They Made Me the Knight, But I Became My Own Princess Chapter 01

They Made Me the Knight, But I Became My Own Princess Chapter 01

On my 22nd birthday, my younger twin drew the princess card again. I drew the knight card, just like always.

Mom and Dad clapped and laughed.

“Even heaven knows your sister was born to be cherished.”

According to our family’s game, the princess could make one wish of the knight.

My sister glanced at the engagement ring in my hand and suddenly smiled.

“Molly, I want your engagement.”

The private dining room fell silent.

My late grandfather had arranged that marriage for me. After everything my sister had taken over the years, it was the only thing I still had.

I instinctively pulled my hand back.

Mom immediately pressed down on my shoulder.

“Your sister only wants your fiancé. It’s not like she’s asking for your life.”

Dad slid the ring toward her.

“A knight gives the princess what she wants. That’s how you’ve lived since you were little, so don’t break the rules now.”

My sister put on the ring and winked at me.

“You don’t mind giving him up, do you?”

I suddenly remembered how she had demanded my trophy, my dresses, and even my bedroom when we were children.

Every time, Mom and Dad said she deserved the best. All I had to do was step aside.

I looked down at the role card in my hand. I had crushed the word knight into a web of deep creases.

This time, I would be my own princess.

*****

“Molly, this ring is gorgeous. You’re not mad at me, are you?”

Sadie nestled against Mom and held up her right hand.

Lights streaked past outside the car window, flashing across the diamond on her ring finger. The glare made my eyes sting.

I looked away and lowered my gaze to my own b**e hand.

“No.”

Mom visibly relaxed and patted the back of my hand.

“I knew my Molly would be sensible. Ever since you were little, you’ve always given Sadie whatever she wanted. This time is no different.”

Dad glanced at me through the rearview mirror as he drove.

“Exactly. The Keatons’ eldest son is a workaholic. Sadie’s outgoing personality will balance him perfectly. You’re too quiet. You’d only suffer if you married into that family. I’ll set you up with someone better next week. The police commissioner’s son is divorced and has a child, but he’s an honest man. He’d suit someone steady like you.”

I stared at my reflection in the window.

“Okay.”

Sadie giggled and leaned over to loop her arm through mine.

“I knew you loved me most. I’m going to help Wade choose his suit tomorrow. Come with me, okay?”

I pulled my arm free.

“I have something to do at school tomorrow. I can’t go.”

Sadie’s smile froze. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.

Mom frowned.

“Your sister invited you out of the goodness of her heart. What’s with that attitude? It’s just an engagement. Do you really have to be so petty? We raised you all these years. Does that mean less to you than a man you’ve never even met?”

I stared at the skirt spread across my knees.

“I really do have plans.”

Dad slammed on the brakes.

“Enough. Why are we fighting when we’re family? Molly, your sister is the princess and you’re the knight. A knight protects the princess. That’s only right.”

I didn’t answer. I just watched the shadows of the trees slide backward outside the window.

I had heard those words for 22 years. At our birthday card game every year, Sadie was always the princess and I was always the knight.

When we were little, Sadie wanted my doll.

Mom said the knight had to let the princess have it. She promised to buy me a new one the next day.

Later, Sadie wanted the guaranteed place I had earned at an elite prep school.

Dad said the princess needed to be looked after. My grades were good enough for me to get in on my own.

Then she wanted my bedroom. Now she wanted my engagement.

Every time the cards were drawn, I was forced to give and give without limit.

Every time, they told me I was the knight and had to be good.

Good children were supposed to get candy, but I had never received even one piece.

When we got home, the living room coffee table was buried beneath catalogs from major luxury brands.

Mom pulled Sadie down beside her on the couch and eagerly flipped through them.

“This pink one is beautiful. It’ll look lovely with your complexion. This gown is nice too. It makes a real statement.”

I headed straight for the stairs.

“Molly, go cut up some fruit in the kitchen,” Mom ordered without looking up.

I stopped.

“I’m tired. I want to go to bed.”

Mom’s hand stilled on the catalog. She looked up, studying me.

“Are you still blaming us for giving Sadie the engagement? Molly, you can’t be so selfish.

“Your sister has always been delicate, and we raised her with the very best of everything. The Keatons are wealthy. She’ll have a wonderful life if she marries into their family. Besides, you were the one who drew the knight card. You can’t blame anyone else.”

My fingers tightened around the banister. I couldn’t stop hearing what I had overheard outside the study the night before.

Dad had asked, “Did you mark it? Sadie has to get this engagement.”

Mom had answered casually, “Don’t worry. I rounded the edges of the princess card. Tomorrow, I’ll guide Sadie’s hand toward it first.”

They had gone to all that trouble to give Sadie every ounce of their love, then made me pay the price.

“I understand.”

I turned and went upstairs.

The moment I shut my bedroom door, Sadie’s sugary voice floated up from below.

“Mom, maybe we should give the engagement back to Molly. I don’t want her to be unhappy.”

Mom immediately comforted her.

“Don’t be silly, sweetheart. That engagement should have been yours in the first place.”

I walked to my desk and opened the drawer. A plane ticket to Bellmere lay inside.

The flight was in 3 days, the same day Sadie and the Keaton family would formally set the wedding date.

I took out my phone and texted Wade back.

“Fine. See you in three days.”