The Princess sits in front of her vanity, letting her maid brush through her curly onyx hair as she stares into her own reflection, mind wandering to the moment happening tomorrow: the moment she has been waiting for her entire life.

"All done, Miss Reine."

She hears the soft tone of her maid's voice and Reine turns her gaze to the young woman standing behind her, gratefulness reflecting in the Princess's emerald green eyes.

"Thank you, Claire," she says, smiling at her reflection before turning to look at her friend. "For everything."

"Oh, Your Highness," Claire says, a rose red blossoming on her cheeks as she regards her friend. "I will be here for you as long as I am able to be."

Reine smiles, reaching out to take Claire's hands in her own. "Always. You are, as I've mentioned many times over the years, much more than my maid. You're my best friend. Now keep that smile on your face as we enter tomorrow. It's a glorious day. It's a day of promises and possibilities - an era of hope, Claire."

Claire bows respectfully to the Princess in front of her, sending her a kind smile as she stands straight. Her fingers tighten around Reine's. "You will do great things when you become Queen."

Reine nods in acknowledgement and Claire takes it as a sign to leave her be. After a curtsy, the maid ushers herself out of Reine's lavish bedroom, and the Princess is alone with her thoughts as she looks at her cream-colored bedspread fixed to perfection by Claire. Tomorrow morning will be the last morning she ever awakens in this bed as a Princess.

She turns and stares at her reflection, a different look in her eyes: no longer dreamy, but hard and determined. She turns back to her mirror. She's lost the dreamy look from earlier, her eyes becoming harder. More determined. A rose rests on her dressing table, dragging her thoughts to the young girl that had given it to her.

Though the girl was only around six or seven years old, her sallow skin sagged as if she were already an old woman. Hunger haunted her sunken eyes and pulled her lips into a smile she didn't feel. The sight of the child had broken something in Reine's mind as she knew her parents had been to blame. It wasn't unusual to see such a peasant broken by the toils of poverty and starvation, but to see one so young had torn something in Reine and made her vow to be a better ruler than her parents. Her people deserved better and she would find a way to give it to them.

The level of apathy that her parents held for the kingdom sat in stark contrast to the degree of care they had shown Reine. She could vividly remember the way her mother had combed through her hair when she was a child, rather than leave the task to Claire, and the way her father had carved time from his busy schedule to read her stories before bed. How they could let the children of peasants starve in the streets while she was doted on disturbed her in ways she couldn't define. She was aware of her privilege and haunted by it at the same time.

Her mind, instead of daydreaming of the world of tomorrow, reminisces on the years of her past. She recalls seeing the starving villagers begging at her palace's gates. She remembers hushed conversations between her parents. They would try to agree on what bare minimum supplies the villagers can get to survive on without wasting away and turning the surrounding village into a graveyard. She remembers sitting in her throne next to her parents as they punish anyone for stealing even a crumb of food from the royal palace. She remembers how she was told to never show sympathy to someone beneath her because sympathy shows weakness.

She also remembers her mother brushing her hair before putting her to bed at night. Her father would spend his free time reading books with Reine, both of them letting their minds get lost in the fairy tales and silly romance stories they read while cuddled up in the library.

While Reine holds no doubts about her parents loving her with every fiber of their beings, they are cruel rulers. They are selfish, harsh and heartless to the people who have vowed to serve and respect them above all else.

As much as her parents tried to bestow their wisdom of ruling a kingdom with an iron fist, Reine has only ever wanted to rule with compassion and love. She doesn't understand why she always has an abundance of food, most of which gets wasted as it sits uneaten in the kitchens. She isn't allowed to send food to the villagers who have been reduced to skeletal shells of the bright-eyed individuals who looked upon the royal family as their saviors.

Reine wipes the tears falling onto her cheeks, remembering the numerous conversations her father had her listen in on. The disadvantage of ruling with an iron fist is some people see her parents as tyrants, demanding justice and equality for the people in the village and not the people who reside in the palace.

Rebel groups formed and as they grew in numbers, they openly resisted the King and Queen, choosing to move to the outer regions of the kingdom instead, preferring the unforgiving territories and beasts in the wild to living in a kingdom ruled by people who don't deserve the throne, in their eyes.

Reine is determined to change things. She uses every hollow, defeated pair of eyes she has ever seen throughout her life fuel her as she grows more and more determined to bring peace and comfort to her people.

