Alora pressed her head on her hat in one hand and held onto her father's arm when they stepped into the teleportation portal.
The gush of wind made their clothes flutter in the air and Alora, who had no special power, sighed a breath, losing some strength at once.
'Swish'
Alora fluttered her eyes open when she heard the rustling of the leaves on a breezy night and felt the cool air against her skin.
Her eyes fell on the capital of the Anka. The capital was enclosed in tall unbreakable walls with watchtowers at regular distance. There were numerous houses, manors, and the palace that stood tall and glorious at the night.
The moon was casting light on the flags that were fluttering on the towers. The crescent on the flag shone brighter, curling Alora's eyes into the same crescent.
They always teleported directly to the lawn of the King or Queen's court. "Father, it's my first time here."
'Neigh…'
Alora turned to the side hearing the horse neigh. She saw two carriages and a group of soldiers. She started wondering why they couldn't appear directly at the palace but announce the arrival of her mother.
Cuillin responded to her questioning gaze, "Your Highness, Princess Alora, we don't have to hide your arrival anymore." So they won't be sneaking around.
Zander sensed Alora's fingers tighten on his arm when she discerned her presence will be announced in the kingdom. She was worried due to her hair and eyes. He could only pat her hands.
The waiting soldiers noticed them and quickly formed three lines. The head of the team commanded, "Greet."
Everyone bowed at once and hailed loudly, "Your Royal Highness, Crown Princess Eugenie."
Eugenie nodded at Zander and walked to the first royal carriage, Zander guided Alora to the second carriage, "Father, why can't we go together in one?" After all, the carriage was too spacious.
Although Zander encouraged her to be herself, unfortunately, they were like everyone else, not brave enough to break the practice.
Zander gave an excuse, "If in case Eugenie has to get off the carriage to meet the subjects, you and Freya could be at ease."
Alora could only smile at the poor excuse and got into the carriage. Freya followed her in and sat beside Alora.
Knowing they battled and came so far without proper rest. "Freya, why don't you rest a bit?" Freya rested her head on Alora's shoulder and closed her eyes.
The soldiers rose when Cuillin commanded them. Hence they didn't see Alora's appearance. The boxes were loaded and the carriages went towards the capital.
The people who saw it was a Crown Princess carriage with the symbol of the lotus, started hooting and greeting her return to the palace.
The city started to light back and people rushed to the road to welcome the Crown Princess while some wanted to take a look at Princess Freya, the warrior princess who participated in a war at the age of fourteen. The commoners respected her, nobles feared her and mages sang praises for her.
The soldiers made an excuse as the royal members had a long journey so that people wouldn't block the path.
Eugenie glanced at Zander and sighed. The same cheering people were going to protest soon. She could envision it. No, she couldn't see the future but was aware of the people.
Zander wrapped his hand around her shoulder and rubbed her arm. If not today, it would have happened another day. It was better than everything was happening quickly instead of stressing them out for many days.
The royal carriages halted in front of the palace's main door. The servants bowed as soon as they saw a leg step out of the first carriage. "Welcome back, Your Royal Highness, Crown Princess Eugenie."
When Alora stepped out, everyone had their eyes down. She had to walk behind her parents with Freya, to follow the practice.
When they entered the huge double door, gasps started to fill the hallway. Everyone looked at each other and whispered words about Alora. She could only clench her fist, her beautiful smile dimming as the whispers increased.
Freya noticed her sister. She wished she could stand closer and boost her but she hated the etiquette that she was following.
They crossed many hallways before appearing at the main hall where an old man looked timeless, in his royal blue robe standing at the top of the stairs.
Lothar Everton, King consort of Queen of Anka. He was a duke who left the Everton noble family to follow his love. People expected him to have lovers and mistresses but he just loved his overbearing wife.
The royal members who got wind of Eugenie's return, voluntarily came out, to take a look at the future queen and Princess Freya.
However, everyone's eyes were glued on the lady who had long red luscious hair. Everyone stood in shock while a smile bloomed on Alora's face when she caught her grandfather hiding his smile, trying to look arrogant.
Alora broke the practice of court and skipped front happily. The royals' faces twisted in disgruntlement whereas Zander and Freya smiled.
