Chapter 1 - Hidden Motives

A/N:

Good morning

Afternoon...

Evening....

ᕦ( ̿ ﹏ ̿ )ᕤ

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It was dark, but the night sky shines bright. Stars were floating across the sky and they glimmered brightly leaving little room to spare.

Earl Jacobus was currently riding in a carriage on his way home to inform his family the misfortunate news, especially his youngest daughter. Who had been the called on to serve her kingdom at such an early age.

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Leigh sat up slowly refusing to keep herself shut in anymore, she looked at her cat Bomba who was currently still meddling with her potato socks "Maybe I'll buy you a potato toy or make you a potato outfit so you can turn into one..." Leigh had made it sound as innocent as possible, but it was most definitely a threat.

Bomba hissed at his owner and continued to play with her socks. Leigh flinched at the sudden sound of the door opening downstairs.

"Father returned?" Leigh whispered, her voice was curious and she leaned her ear against the door awaiting for her father to speak.

"That dammed King!!!" Earl Jacobus barked, he threw his coat on the ground and loosened his tie ferociously.

"Darling don't be so loud, What happened? Calm down so we can talk about it..." Countess Joseali comforted her husband unsure of his sudden outbursts. Earl Jacobus walked into the large living room where elegant couches sat and a fireplace was burning wood heavily.

"Leigh has been requested...No...It had been decided that she would go into the palace and accept the role of Royal Grand Healer" His voice was low and his eyes stared deeply at the flame.

His wife picked up the coat off the floor and she dusted it off, her heart started to hurt. She felt unsure, saddened about what her husband had just informed her.

"When is she leaving?" Joseali tried her best to keep her voice from trembling, though it barley worked.

"Tomorrow" He responded

Leigh tried her best to listen from the door but she couldn't really peer into her father and mother's conversation from upstairs.

"Oh well! Come here Bomba!" She turned away from the door attempting to run over and snuggle her cat, he hissed strongly warning the girl to step back.

"Ah..okay" she stayed put and awkwardly rubbed her sides

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A loud knock on the Convalarks door interrupted the peaceful sleep they received in their home. "Open up!! We have come to escort the Royal Grand Healer!" One of the Convalark children, well, who was now a fully grown man walked towards the door in efforts to seize the noise.

He opened it standing tall, while he was almost taller than the guard by a supposed inch. "Sir Pinfon, is Earl Jacobus here?" The guard asked

"Yes, but my Father and mother are currently sleeping come back another time" Pinfon reaches to slam the door only to be stopped by the guards hand "The king has requested to retrieve Aleighya Convalark or there will be dire consequences" the guard threatened the man, he wasn't in the slightest of fear.

"Oh yeah, w-"

"She'll be coming down soon" Earl Jacobus interrupted his son before there would've been a riot in the household.

Leigh heard everything

What was even more annoying is how she could hear the guards now, but not her parents last night.

Her expression was blank, and how she felt in that moment couldn't be expressed. She should be sad? Angry? Worried?

No

What she should be doing is running

Leigh picked up Bomba and opened her window with one hand, she held onto the cat tightly and stared down at the pavement, she and the guard made eye contact. Her knee was currently out the window.

Leigh started to think that maybe impulsive thinking wasn't fit best for her. She couldn't help but think he might say something like, she was trying to escape.

"She's trying to escape!!!" The guard shouted

Leigh panicked internally she brought her knee in from the window still holding onto Bomba who seemed to enjoy the situation at hand.

"Oh I really shouldn't have done that" Leigh said out loud gazing at the door in front of her.

The guard had busted through the door grabbing Leigh's hand roughly, she frowned as he pulled her "Stop being so rough!" Her eyes started to water and she sniffed.

This was it for her, the day she would leave her family behind and become a slave.

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Leigh's hopes were that she would encounter a kind King when she made it inside the huge palace. She had cried the whole ride here, so her eyes were red and puffy. They had took Bomba to her room but didn't give her a chance to properly dress.

She felt embarrassed to present herself to the king in such a manner. Not that he would care much about her, but she didn't want to get on his bad side, if he had one.

They walked down the large hall, chandeliers were used as lights, the golden display of Kings and Queens were decorated everywhere gorgeously.

Leigh remembered recently that the King for 30 years had passed away in a sudden death, some suspected that the 2nd Eldest Prince poisoned him. In kingdom affairs no one can be completely sure if it was an accident.

Certainly things like this happen quite often...The guard that was leading Leigh stopped in front of a large sliver crested door. "The King is in there" The guard left her be and the hall was now empty.

"Eh?" She was confused, what did he want her to do go in?

"Well it's not like I have any other choice do I?"

(T-T)

Leigh pushed open the heavy door and with no effort she tripped on nothing with talent.

She stared at the floor for a short while contemplating her life choices wondering if this was bad karma. "Aleighya Primrose Convalark on your feet" a cold monotone voice spoke elegantly and commandingly.

Leigh quickly rose to her feet with no time to spare she had her hands forced by her side, she looked like a stick.

Rein looked amused by her actions, she was very obedient. The cold hearted king had already granted her favor, he loves things that obey his commands. "You have very inquisitive eyes.."

Leigh noticed how extremely handsome the king was, and his hair was weirdly long. He had drawn in closer and his hand gently touched her chin. Leigh couldn't help but panic internally.

("A sexy man is gonna use me...I'm contemplating if that's a good thing or not") She thought to her self profusely

Reins actions were completely curious, he had wondered where her magic flowed from and he was drawn to how blue her eyes were. He let go of her chin and he made his way back around to the office chair. "Can you show me what you do?" Rein needed to test her, as her father mentioned that she hadn't been trained yet and that worried him for he was about to start a war.

"Sure" Leigh wasn't always such an obedient person, but since her captor was handsome she would do him a favor.

She cupped her hands together and gradually bring them closer to her mouth, she blew into her hands and sparkles of light surrounded the room.

Leigh was afraid that he wanted something more..extravagant but to Leigh that wouldn't help because she needed someone to heal in order to show such magic. Unless her powers were out of control again and it would randomly flow.

Rein wasn't impressed, but he was satisfied "What was that?" He questioned her

"Oh droplets of healing magic, when it touches your skin scars, sores, bruises and scrapes go away instantly" Leigh explained, she put her hands on her hips proud.

Rein thought she was a child and he enjoyed her obedience she was like a newfound pet to him and she would be easy to please. "Oh...I see..I shall escort you to your room" He got out of his chair and walked toward the young girl again.

"I would be delighted you're Majesty" she curtsied and walked out the room.

Leigh was sweating bullets, she still had no idea how proper etiquette worked even though her family were a bunch of nobles she would be here, hopefully just for a short amount of time.

"If I may ask your Highness, how long will I be staying here?" Rein was further amused by her question as the answer she would receive would give her a swivet reaction.

"15 years" His voice was confident and hollow

Leigh stood still for a moment out in that long hallway

"Eh?"

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Swivet - flustered or panicked

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