Tomorrow, she will walk into the throne room and her father will crown her as the Queen of Cendres. She will smile as she walks onto the balcony and looks at the people who have grown restless in their loyalties. She will put food in their bellies and hope in their hearts as she changes the kingdom into one of love and never again let it fall into the depths of the darkness it is drowning in.

She loves her parents as much as any loving daughter does, but she admits her parents are cruel to the people who look to them to keep them safe and loved.

The door to her bedroom creaks open, pulling Reine from her thoughts. Her head turns to see her mother sticking her head into the room, smiling softly at Reine.

"Come in, mother," Reine says, gesturing towards her mother, who walks in and shuts the door behind her. The Queen's crown balancing perfectly on her head twinkles in the chandelier's light as she walks, a natural poise to her as a dress the color of her daughter's eyes forms to her perfectly and moves as if it's made of the clouds in the sky.

"Hello, my Princess," she says, pulling a stool to sit next to Reine. "There are matters to discuss before tomorrow."

Reine nods in acknowledgement, butterflies in her stomach as the promise of tomorrow reignites inside of her. "Of course."

The Queen sighs, her hand coming to brush against the pendant on her neck. The red, oval gem glows dimly in the light of Reine's bedroom, the swirling silver framework holding the gem in place. Reine smiles at it, recalling her mother has never been seen without the pendant for as long as she can remember.

"This," she says, gesturing to the pendant, "has been passed from generation to generation. It's meant for the Queen of this beautiful land, and today I am passing it on to you."

"Oh, mother," Reine says in awe as the Queen unclasps the necklace from around her neck and places it around her daughter's.

"This kingdom was built from the ashes of a war," the Queen says as Reine stares at her reflection, the pendant gleaming as it rests against her porcelain skin. "That war gave us something to protect - something to uphold. As the Queen, the world will be on your shoulders as you protect and uphold what fate put in our hands long ago."

Reine frowns as she turns to her mother. "What do you mean?"

The Queen pushes a stray curl out of Reine's face. "Princess, there is darkness within the responsibility of the throne. You must be strong, and you must show the darkness that you are above it."

"I don't want to be above it. I can't rule like you and father," Reine whispers, a tear falling down her face. "I only know love from the two of you but you treat others as if they are our possessions, and it breaks my heart. I want to vanquish the darkness so it can't have another chance to steal the light from our home."

The Queen sighs, wiping the tear from her daughter's cheek. "Your father and I could not resist the darkness of the throne as well as I know you will. Greed is a tricky thing, my Princess, and the taste is delectable - irresistible. You are not meant to repeat our history, I know."

In this moment, with these words, the heavy weight on Reine's heart lifts and she falls into her mother's arms, who gladly holds onto her daughter as she sobs.

One of Reine's greatest fears is when she becomes Queen and changes things, her parents will be disappointed in her. She doesn't want to disappoint them, but nothing will sway her resolve in her plans for the future. Knowing her mother wants her to be better than they were just makes the promise of tomorrow even more bright.

"You are everything," the Queen whispers as she kisses the top of Reine's head. "You are going to change the world. I am so sorry we left it in shambles for you to fix."

•••

The next morning, Reine wakes with wonder in her eyes as Claire helps her into her coronation dress. The white dress has been tailored to fit the future Queen perfectly, its billowing sleeves flowing down her arms as the golden trim of the dress shimmers in the morning sunlight flooding into her bedroom. She walks across her wood-detailed floors, her white heels clicking as she moves around in the dress. The smile doesn't leave her face as she moves to her vanity and sees herself.

The white roses adorning the top of the fitted bodice sit across Reine's chest, making her feel as though she is a budding rose herself. Her hair is in a loose updo, her curls framing her face as her sprinkling of freckles is covered with makeup to make her skin look like perfect porcelain. She has never liked the use of makeup to cover the evidence of her years in the sunlight, but she understands as a royal, she must appear perfect - like a porcelain doll kept in a glass case to admire from afar.

"You look beautiful, Your Highness," Claire says, putting some finishing touches by adding a few white roses to Reine's hair.

Reine can't reply as she's so lost in the moment. Today, on her eighteenth birthday, she will take the crown from her parents and become the change her land so desperately needs; the kingdom needs a soul not touched by the greed of this world, and Reine is determined to be the light of the kingdom, as she has always meant to be.

With Reine's heart pounding in her chest, Claire leads her through the palace, walking through hallways and stairwells as they make their way to the throne room. All of her family's closest allies within the palace are seated in the grand room, waiting for Reine to make her entrance and join her parents in front of the royal thrones to receive her crown and embark upon her rule as Queen.

