ROYAL CONTEST

2| CHAPTER TWO

ALYSSA'S POV

In my entire life, I have never travelled to another country. My mother was born in the United States but moved to South Africa after falling in love with my father.

I never met her, but my father always said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. I'm a coloured girl who is proud of who she is.

However, because I have chocolate skin, it's tricky for others to notice. I guess I got most of my traits from my father rather than my mother.

I love living here, and it breaks my heart to have to leave my father and twin brother behind to relocate to an unfamiliar country.

Since my mother died shortly after giving birth to my brother and me, it has always been the three of us. I'm sure a lot will change once I get there, and the worst part is that I won't be able to manipulate it.

I must respect my mother's wishes and do everything in my power to make her proud. My father keeps assuring me that moving to Harrington Empire will improve my life, but I'm afraid it will just bring turmoil to my life that I don't want.

I don't understand why my mother had to promise the queen that I would attend the royal contest when it’s time for her son to choose a wife when there are so many beauties in that country given it is one of the best kingdoms in the world.

We've never met before, and I'm not interested in meeting him, let alone competing for him. It's not the kind of life I want.

I understand that I need to see what life is like outside of my house and learn to be independent but this isn't how I envisioned it would be, and it is far from that.

I'll have to act like a princess when I get there, and if it's anything like what I've seen in movies, I don't want to be a part of it.

My life has always been rather straightforward, and travelling there will only complicate it. Not only will I be relocating to a foreign country, but I will also be relocating to a royal fortress with nineteen girls I have never met before.

I'm not familiar with them and have no idea how they'll treat me. Although I understand that this is a competition, I wish I could at least make friends with them.

Even if I don't want to be there, I also don't want to be lonely when I arrive. My father informed me that I must depart this weekend in order to arrive on Sunday.

Other girls have begun to arrive, but my father spoke with the organizers and informed them that I would be the last to come, which I appreciate.

He didn't have to, but that's my father for you; he's always watching out for me. I often wonder how different my life might have been if my mother had lived but my father has always been there for me.

He has always made sure that I have all I need and I am grateful for that. He's the type of father I wish every child on the planet had.

I remember wondering as a child if my mother didn't love me because she chose death over us, but as I grew older, I realized she loved me and my brother more than anything else in the world.

My father told me when I was sixteen that if my mother had a choice, she would choose me over and over again.

Despite the fact that she was aware of the risks associated with her pregnancy, she told my father that she would rather die than terminate it.

My father told me that he was initially hurt because he thought she didn't care about how he would feel when she died, but he finally understood.

She loved him so much that she wanted to give him children and make him happy. She also entrusted him with raising two small children alone, and he did an outstanding job.

"I was hoping you'd finished packing by now. You've already spent four hours in this room. I guess it's true what they say about girls: you do take your time while doing things."

"Shut the hell up. Why do you have to burst into my room like that every time? What did dad say about knocking?"

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my twin brother, but this jerk has zero manners whatsoever.

"Is it necessary for me to knock before entering your room? You're my younger sister. After all, I enjoy catching you off guard."

"I hate you, Matt."

"You love me and you know that. On a serious note though, I'm gonna miss you." I'm gonna miss him too but I'm not about to boost his ego.

"I'm not. At least I will catch a break." I gave him my brightest smile.

"You can deny it all you want, but you and I both know you'll never be able to live without me. You'll miss me, and when you do, you'll be back in a heartbeat.

"Or I can just make it possible. You know me." He is not talking about repeating what he did when we were young!

"You're such a child. You know that right?"

"You know there is no limit to what I can do." He had the nerve to laugh!

I used to spend most of my time in the school library when we were kids. Because dad was always at work during the day, Matthew was forced to spend time alone at home in front of the television.

He began forcing me to become sick whenever he was sick after noticing that I felt sick whenever he was sick.

He would do anything to fall ill so that I might return home to him. When we're together, the pain is always lessened, and he took advantage of that too.

When daddy finally realised it, he was furious. When Matthew was unwell, dad didn't believe him since he thought he was still acting childish.

