Chapter Two- That of Poison and Roses

Two

I do not want to be here. 

I do not want to be here.

I do not want to be here,

at the palace of the Aldridge family.

So why are we here?

That is a very good question.

I asked my mother, but she does not know. In fact, no one knows but my father.

Well, my father and the king of Eldoria, King Soren Aldridge.

Did I mention I hate the Aldridge family?

This whole peace treaty thing is so ridiculous. Five generations of endless war, and then suddenly someone just decides to call peace? On top of it all, the monarchs refuse to tell everyone else- including their own families- why? Something is wrong. 

But who am I to argue?

Besides, the less I argue, the quicker we'll be out of this palace. I don’t care how tall the ceilings are, or how many millions of paiera coins in crystal and gold line the walls. It's all fake. It's all for show.

I know this, because my house is the same.

My house is just that, a house.

It can never be a home.

It can never be a home with its pristine walls, with its silk curtains. It can never be a home with its untouched white furniture, its glistening gems and jewels. It can never be a home with its crystal chandeliers and towering thrones.

No. It is a castle.

It's all for show. 

All so the peasants can see that we are rich, and we should be feared. They can see we are powerful, they can see we are above them. 

They can see they must believe us when we say something. They must trust us at our word.

That is why every citizen of Briarwood knows that the Aldridge family, along with the entire kingdom of Eldoria, cannot be trusted.

Ever. 

Except for now, when we decide to call peace.

I still don't understand.

Maybe I never will.