The villagers have been placed in the courtyard, below the balcony where Reine will make her first appearance to the public as Queen and she will make her introductory speech to her people.

"Happy birthday, Your Highness," Claire says, leaning into her friend as the two walk side by side.

"Thank you," Reine says, smiling at her for a moment before turning her attention forward again. "This is surreal."

"We used to run through these hallways as children," Claire says. "I can't believe I'm escorting you to your coronation through the same hallway we used to play games in."

Reine sighs, stopping in front of Claire as a slow smile spreads. "How about we meet here tonight? I can guarantee I am still the champion of hide and seek."

Claire rolls her eyes, failing to hide her own smile. "Just because you will be Queen doesn't mean I will let you win."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Reine says, her gaze turning serious as she pulls Claire into a hug.

"They're waiting," Claire says, gently squeezing the Princess for a moment before pulling away. She fixes the stray curls in Reine's face and smiles at her friend. "I'll see you tonight, Your Highness."

Reine glances behind her at the hallway outside the throne room. She hears the chattering of everyone beyond the doors, and she takes a moment to collect herself as Claire leaves her alone.

She glances at the marble statues lined along the left side of the wall, a memorial to all of the Queens - from the First Queen beside where Reine is standing all the way through her lineage to her mother's statue positioned next to the throne room doors.

After a deep breath, Reine pulls her shoulders back as she has been taught countless times and moves through the line of statues, keeping her head bowed in respect as she silently thanks them for everything they accomplished in their times as rulers. She also asks her ancestors for strength as she walks through those doors. She asks whoever is listening to watch over her as she becomes the winds of change in these lands, bringing the kingdom back to the light it has always had the potential to be.

As she reaches the throne room doors, two men stand still on either side, waiting for Reine's signal as their hands rest on the handles of the great doors.

Holding her head high, she puts a small smile on her face before nodding to the men, who open the doors before her. Upon the sound of the opening doors, every person in the grand throne room is on their feet, their eyes twinkling at the sight of their future Queen walking down the red-carpeted aisle, the gold accents of her dress making her seem like she is glowing. The pendant on her neck is glowing as well, nearly twinkling as it catches the sun's rays through the walls of windows to her right and left.

Her parents are standing in front of their thrones, proud smiles on their faces as she reaches them, her poise not wavering as she receives a kiss on the cheek from her father as he kneels in front of her.

"I, King Henri Dubois, of Cendres, am here to show my loyalty to you, Princess Reine Dubois, and I ask each soul in her presence to do the same."

Everyone in the room bows respectfully to Reine, and she tries to hide how thunderous her heartbeat is as she sees her mother's crown sparkling on the decorative pillow placed to her left.

As her father gets into a standing position, he moves to the side as Reine's mother takes the crown and holds it out between the two of them.

"I, Queen Marie Dubois, ask of you, Reine Madeleine Dubois: Do you vow to honor the throne and its duties, to place this crown onto your head and rule the kingdom of Cendres with every ounce of your soul, spirit and strength?"

"I, Reine Madeleine Dubois, accept this role you have bestowed upon me," Reine says in a clear, strong voice as her mother smiles at her.

Queen Marie places the crown onto her daughter's head before King Henri removes his own crown and places it onto the decorative pillow in place of the crown now on Reine's head. He sends his daughter a reassuring smile, his eyes twinkling as he takes in the sight of his daughter stepping up to fulfill her destiny.

"As of this moment, you are now the ruling Queen of Cendres, and your father and I wish you a lifetime of success and prosperity," Reine's mother finishes the ceremony, her voice wavering as tears gather in her eyes, her professional façade cracking as she watches her daughter.

She curtsies to her parents in respect before turning to the crowd before her. "Let this be a time of change for us all as I usher in an era of untouched possibility."

As the people before her move to bow to their Queen, there is a loud, thunderous disturbance outside the throne room doors. Reine frowns, faltering in her poised body language as she turns to look at her parents, who look confused as well.

Before Reine has a chance to turn back to look at the doors of the throne room, she hears the doors open, and before she can react, her father has pulled her to the ground, protecting her with his body as the sounds of flying arrows and metal against metal fill the air around them.

Reine's chest heaves as the sounds of bodies dropping and blood-curdling screams fill the air. Her father holds onto his daughter for dear life as she tries frantically to search for her mother.

She doesn't have to search long; as Reine is laying on her back, she turns her head to the left to see the empty stare of her mother's eyes looking back at her without seeing anything. The essence of her life is pooling around her, spreading towards Reine's body as if her mother is searching for her, reaching for her.

