Anya ran to her father while giggling happily. Her father left for inspection of their villages two days ago, and he had just gotten back. "Father!" She shrieked as her father embraced her. "Anya, what did I say?" Her father said sternly. "No running," She pouted before pulling a pathetic face at her father. "But father, I missed you so much! How can I not run to see you?" Her father sighed and carried her in his arms. Anya finally noticed the generals and advisors behind her father.
"Greetings to Princess Anya," They chorused as they bowed to the young princess. Anya waved at them as they all smiled at her. "Kael!" Anya's mom called as she walked to them in fast steps. She gave him a hug and light kiss. "You're back!"
Kael and Eira Blythe were the King and Queen of a small kingdom called Aonani. Many say that this small kingdom was considered queer by all the other kingdoms for the sole fact that they don't wish to expand their land. The royal families of the world were all power hungry and wished to build a bigger kingdom, but the Aonani royals have refused to form alliances or invade other lands despite their powerful army. Although Aonani was a small kingdom, its military force was feared by the world.
"Father you promised to tell me a story!" Anya said as she wrapped her small arms around her father's neck. Kael chuckled as he carried his daughter into the palace while his wife walked beside him. Aonani doesn't believe in political marriages. All the royals were free to choose their destiny and their life partner. This was another fact that baffled the world. Many kings sent their daughters to be married for political alliances. Many envoys had been sent to Aonani proposing marriage to the young princess Anya. But have all been declined. Kael and Eira wished Anya would find true love just like they did.
Kael tucked his daughter to bed and was about to leave with his wife when Anya whined, "Father… You promised." Kael sighed and sat down on the side of Anya's bed. "Which story would you like to hear Anya?" Anya stile a glance at her mother and smiled widely. "Father I want to hear the story of my great great great grandfather!"
Eira sat beside her husband and patted Anya's head. "Anya… It's already late…" Anya pouted making her mother sigh. "Alright." She patted her husband's shoulder. "She wants to hear a story Kael."
"Once upon a time there was a fox fairy who was travelling around, with no destination in mind. He stumbled upon a small kingdom that was very poor. Many of the citizens barely had any food and didn't have the money to buy some."
"That's horrible father! What were the royals doing? Isn't it their responsibility to take care of their citizens?" Kael smiled at his seven-year old daughter. "That's right. The ruler of the land was a bad person. He made the people pay him lots of money, but he would keep it for himself to spend on things he liked!" Anya looked at her father with wide eyes. What a meanie!
"The fox fairy wasn't planning to stay in the kingdom for long, until he met this girl…" Anya squealed and bounced on her bed. "Now Anya, settle down. I will not continue if you don't calm down." Anya quickly shut her mouth and looked at her parents with a docile expression. Her father chuckled before continuing, "The fox fairy spent some time with this girl and realized she was a very nice girl who liked to help people. She would go around the kingdom in a black cloak and give the people who were starving, some food."
Anya felt that this lady was so cool! She looked at her dad expectantly as her father paused. "The fox fairy fell in love with the girl and found out that she loved him too, so he asked her to marry him." Anya started clapping but her father stopped her, "But she said no."
Anya looked at her father in confusion. "But father, didn't they love each other?" Her father patted her head and smiled, "They did, but the girl was actually the daughter of the bad king." Anya gasped as she looked at her mother. Eira laughed at her daughter's expression. "Darling it has a happy ending. Don't worry."
"The girl told the fox fairy that she didn't want to run away with him and abandon her people. The fox fairy didn't want to give up, so he stayed with her until her father passed away, leaving the throne to the girl." Anya smiled as she clasped her hands together. "Then father, did they live happily together?" Kael smiled and patted his daughter's head once more. "They got married and put the kingdom in order. They helped all the citizens get back on their feet. Once the kingdom was finally stable, the girl gave birth to a son."
Anya clapped happily as she thought about the fox deity and the nice girl have a happy ending. "They lived happily." Her father finished as he tucked her in bed. "Thank you, father! I loved it!" She said as she tried to find a comfortable position to sleep.
"Alright. You're welcome Anya. Have a good sleep." Her father said before pressing a kiss to her forehead. Her mother sat on her side and gave her a kiss too. "Good night Anya."
"Good night mother, good night father." Anya murmured sleepily as her parents turned off her lamps and left her room. Anya tossed and turned thinking about the fox fairy and the girl. How she wished she could find a love like theirs. She wanted to live happily ever after with her beloved just like her mother and father, and the fox deity and girl. She looked out the window and saw the stars shining brightly. "Dear Fox Deity, please help me learn to lead my kingdom well like you did… Also… Also…" Anya blushed before covering her face embarrassed.
"Please help me find my true love."