Falling For The Crown

Chapter 2: Aurora

"AURORA! WHERE THE f**k ARE YOU?!"

"AURORA!"

Sounds like he has found the booze again. It's amazing how much a person changes when they start drinking, is a pretty mean drunk. Depending on the day and how much he has had to drink he sometimes takes his frustration's out on me and only me. He would never raise a hand to his wife or twin daughters.

He blames me for ruining his life. He met my mother one drunken night and then ten years later she drops me off on his doorstep never to be seen again. But the odd thing is I was supposed with my mother for the first ten years of my life and yet I have no memories of her at all. When I tried asking my father about her he said I was the spitting image of her. And the next thing he said to me stuck, he said it makes him sick how much I remind him of her.

After that, I never asked about her again. To be honest I don't think I want to know. I mean if she loved me and wanted me she would have never left me with this horrible excuse of a man. His wife had no idea about the night he met my mother and ever since then they have been trying hard to hide the fact that I am his illegitimate daughter. For some reason, their image means everything to them.

They try to come across as the perfect happy family, I was told by a merchant in town it is to cover up his involvement with the royal family before they were overthrown. I wouldn't be surprised if he was involved with people that are currently trying to overthrow Kind Blackwell. They can try to deny it all they like but King Blackwell and Queen Natalia have done some amazing things since they have taken the throne.

I just hope the semi peaceful days I have now and then continue.

"AURORA!"

"Yes, father. Here I am."

It came like a flash, my father's hand striking me across the face. I put my hand up to my cheek to try and cool it from the burning sensation I was now feeling. I look up at him and all I can see is in his eyes in disgust.

"What did I tell you about calling me that? God forbid what if someone heard you?"

"I'm sorry duke. Did you need something from me?"

"Yea. For you to do your goddamn job. Did you go in a town as I asked?"

"I'm sorry I was told not to by the duchess. She said you had all the alcohol you needed."

His face was beginning to go red with rage, at this point I have no idea what he might do. He is like a loose cannon when he drinks. He is a very mean drunk and he gets meaner with every sip.

"WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU ASK ME YOU STUPID COW?!"

His hand managed to find my face again, this time with enough force to knock me to the ground. He also managed to split my lip open in the process.

I just look up at him waiting for something else to happen but he just stands there staring at me.

"Why the f**k are you staring at me like that? You look just like that f*****g witch!"

"Dear is everything alright? The neighbours are becoming concerned over the noise."

Ah and outcomes good old Duchess and her twin daughters at the nip of her heel. I swear they would do anything to make their mother happy. I guess they have seen how she has tortured their father over the years merely because I exist.

"The stupid little b***h didn't get my booze and I hear I have you to thank for that?!"

"My well someone does have a might big mouth, don't they. But yes I told her not to get you anymore. She was just seen in town yesterday buying as many bottles as she can carry, not to mention you were at the pub for all hours of the night. I think it's time you slow down or else."

She stops and looks at me with almost as much malice as the Duke. Almost. I would say she holds more for me since it is her reputation and family's money on the line. As much as people hate a woman sleeping around they hate it when they can't keep their husbands under control even more. That's when women tend to get real catty and blame all their problems on other people.

"I suggest you make yourself scarce. If you can manage to do that?"

"I was just on my way out."

I quickly hop to my feet and brush the dirt off my already torn and stained dress. I swear this has been the only piece of clothing I own since I was about 14yrs old. Whenever I ask for a little bit of money to buy a new or even a used one from one of the girls the duchess refuses as it would be a waste since it still fits. I'm lucky they even feed me, I guess I am more useful to them alive than starved to death.

Just as I open the door to leave I come headfirst into something hard. Hard enough that it sent me back with a bit of force and again I have landed on my ass. That is going to leave a serious bruise in the morning.

I look up to see the kings royal advisor at the door with Mrs Hastings from next door. I swear that woman is the biggest busy body on the planet. If you want to know the next juicy piece of gossip she is the person to see. How she gets her information I do not know.

"Sorry child I did not expect someone to come flying out the door. I am here to see the duke and duchess.

"Yes yes, here we are. And to what do we owe this lovely surprise to be visited by the king's advisor?"

He starts to open his mouth and realizes Mrs Hastings is still standing behind him. Whatever it is he is here to say it doesn't want anyone else to hear it.

