Bells rang at the cathedral tower with a resounding echo heard throughout the kingdom. The people of Cedhia cheered as they watched the ceremony of their king to his betrothed.

Rings and vows exchanged made tears fall from the people's eyes. The Great Creator is their witness to their promise of love to each other.

The sun shone bright, the sky, clear of any signs for rain. The people showed their full support to their rulers on that fateful day.

Yet, in the crowd, A young lady with hair like blazing fire and eyes of warm hazel watched as her world changed. As her mother vowed for marriage to the King of the kingdom. Next to her were strangers--nobles and a stepbrother known as the Crown Prince.

Among the sea of beautiful and regal noblemen and women, she was out of place. She knew nothing of what she must do after this ceremony. How to blend in the crowd that she knew nothing of.

The girl hated it. It happened too fast for her to know how to adapt or react. Some offered help, others looked at her in pity when she knew of this arrangement but she couldn't be selfish.

Seeing how happy her mother is up on the steps of the altar is worth it. How her eyes looked at the king with love and affection and the king returning it with a wholehearted smile. The redhead saw how they were in love, how nothing else mattered for the moment. They saw each other's future with their gaze and that is enough for her.

How can she compete with that? Her mother was finally happy with the man she loved. A man she knew will not leave her once things go wrong.

Charissa smiled from her seat as she saw the beauty of their love be finally tied under the eyes of God and the Law. Her mother knew what she went into but Rissa didn't.

Dread was creeping into her veins as she watched the whole ceremony finish before her eyes. Everything turned to a blur. She gripped her bouquet tight as she watched the newlywed couple walk out of the church. To present themselves for the very first time to the people of the kingdom. She saw how bright her mother smiled, her stepfather holding her close as they waved to the crowd.

She can't help but cry in both joy and fear. Things were going to change and she knows that she will have to keep up or else the world will not be so kind to her.

Beside her, Prince Callyx, her new step-brother, held Charissa by her shoulder with a smile. "Hey, you'll do great. You've known me for a couple of days and you stayed! Now that isn't so bad. This won't be any different."

Ah, yes. Of course in his eyes as a royal child, these new things won't be difficult. But to a commoner college student, it's going to be a hard challenge no matter what cheat sheets she had for this game.

The ginger smiled up at him, placing a cold and clammy hand over his. "Sure, Cal. Sure."

Her eyes trailed on to the doors of the cathedral once more where she swore she heard the switch of something. Perhaps the switch for 'unleash this poor girl's demise'. That would honestly explain a lot once the real challenge gets started.

For today, her mother asked her to enjoy the whole event. She can but, how? With so many things in her head, she can't help but want to cry in a corner. The fast realization that her dreams of being a writer had come second. It is a simple dream she knew she could achieve but with this, she doubted it can even be a reality. Wanting happiness for her mother came first.

Weeks ago, her mother told her of her engagement and how Charissa should meet up with her step-brother who happens to be in town. Her mother was very adamant to tell her about who she was going to marry when the ginger made a passing joke.

"Why are you hiding this very nice man's name? Pfft--what is he, a king?" She asked as she left the house that day, slipping on her sneakers.

One look on her mother's flustered face was enough to know that she got a good guess to who might this guy be. Horrified, she asked several times, "Are you serious, mom? Are you serious? Are you very sure and--"

"Charissa, darling, of course, I'm sure. I love him. I told you that didn't I, luv?" Her mother cupped her cheek as she smiled. Like getting engaged to the king was nothing of a big deal. "We'll talk more after you have a day out with your step-brother, alright?"

Charissa would have stayed to chat more. Maybe have a very educational debate about the whole ordeal but she got kicked out. She was locked out of the house by her mother. On the driveway was a vintage mustang convertible waiting for her, a good looking young man driving it. Slicked combed back dark hair. A strong jawline. Smoldering yet expressive eyes. Nonetheless with a fit body wearing a suit of light grey; she can tell that his guy was vain. It was also evident in the faces he made while taking pictures of himself.

Rissa took a moment to look at him, trying to recall where or when he has seen his face before. The television? The internet? Perhaps both. Was he famous? She really could care less about those and more of the answer to the question of if he was going to be a decent brother.

"Hey, shrimpy! Come on! Your mom said we go out so we do! You better not waste my ti--" she groaned loudly to stop the young man in the car from furthermore whining. Honestly, he was already sounding like one of those chatty girls from a sorority in her community college.

Charissa hopped in the front seat with no regard for manners for the guy. If her mother isn't lying, she is sitting next to the crown prince of the kingdom. The lack of guards looks like permission to strangle him. Why would she be coy with this guy? He didn't seem pleasant from the moment he started opening his mouth to talk.

