The Heart of Valencia: The Stories of Valencia, #1

By Tyrissa Tripi

Eveangeline has never felt truly at place in the caste she calls home. She knows deep down she's a fraud–after all, she was only adopted because the King and Queen could not produce an heir. Shw doesn't hold it against them–-quite the opposite, she's grateful for everything this second chance at life has afforded her.
Three days after her fathers death she is brought home from finishing school to begin preparations for taking over as the next ruler of Valencia, which includes a period of courting before her wedding in six months. Without a marriage, she won't be able to take the throne and will be damned if she is the reason for political instability in Valencia.
But things are more complicated than they seem, with hidden enemies forcing Eveangeline to always stay on guard. It doesn't help that the men responsible for poisoning her father haven't been caught and brought to justice. Dangers lurk everywhere, and all that Eveangeline knows is that she can't trust her mother to tell the truth in the simplest of times, so how can she trust her now?
The three princes vying for her heart couldn't be more different. Alwyn is the prince whom she shares the most history with, Sebastian is kind and thoughtful, and Adrian is charming, coming from a land where sirens rule the seas. But things are not always as they appear, and there is much at stake in this game of hearts. Will Eveangeline be able to keep her kingdom together? Or will her kingdom be torn apart by affairs of the heart?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tyrissa McKinney
• Release date: Apr 10, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215356074

Book preview

PROLOGUE

I still remember the day the King and Queen adopted me. All of the six-year-olds in the orphanage had been prepared for days before, each of us received new dresses for the occasion of meeting the King and Queen. They were beautiful, especially compared to the hand-me-downs that had been worn by generations of girls before us. Most of our dresses had patches covering holes in them, and at this point some of them were more patch then dress.

We waited in a crowd for the King and Queen to arrive and I pushed my way to the front, wanting a chance to get a look at the glamorous couple. When the limo arrived, I noticed it was shiny, not anything like the cars that the orphanage used to go grocery shopping. The limo looked out of place next to the dusty building, but that didn’t stop the King and Queen from getting out and waiving to us little ones, a body guard standing on each side of them.

We were quickly ushered back into our rooms, where we were instructed to wait. I went back to my room and noticed that Maria--the older girl they’d paired with me to be my bunk mate, was missing. I didn’t think much of it at the time, though now I realize that the eight-year-olds must have been brought to a different room so that we six-year-olds could be assessed individually. I took out a pack of crayons and started to color, waiting for whatever was going to happen to hurry up and happen already.

Eventually lunch was brought to me, and then dinner. I asked the matrons what was going on, but they didn’t tell me, they just told me to stay in my room and stay dressed. I played with the rag-doll that I’d been given as a gift for my birthday for a while, but finally I became tired and was starting to doze off.

Suddenly there was a knock on my door and I got excited. Come in. I said, laying my rag-doll on the bed. Suddenly a matron and the King and Queen appeared inside my small room.

Hello, Eveangeline. The King spoke, his voice warm. We were wondering if you could show us a few things. This is what we’d been prepared for. Anything that the King and Queen asked for us we’d been told to do.

Yes, Your Majesty. I answered, trying to hold out my blue frock to curtsy. It must have been a pathetic attempt in hindsight, but the King’s eyes crinkled when he smiled at my efforts.

May we sit on your bed? The King asked me, and I replied that he could, if that’s what His Majesty wanted.

First, we’d like you to read to us. I heard that you’re reading ahead of your level? The Queen asked me.

Yes Ma’am--I mean, yes Your Majesty. I was reading chapter books while the other girls were still reading young children’s books. Some of them hadn’t learned to read yet, but Maria loved to read and she’d taught me how to read. That’s why older girls were paired with younger ones. To teach us how to behave.

Can you read this for us? The King asked, handing me a book. I smiled. It was a book of tales from across Valencia. I opened up the book and read aloud, being careful in my pronunciations and making sure that I didn’t stumble over too many of the words.

Very Good. The Queen smiled at me. Now, Eveangeline, I have a puzzle for you. Can you put it together for me?

As you wish. I said, and began to work on the puzzle. Part of me wanted to drag it out so that I would have more time with the King and Queen, but I remembered that we’d been told that it was important to do the tasks that were asked of us the best we could, so I completed it as quickly and neatly as possible.

Good job! The King said boisterously. Now do you have any special talents?

