Ivy POV

Ivy Brooks. Daughter of the ever-so-famous Melody Brooks. It's a pretty large burden to bear.

My brother, Eli, has it easy. He knows what's going to happen. Being the heir to the throne, he'll find a princess and become king when Father dies.

For me, it's not so simple. I have no idea what my destiny is, or if I have one at all. Maybe I'll marry a prince, become queen of my own kingdom. But if Eli dies before he finds love, I'll be in charge of our kingdom, and managing two kingdoms at once would be pretty hard.

It's never about who I am, it's who I will be.

I have no interest with love, as does Eli-another problem for me. We'll both die, leaving Aspenhook no heirs. I know that Father knows this, for he says that if we don't choose someone to marry soon, he'll choose one for us.

I desperately hope that never happens. If I do decide to marry, I'd want him to be someone of my choosing, someone who truly understood me.

And knowing my luck, there isn't any chance of that.

***

My maid, Sylvia (Or Sylv, as I call her) walks into my room. She's more of a mother to me than a maid, however. I was only 2 when Mother died, and Sylvia took it upon herself to take care of me.

"You and your brother will be travelling to king Frederic's kingdom next week." She tells me. "There's a princess there who seems to be as stubborn as Eli is."

"Impossible" I mutter, before a thought flashes across my head. "Why am I going?"

"It's been quite obvious that you're stressing yourself out about nothing again." She replies. "You're trying to single-handedly solve all of Aspenhook's problems- and don't even try to deny it."

"Well, if Eli doesn't get married, I'll have to, or Aspenhook will fall apart!" I exclaim.

Sylvia smirks. "My point has been proven."

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. Maybe Sylv's right. Perhaps I really do need a vacation...