"I'm Charissa by the way. Rissa." She turned to the young man next to her who was scrolling through his phone. Ignored, she grabbed the phone and forced herself to grin at him once more. "I'm Rissa. Your new step sister."

The young man removed his sunglasses, staring at the young lady next to him. She didn't know why this guy gave a sudden attentive look at her but it was disturbing. She saw the disbelief in his eyes and stopped smiling.

"Uh, hello?" She called out, waving a hand in front of his face to stop his staring.

"Dad said your mom is good looking but I didn't expect you to be..." The man trailed off, staring at Rissa for a while, trying to take in her unexpectedly appealing face.

The ginger sighed. "Ugly, I know. Now, what's your name again? If my mom's telling the truth then you must be Prince Callyx." She inquired, rolling her eyes at that gaze her soon-to-be brother is giving her again. After a few more seconds of staring, Rissa got irritated and used her hand to wipe the look off the prince's face.

"Hey! Yeah! It's Callyx! Jeez, sorry for staring." The prince finally answered. He started the car and drove to the business district of Hawthorne City--the Capital of Cedhia.

Hawthorne was a town that was a cross of New York and Los Angeles. It also felt like Alaska in winter, Norway in spring, Canada in fall, and Panama in summer. Surrounded by sea on one side, mountains and forest at the other-- it was a beautiful city that garners admiration from all over the globe.

To Rissa, it was home. The current spring was making her mood better. With the stereo playing folk songs, new chart-toppers, and classics, the ride made her calm down to think. From the next seat, she could feel her stepbrother glancing at her from time to time. He wasn't saying anything but a furrowed brow. A few times she caught him opening and closing his lips but had nothing to say. She didn't know what he wanted to talk about but he kept trying.

"Callyx, what do you think of suddenly having a sister?" She asked that day after they pulled over at a diner. "Don't you think it's sudden?"

Callyx turned to her in surprise on his whole face. "What do you mean sudden? My dad won't shut up about your mom since they met. He's been asking advice from me."

Right. So she was the only one kept in the dark. Her being the only child in their family with no father and a mother who's a bright genius. How come she never took a moment to notice? Why not stalk them on social media or ask her mother to tell her? It didn't come to mind that her mother would attract a king. Their king. She never would have guessed it.

"Why? Did your mom not tell you?" Callyx inquired, feeling pity for the ginger.

Perhaps it was out of fear? Rissa can't answer the question. She wondered about it herself on why her mother did not prefer telling her the whole truth.

She was still reeling in the fact that her mother was not joking about loving a king. After all, the stories of those who came before them were enough for her to dread a tragedy or rejection from the kingdom's court and citizens. What will they do once they know? They were commoners making an above-average living. They weren't nobles. They were normal.

The prince remained silent as Rissa did. She thought of the possibilities that this ordeal might go to, sideways, or well, straight. Both were as scary as the other.

That day consisted of her asking Clallyx questions. Questions about rumors that one needs confirmation, or about a life they wish they won't step through. Rissa was curious like the writer she is. She needed to know everything. What she could anyway.

By sundown, she had realized that this was not like one of her stories. This is her reality. It was unbelievable and impossible. She is but a commoner in the kingdom and to be next to Callyx was going to provoke the people who admire him. She dreaded that but her brother made it seem like it won't be her problem.

Rissa's eyes fluttered open once more and found herself in front of a crowd of flashing cameras while Cal stood next to her.

"Rissa...hello?" He called for her attention but she turned to him absentmindedly.

"I'm listening, your highness." She replied with her thoughts away from where she is.

The boy looked at her with doubt evident on his creased brows. He gave her a hopeful smile before returning to the cameras in front of them.

Rissa pulled a forced smile before walking to the private reception prepared for them.

Her eyes of warm brown wandered among the crowd of noble people, all nobles, or acquainted with the crown. It was nerve-wracking how many there were that came. She even saw people from other kingdoms, ambassadors, and other people but she tried not to be seen nor noticed. Even in a dress of gray and gold, even if her hair was in rings of fiery red, her hair adorned with gold trinkets.

She wished not to be seen. Not this way.

Rissa headed to their table in front of the masses, sitting next to the king and her mother, the new Queen. Her hands were clammy cold, her breath was short. Her chest constricted as her eyes watched the crowd.

They had stares like they were expecting her to do something magical. She didn't. She stayed seated as the reception went on.

From the crowd, she spotted a few who had hushed conversations as they trailed their eyes to her direction. They smiled at everyone else but her and her mother. Rissa saw how they disliked them. They were commoners sitting up next to the king. No doubt judging them from afar.

Unnerved, she looked down at her plates and her now cold cup of tea. This world she was suddenly pulled in was more dangerous than being out in the streets alone. She was quick to realize that.