"Thank you mam for helping me find the correct house but you may leave now. This is not for the ears of someone of your standing."

You can tell she was offended by that last statement as her entire face went beat red as she turned and stormed off back to her house without another word.

"Please come in from the cold."'

"Thank you."

The man steps inside and shimmy's off his coat and lays it across his lap as he sits down next to the duchess.

"I have come by order of the king. He has chosen one of your daughters to wed his new heir sir knight Dimitri. This shall be announced to the kingdom once she moves into the castle and settles in. Until then the king wishes this be kept a secret."

Everyone is kind of standing there in shock. Why the hell would the kind want one of the twins to marry his heir? Is it because of the duchess family and their connections? If so that is smart, making sure that those connections with the powerful allies across the continent be at his beck and call whenever he may need them.

"You say one of my daughters, but which one?"

"The king has left that up to you. However, he will not take kindly if one of them does not show up in three days. That is all I was ordered to come and discuss. I shall take my leave."

He gets up and rushes out of the house like the place was on fire or something. It was like he couldn't wait to get out of here. Maybe he didn't want to see how they would react. I'm pretty curious to see how they will.

"There's no way mama!"

"Yea what she said I'm not marrying him. If I want to get married I want it to be some rich duke and live a long and happy life."

"C'mon girls one of you would be a princess! What better life is there when you can become queen?"

"Um, yea look how that worked out for the royal family. Plus they said, Dimitri. Haven't you heard the rumours mama? He is crazy with a crazy temper! I wouldn't be surprised if he would kill his bride in their sleep simply because he could."

They are all arguing back and forth. I got to admit I didn't see this one coming. I would have thought they both would have been jumping at the chance to live in the castle like a princess. I thought if they were going to be fighting it would be over who gets to do it.

"Even if he isn't crazy, but he is! He is a knight! We come from a duke and a duchess! Marrying him is beneath us! Having a knight as a son-in-law is beneath you!"

"That very well might be the case but we don't have a choice. This is a decree from the King himself. If we refuse most likely one of two things will happen, they will come and drag one of you out of here kicking and screaming or we will be exiled!"

"Your father and I can't be on the bad side of the king, we have my family to think about. If word gets out that we have made enemies of the crown we are as good as dead."

I never thought I would say this but I agree with the girls, even I have heard people talking about Dimitri. Sure he might be a great knight but even I heard he is ruthless. And he is not just like that on the battlefield but off as well. Each day with someone like that you would be thinking will today be my last?

"Darling can you please come over here and talk to the girls!"

The duke stumbles a little bit but it looks like he has sobered up a bit. He has a weird look on his face, I guess that's what his thinking face looks like. I wouldn't know, I don't think I have ever seen him seriously think about anything. But I guess the first time for everything.

"Daddy you can't make us go! We only just became of age to marry! I'm not going to turn around and get married to a knight of all things!"

"She's right daddy! If you try to force us we will run away!"

"And where would you go? You to can barely go to the bathroom by yourself. Don't be stupid and shut up and sit down."

One look and they both immediately stop whining. They both sit down beside their mother watching the Duke walk around in circles. He has his hand under his chin while he walks like it helps him think or something. But then he stops dead in his tracks and looks straight up at me?

"Your right girls sending you to marry that knight might as well be your death sentence. Neither one of you will be going to the castle."

"Thank you, daddy!"

"Hold on dear. I don't want to send them either but aren't you worried about what will happen if we don't send one of them?"

"Oh, we will be sending him a bride."

"I don't understand what you are saying."

I got a knot in my stomach. I think I know where he is going with this and I don't like it.

"We will send them Aurora."

Everyone snaps their heads to look at me astounded with what the duke has just said.

"Darling we can't send her. What will they think, they will take one look at her and know she isn't who they asked for."

"But how will they know that? The choice our family most likely because of your family connections correct?"

"Well yes."

"The king and queen have never laid eyes on our girls. All we have to do is clean her up teach her some manners and then send her on her way."

Surely not. They can't be serious! If they find out I am not who I say I am there is a really good chance I could get killed.

"Well, I have to admit that is probably the smartest thing you have ever said. Alright in three days we will send Aurora in place of the girls."