Eugenie clenched her fist to keep herself calm. No, she wasn't angry at her daughter but Alora's actions were going to invite a lot of trouble for her. She was afraid her daughter would be hurt, not physically but emotionally.
"Grandfather…." Alora's cheerful voice sounded when Alora ascended the stairs.
'Grandfather!?' The royals looked at each other in shock.
Alora curtsied to pay her respect to the King, "Your Majesty…" Then she hugged him.
A hearty guffaw reached every corner of the hall leaving the royal members' jaws to drop. They didn't only hear their king's laughter, the king also hugged a redhead lady.
'Who is she?'
'I haven't seen her before.'
'I only know Princess Freya.'
'Didn't Princess Alora die young?'
'Is she another daughter of the Crown princess?'
'But she has forbidden red hair.' The whispers of Alora didn't stop.
Alora turned around and stood by her grandfather when Eugenie and Zander reached. Eugenie curtsied and Zander bowed. Then Freya dropped a curtsy.
However, a sudden hush fell in the hall. The men failed to take their eyes off Alora's petite face while the woman became envious of Alora. They looked at their husbands and ground their teeth.
There would be an official banquet to welcome the three… four so nobody approached anybody and dispersed. However, 'the redhead lady in the court' spread like wildfire, in and out of the court. Meanwhile, the men went to bed unable to remove their thought of the breathtaking beauty. But…
Why couldn't they recall her face? The more they tried, her image blurred.
Alora happily chatted with her grandfather as they made their way to the Queen's chamber.
Queen Orla was preparing for the bed when they appeared at the door. She smiled at the sight of his daughter and granddaughters.
The maids were sent out before Eugenie embraced her mother, "Mother." Her longing affectionate tone sounded, dropping all the pretense of royalty.
The girls curtsied together, "Your Majesty, my Queen."
Zander bowed, showing his respect. Collecting an exquisite box from Cuillin, he passed it to the Queen, "My Queen, Alora, has prepared some healthy decoction for you." Orla's health was declining due to her age.
Orla glanced at Alora as she accepted the box, "Lying to the queen is a crime." She pretended to be serious as nobody knew she was going to bring them back to the palace.
How could decoction be ready so soon?
Alora quickly responded, "Grandmother, Father is right. I would have come to visit you after the annual dual competition at the academy."
Orla smiled resignedly and King Lothar interjected grumpily, "You called me dearest and brought me nothing."
Alora pretended to be whispering to the old man, "Grandfather, I didn't want to make My Queen angry by favoring her husband. I have to placate My Queen, or else the Queen will banish me from the kingdom."
Then she stood straight and nodded to herself with a straight face, "Balancing is the law of nature."
Everyone restrained their laughter which left Alora speechless while Orla was inarticulate hearing his granddaughter. Orla stood up from the stool and held Alora's ear, "You silly brat, get yourself prepared. I will bring my whip from tomorrow." She might be aged, and there might be wrinkles on her face but she was strong.
Alora held her ear over Orla's hand as she cried, "Grandmother, I was humoring." Her gaze shifted to the black whip that was hooked on the hall. She had heard numerous bloody tales about her grandmother and her whip. People say that the whip has a soul and listens to Orla.
Escaping the hands of her grandmother, Alora stood behind two men, "I have strong men of Anka to protect me." Alora teased her grandmother giggling happily.
Orla nodded her head, yes it was a fact, Alora had wrapped two men around her finger. But… Orla lifted her hand. The whip disappeared from the wall and appeared on her palm.
Nobody could face the angry Orla, not even the strongest men. Alora screamed as she ran out of the chamber.
Orla put the whip back in its place as she turned to Freya, "Freya, your room is next to Alora's."
"I understand, Grandmother." Freya was happy to be next to her sister however she didn't show any emotions on her face.
"But mother…" Eugenie wanted that room as she and Zander could protect Alora together.
Orla lifted her hand with grimness lacing her face. "She isn't a child anymore, Eugenie." Orla's firm, pressuring voice cut off Eugenie's efforts to protect her daughter.
Orla growled at the four who always protected Alora like a small child, "Facing, enduring, surviving and her life will be in her hands. If she can't survive, she is unfit for the throne. Let her die honorably rather than hiding like a coward."
Eugenie silently gasped, she couldn't even imagine the upcoming nightmarish days of Alora.