I-I can sing. I stuttered and then gulped. While I liked to sing, and I found my voice to be cute, I wasn’t sure how the King and the Queen would feel about my singing. The King motioned for me to go on and I sang the national anthem.

We have to go now, but it was lovely meeting you, Eveangeline. The Queen said. I was disappointed, but I curtsied once more and said goodbye. The King reached down and gave me a hug.

I cried after they left, so overwhelmed with the day, and a short while later Maria came back into my room. They said for me to wait in here with you, she whispered. I wonder what’s going on.

I don’t know. They asked me to read and sing and do a puzzle, but that was it. I changed into my nightgown--one of two that I had that were hand-me-downs from Maria and went to go to sleep when suddenly another knock came at the door.

Come in, Maria said as I said, Just a minute.

They chose to come in and the King and Queen were there again with the Matron. Eveangeline, how would you like to come home with us?

I was in awe, and I burst into tears and nodded yes. The King came over to comfort me. Maria, we also have an offer for you, if you’d like it.

Yes, Your Majesty? Maria scrambled onto her feet and curtsied. Her curtsy was better than mine.

We’re going to be adopting Eveangeline. We heard you two were close and we wondered if you would like to be her lady’s maid. It’s a very important task, but we would send you both to finishing school when you came of age, and you would be paid and housed and fed throughout your employment. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in? The Queen asked.

Like her care-taker? Maria and I had never heard of a lady’s maid before.

Exactly. The Queen smiled at her and Maria said that she wanted to do it. She’d always taken care of me before and I was relieved to know that she would still take care of me.

That night we were whisked off to the palace--every girl’s dream. I was showered with gifts; a tablet, to help me work on my problem-solving skills, dresses of every color, and even a small television on which I could watch different shows before bed. At night my father, the king, would tell me stories of the sirens and fairies that inhabited our lands. Some of the stories were exaggerated, but many of them were true--the sirens, for instance. I had heard that there were lands with Sirens and Selkies, both different types of merfolk, and the fairies while rarely seen were sprinkled throughout the Kingdom of Valencia. My father always warned me to keep my distance from such creatures because even in the event that they liked me a blessing from them could still be a curse under the best circumstances.

I had a nanny--one that Maria and I shared with Brianna, the King’s niece. Brianna and I became fast friends, as she never tried to lord her birth status over me, and we were good companions. Eventually I met Camilla, who would also come to share the same nanny and the four of us became playmates with each other. We stayed for two years at the palace until Brianna, Camilla, and I were of age to go to finishing school. And finishing school was where the four of us stayed--with the exception of state functions--until three days after my father, the King’s death.

CHAPTER 1

Cold water splashed on my face, jolting me awake. Come on, it’s time to get up. My best friend Brianna stood over me, cup in hand. Maria stood in the corner trying not to laugh and Camilla didn’t pretend to hold back her laughter. All of us had been plucked out of the castle to attend Ms. Atkin’s Finishing School for Exceptional Young Ladies.

Fine, I yawned and stretched. I slowly crept out of bed feeling sluggish. Maria could you help me with my hair? I felt the rat’s nest on the top of my head. My hair was difficult to tame, unruly, but Maria always managed to make the ringlets fall down my back.

Of course, Princess. She’d been instructed by the teachers at Ms. Atkins to call me princess, but I still wasn’t used to it.

Please, Maria. I told you to just call me Eveangeline. I reminded her again. I knew she had to call me princess in front of other royals and in front of the teachers at the finishing school, but it pained me to know that she’d begun calling me that in private.

As you wish, Eveangeline. Maria smiled and my frown relaxed. I went to the vanity--there were four in the room, we each had one, and Maria began gently brushing out my hair.

I noticed Camilla going into the closet we shared looking for an outfit and began to think of what was appropriate for me to wear. I’ll need to wear my black frock today. I still couldn’t believe it. My father was dead. They’d said my father had an epileptic fit that caused him to have a heart attack, but he’d never had epilepsy before.

Maria plated my hair neatly, and there was a sudden knock at the door.

Just a minute, our voices rang in unison as we weren’t all dressed yet. It turned out to be the heart mistress, she called through the door, Your highness, the car is waiting outside. They’ll be sending for your things later today.

Thank you, we’ll come as soon as we’re dressed, I yelled back through the door. I turned to Camilla.

Just let me brush my teeth and I’ll be ready to go, She said, pointing out that she was already dressed. I nodded and the rest of us hurriedly got ready, not worrying about leaving our things behind.

