- Elena -

I walked along the aisle of the hall trying my hardest to ignore the stares and whispers in my wake.

"She's the high princess!"

"What a looker. Just my type."

"I wonder if there are already a line of suitors waiting for her hand?"

Ire fills me but I somehow managed to keep my head held high and my shoulders straight, walking as gracefully as befitting a princess. Reaching the throne of my parents, I bowed lightly. " Greetings Father and Mother."

"Elena, dear take a seat." My mother said as she smiled at me and patted the seat beside her. It's smaller than the throne but still made of the same glittering stone. With a slight dip of my chin, I stood up and sat down beside her. Eyeing the large court of people who are seated in the long tables and high chairs below me. My eyes skipped past the tables of the commoners and homed in on the tables for the royals. The person I was searching for caught my eye and threw a cheery wave at me.

Grinning like an idiot I waved back enthusiastically at him, forgetting for a moment that I am under the public's watchful eye. My father coughed pointedly and I shifted my features back into my mask. It was worth it though, as I saw the grin spreading on my cousin's face and he winked at me.

Soon a bell chimes and nymphs carrying platters of mouth-watering dishes appear. Their lithe bodies moving gracefully across the room and their wispy hair falling beautifully down their shoulders. Once the plates were set down on the tables, they swiftly disappeared.

"Let us feast to our heart's content to celebrate the Autumn Solstice and as well as the first born of Queen Varise." My father's voice boomed loudly across the hall as he held up his goblet of wine in the Autumn Queen's direction.

Without batting an eye, she smiled warmly and smoothly stood up. "To the High Court and to many years of peace. Thank you Goddess Tessania for blessing us with a bountiful harvest as well as my eldest son."

We all stood up and raised our cups, drinking deeply. If I didn't know her better than her title, I would have thought that Lady Varissa Lerthmomere Dis Car would be blushing when my father called her the Queen of the Autumn Court. Even though she is not of the royal bloodline, Lady Varise is known to have single-handedly amassed an expanse of resources through trade, and built a court from her father's port.

She is a wise, intelligent, cunning ruler and the daughter of a well-known Duke who dominates the trading routes in the fae kingdom. Rumours claim that the Duke was once part of the Summer court but was banished due to an affair with the Queen. Another rumor claims the Duke pledged his allegiance to the Day Court but was refused by the King. So he left and built the greatest trading port, ruling the trading routes like a King. Autumn fae are known for their love for trade and pride for their beloved Queen, who earned their loyalty and respect.

***

"Ah, you must be the lovely and highly sought after High Princess. Glad to have you join us for this Autumn Solstice."

The eldest Autumn Prince stood up as I walked over to their table. His long auburn hair is loosely tied back and he is immaculately dressed in a long-sleeved tailored white linen shirt. From the sharp look in his eyes and slight smile, I had a hunch that he is the most cunning among his siblings. Prince Cedric is not someone to be trifled with.

I scanned the new company of young potential heirs. They are all strangers to me. I have never met any of the other princes and princesses from the different courts, since like he said I'm "highly sought after". There is no need to bow as we are all currently in the same ranking unless one of us has been crowned the next apparent heir to our courts.

My cousin's familiar face is the only one I recognize and the reason I came over. I took the seat next to him and started piling food onto my empty plate.

I counted a total of eight princes including my cousin and two princesses. Two princes, all with the same auburn hair, and uncanny resemblances to the boy who spoke to me. They looked like Viking princes - blue eyes, pale skin and a set of strong chiseled jaw. The autumn princes. I silently thought as I placed my fork into my mouth. The soft creamy taste of butter potatoes fills my tongue and I silently groaned.

There were two princes who have deeply tanned skin to the point of gold bronze. One with brown cropped hair, and the other sandy blonde. Both handsome and oozing with equal pride. Must be the summer princes. I mentally catalogued each of them as I studied them discreetly. This time as I placed my fork into my mouth, the heady taste of tender beef melts in my mouth and my stomach rumbled in response.

I glanced up to see if anyone noticed it. But they are all eating their food avidly while shooting curious looks at me.

Another prince sat aloof, he had black hair and eyes that look like a cat's. Dark intricate tattoos of the sun and day peeked from under his sleeves. The sole prince of the Day Court. The last remaining pair, a prince and princess were from the Winter Court. Both had pale blonde hair, pale skin, and frigid blue eyes. They looked regal in their fur-lined clothes.

There among all of us still sat an empty seat.

"The Night Court." My cousin said from beside me as he noticed my stare. "Long time no see cousin." He grinned.

"So it was true when they said that the High Court had a princess. I thought it was all talk, given how they secretly kept you away from the prying eyes of the public. Who knew that the High Court would be so secretive." One of the princesses smirked. She had striking hair, the color of red wine and looked around the same age as me. "Tell me, how do you spend your days in the castle? Would you not feel bored? Oh, it must have been very suffocating! I can never imagine being locked up like this."

