"How much are you willing to sacrifice for our people?"

Alina blinked, the cup in her hand stilled before reaching her lips. It was odd for her father to visit her room so late at night, and even more odd for him to ask such a serious question.

"Anything, father. It's my duty." While her reply was likely what her father wanted to hear, it was also her honest answer. Alina Lovett was the princess of Kazuya, after all. Her role was to serve her people, whom she loved dearly. She had never left the island of Kazuya, so her father's kingdom was all she knew. From a young age, she saw the beauty of the island and the people inhabiting it. She liked to believe she would protect her home at any cost, but what was the meaning of her father's sudden question?

He let out a slow and drawn out breath, his dark eyebrows pinching together as he stared down at his calloused hands. It was as if he was choosing his words carefully. Silence hung over them like a heavy cloud as she waited. After what felt like an eternity, her father finally broke the silence and explained slowly, "As you may have heard, there have been rumors of an impending war."

Alina nodded her head. She had heard whispers about conflict between the four kingdoms while overhearing her father's meetings with foreign officials. But she wondered why they were coming to Kazuya to discuss the four kingdom's politics when, throughout their entire history, Kazuya had remained solitary and was never involved with the Kingdoms. Kazuya's location off the Eastern shore allowed this, but there had recently been an influx of strangely dressed people meeting with her father on the island.

He continued, "The Southern Kingdom seeks to expand their land, but the other Kingdoms are against this." He paused and Alina's breath stilled. "So, Kazuya has no choice but to be involved."

Alina stood up so quickly the chair squeaked as it slid across the floor. "But why?" Her voice rose, which she rarely allowed in front of her father, but he must have gone completely mad to decide such a risk. "Kazuya has never been involved, and the four kingdom's silly conflict should not have to endanger our people!"

Her father's gaze remained at the floor and he crossed his arms. "I was expecting this reaction."

Alina's lips thinned. He was speaking to her like when she was a toddler who was refused a sweet. But this was serious, and what else was she to say when told her father was risking their people's safety?

"I'm afraid the conflict has grown too large to avoid," He explained. "And involving ourselves is the only way to protect our people."

Alina's hands shook as she balled her fists. He was using the same voice and tone as when he was discussing politics with the foreigners instead of wildly reasoning why he was sacrificing their country's individualism to his one and only daughter. "This does not make any sense!" She yelled. "You were the one to teach me that war is never the answer."

Her father finally met her gaze and his dark eyes had hardened. "I am aware, but after discussing the magnitude of the Southern kingdom's idea, it is inevitable that Kazuya will be targeted if their goal is to expand their territory."

Alina stepped back, her back hitting the chair that she was previously sitting in. She grasped it to stabilize her pulsing body, but it rattled as her hand shook. "If that is true, then what will we do? Form an army of soldiers that we do not have?"

Kazuya had never needed an army, so training their people to fight with no experience or desire would only lead to destruction.

"That is where you come in, my dear." Her father's tone shifted to something solemn and almost sad. Out of all the information she had just learned, nothing could prepare Alina for what she heard next.

"Me?"

"To form an alliance with the Eastern Kingdom and benefit from their protection, they have a proposal…" Alina raised her eyebrow. What could the Avrithian Empire possibly want from Kazuya?

"You, my dear," He said slowly, as if suppressing the words from leaving his mouth. "Are to be married to the prince of the Eastern Kingdom."

"Father!" Alina could not hide the shock from her voice. How could he give her up like this? The father she knew would never agree to such a wild proposal.

"My dear, you do not have to follow through." He rose to his feet and held her hands in his. "I am continuing to negotiate, but the Eastern Kingdom is unwavering in their proposal."

A cold chill pierced Alina's back and her mind was racing. Her heart was beating in her ears and she felt tears brimming her eyes. Marriage for the sake of her kingdom's protection? Just yesterday, her life was everything she expected it to be. She would continue her studies of the healing concentration and attend the hospitals in her kingdom to treat her people, but in one conversation, she was supposed to be married off to a stranger in a foreign land, instead? She had no words.