Maria, who was already dressed made the beds as we finished getting ready, Camilla helping her. Finally, once Brianna and I were finished getting ready the headmistress led us outside to the car. A shining limo waited outside--painfully reminding me of my parents visit to the orphanage to adopt me.

I can’t wait to see everything, Camilla said. It had been a long time since we’d been called back to court if you discounted my father’s funeral a few days ago--even then we weren’t permitted to sleep in our permanent rooms. I’ll finally have my own room. It’ll be nice to take a hot shower.

I know. I’m excited too, Brianna touched my shoulder gently. Will you be taking suitors soon?

I nodded. I’ll have to. It’s what’s expected of me. I was nervous about the prospect of taking suitors. I’d only ever kissed one boy before--Prince Alwyn, and that had nearly become an international incident, one that ended up with he and I in a locked closet hiding from his brother.

The ride was short but the anticipation built up. I hadn’t seen my mother in so long, save my father’s funeral. Frivolous and serious concerns swirled together in my head as I started to tap my foot--a nervous tick. What would my rooms look like? Would my mother want to see me? Would she be happy that I was here or would I be a reminder that our family was incomplete? What would my duties consist of now that I was slated to be queen in the coming year?

Finally, the four of us arrived at the palace and we walked to the castle doors, security escorting us on either side. The security left once we stepped foot inside the castle and Clarisse, a maid, was there to escort us to our rooms. She escorted me to my rooms first and then took Brianna, Camilla, and Maria with her to show them their rooms.

Eveangeline, sit with me. My mother, the Queen patted the seat next to her and slid over. We need to have a talk. I gulped. Nothing good ever started with ‘we need to talk.’ As you probably know you will begin courting suitors soon. It’s imperative that you make a good match. Your father invited three princes to visit us before he died to arrange a proper match for you. You have six months until your wedding. You will choose one of the princes. They come from Marchiabello, Cortenza, and Atlantia. Do you remember their names?

Alwyn, Adrian, and Sebastian. I took a ragged breath and heard my heart beating faster in my chest. I wanted to run but there was nowhere to go. I’m sorry, what? I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t pick a suitor in such a short amount of time, let alone get married. How would I know that I picked the right prince? I was scared that I wouldn’t know what to do. Dating was a whole different world than my tryst with Alwyn had been.

I knew the royal families’ names when I was at finishing school. While most girls had five classes, I’d had seven. It was important, my teachers said, for me to be skilled in as many arts as possible. That’s why I’d taken fighting classes where I was trained in hand-to-hand combat and sword fighting.

You’re right. They arrived in Valencia last night. You’ll be meeting them tomorrow. I know what a difficult time this is for you but our kingdom needs you, and you have six months to get into shape to rule our kingdom. And on that note, we have some things we need to discuss. My mother brushed off my reaction to the princes.

Of course, mother, I’m listening.

First, she pulled out a sapphire jeweled dagger and thigh sheath. You need to know that your father didn’t just die. He was murdered. Poisoned with belladonna.

Oh my god. Tears welled in my eyes and my throat closed up. I held back a sob and tried to collect myself enough for my mother to continue.

You’ll need to wear this on you at all times until the threat is taken care of. My mother handed me the dagger. The men who murdered your father may be after you next. They’re trying to destabilize the kingdom and we can’t allow them to do that. Second, in the next six months you’ll need to pick your suitor and get married so that you can be coronated. You don’t have a choice. Your father is dead and we need to keep the kingdom stable. You will pick one of the three boys between now and then. Do you understand?

Yes Mother. I sighed. Clearly this was non-negotiable.

Finally, you’ll be attending a ball tomorrow night to celebrate your homecoming. I expect you to be wearing color. You don’t have to go into full mourning for your father. She motioned to herself wearing black.

Now you have a meeting with Rosalinda downstairs. Please go straight there. You’ll have time to look through your room later today.

Yes, Mother. Thank you, Mother. I was excited. A meeting with Rosalinda meant that I was getting a new dress. Mother? I asked before leaving. Do we have welcome gifts for the princes?

Yes. They’ll each be getting a jeweled sword.

Thank you, Mother. I’ll go meet Rosalinda now.

I walked downstairs with a spring in my step. I loved getting to see Rosalinda.

Evangeline, how are you? Rosalinda swept me up into a hug. We have so much to discuss. I’ll be making your engagement gown, your wedding gown, and your coronation gown.

Thank you. Rosalinda’s gowns were the most beautiful gowns