please look through the project before reading (space) Also /italics/ ---- Claire ---- Claire watched, not totally taking it in. /There’s been a mistake. There has to be a mistake!/ Claire thought, hands shaking. But no, the king was placing the crown, Claire’s crown, on her sister’s head. Thalia stood, the crown shimmering with grey diamonds in a gold setting, and turned to face the gathered nobles and dignitaries. Scanning the crowd, she searched for anyone, anyone feeling as angry, feeling this sense of pure… wrong. Her eyes quickly found Greysen. Claire had never told anyone, but she had been in love with Greysen since she was a child, when they ran around the castle in the days she and Thalia still got along. Greysen’s eyes however, were glued to Thalia. A slight smile played along the edges of his lips, and his eyes sparkled. Claire wanted to cry. Not this. Please, not this! Claire couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Why? It was supposed to be ME. As the crowd began to file out, heading to the great hall for the feast, Claire looked at Thalia. Meeting her eyes, Thalia looked sad. How dare she? She has it all, all she ever wanted. “How could you?” Claire whispered, before she followed her parents out the door. ---- Thalia ---- Thalia felt frozen, like a deer in the headlights. Numbly, she followed after Claire. The night passed in a blur. Fake smiles, insincere toasts, and pretend speeches all smeared together in Thalia’s mind. She couldn’t take it. Standing up, she stuttered, “I-I’m going to take a w-walk.” Turning, she sprinted out the door. /I have to get away. I have to hide— Escape./ ---- Claire ---- The feast ended quickly after Thalia ran out. Then, the most famous part of coronations began. The dancing. Claire however, wasn’t in the mood to dance. She still couldn’t believe this. /Tell them the truth about her./ Claire surveyed the room. Most people were dancing, but Sir Noiven, an influential noble, stood off to the side. She walked up to him, and bowed in greeting. /Spread doubt. Make them wonder./ Clearing her throat, Claire got right to the point. “It’s shameful how our so-called queen ran out.” Sir Noiven sniffed. “Very.” “Don’t you think maybe… she was the wrong choice?” Claire asked hopefully. “While I do think it’s… unusual, the oracle never makes mistakes.” He replied. “But what if she did?!” Claire cried. He stiffened. “The oracle never makes mistakes. Do not speak of such a thing.” No warmth was left in his tone now, and with that, Sir Noiven strode away. “No…” Claire whispered. “They're wrong. It was a mistake. It has to be a mistake.” /Yes… a mistake./ --- Thalia Breathing heavily, Thalia crashed into her glade, the place she went to get away. Slamming her fist into the nearest tree, she broke down. “WHY?!?! It wasn't supposed to be me… Not me…” Ignoring the pain, Thalia continued. Her knuckles cracked and started to bleed, but she didn’t care. The tree was stained red, and the bark that had withstood centuries began to crumble. Thalia collapsed, tears streaming down her face. “Why… Why me?” A twig snapped somewhere behind her. Thalia whipped her head around, wincing as blood dripped from her knuckles. With a soft purr, Libby padded into the clearing. “Hey girl.” Thalia laughed bitterly. “I would pet you but… I’m a bit messy.” Libby growled, then walked up to Thalia, dropping her knife at Thalia’s feet. “Aw, thanks girl. You're always looking after me, aren’t you.” Leaning forward, Libby nuzzled her face, wiping away the tears streaming from her eyes. “I-I c-can’t Libby. I can’t. I’m not meant to do this, I’m not meant to- to be a queen of all things.” Thalia started to sob, tears running off her face and into the dirt. “It wasn’t supposed to be me…” As the last rays of sun disappeared behind the mountains, the new queen and her leopard sat together underneath the now dark sky. If anyones reading this, TYSM!!!
Thumbnail off Pinterst Caution tape off google No ai used Everything else by me