He hasn't done it since, and I didn't expect him to bring it up again now.

"I'm joking; you know I wouldn't do something like that to you. You're my only sister and I love you. I'm simply scared that I won't be able to be there for you in that place, and you know how much I despise being apart from you.

"We've been together even before birth, and I don't think I'll be able to adapt to not seeing you every day. I know Dad said I'd be able to visit you whenever I want, but we're not sure if they'll actually allow it."

Even if it's only for a few minutes, I'd enjoy seeing him around. He's right; we've never been apart before, and I'm sure it'll be difficult for me to be away from him.

"I'd like you to promise me that you'll look after yourself and that if you can't go on, you'll come back to us. Even if it was our mother's wish, I know that our father will never let you suffer.

"He will go to any length to defend you, and you can be assured that I will do the same. I understand you'll be living in a palace and will be surrounded by royalty, but don't let them take advantage of you.

"You are my sister and nobody messes with my sister and gets away with it. Never."

Knowing Matthew, he meant every word he said. My brother is like that; he enjoys teasing me, but he would never allow anyone else to do the same.

When I ask him why, he always says that it is his right as my older brother to mess with me whenever he wants, but no one else is permitted to do so.

"You don't have to be bothered about me since you know I'm capable of looking after myself. I'm not going to let anyone mess with me, whether they're royalty or not." I gave him a small smile. I don't want my brother to worry about something so small like this.

"Stop putting on a brave face. You know I'm not going to stop until you promise so that I can sleep peacefully at night. You'll be thousands of miles from home, which isn't something to be taken lightly."

"I told you not to worry; I'm no longer a child, and you know I'm capable of looking after myself. I genuinely appreciate you watching out for me, but you should know that I don't like being treated like a child.

"I know that I'll be in a place where I know no one, but that won't bother me. You care a great deal, which can be frustrating at times, especially when you overdo it."

There's nothing wrong with him caring for me because I'm his only sister, but I despise it when he does it on a regular basis.

I also need to breathe, which might be difficult when he treats me like a baby. I'm the one who's going to Harrington, yet it appears like he's more concerned and anxious than I am.

I guess I should be grateful that my father hasn't returned yet, because, though Matt seems too concerned, my father is the worst of them all.

He'd be constantly checking in with me to see if everything is okay and if I've packed everything I'll need. But I love that about him. He wants to make sure I don't feel the void of not having a mother, I've realized.

"All I ask is that you promise me that you will be cautious and take care of yourself. Is it too much to ask for?

"I know you're no longer a baby, but you're my twin sister, the only sister I've ever had and will ever have. I understand you don't want to look weak, but until you give me your word, I won't be at peace." He took my hands in his.

"You know that you are the family's pride and joy, right?  My father and I will be nothing without you. You are our pillar of strength, our source of joy, and you will always be so.

"I've seen how much our father misses our mother, but every time he looks at you, that need for her fades, and I know it's because he's grateful that she left him with a priceless gift in the form of you.

"I know he cherishes both of us, but you hold a particular place in his heart. He has repeatedly complimented you that you have our mother's smile.

"That smile is one of the things that keeps him going, so I understand if I'm annoying at times, but you have to be careful, if only for his sake. Please, Bhele."

That's not fair! He knows how much I love to be called like that. Our clan names are precious to me so when someone calls me using them, it really gets to me.

"Okay, that's alright. I swear I'll be cautious where I'm going. When they start treating me like trash, I'll take care of myself and remember that I have a family who loves me so much.

"You don't have to be concerned about anything. I swear I'll make you and daddy proud."

He smiled and helped me with packing. I won't be leaving today or tomorrow but I want to make sure that everything is ready and that I'm not forgetting anything.

When daddy finally came back, Matt and I were already done and we also made dinner and ate together like we always do.

I'm going to miss them so much, I don't wanna lie and I'm also wondering how it's gonna be like to be away from Matt because we've never been separated before.

This is gonna be a long run and I don't think I'll ever be ready.