his favorite, I still believed there are some things she can't make him do, like to make him change his mind for example.
"I am, and you? Any offers from the princes you danced with two nights ago?" I asked, changing the subject.
She flopped on my bed and smiled brightly, her gorgeous face glowing beautifully as she nodded, clearly feeling giddy and excited.
"A lot of offers! We can go through the letters together later." She said before abruptly sitting up.
"We should get ready, lilac! The party is starting in a bit." She informed me as she got to her feet. I groaned and let my eyes fall close.
"I don't wanna go." I mumbled, chest feeling tight once again.
Kira was hugging and kissing my head the next moment.
"I know it sucks, brother. Living this way, hiding who you are, going through all this pain, then having to watch what belongs to you go to someone else- it must suck big time." She continued and tears sting my eyes at her calling me 'brother', because it feels nice to be referred to with a male pronoun even though it's only whenever we're alone. That was a word I always cling unto, it's a reminder of who I am underneath these disguises.
~~~
Kira, Hailey and I were walking into the large hall which was already overflowing with guests. It was like the whole kingdom came over to celebrate Malachi's birthday and coronation. I didn't even want to attend this party, but I knew skipping was out of the question, especially since Sir Albert was also attending and we'd also have to interact.
Ugh.
As we were about to step into the palace, I urged my siblings to go in first, because I hated being seen by the public beside them- for their sake, so they won't be gossiped about. They tried arguing as usual but after I kept insisting, they conceded and stepped in together.
After a bit, I stepped in and tried to make myself invisible almost immediately.
When Malachi got officially crowned the heir to the throne, the whole crowd roared loudly with cheers while he stood tall and proud on the podium.
Tears pickled my eyes which I quickly blinked away before anyone could notice and I forced myself to clap along with everyone.
In the next moment, Tracy was by my side, a glint in her eyes as she grinned.
"You'll have to answer to my son once he becomes king. You'll bow to him and respect him. He'll have control over your live. So, here's a motherly advice: better try speeding up your marriage to Sir Albeit for your own good." She bit those words out lowly, a sweet smile plastered across her face for onlookers.
"Thank you for caring about me." I hurled back with an eyeroll that had Tracy breaking character and glaring at me for a second.
Next, she spotted Sir Albeit and waved him over eagerly and I instantly tried excusing myself but she gripped my arm firmly just as Sir Albeit stopped before us. He bowed to her in respect.
"Your majesty,"
"Sir Albeit, Lilac was just telling me about you. She's very excited about the upcoming marriage and can't wait to become your wife." Tracy drawled off to a pleased looking Sir albeit whom I wish I could strangle.
In no time, Tracy was leaving me alone with Albeit who stood way too close to me. He licked his lips as he regarded me.
"Missed me that much?" He purred and I couldn't stop my scoff.
"Don't flatter yourself, you can see my clear discomfort right now." I bit out before I could stop myself.
Before I could even attempt to take those words back, Sir Albert was laughing hard, attracting more attention to us.
"Believe me, slut, I don't care. To be honest, the thought of you trying to resist my cock feels hot. It's getting my cock hard from just thinking about it. That way, I'd have to hold you down and make you take it." He continued and I gagged, stepping away from him.
"Disgusting creep." I spat at him, uncaring of repercussions at this point.
He only laughed in amusement. "That's more like it. At least you're not pretending to be docile and silent any more. Breaking you is gonna be fun. And before you start hoping I'd call off the marriage, I won't."
~~~
I ended up leaving the hall after losing Sir Albeit because it felt like I might puke or pass out. People were celebrating and dancing but I felt like I was dying on the inside.
Once I got to my bedroom, I fell into my bed and ended up crying till I fell asleep.
But I was awoken by low sounds because I was a very light sleeper.
When I blinked my eyes open, I thought I was hallucinating at first. But after I blinked my eyes and slowly sat up, my heart instantly dropped into my stomach because right at the doorway of my bedroom, stood Eli, Cyrus and Theo.
"Good. You're finally awake."
Oh shit.