Grey Kingdom

Salam Alaykum!



So, here I'd like to share a short story I made! Well, formerly, it was supposed to be an entry for my journal writing competition at school. it was supposed to be of "What Made My April Awesome" or something like that.

As many are aware, I really daydream a lot and I'm very enthusiastic about fantasy and fiction, so here, is my first public shared story. (Its simple though and I'm not sure about the grammar and stuff, not that eloquent as some people :-)

Grey Kingdom

Being the princess of The Grey Kingdom, it had been never easy. The weather was always changing from rain to outrageous storms. In the peaceful Grey Kingdom, the glimpse of sunlight was never to be seen. I’ve heard rumors of broad daylight from the rulers of Slobvocia but it never seemed to accompany us, people of The Grey Kingdom.

It was hard being next in line to the throne as my father-King Duct was attacked by an awful and extremely terrible disease that started spreading from the rural parts of our kingdom. The whole kingdom was deeply grieved by my father’s illness and the economic activities had been badly effected since the illness started to spread among the villagers too, about 19 years ago. Coincidentally, it happened after I was born. We were really suffering from the severe disease. The disease had caused the patients to suffer from rashes and there were mange all over the body. As for father, he was so pale and weak that he was half paralyzed.

Father caught the illness after my mother died giving birth for me. But strangely, he is still surviving despite the the awful disease. That  made me feel grateful as I didn’t want the kingdom to falls under the hands of my uncle, Prince Spart who was a despicably horrid person. Some say that it used to shine a lot in Grey Kingdom, but for 19 years they have been suffering the Grief Years. Sometimes, I think my birth has been cursed by mother as I caused her death. Maybe it’s my fault that my people are suffering but then again, it was never my choice to be born.

            Lancelot has always been there for me, comforting me whenever I'm feeling down. He was indeed my most noble warrior, Sir Lancelot. He had seen me through my best and worst plus he always had my back. My birthday was coming and I’ve always celebrated it with the people of the palace, but Lancelot gave me a better idea.

            “M’lady, it’s been a long time since King Duct has been facing his illness. Will you give up the crown to Prince Spart? If not, m’lady should search for who will substitute.”

            I haven’t heard anything so accurate in my life before. I would never give up the throne to Prince Spart. But sadly, I’m afraid that father would die soon and Spart might try his best to gain the crown. So yes I had a lot of thinking to do throughout April but thankfully enough, my birthday was on the 25^th.

            The news of the celebration was announced to the whole kingdom and to nearby kingdoms by the royal messenger. The attendance was unbelievable as people filled the ballroom. Usually, the peasants and noble wouldn't dare to come to our kingdom as we were considered as the carrier of diseases and fatality.

I glanced the prosperous condition of the ballroom. It was indeed grand with the ginormous chandelier that hung on top. The ladies were wearing fluffy gowns while the gentlemen wore bow tie suits but still no one caught my eye.

            A knight in shining armor caught my eyes swaying graceful towards the ballroom and made me invest into interest. To my surprise it was Sir Lancelot! How could it not have been, that I couldn’t recognize my noblest knight, my most loyal listener and my best friend.

            “Princess Earl! King Duct has awakened from his awful disease!" Sir Lancelot exclaimed. Just listening to his voice could light up my world, nevertheless the good news he brought together. "It was actually because of the dehydration of water in his body as there was an insect that has been living in his body, slowly sucking it. Likewise the condition of the fellow villagers." 

        "How was the cure of the disease discovered?" I was intrigued as we had been through this circumstance for 19 years yet on my lucky day, it is solved. I really couldn't ask for a better birthday gift- but there was.

        "M'lady, it turns out that the infectious insects were brought upon us by the Kohlrt kingdom." Sir Lancelot explained. "Apparently, they were undergoing a research to cure a disease but it an experimental insect was missing and by that time, it had reproduced and infected our kingdom."

         " Indeed m'lady, it is true," I turned to the direction of the voice. It was owned by a very good looking man who looked like a noble. He had dark brown hair and shiny white teeth that could probably light up the whole ballroom. "I am Prince Aidan of the Kohlrt kingdom and I offer my sincere condolences to you for my people's negligence. I didn't know of this condition before I accepted your invitation to this celebration. And I'm willing to pay the price."

            I was dazzled and perplexed of his action. What was he thinking?  “And what is it that you would like to propose to regain the content that we have lost for 19 years?" I had to hold my head up high and not fall for him albeit his charming face and his eloquent way with words. " You mustn’t play games with me as I am now 19 and you haven’t even wished me yet.” I folded my arms and closed my lips tight. Okay, maybe that was kind of childish.

“I’ve asked your father’s permission but now it’s your turn. Princess Earl Grey of Grey Kingdom, daughter of the Royal Highness King Duct, would you care to be my soulmate for the rest of my life by marrying me?" 

It was the night of the 30^th of April and the fireworks were blasting and lanterns were released. It was the grandest wedding of the century. For the first time within almost two decades, the clouds revealed the hidden sun and the sun rays filled the earth at the speed of light. The earth started to bloom with flowers of all sorts that had never been seen before and the animals’ health were back to normal. The villagers returned back to their daily routine they had left for approximately 2 decades such as ploughing the land, tillage and selling in the market like old days.

And that, made my April awesome.

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Okay, the story's kind of crappy but yeah I just wanted to emphasize on how weird I am. I mean, I'm supposed to write a journal for the competition yet I wrote a fantasy story? Alhamdulillah though, I managed to attain second place with a RM50 note as the prize and an English translation of the Quran. p.s. I wrote a real journal later, didn't send this story.

"Never Stop Dreaming"

-HR