The Shattered Crown
This can't be real
She was an avid reader, her fingers always tracing the edges of the pages her heart entwined in the stories she read. Every day after college she would retreat to the quiet corner of the room curled up in her bed and lose herself in the book her favorite was
" The Forgotten Kingdom "
It was a tale of a princess who had lost everything but was destined for something greater. In the evening as the golden light of the sunset filtered through the curtains she sat by her window, her nose buried in the pages of the book
She was particularly entranced by a chapter where the princess named Hesperia Orleans was about to discover secrets of her life. Elara could feel the tension, the magic, the thrill about what was going to unfold. She was so immersed that she didn't notice the storm cloud gathering outside
A loud crack of thunder made her jump, her heart racing. She glanced at the window just as lightning flashed, followed by a sharp gust of wind that slammed it open. Her chair tipped back, sending her tumbling to the floor. In the chaos, her hand grasped the book one last time, and as if the book had a mind of its own, the pages began to glow, the letters lifting off the paper and swirling around her.
Then , it happen a sudden jolt shook the room as if the floor beneath her had shifted
She froze the voice was distinct and familiar soft and haunting like a half remembered melody . Her name echoed through the room , drawing her closer to the open book . She reached out instinctively her fingertips brushing the edges of the glowing paper
The moment her fingertips made a contract a cold electric shock coursed through her body The light intensified, swallowing her whole. Elara’s breath hitched as the world dissolved around her, colors and sounds swirling into a cacophony of chaos.
Then it was a complete silence
When she opens her eyes the first thing she noticed was the chill the air was crisp carrying the fragrance of fresh roses and freshly cut grass . Elara blinked adjusting her vision to the dim glow of sunlight filtering through the tall windows she realised that she wasn't in her apartment anymore
She stood in the ground hall it's marble floors gleaming beneath her feet. Ornate tapestries lined the stone walls, and a crystal chandelier cast shimmering patterns across the room. It was breathtaking, yet unfamiliar.
Her gaze fell to the figure staring back at her from a gilded mirror across the hall. She took a step closer, her heart pounding in her chest. The girl in the mirror looked regal, with delicate features framed by waves of auburn hair. Her green eyes sparkled with intensity, but her expression was one of disbelief.
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
This can't be real ** she whispered with a trembling voice**
She reached up to touch her face, half-expecting to wake up from a bizarre dream. But the cold surface of her skin and the weight of the intricate gown she wore told her otherwise.
Before she could process anything further the big wooden door swings open. A woman swept in her posture was rigid and calm and her expressions were awfully cold.
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
Hesperia what are you doing just standing there❄️ ** asked firmly **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** opened her mouth to respond but the word got caught in her throat**
She knew this woman at least she thought she did. Lady khione, the mother of the princess in The Forgotten Kingdom
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
Hesperia ❄️** voice sharpens **
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
** gritted her teeth** Must you embarrass this family at every turn ? Your father guests arriving and here you are gawking at your own reflection?❄️
Panic surged through Hesperia. She had no idea rather to say yes or no or what to do. Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of the story. If this really was The Forgotten Kingdom, then she was standing in the shoes of a princess whose life was a tangled web of betrayal and manipulation.
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
I'm... I'm sorry ** lowered her eyes and stammered **
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
** sighs heavily and pinches the bridge of her nose ** Get Yourself together. Your brother has been waiting to speak with you ❄️
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
** leaves the room **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** falls on her knees and starts breathing heavily**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
( I can do it ) **trembling**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** tears welding up **
Was it brother or Stepbrother??!
Not him
Eryndor is a vast and ancient kingdom divided into two distinct regions: the warm, fertile south, where political intrigue thrives, and the cold, unforgiving Northlands, home to fierce warriors and harsh landscapes. United under one crown for centuries, the kingdom is rife with internal strife, with the South and North constantly at odds culturally, politically, and socially.
