Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 75(@200wpm)___ 60(@250wpm)___ 50(@300wpm)
When I finally make it outside the palace walls, I sigh a relief before it really settles in that I have no idea where I am going. Pulling out my bag, I see I have enough for what I am unsure about, but I must first make it beyond the forest.
Our castle is separated from the town in two ways. One is the royal road that no one can take unless invited or on palace business. That road leads to town and from town leads to our palace. The second way is through the forest I am looking at. In all of my twenty-one years, I have never gone beyond the wall itself, but right now, as we speak, I am throwing my bag over and scaling it, silently giving thanks to the gymnastics classes and wall climbing classes I insisted on having some time ago.
Finally, safely on the other side, I begin my journey toward town, or so I think. Each rustle of leaves and unrecognizable sound makes it clearer how sheltered I have been and how out of touch I am. I don’t even know if I am going the right way.
Finally, after what feels like hours of walking, I come upon a sign.
Welcome to Wintergreen. King Leyland and Queen Orchid welcome you.
Oh boy. What have I done?
PROLOGUE
FROST
My mind is racing a million miles a minute. My lovely parents just informed me that I’m getting married to someone not of my choosing in less than a month. To say that I’m pissed would be an understatement.
“She’s really pretty,” my mother says, jarring me back to the present. I can’t believe what I’m hearing. My parents are really forcing a marriage on me. I’m pissed. This shouldn’t be happening. I’m not one of those princes who does nothing for his country. At thirty-one years old, I’ve done my duty; I’m still doing it. I’ve been in The Royal Army since I was eighteen. All Wintergreen citizens must do their two-year stint if they are physically able to do it, but I made a career out of it. In thirteen years, I’ve made my way up the ranks to Major General. I’d like to think that I earned the rank on my own merit, but I’m not sure. Either way, I’m not a child, but being scolded like one by my parents sends me over the edge. I don’t know why I’m surprised, though. A prince of Wintergreen isn’t his own man until he’s king. It’s just par for the course, but I have to draw the line at my parents telling me who I will sleep with for the rest of my life. And it would be that because I’m a firm believer that marriage is forever with the one person God created for you.
“Who is it?” I demand, pacing the throne room of King Balsam and Queen Isis, my esteemed parents. For a moment, I wonder where my siblings are. I know they are within earshot; they always are when someone is getting yelled at. My younger brother's twins, Rudy and Donner, are twenty-five, and my sister, Vixen, is only fifteen. They love gossip, and this is juicy for this family.
“Princess Lavender of Springlandia,” my mother says, hope in her voice.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I shout. Lavender has a reputation. She’s known to be horrible. Servants, paparazzi, her siblings, her parents. It’s insane to think that I’d ever be happy with a harpy like her.
“Don’t shout at your mother, boy.”
“Mum, you can’t be serious. We won’t suit,” I tell her. Surely, she knows about her reputation. It’s everywhere. How can she not?
“You don’t know that. You can’t know that.” I do know. It will never work. I'm going to be alone forever.
“She’s going to be all warmth and heat. You know I can’t marry anyone, let alone Suzy Sunshine,” I shout instead of telling her what I know to be true about Lavender. My anger gets the best of me as ice shoots from my fingertips directly into the fireplace, instantly putting the fire out. The drafty castle needs a fire in every room, but I don’t care right now.
“Control yourself, boy,” Dad shouts, moving to stand in front of my mother. Like I’d ever hurt her. In all my years, I’ve never hurt anyone with my gift, if you can call it that. I think of it as a curse. It makes touching people impossible. It’s why I’m still a virgin after all these years. At first, that frustrated me, but now I know Fate has something bigger for me in store. It’s not Princess Lavender, that’s for damn sure.
“I apologize, but there’s no way in this frozen hell am I going to marry that girl.”
“You’ll do what’s right for this kingdom,” Dad says.
“It won’t be that,” I shout, storming out of the room. The five-hundred-year-old door slams into the wall behind me.