Unlike previously, her father's eyes had softened and he looked up at her sadly. "I wish it were different, Alina. I really do, but this would be for our people. The Southern Kingdom is unmoving in their desire to begin a war and plans to take action soon, and unfortunately, we do not know exactly when." His voice dropped to a whisper, and a sudden tear fell down his cheek. "I'm sorry, my dear. I could not bring it in myself to tell you sooner."

Tears pooled and flooded her vision. The man who served as the King of Kazuya for decades, selfless and strong in every way to properly lead his people, was crying. She had never seen her father cry. Alina brought her hand to his cheek and wiped away the stray tear. Her breath shook as she stifled her cries. It was nothing Alina ever imagined would happen in her lifetime. She knew the Kingdoms often fought over trivial matters, and she was comfortable observing from afar, but if what her father said was true, then he was right. Kazuya would not be able to protect itself from the developed army of any of the other kingdoms. If they were invaded, she could not bring herself to imagine the carnage and despair her people would suffer.

"Father, please don't be sad." She tried to sound strong, but her voice continued to shake. She was utterly terrified of her new reality, but she did not want her father to worry. If her marriage was ultimately for the sake of Kazuya's safety, then she would follow through.

"I-I'll do it… I'll marry whoever to keep our people away from harm."

Her father's eyes widened and his lips quivered. They remained quiet for long moments, and it was as if taking in their new situation slowly in silence would prolong what was yet to come. Her father then brought her close for a warm embrace, and Alina took this time to slow her breathing. She gripped his shirt as she held him tight, burying her face into his shoulder. If she was to be married, she would likely not see him or her home for a long time, and that was what pained her the most.

Her father pulled away first, and this time, he brushed her tears from her cheek. He looked at her with a fondness she had not seen in a while, and he bowed his head.

"Who am I to be blessed to have such a strong and selfless daughter?" He smiled sadly and placed a hand on her head, brushing the top like when she was a child. Alina held her father's hand and noted the rough texture of his fingers and palm, cherishing the touch of the person she loved most.

Alina stifled her shaking breath. "If it is for my people, it is my duty to do anything."

Her father held her closer, then with a kiss to her forehead and a goodnight's wish, her father headed back to his chambers. "We will likely leave in three days." He said as he held the door. "I will inform Raina and the rest of the servants to prepare a celebration before we depart."

"Thank you, father. I would like that." And with that, Alina was left alone to take in her new beginning. The thought of it all made it difficult to sleep, and she tossed and turned in her bed for the next few hours. The shock of it all kept her from crying further, so she laid in bed silently. She had never stepped foot off of Kazuya. While she thought about traveling abroad to visit the neighboring kingdom before, she ultimately turned the thought down because she loved her home. It was safe and had everything she ever wanted, but it would soon be taken from her in exchange for a foreign land and a stranger for a husband.

Leonidas Riordan, the prince of the Avrithian Empire.

Alina slid out of her bed and reached for the books resting on her desk. She dragged her finger across the length of book spines until it settled on the Avrithian Empire's symbol, a black dragon curling around the royal family's crest. She brought the thick and heavy book back to her bed and propped it open between her thighs. It had been a while since she touched this book.

As she flipped through the withered pages, she saw images of former kings, battle, and blood until a sketch of a family caught her eye towards the end. It was a pencil portrait of the current royal family: the king, the queen, and a young child in between. The first-born prince, who could be no older than ten in the portrait. He had dark eyes and darker hair which parted in the middle and flowed out smoothly like waves. He stared at her through the book with eyes of iron. Her fingers gripped the corner of the page, curling the paper and wrinkling the sides.

As terrified as she was for her new and quickly approaching life, a path that she never imagined and she would rather avoid, Alina vowed that night to never show weakness or fear once she left the island.

It was a promise to herself, her father, and her people.