Original story and hoping for comments

This is an original story that I have been composing for a few years. I am looking for any feedback. This is only the first chapter, and I will post more  so long as people develop an interest in it. I do own all copyrights to this project. I will post chapter two soon.

Please Enjoy!

Summary: Serafina may not know what she wants in life, and living her life as an illegitimate daughter to a king has always given her few options to choose from. But she is certain that she wants to live a life of freedom and she does not want to be married off for the benefit of others. With her life in danger from assassins sent by those who see her as a threat to her brother’s throne and a certain Dragon Prince putting forth a proposal for her hand in marriage, how is she supposed to handle the new life set before her when her father adds her to the line of succession to the kingdom of Regnum, the leading country in the world for the World Peace Alliance?

Chapter One

The Past or a Dream

            Serafina awoke abruptly, trying hard to hold onto the quickly fading dream that had jerked her out of her slumber. Her long raven hair stuck to her sweaty forehead as her emerald eyes peered through some stray strands. Her sweat was a strong adhesive that caused her nightgown to cling to her curvy frame. The curtain of the high ceiling window in front of her was still closed but she could tell that it was still dark out as she scanned the rest of her bed chambers.

From her king-sized, canopied bed, Sera could peer into her attached living compartment. Laney Beckett, her youngest guard, lay in a smaller bed that was pushed up against an opposite corner, completely blind to the world. The room then had two walls coming towards each other in a picture frame sort of way, showing that there was an invisible separation between the two rooms.

Her bed chamber portion came with a door to her right that led to a large bathroom. Laney’s bed that she was currently sleeping in was next to a door that led to a walk-in closet. Then on the opposite corner was another bed for any of the guards that wanted to use it. 

In the room that was for leisure and entertainment there was a large fireplace, currently lying cold due to it being the spring months of Regnum. On walls surrounding the fireplace were built-in bookshelves holding some of her most favorite tomes. A small work desk sat in the corner of the wall that had the one door entering her room from the corridor outside. A small dining table sat by one of the tall windows on the opposite wall. Most people would be in awe of the two rooms, but for Sera it was all she had ever known.

She looked over at another one of her bodyguards, Eileen Carville, who was sitting in one of her armchairs. Her long blonde hair was tied in a high ponytail as her ocean blue eyes scanned the pages of a book in her lap. On the sofa was another one of her bodyguards, Jelena Pontius, was fast asleep, her normally braided brown hair, lay in waves softly framing her face, her amber eyes hidden behind her eyelids. 

Sera sighed and placed her head back down on the pillow. She stared up at her royal blue canopy, her mind trying to recall the images before her body forced her awake. It was frustrating. It was almost as if they were memories, yet not her own, but still familiar with familiar faces. 

She reached over to her night table and grabbed a small vial. A sleeping concoction that Cicero, the old royal physician, had made for her. It worked wonders to just put her out. Within one gulp the contents were sliding down the back of her throat and soon resting in their intended location.

Closing her eyes, Sera felt the effects of the serum within minutes. She felt herself floating back down into her subconscious and slipping back into the images that first awoke her.

In an elegant room fit for a king, Sera watched in silence the scenes that played before her. She recognized the room as her father’s, King Jovan Gavriil of Regnum, from anywhere. It looked more or less the same as the one she had walked into, with maybe some subtle differences. One being a portrait that was missing of herself and her brother, Prince Zander, that hung above the fireplace that faced her father’s bed.

There were physicians all around the bed. One man resembled a younger Cicero, with a graying beard and hair but missing the receding hairline and the curving posture that sometimes comes with age. Concerned for the amount of people hovering over the bed, Sera moved towards them to see an ailing young man. Knowing the portraits that were scattered in the castle, she deduced that the dream that she was experiencing was of an event that happened in the past.

The ailing man was clearly her father, but he was nearly twenty years younger than what she knew of him to look like in the present day. He had a mop of curly black hair, that was currently matted to his forehead and head from sweat that came from a dangerously high fever. His sapphire eyes appeared as if they were trying to stay focused on their surroundings, as to not miss a single word from one of the men in white coats. 

Cicero looked up to the rest of his colleagues, “Someone must fetch his Royal Highness. He should spend whatever time may be left with his father.”

Another physician briskly walked out the door, which then turned into a hard run from the thumps that Sera could hear outside. 

Cicero looked pitifully at a young Jovan. “Your Majesty, in all my years in the medical field, I am so sorry to say that I truly cannot diagnose an illness. I need you to understand the severity of your condition.”

Jovan gave a weak nod for Cicero to continue. Cicero cleared his throat.

“Your heart is slowing, your fever refuses to break, and while you seem coherent right now, we have observed you falling into clear hallucinations. We have found no tumors and are unaware of anything poisonous that could cause this. Unless a change happens soon, I’m afraid your heart is going to give out before the week is out.”

Jovan stared at the physician with a soft expression. “My old friend, I will hold on for as long as I can in hopes that something can be found to cure me. But if it should be my time then I will meet our Creator with open arms. I want to thank you for your long service to my family and hope that you will continue to treat Zander for many more years to come.”

