Chapter Text
Princess Elizabeth Jenna Saltzman of Salvatore had not expected that the last day of normalcy would be her (and her twin's) 22nd birthday. Her sister, Princess Josette Olivia Saltzman, had come back to the castle for their birthmonth. A yearly tradition they have had for 6 years since Josette decided to break free from her royal duties to study medicine in the "City of Knowledge" Bennett. The two had been exchanging encoded letters that only they could decode throughout their time apart but whenever the twins were together, it was like no time had passed at all. Giggling to each other all throughout the castle, excitedly chattering about everything and nothing. Bliss was all Elizabeth knew whenever she and Josette were reunited. Elizabeth had always dreamed of her dream prince and with their time apart, heard wonderful and horrifying stories from Josette's flings of both men and women. She would admit envious towards her sister but her sister wasn't the heir to the throne. They had been twins but Elizabeth was born first. She had been trained, educated and shaped for the throne and for the kingdom. She could only live her life vicariously through her younger sister.
"Tell me about her," Elizabeth smiled widely at her sister, holding onto her hands.
"Lizzie," Josette rolled her eyes with a smile. "Penelope and I aren't together."
"Yet! She sounds so enamoured with you, my dear sister. It's only a matter of time until she musters up her courage to kiss you."
The girls both squealed as they walked into he bakery.
"Good morning, Your Royal Highnesses," a baker shorter than them bowed to them as they entered the room.
"Good morning, Finch," Elizabeth smirks at her and her sister, who both blush. You never forget your first, Josie would tell her. How adorable they were. "Would you be a dear and prepare my dear sister and I some pastries for our tea time? We'll be having it out in our garden. Thank you, dear."
Finch nodded and bowed as Elizabeth quickly moved to the door. She was sure that Princess Elizabeth always did that to provide her and Josie some privacy.
"Happy birthday, Josie," Finch smiled widely at her.
"Thank you, Finch," she gently rubbed the white powder off of Finch's face before placing a kiss on her cheek. "Happy belated birthday, my first. How did you like your gift?"
Finch's eyes glittered. "I love it! You knew I've always wanted a crossbow. Thank you so much for asking the knights to teach me. I hope you get everything you wanted, even if it isn't with me."
Finch and Josie smiled at each other before embracing one another. There was no bad blood between these exes but they would never get back together. It was just how life was. Sometimes it was never meant to last. Sometimes some relationships have an expiry date. Sometimes relationships would change.
"Princesses," a knight barged into the room, breathless and alarmed. "Your Royal Highnesses, I apologise for the interruption. I bring important and urgent news." He eyed Finch who stepped away from the younger princess.
"Come then, Ethan. Let us talk in the hallway," Elizabeth holds Josette and links arms with her. "Catch your breath and calm down, Ethan."
When they settle in the hallway, nothing would have prepared the sisters for the words that came out of his mouth.
"I wish this news would have never be delivered, especially on this day. But alas, I come to offer you my sincerest condolences. King Alaric Saltzman has passed in his room."
Josette and Elizabeth stared at him before exchanging glances.
"Pardon?" Elizabeth found her words. "Father has died?"
"Yes, Your Highness. I'm sorry. His Majesty has passed on in his bed-"
Elizabeth and Josette rushed to his room in a frenzy. Forgetting all the royal ettiquettes and ran hand in hand throughout the hallways of the enormous castle to barge into his room. Pushing through the countless staff they had ran into, they were met with their father seemingly peacefully sleeping on his bed. Josette pushed the men attending to his lifeless body to feel for his pulse and breathing.
Elizabeth watched on in the entrance of the room as her sister frantically tried to resuscitate him and hysterically order the medical team around. She watched on but at the same time she wasn’t watching. She could only stand rooted to the ground as the commotion occured. It was like she wasn’t conscious. She could feel nothing. Her body wasn’t hers. She couldn’t hear anything. She couldn’t process the chaos. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t. She couldn’t.
No one but her family knew of the episodes she’d have. She’d become the talk of the entire kingdom if the news got out. But she realised she couldn’t control it this time.
“Josette! Josette! Josie!” Elizabeth yelled for her sister, garnering the attention of the entire room.
Josette understood.
“Everyone, out! Everyone out now!” Josette ordered. Everyone was shocked at the order. The dominant voice and tone rarely came from the sisters, and especially the younger. They all scurried out the room and closed the door.
Elizabeth dropped to the floor and Josette ran to her sister to embrace her. Elizabeth let out a blood-curdling screech and Josette just hugged her tighter. Their mother, Queen Caroline Elizabeth Forbes-Salvatore, rushed in to embrace her daughters tightly as they sobbed.
It was time for Princess Elizabeth Jenna Saltzman to be Queen.