At the mention of her stepbrother a chill ran down her spine. She remembered him very well - Xantheus the cunning villain who orchestrated the princess's downfall . Her heart sank when she realised it
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** trembles **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
(Not him) ** shivered and tears running down her eyes**
She realised that she wasn't in the story she was in her story now and Xantheus isn't just a character but her enemy now
After a few minutes she composed herself
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** goes out of the room and follows Khione **
Whatever had bought her here, but one thing was clear for her, she was no longer just an observer. She knew that she had to play her part carefully one mistake, and she had to suffer her whole life
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** clenched her dress **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** looking around while following Khione and amused by the surroundings **
Hesperia's heart pounded in her chest as she followed Khione through the winding halls of the palace. Every step felt like a thunderclap, her unease growing with each passing moment. Her mind raced, grasping at fragments of the story she had read so many times before. In The Forgotten Kingdom, the princess had lived a life of gilded torment—adored by the public but cast aside and manipulated by her own family. Hesperia wasn’t sure how to navigate this world, but one thing was certain Xantheus her stepbrother, was at the center of it all.
They stopped in front of a set of tall double door
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
** turns towards Hesperia** listen to me don't waste your brothers time by your nonsense talks ❄️
Khione Orleans/ FL - Mom/Queen
He has a lot of things to do other than listening to your petty complaints ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** nods and swallowed hard **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
(I truly felt the isolation that the princess endured)
The doors creaked open revealing the room bathed with the warm golden
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** sitting on the chair and reading some documents with a cold face **
He was exactly as she remembered him from the novel strikingly handsome, with dark hair swept back and eyes like polished obsidian. But his beauty was cold, calculated, like a mask he wore to hide the rot beneath.
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** looks up and gives her predator's smile **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** blood turns cold but maintains her face expression**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** smiles back **
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
Ah dearest sister my lovely sister how are you doing ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
Was better before coming her ** muttered**
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** didn't hear** huh ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
Good ❄️** gives a tight smile **
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
How kind of you to grace me with your presence ❄️
Hesperia forced herself to stand tall, though her palms were slick with sweat. She could feel his gaze raking over her, searching for any sign of weakness. In the novel, Xantheus had always been one step ahead, a master manipulator who thrived on control.
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
You wanted to see me ❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** chuckles sarcastically** so formal we are family after all. Must you always act as though I'm a stranger?!❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** moves closer to Hesperia** well dear sister ❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** brushes the strand of hair from her face ** you have been quiet lately, it's unlike you ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
I've had a lot in my mind ❄️ ** stepped back a little maintaining some distance**
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
** tilled his head ** I hope you are not sulking again ❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
Mother and father have a little patience for your dramatics and neither do I ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** jaw tightened but gave a forced smile ** of course not I've simply been reflecting ❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
Good ** smile widening**
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
We have a lot of things to discuss ❄️ ** moves towards his chair and sits down **
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
Take this❄️ ** hands her a document**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** hesitated but took it **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** eyes widened** Marriage contract ❄️
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
You will be pleased to know we have a secured alliance with the duke of the north ❄️ ** said in causal tone **
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
A man of great wealth and power. And also his influence will benefit our family immensely ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** hands start to tremble**
She remembered this moment vividly from the book. The princess had been forced into this marriage, not knowing that the Duke of the North was rumored to be a cruel, reclusive tyrant. It was a calculated move by Xantheus to rid himself of his sister while securing an alliance that he planned to exploit.
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
You are marrying me off to a stranger ** she asked in a barely audible whisper **
Xantheus Orleans/FL-StepBrother/Prince
**smile turned icy** that's your duty dear sister. Surely you understand that sacrifices must be made for the greater good ❄️
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
Of course** she said softly** I understand ❄️
Anger bubbled beneath her fear, but she swallowed it down. This wasn’t the time to fight him. Not yet. She had to think, to plan.
As he dismissed her without any other word she went back to her room
He won't
Elara is a vision of ethereal beauty, with long waves of auburn hair that cascade down her back, kissed by strands of gold that shimmer in the light. Her deep green eyes, like the first breath of spring, hold a mysterious depth—captivating and intense, yet soft and inviting when she smiles. Her porcelain skin is flawless, glowing with a natural radiance, while her full lips, slightly curved, always seem to hint at an unspoken secret. With high cheekbones and a delicate nose, her face is a perfect balance of grace and strength. Slender yet graceful, she moves with an effortless elegance, carrying the poise of a noblewoman, but there's a quiet fierceness in her gaze, a strength beneath her delicate exterior that draws attention and commands respect.