Sera watched Cicero wipe his eyes and give a long sniffle. He then gave a low bow. “Of course, Your Majesty! I will remain in the service of the royal family until I am physically unable.”

A soft knock came to the door. The physician who had made a quick exit before had returned but with two people behind him. A young boy, around the age of four, with a mop of curly raven hair and steel-blue eyes, and a young woman holding his hand. The woman had light auburn hair and eyes as green as a meadow. The physicians in the room bowed before the young boy and slowly vacated the room, except for Cicero.

“Thank you, Mistress Diana, for bringing Prince Zander.” Cicero knelt before the young child. “Your Highness, I called you here because your father is, regrettably, very ill. I’m afraid that he isn’t becoming any better. Do you understand?”

Small Zander appeared to understand everything that Cicero was saying to him. “Daddy’s very sick and is going to remain sick for a long time.”

Cicero gave a sigh, “I’m sorry to say that your life is going to be different very soon. Your father wants to speak with you, but please be gentle with him. He is very weak.”

Young Zander glanced up at the woman holding his hand, looking for confirmation for him to move over to the bed. When she gave him a sad smile and a nod, he gently slipped his hand from hers and approached his ailing father.

Jovan’s eyes sparkled as they rested on the boy. “Oh, my pride and joy.” He reached out his hand for Zander to accept. Zander gently slid his hand into the weak one of his father’s.

“How was your day Zander? Did you have fun with Mistress Diana?”

The young boy nodded and gave a small smile. “Miss Diana took me into the town today. We did some shopping and picked some pretty flowers for Mother. And then we went to the beach. I tried to see if I could spot the Water Guardian but it didn’t show. But I’ll try again on another day, I know I will see it one day, just like you had Father.”

Jovan’s face winced in pain yet he smiled through it and stared at his heir. “I’m sure that one day they will show themselves to you. You know, it is said that they show themselves to those that they deem worthy leaders. So long as you stay just and true, I know in my heart that it will come to you. 

“Did you give your mother the flowers yet?”

Zander nodded but dropped his mouth. 

“I had Father, but I don’t think that she liked them. I thought that they were pretty and Miss Diana said it would be nice to pick them for Mother but,” Zander leaned in to whisper to his father, “I would have rather have given them to Miss Diana. She thought they were pretty but Mother had a gross face when looking at them.”

Jovan tried not to chuckle.

“You can pick some for Mistress Diana the next time you go into town, okay?”

Zander gave a guilty face. “You think Mother would be mad if I did that?”

“You don’t have to tell your mother if you gave Mistress Diana flowers. I think it’s very kind of you to think of others though.”

Jovan started to go into a coughing fit. Zander’s eyes widen with fright as he witnesses his father’s body hunch over in pain as he coughs. As soon as the fit fades Jovan looks back up to his son and reaches for his hand again.

“My son, I fear that my time on this plane is coming to an end. I know that you are still young. Too young to rule an entire kingdom.” His voice drifted off into a whisper that was unintended. “Things won’t be easy for you.”

“Father?” Zander’s voice rang through the whisper of his father, who then snapped out of his thoughts.

“I apologize, Zander. My mind was wandering away from me.” Jovan paused again and glanced up to Diana and Cicero and then back down to the young boy next to him. “Listen to me, Zander, I need you to listen to Mistress Diana. There will be many voices telling you what is best and what to do but you need to listen to your heart and know who has your best interests at heart. Mistress Diana loves you and I know that she will take great care of you. Do you understand?”

Zander nodded his head as his eyes began to water from the realization that his father wasn’t going to heal. “Yes, Father.”

“That’s my boy. Now I want you to return to your chambers and wait for Mistress Diana to return before you go to dinner with your mother. I would like to speak to Mistress Diana privately.”

Cicero went over to the door to beckon a guard from the outside into the room. “Please bring High Highness to his chambers safely. Mistress Diana will join shortly.” The guard nodded and gently guided Zander out of the room. 

Once the small child was out of the room, Jovan turned his attention to Diana, who returned his gaze. In his eyes, water was pleading towards her land orbs. “You are amazing with him. I hope you know that there is no one else in this world that I trust more with my son’s safety than you.”
    Diana’s eyes broke contact. “Your Majesty, Prince Zander is an exceptional child. He has more empathy towards others than I have ever seen in another person. You should be proud of him. He’ll become a most beloved leader one day.”

Jovan’s eyes appeared as if they were going to overflow. “It was never my wish to leave him so soon. Life is sometimes cruel like that. But I want to share something with you before it could be too late.”

Diana nodded for him to continue. “I have decreed it so that you cannot be dismissed by anyone, including by Queen Regina. I want you to continue to raise my son as you have been doing since the day he was born. I’m afraid that my wife is a vain woman and rash at times. I feel as though her judgment isn’t always on par with what is best for this country. In the decree, Regina, as Queen Consort, will have no real leadership role and that all decisions will be handled by a small counsel of my choosing until Zander is old enough to completely take over for his role as the king. All that I ask of you is to continue leading him down the right path. Can you please promise me this request?”

Diana’s eyes softened. “Of course, Your Majesty.”