Chapter Text
Lovely princess, a novel about three imperial princesses. Though as the title suggest, only one of them is the real protagonist, Jeanette, the third princess of Obelia. As bright as the sun and beloved by all, even the cold-hearted emperor, Claude de alger Obelia. But the same could not be said for the two.
Athanasia and Aeliana, twin princesses. Twins were seen as a blessing in Obelia due to their rarity and their empire’s own patron gods. They would be showered in gifts, pampered, receive the best education and anything of their hearts' desire. Any noble would adopt a set of twins in hopes it would bring their family favour. They are wanted more than anything. However, one might think the treatment of twins is a rumour if they were to see the princesses. Athanasia, the elder, was shunned in the Ruby palace, the rundown palace made for concubines, not princesses. Neglected by the maids as the forgotten princess, she grew up to be a delicate but intelligent young lady. She would have wished for anything; riches, titles anything would be more attainable than what she truly desires– her father's love.
Aeliana, the younger, had an upbringing similar to her sister similar to her sister's. But when it was discovered that she was a child blessed by the goddess Artemis herself, she was sent away to the temple and trained to be Artemis's huntress in the mortal plane. She was separated from her other half and was devastated as she was locked away. Feeling her sorrow, she was permitted to return for a week every year, on her and her sister's birthday.
As the years go by, nothing has changed. Aeliana was gone hunting monsters as she stopped them from terrorizing cities, Athanasia pushing herself to her limits and neglecting her own body’s needs to try and satisfy her father with her exemplary work in her imperial studies, and Jeanette taking advantage of her sister’s mind to laze and charm her way into high society. However, there was one thing that Jeanette hadn't become, and that is being the crown princess. She confessed her worry to her aunt, countess Rosalia, who sought a way to get rid of the elder twin who resides in the palace. (There was a rumour that if one child were to be killed then the other would follow very shortly) She didn't seem to care that the emperor would never have given the throne to the child he barely looked at, to her as long as they posses the imperial blue eyes, they are not allowed to live.
It was a beautiful day and Athanasia was in the garden having afternoon tea with Jeanette as the latter proposed such an idea. Athanasia noticed the suspicious gesture as while Athanasia have been nothing but welcoming to her sister and teaches her everything she could about the Palace, Jeanette clearly told her how she didn’t see Athanasia as her sister; sometimes she would look at her like she was vermin rather than human. However, she would approach and ask for her help with some paperwork their father entrusted Jeanette to do. Athanasia knew that she took the credit for her ideas, but even if she said anything, who would believe her? Jeanette might not be bright, but Athanasia had to admit she is very charming.
Not long after, Jeanette started to cough and fainted. The maid screamed and accused Athanasia of poisoning their beloved princess. She denied every accusation but only one person believed her, Lilian York, Athanasia and Aeliana's caretaker. But Lily's decision and blatant display cost her life at the hands of Felix Robane. The first princess was sentenced to death without trial and when the news finally reached the younger twin, she rushed back to Obelia as fast as she could. Perhaps that rumour was true, perhaps she was destined to die without her soulmate.
Aeliana arrived at the town square at the 11th hour and 26th minute.
The first princess was declared dead at the 11th hour and 25th minute.
Oh, how indescribable was the scream she let out, filled with so much pain and agony that even the gods who hear weep in sympathy. She cut the rope which hung her sister who had a smile on her face, like she knew that Aeliana was there. She cried and cried and caressed her sister’s rough skin and took in the rags she wore thinking that her twin only deserves the finest silk that the witch wore. She begged the gods for forgiveness and prayed to Asclepius and Apollo for their healing but humans were called mortal for a reason. Realizing that even the gods couldn’t bring back her sister without dire consequences, she cursed Obelia to ruin and asked the gods for vengeance for the loss of innocent souls.
Guards swarmed around the screaming princess who looked completely mad and took her in to the dungeon. The gods had heard her prayer. There in the deepest dungeon and in the grimiest cell, she waited and waited until finally she heard the sweet sound of screaming, a familiar one that she remembered having heard on that day. Someone was screaming so loudly, was it her? She laughed and laughed as she heard whispers of plague and drought. She never stopped laughing until she breathed no more, choked by her own blood.
Artemis took pity on the innocent souls who were barely 17 and took the princesses' essence to shine in the sky as a constellation. Obelia would be known as the Cursed Empire and the stories of the princesses would be told to children who asked about the constellation Adikía Dikaiosýni.