Xantheus Orleans is a man of striking elegance and veiled cunning, his appearance a carefully crafted mask of charm. His wavy, black hair, framing a face with sharp, symmetrical features and a chiseled jawline often shadowed with faint stubble. His piercing emerald-green eyes, flecked with gold, seem to see through everything, their intensity making it hard to discern his true thoughts. Tall and lean, Xantheus's figure radiates grace rather than raw power, and he dresses impeccably in deep jewel tones like emerald and sapphire, accented with silver embroidery that reflects his taste for refinement. His confident posture and the sly, knowing smirk that often graces his lips make him both alluring and disarming, though the warmth of his rare genuine smiles hints at a depth obscured by ambition and manipulation.
Lady Khione Orleans is the picture of aristocratic elegance, her long, bluish-purplish hair always styled to perfection, cascading in soft waves or swept into intricate up doss. Her porcelain skin, flawless and radiant, highlights her high cheekbones and delicate, refined features. Her blue-green eyes, framed by dark lashes, hold a cool, distant quality, as though she views the world from behind an impenetrable veil. Tall and slender, Khione carries herself with a regal grace, always adorned in luxurious silk gowns in soft pastel hues like lavender and ivory, accented with pearls and fine embroidery. Though her beauty is striking, there’s a coldness in her presence, a perfection that feels more like a shield than a reflection of warmth, hinting at the complexities of her emotions and relationships.
Hesperia paced her chambers, her thoughts a tangled mess of anger and frustration
Hesperia walked to the window, gazing out at the sprawling gardens below. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together what Xantheus true motives could be. He had always been calculating, always one step ahead, but this—this felt different. It felt personal.
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** sat down on the chair with the marriage documents in her hands ** What does he think of himself as I'm not that helpless princess from the book. I will change my fate in the story I'll definitely take my revenge
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
If Xantheus thinks that he can control my life and make my life hell. I'll just play along for now, but I'll find a way to turn the tables
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
He forced me into this marriage with someone whom I don't even know about what I will do now will that duke be good, or he's just a shitty person like him (Xantheus) every rumours says that he's a cruel duke
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** fake cries **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** heard and flinched ** come in
Daria / FL-maid
**Comes in**
Daria / FL-maid
my lady should I prepare your water for the bath
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** nods **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
( Daria is the maid of FL who only treated her with respect in the palace otherwise all would just look down on her for no reason I think I should be on good terms with her maybe it will help me up a little)
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
what are you planning Xantheus** murmured aloud**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
Come in ** hesitated**
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
Hesperia
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
You seem to be troubled ** in concerned voice **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** moves towards Daivan and holds her hand ** I need your help van
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
Of course ria ** replied without hesitation **
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
What do you need
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** walks towards the table and takes the marriage contract and gives it to Daivan** see Xantheus is behind this
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
He is selling me off to the duke of the north for his own gain . I need to know why I need to know what he is planning now !!
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
You believe he is hiding something?!
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
I know he is
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
He has always been scheming, always manipulating, but I can't confront him without proof
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
That's where you come in
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
** eyes widened slightly and nods ** what would you have me do??
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
I need you to keep an eye on him. Watch his movements, listen to his conversations. Find out who he is meeting with, what deals he is making I don't trust him and I won't let him ruin my life without fight
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
** hesitated** ria this could be dangerous. What if Xantheus discovered ab-
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
He won't **said firmly**
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
You are the only one whom I can trust van I need you to do this for me
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
** noded** I'll do it for you ria
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
** smiles ** thank you but van be careful
Daivan Oldenburg/ FL BFF
Ria I heard something from Xantheus that there is someone coming from North or something like that **told her **
Hesperia Orleans/ FL
hmmm thanks van ** smiles sweetly**
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