"My lady, the King has asked me to call you. The breakfast is ready"
I groan as I get out of my bed with a type of pain that runs through my veins and even into my bones and blood. Always sleeping late and waking up this early? It is not helping me, you know.
Okay, let's do a quick introduction, shall we?
I am Diane. Daughter and Princess of King Luke of Azel and here I am. My life seemingly having a missing piece, my whole life!
I have been living with my maids and my Dad that never got my attention ever since I clocked sixteen. He is always busy trying to keep his Kingdom safe, meanwhile he is the one doing what he is doing and forgetting that he have a twenty one year old daughter that has never gotten the thought of marriage but he is forcing it on me!
He is!
I have a couple of elder brothers that do not know what to use their lives for and a sister that is unreasonable sometimes.
Only my younger brother understands me around here. Even My Father is a wealthy bluff.
I stand up from my bed and stare into my mirror. "Well, Good morning Diane" I whisper and the maids quickly rush me to the bathroom.
I had my bath and now I am heading to the throne room. Hope Father has some reasonable dishes today.
"Diane dear! The Queen of a nearby and unknown Kingdom is here!" the elderly among us, Thaddeus, hailed and I smile faintly.
"Good morning Father, sister and brothers" I greet with a curtsie and they all nod at me.
"Good morning, dear sister" my siblings greets and my father smiles at me.
"Hello, Diane" I bow to my father and a servant standing behind an empty seat pulled it out and I walk upto it and sat on it.
"Diane, I and your brothers and sister have come up with a very intriguing plan for your marriage"
I hardened my grip on the glass cup I hold and raise a brow at my father. "Continue"
"Come on Diane, your brothers are married and this Kingdom has been divided into four for each Prince. Your sister is married and she is a Queen of a Kingdom just behind Azariah and your younger brother has someone in mind already"
I glare at the younger boy sitting beside me.
"He's just sixteen" I mutter
"Four years and we will send the proposal letter to the girl's Kingdom and family"
I let out my breath and shook my head as I drop the cup I have been holding on the table in front of all of us.
"Father, Roy is not a girl, I can guess that he can force himself into any girl he wants"
I catch a glimpse of my younger brother, Roy, open his mouth with the "Really?" look.
"Then Xelilah that is your sister and is a girl, how come she is married?" The brother that I am following by birth, Andrew, asked.
"I don't know. Probably she found the right person quick or you guys enforced the guy on her" I answer sarcastically and Roy, Andrew, Xelilah and Matthew held their laughter.
Only the eldest son of my father, Thaddeus, and my father didn't find anything funny in what I just said. And so do I.
"Diane, finding a suitor shouldn't be a problem. There are multiple Princes out there, dying to have the face of a Princess in their lives... "
I cut Thaddeus short by saying "Finding a mistress, isn't hard, you mean... " I stare directly into the eyes of Thaddeus and he stare back at me, trying to understand what I have to say.
"I haven't even visited the nearby Kingdoms to see their Princes. You are the people going on my behalf, how am I supposed to know who is who?"
They all look at me with thoughtful eyes. Except my father though, who just stare at me like I am telling a boring parable.
I take in a deep breath and stare into the eyes of my father as I spoke.
"Anyway, I will like to go on a short trip, just to the outsketch of Azariah" I say.
I scan My Father's heart and I know he wants to object, so...
"Thank you for your support" I say and stand up and leave the room, my family staring at me, perplexed by my actions.
The door to the dining room closes and I stand there with the guards that guard the door, staring at me. The head of the soldier walks upto the dining area but I don't look up at him, instead I just stand.
I like him ever since I was a kid. We played round the fields whenever our parents discussed about war and they'd stare at us as we play. His father wanted me to marry his son, but my Father, stingy even when it comes to his own daughter, refused.
I stare at his shoes as he walks upto me.
"Diane, what is wrong?" he asks and the two other guards came closer in care. As if they didn't see me when I first exited the room.
"They're still talking about it and I don't have anyone" I whisper and the three guards looked at themselves and then back at me.
Almost everyone in the Kingdom knows about my stubbornness when it comes to this marriage thing. Only new people in Azariah and that is the babies or travelers that don't know.
I close my eyes and breathed in and out deeply.
"Come with me"
I follow him closely, his name ringing in my head and my heart beating repeatedly in my chest as we enter the darkest part of the Castle, where Azariah's Prophets dwell.
"Maria, I need your help and so does the Princess"
Before I say anything, green steam escapes the pipes hole that the Prophets normally use to enhance their vision in the spirit.
"What is it that her Highness wants?"
Shihab stare at me and nudge my hand, asking me to talk in signs, I guess.
"Umm... My father is asking me to marry soon and someone I don't know... And I really want someone that I will love and will love me always... I... I don't want force in my marriage... "
The green steam cease and a voice, softer than that of a woman is what I hear. My body rise with goosebumps and a negative feeling.
"Go out at night for three days. Whosoever you meet becomes yours"
What?