"You only know what you see, what if there's more to me?" ~ brmangundah

The queen regent was chosen.

The words were whispered throughout the kingdom, yet no one knew who it was.

No one except the royal family.

No one except the councilmen.

No one except Dakota.

Because she had been chosen — and she was still surprised why.

It had been two weeks since the royal selection.

Two weeks since the crown prince chose her.

Two weeks since she realized that she could never return home.

Dakota was given her own room, one with a close view of the glittering oceans by day and the twinkling sky by night.

She had spent majority of her days gazing nonchalantly at the oceans, sitting at her balcony or simply reading the books that were already placed on her bookshelf.

But she was bored. She was not fond of reading.

She missed the afternoon walks with her sisters and racing through the garden in a fit of laughter from teasing her brother.

She missed home, and this was not home.

This was merely a city that was culturally different from hers, that upheld different values and perceived things from different perspectives.

This was an odd place. She was in an odd place.

And she wanted nothing more than to leave.

What really intrigued the prince to pick me? She thought, wandering to her desk and picked up a random book.

She lazily flipped the cover when the doors of her chambers were thrown open.

In cams a blonde girl with uncaring grace in her steps. A brash aura surrounded her and a reckless glint swam in her eyes. Her silver tiara sat lopsided on her head, her shawl was practically cleaning the floor and the bottom of her gown had mud flaking off. To put it simply, she was the epitome of a graceful disaster.

Her cerulean eyes met Dakota's and widened.

"Well, they never mentioned that you were frustratingly beautiful,"

Dakota's mouth fell open in surprise even though she shouldn't have been. Just by looking at the lady in front of her, such a comment was to be expected.

"Pardon me, but who exactly are you?" Dakota asked politely yet confused.

"Oh yes, I forget we have not met before. I am Trina, first princess of Calisia," she introduced herself.

Instinctively, Dakota bowed low— her cultural roots taking over once more.

"Oh no no! There's no need for that! You're the queen regent so technically we hold the same authority, if not yours may be higher," Trina rushed out flustered.

"Yes. Though that may be the case, your position is more permanent than mine. I could be revoked any time therefore it is necessary to show the proper respect." Dakota strongly spoke.

Stunned was an understatement for what Trina felt. If she said the exact same thing to Lady Lorraine, she would have probably abused the power and treated Trina like something below her. This hazel-eyed girl that stood before her, was more humble than most would expect. She held on strongly to her beliefs and wouldn't be manipulated to think otherwise.

"No wonder he is interested in you so much," she blurted out.

"Who?" Dakota asked raising a brow.

"My brother,"

Dakota nodded in reply and schooled her features into a passive expression.

She had mixed feelings about this: everything was very unclear to her.

"Well, is there something I can help you with?" She changed the subject to distract herself from her impending thoughts.

Trina casually waved her off. "Is it so bad to want to know my future sister in-law a little better?"

An uneasy feeling settled in Dakota's gut, one that clearly shone on her face.

"Relax," Trina spoke, noticing her reaction. "It's not like you'll be getting married tomorrow, even though you could, though it's not likely yet very possible—"

She cut herself off when she saw how tense Dakota had become.

"I'm not making things any better am I?" She spoke with an awkward smile.

"No not really," was the rueful response.

Trina sat upon the bed and patted the spot next to her.

"I don't understand," she said as Dakota sat beside her. "Many girls would jump at the thought of marrying my brother yet you seem very reluctant."

"I don't really take pleasure in the idea of spending the rest of my life with someone I hardly know," she shrugged.

"Well then all you have to do is get to know more about each other!" She offered with a twinkle in her eyes.

Dakota smiled after her effort. "It's not that simple. One can have an entire books worth of knowledge about a person but in the end they still don't truly know them."

"So what's the difference?" Trina asked with confused interest.

Dakota stared at her and thought for a moment, recalling her mother words.

Their ways are not your ways.

Remember who you are.

The cultural difference in the west was so different from the capital that sometimes it baffled Dakota.

Relationships here, were based on status, background and influence. People only associated themselves with others of similar understanding of money, power, knowledge—anything noble they could offer.

In the west every human connection was based on empathy. The rich and the poor could relate to one another just because they understood each other's position, they saw each other as simple people bearing different responsibilities.

It was because of this why it was never hard to help those who were struggling, why people didn't have enemies or rivals, why people didn't see the need to steal or kill. People of the west didn't use people, they used the advantages provided by people.

Yet here in the capital, it was all about who was must suited for a position and who was the most qualified.

"The difference is to be able to understand one on an empathetic level. You must be able to know what their thinking and feeling just by a glance otherwise there is simply no connection. Though you may be husband and wife it would be nothing more than living with a mere stranger in your house." Dakota thoughtfully answered.

Trina looked at her with wondrous eyes."Do all people of the west think that way?"

Smiling, Dakota turned to look at her. "It is one of our most common morals."

"That's probably what the capital is lacking, people see others as things instead of humans with emotions and souls." Trina spoke wistfully. "How would you describe your parents relationship?"

"Something I greatly admire and wish to have," Dakota gushed. "My father is always looking at my mother like she is the light of his life and my mother still talks about how my father is one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed to her—she tells him that everyday. Their the kind of couple that would naturally bring a smile to your face, not because of just who the are but how they treat each other. If my mother stood up to start dancing, my father would join her—not because he can dance, because he cannot, but to keep her smiling."

Trina was awed. She had never heard nor seen a couple that was so infatuated with each other. Her own parents could never pose as an example because they don't even share a bed.

Staring out to the ocean view, Trina softly spoke. "Maybe some western influence is all the capital really needs."

Their eyes met and a sisterly relationship sparked between the two.

For the following few weeks, Dakota spend her free time with Trina. She was given more freedom to explore the palace, whereas she only spent majority of her time strolling through the palace gardens.

Both girls took such a strong liking to each other, it was like they had been together their whole lives. Dakota taught her how to be reckless yet still look decent at the end of the day, she taught her more about her western culture and gave Trina a dream, one of better hope and lasting relationships.

Dakota also learned more about life in the capital. Earnestly, the culture of the capital was quite brazen and pompous: it made Dakota more determined to stick to cultural roots than ever. Though she really did not like the morals she never showed it on her face.

She had become quite accustomed to her new life in the capital. She was given adequate free time and she had also begun her lessons to be the new queen regent. She did what was expected of her and gave no grief to herself nor anyone around her.

Sheltered in her bubble of simplicity, Dakota had no urge to change anything.

Until the unexpected occurred. The crown prince had summoned her to his chambers.