Across all nations, only one kingdom stood larger and stronger than the others. The kingdom of Adaresa. The king of Adaresa, King Marlan, was able to ally with two smaller yet some of the greatest kingdoms; Caderis and Mirari. The joining of these lands and kingdoms are what made them rise above the rest. This is what made Aderesa the greatest.

King Marlan, was dying of old age and had no children of his own to be his heir. He wanted either the children of the Lord of Caderis or those of the Lord of Mirari to be his heirs. The promise of having one of their children rule the greatest kingdom of them all is what let the lords to join forces and pretend to like each other for the sake of the king and for their children's futures.

The Lord of Caderis had two sons while the king of Mirari had two daughters. The strive for King Marlan's favor caused tension and great rivalry between the two lords. The eldest of the two families were expected to hold the title of either King or Queen, they were both focused more on education and politics. The younger of the two families were expected to be leaders of their army; they were trained in the area of strategy and combat.

The royal sons and daughters were raised to hate each other in order to succeed over the other. Rivalry did that, it tainted people.

***

Evangeline

The sound of swords clashing filled the air as Evangeline and Kaden had their daily combat practice.

"Edgar, please explain to Eva that I am the better warrior," said Kaden as he thrust his sword at Evangeline.

She blocked it effortlessly and used Kaden's distraction of looking at their trainer Edgar as a window to strike back but he had managed to block the attack effortlessly. "I told you Kaden, it's Evangeline for you. Only the people I like can call me Eva."

She pushed Kaden's sword off of hers and thrust her sword at him where he ducked down thrusting his sword at her feet, which she jumped over.

"Come on princess, everyone likes me. Just look at me," he smirked.

Almost very girl Evangeline had ever met fawned over him, and being a prince made him even more likeable. She thought maybe it was the idea of him, him being the brave handsome prince. Kaden was very handsome, not that Evangeline would ever admit to him. It would have only increased his narcissism, which had to be unhealthy. "What exactly am I suppose to be looking at?"

"A handsome prince," he frowned.

It was Evangeline's turn to smirk. "Isn't that supposed to happen after a princess kisses you?"

"What?!" gaped Kaden.

"I believe she called you a frog sir," said Edgar from the sidelines being use to the constant banter between the two.

Kaden glared at his instructor before turning his glare back at Evangeline.

"You just want to be the lucky princess to do so," he shot back at her. Evangeline had to hold back a shiver of disgust just thinking of it.

"Oh god no! Does it look like I want to be diseased? Odette might be the smarter sister but I'm not stupid," she brought her sword up to deliver a powerful blow but Edgar put his hand up signaling the end of their sparing for the day.

"Dear God, if Odette is smarter what does that make you?" Kaden put his sword into his belt same as Evangeline was doing.

"Are you calling your future Queen stupid?" Evangeline gaped. Her sister was one of the smartest people she had known and that said a lot since some of the land's smartest people lived in the castle.

"Oh I wouldn't dare Eva, but since Julien is the smarter of the two then I'm only supporting our future king," Kaden feigned innocence. Just as she had faith in her sister, Kaden had faith in his brother's capabilities to surpass Odette's.

Eva scoffed in response. "Like that it'll ever happen, and it's Evangeline."

"Your highnesses," a messenger came through the training doors looking breathless. "His majesty wishes to speak to you."

Kaden put on his legendary smirk and gestured for Evangeline to go ahead. "After you princess."

Evangeline rolled her eyes with a hmph and strutted away with a sway of her hips. She felt Kaden's eyes on her, something she had learned over the years.

After a few seconds she heard Kaden's footsteps following.

"I like seeing you in your training uniform," he whispered when he fell into step with her so only she could hear.

She whipped her head in his direction, gaping at him. "Kaden! You were starring again!"

Evangeline wasn't stupid, she knew that women had to wear dresses that gave men an idea of how they looked from the waist up, but in order to train, Evangeline needed to wear fitted clothing and pants in order to fight more swiftly. This gave them an idea of how their whole body looked. She's trained with dresses before in case she was ever in a situation that called for it, but she was most efficient in pants. She wondered why didn't all women wear pants, they were amazing.

She remembered when Kaden was old enough to appreciate women's bodies and how he would always crack jokes. She thought his starring would cease over time, but she would always catch him staring. She didn't need a confidence boost, she knew she had a great body. In fact, it aggravated her seeing him staring. He was a womanizer. She wanted him to see her as an equal, a warrior, not a woman he wanted in bed.

"Do you blame me?" Kaden was grinning, liking getting under her skin. It was as if he lived for it. In fact, Evangeline was sure he did. "You're a woman. Men are meant to look at you. You are just a pretty face for men to enjoy."