After seeing her mother, the noise becomes quieter as her senses dim. She hardly registers her father's voice in her ear as he keeps himself on top of her, only registering the word "rebels" through his whispers. She can hardly feel her mother's blood gathering around her, nor can she feel the weight of her father's body as he acts as a human shield to protect his daughter, the Queen.

Reine's chin quivers, the swell of the pain in her soul becoming too much to keep inside as it falls from her eyes in the form of silent tears.

"Reine," her father's voice slowly registers again in Reine's right ear, and she slowly nods to acknowledge she is listening, though her gaze refuses to leave her mother's empty eyes. She feels her fingertips sliding against her mother's blood. She knows her fingers are searching for her mother's hand - to intertwine their fingers because maybe if she holds tightly enough, life will surge back into those dull eyes that won't stop looking at Reine.

"Play dead," Henri whispers, repeating the two words over and over again as her eyes reluctantly tear away from her mother.

"Wh-"

"Don't talk," her father says, tears falling from his cheeks onto his daughter's face. "Close your eyes and play dead. Please, Reine."

After a nervous gulp at what her father could be planning, she listens to him and lets her eyes flutter closed, the last of her tears falling onto her temples and sliding into her hair, cutting through the makeup on her face.

No longer is Reine the perfect porcelain doll in the white dress with wonder in her eyes.

She hears her father sniffle as he sits and takes Reine into his arms. She does her best to stay limp, letting her mother's blood coat her left hand further as it rests in the river of torment beneath her.

"You killed my baby!" Henri shouts into the void, and Reine stays as limp as she can manage, only taking shallow breaths as her father shakes her in his grip, wrapping his arms around her and taking her into his embrace. "She's dead. They're both gone."

"The tyrants are no more," a low, gruff voice sounds from somewhere close by to Reine, but she stays still, holding her breath as she tries not to shake with the sobs stuck in her chest.

She hears the unsheathing of a sword, and before she can react, she hears her father let out the smallest of gasps before he falls forward, landing on top of Reine as she lets her head be buried in her father's shoulder to hide her quivering chin.

"The royal family is dead," the same voice declares, and Reine's blood runs cold at the surrounding cheers filling her ears, the noise drowning out again as she feels her father's blood trickling onto her and her white dress, which is no doubt more red than white now.

"We feast in victory tonight!" a different voice says, and Reine hears the whooping and cheering of the rebels as they exit the throne room, leaving Reine alone with the blood of her parents surrounding her in a blanket of anguish.

The room is quiet for a while before she dares to move. Pushing her father off of her as gently as she can manage, she tries to stand only to slip on the ocean of blood surrounding her. Her father's and mother's blood mix together around her, the essences of her parents left behind doing their best to give her one last embrace with what is left of their earthly souls.

She moves to stand again, but she is able to withstand being upright for only a moment before she collapses to her knees, the blood splashing underneath her tainted dress. All she can do is stare at the carnage, dozens of people who had gathered from all over her kingdom to watch the Queen take her crown on this day.

Her head shakes back and forth to bring life back to her numbed mind, and this is when she feels the lack of the crown on her head, and yesterday looms in her mind. Yesterday, when her mother and father were still walking this earth, and she, with all of the hope in the world in her heart, thought of the promise the next day held.

She reaches for the discarded crown, watching it twinkle in the sunlight shining through the windows, though it is speckled with blood, much like everything else in the room. She finds herself gripping the crown until her fingertips turn white, the sunlight in the room igniting her anger. It feels wrong for it to be so bright outside when nothing but darkness now resides in this room. How dare the sun shine so brightly?

Her blood-covered hands don't deserve to hold a beautiful piece of royalty such as this crown, but she knows she has to put it back on. That's why she got out of bed. That's why she put on this dress, right? With eyes once swimming with wonder - eyes now dull with denial and emptiness - she places the crown back on her head and stands once again, shakily turning to face the room of corpses. There is no one to bow to her. They all only lay in their blood, the silence as deafening as the previous screams of agony.

Only moments ago, she stood in front of them with a beautiful white dress as she took in her first moments of being Queen.

Now, she is covered in her parents' blood as she stands, more alone than she has ever been. Tears mix with the blood dripping down her face.

With nothing keeping her grounded, her eyes roll to the back of her head and she collapses, landing right between the bodies of her parents as she gives in to the promise of unconsciousness, hoping there, her parents are waiting for her.