"Do not be rude Zarina. She is still the High Princess even if she is younger than you by 2 Summers." Prince Cedric who had stood up was now seated. He frowned slightly, his tongue full of reproach. Princess Zarina, the youngest out of her Autumn siblings huffed at him.

"It is fine, I do not mind it. Well, I would say I do wish to leave the palace sometimes. But I got used to it." I shrugged in nonchalance.

At my sentence, Zarina's eyes brimmed with curiosity. Before she could open her mouth to ask more questions, one of her brothers pinched her, shutting her up. I felt my cousin trembling and I glanced at him in amusement. Keiran is trying not to laugh while eating his food.

"Hey. I need to talk to you. It's important." I whispered as I angled my head lower, making sure that our conversation is private.

Keiran's eyebrows twitched the only response he heard before he blinked twice. It was our secret code since we were young. Blinking once means no, blinking twice means yes. It started out as a silly game to make fun of our parents whenever they would bring Keiran over to my court. At first it was funny to watch the adults trying to guess what secret messages we were transmitting to each other over the table, but eventually the trick grew old.

"How's your court doing?" I mouthed as I took a fork of the beef and popped it into my mouth, savoring its tangy sweet berry sauce.

Keiran raised an eyebrow at me before he reached towards the salad and heaped a large portion onto my plate before helping a portion to himself. I know what that expression means. It says: "Is my court the thing you wanted to talk about?" I shook my head as I stabbed the green vegetables on my plate and tried to eat it all but ended up biting only half of it. A small grin appeared on his face as he chuckled softly. "I knew it. It can't be that the high princess deems my court to be more superior than hers."

I rolled my eyes before rotating my wrist to gesture with my fork. Continue on to the topic you dumbass. "Everything seems quiet on the surface. But we know about the existence of the s-pies." He said quietly, breaking up the word as s and pies. "But we can't seem to find out their identities. They are playing it too carefully." I nodded. This is not new. It is the same for our side.

Once we were full, the platters disappeared by some form of magic and a beautiful nymph stood in the middle of the empty space. Her seafoam hair is coiled up elegantly and her dress is made of ocean waves that frothed and disappeared at the hems. It wraps around her petite body, enhancing her slender legs and olive complexion. Trust our head fashion lady to make even the queens full of envy.

"Ladies and gentlemen. It is now time for the Autumn Dance. Please may I invite the High Queen and King to start the first dance." Jacinta, the High Court's head nymph, announced as she bowed. On cue, the musicians started playing and I watched as my parents walked to the middle. My mother is smiling and my father is relaxed as they held each other in their arms. Looking into each another's eyes, they started dancing. The crowd oohed and clapped as they showed their admiration.

They really look perfect together. I thought as I watched them from the sidelines. It's rare to see my father looking so carefree, as if he belonged in my mother's embrace. Will I find the one for me one day? Will someone take me even if I am but a pawn on a chessboard? Once the song ends and another starts to play, the other royals began pairing up and dancing to the upbeat tune.

Finding the opportunity, I tugged Keiran's sleeve and we slipped away silently.

"What's wrong with you Lena? No dancing today?" Keiran asked me as we sneaked through the servants' quarters. Everyone is too busy preparing for desserts and the rushing made it easy for us to be unnoticed.

"No mood cousin. Do not push it." I said as I hurried out and through the courtyard filled with my father's favourite roses, tended and cared for everyday by his gardeners. Not here as well. The gardeners have shifts. Sensing my urgency, Keiran said nothing as he followed me. We reached an empty hallway where the walls are lined with the portraits of my family. No one usually comes here and I have the privacy I need.

"Look. I know this might sound selfish but I just found out I have an older sister. She's in the human world and for some reasons my parents are not prioritizing her return like they should." I said. "She's coming of age soon and they are too wrapped up in their little wars. But I want to bring her back."

"Wait. Hold up. You have an older sister?" Keiran asks as shock fills his face. I rolled my eyes but I nodded anyway.

"Then... what about your title to the crown?" He says as he looks at me with horror in his eyes.

"Don't you get it? I was never a candidate for the crown. The title is meant to keep up the facade for the public and people like you." It burns to say it aloud, as much as I hate it I cannot speak anything else but the truth.

Keiran looked at me silently for several beats before he covered his face with his broad hand. "Ah damn. Your oldies got me good. Here I thought you were going to be queen and I was so going to pledge my allegiance when the time comes." The corner of my mouth twitches slightly. My cousin may not belong to one of the largest courts nor the oldest, but he is loyal and steadfast. Just like his father.