Evangeline turned around her hand stopping right before his cheek. It would have connected to his smirking face if his hand wasn't wrapped around her wrist stopping the impact.

"I am just a good warrior as you, if not better," she said in a dangerously low tone. She could tell Kaden didn't agree with that one bit. He glared at her ready to make sure she knew too when rising voices stopped them.

"I have to disagree with that statement," said Odette coming into view looking angry with Julien right next to her.

"Why else would he call an urgent meeting love?" smirked Julien.

"I told you not to call me love," frowned Odette. Similar to his brother, they all knew Julian only calls her love to get under her skin.

They also all knew what the two were fighting about without even hearing the context of the argument. It's the same thing they've all been arguing about since they were younger.

"Obviously to crown my sister," said Evangeline jumping into the argument at her sister's defense. Even though Evangeline was younger, she always felt the need to protect Odette. She was the kinder and softer one of the two. Something she thought would add to her greatness as queen other than her intellect.

Kaden frowned and crossed his arms. "I also seem to disagree with that statement."

Evangeline was ready to take this argument to the next level when someone opened the door. A nobleman stepped through, his eyes landed on them before a look of relief crossed his face. "I was just about to send a messenger. Hurry up, the king is waiting."

Odette and Julien stepped in before their siblings. Kaden teased Evangeline by gesturing for her to go before him. She rolled her eyes and walked in with her head high before Kaden fell into step with her. They all stopped before the king with a bow and courtesy.

"There you are children. Come on, sit."

They all went and sat where they usually sat. The men sat beside their father and while Evangeline and her sister sat beside their father. A few more people came into the room before they locked the doors for their meeting. From the small number in members there, Evangeline knew this meeting was very hush-hush and of high importance.

"Micardo, explain what you've heard on the streets," said King Marlan to his servant.

Micardo was one of the ears of the king. He travelled as a merchant from land to land reporting anything he heard regarding their kingdom.

"The ruler of Gywith is planning something big, everyone is scared of what's to come. Whispers are being said on the streets, the black-market said he's planning for a war like no other," he said.

Murmur spread throughout the courtroom. The King put his hand up to silence them.

"If I may your highness," said a viceroy. The king gestured for him to continue. "I've known from neighboring lands that the ruler of Gywith has been conquering lands going south."

A duke was nodding his head. "Yes, I've learned they've gotten to the land of Yarden."

The murmuring had risen again. Some said they'd doubt he'd try to conquer Adaresa. Others believed if his kingdom got large enough then he would.

The king sat there thinking before speaking up. "I think the only way for us to know for sure is to go to Gywith and find out for ourselves."

Other's nodded in agreement at the king's judgement.

The Lord of Mirari stood up immediately. "Your highness, I offer my daughters to go on behalf of our kingdom."

The Lord of Caderis stood up disagreeing without a second to spare. "I suggest my sons go instead your Highness."

A marquis seemed to agree with the lord. "You should send the men to go your highness, why would we send women to do a man's job?"

The king frowned, he stared down the man. "My mother ruled this kingdom perfectly as queen, are you saying you could have done a better job because you are a man?"

The marquis stuttered. "N-no your highness."

"I believe a woman can do a job just as well as any man. Does anyone here disagree?" the king dared his servants to disagree.

Everyone did not dare step out of line. Evangeline knew her father, the lord of Mirari, was ecstatic. The king's love and admiration for his mother, their former queen, was the only reason his daughters were able to even be considered in such a high position in their kingdom instead of an arranged marriage for some deal.

"Scholar Bernard, what is the status of the regents?" asked the king about Julien and Odette's current status.

The scholar stood up tall and proud. "The prince and princess's competitive nature have lead them to exceed our expectation. Where one lacks, the other exceeds your highness."

The scholar explained how Julien and Odette were both equally educated. If one was weak in a subject, the other exceeded.

"Trainer Edgar, what the status of our future grandmasters?" the king asked him. Kaden and Evangeline were competing for the status of grandmaster, only the highest and most prestigious title a knight can earn. Evangeline worked ever so hard for the title, she had to earn it.

Edgar stood up straight and Evangeline could see he was proud of what he had trained. "You have yourself two great warrior your highness. Kaden exceeds in physical strength and close combat, while Evangeline exceeds in strategy, speed, and is the better aim."

"From what I hear, if put together, both parties are perfect?" said the King. The scholar and the trainer agreed to his accusation. Evangeline closed her eyes tight fearing the next words that were about to come out the king's mouth.

The king nodded. "It's settled then, I will send all four to Gywith."

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There we go!

First chapter is up!

What do you guys think so far?

If there is any confusion please let me know.

The point of view will switch between the four characters but will mostly be in Evangeline's point of view.

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