" Even in our conscious or subconscious state, we do not have any rights!"
These words were stuck in her mind like a part of her being.
Chattering and clinking of spoons on plates continuously distracted her thoughts.
Her father - king Owen seemed lost in his conversation with her mother - queen Bethany.
Princess Elsa played with her meal while contemplating the meaning of the aide's words.
Her personal maids stood behind her chair whispering words that were loud enough to not be considered a whisper.
Princess Elsa stopped abruptly and raised her head when she heard the sound of a trumpet.
She was certain that this sound depicted the arrival of a royalty.
She also dropped the spoon in a noisy manner ( this drew the attention of her maids.)
Prince Leo's metallic gray eyes caught her attention from across the long table, but she observed keenly as sir Conor ( her father's aide) walked side by side the large room and stopped at the king's side.
She noticed the king's gesture of an approval for something she couldn't understand.
And at the moment, she began to think faster and reflect deeply.
Her father must have something up his sleeves for them because he wouldn't unnecessarily call for a family meal.
Her father wasn't that type of person to call the family together to have breakfast and spend quality time together....he would rather be after power and fame.
Something else caught her attention again.
The whispers from the maids was slowly becoming intense.
" He's sooooooooooo charming....." they blabbered.
Princess Elsa raised her head and met the guests trudging towards the king.
She could tell that the young man leading the way was royalty - it couldn't be denied because he spread the aura all over the dinning room.
King Owen of Albion rose majestically from his chair and a smile tore across his face.
This smile caused three lines of wrinkles to form at each corner of his eyes.
The king was indeed becoming old.
" Greetings, your highness."
The guests bowed but one of them bowed slightly.
Princess Elsa noticed this and scoffed mockingly.
' This fella is indeed disrespectful,' she thought inwardly and rolled her eyes.
Well, it wasn't as if her father deserved any respect... she didn't care, either.
" My father has sent me. He also sends his regards," the young man who took the lead began.
" I received his message. How is the king?"
" Very well, your majesty."
King Owen smiled in satisfaction.
" Welcome to Albion.
" Please, join us at the table."
Everything happened quickly.
The guests joined the royal family to have lunch and soon they were all conversing except the leader.
He only ate and listened, and nodded his head in affirmation to what the other men said.
" Ivan, your father has been a good friend of mine... quite the material of royalty and very supportive," king Owen continued.
" I've always admired his poise and charisma," he rattled on.
" He told me that too your highness," prince Ivan - the leader affirmed.
King Owen sipped his wine and wiped his mouth with a table cloth almost immediately.
He coughed to regain composure and they all stared at him.
Prince Ivan took a quick glance at princess Elsa and she began to wonder why he stared at her.
" Well, I know you all are wondering what this is all about.... To end an old treaty and begin a new era for both kingdoms, I, king Owen of Albion, and the king of Albalon, king Wayne, have decided to get our children married in some days."
Princess Elsa went numb, or so her reaction to her father's declaration.
She subconsciously let the cup of wine fall from her hand thus spilling red wine all over the floor.
Her elder brother - prince Leo glanced at her from across the table.
Her father shot her a hard glare and she couldn't discern the emotions in her mother's hazel eyes.
Oh, she should have known better.
This was what her father had up his sleeves for them - this was it.
How could he get her married without her consent?
For heaven's sake, she also had a right over her life.
He had this marriage all planned out.
Before she could move another muscle ( to decisively ruin things), her father seemed to speak to her with his eyes.
Those eyes were cold and void of emotions - and this made her wonder why this manipulative scum was her father.
Why in God's name would he be her father?
Her mother raised her brow but didn't speak; she feared her husband...he was the king.
Princess Elsa opened her mouth to speak but no words came out as her brother gave her a reassuring smile.
Her eyes slowly lost its light.
And with tranquility returning to the dinning room, king Owen smiled again and raised his cup of wine for a toast.
" ...to celebrate a new beginning and union... cheers!!!"
*****
Princess Elsa cried her eyes out in her personal room after the guests left.
Tears didn't stop flowing.
Her beautiful blue eyes now had a tint of red in them.
Truly, she had no rights at all.
" Your highness, please wipe your tears," her personal maids spoke up after a long time of watching her weep.
Her personal maids - Iris and Irene ( the only twins in the palace) practically grew up in the palace while taking care of the princess.
They were close enough to the princess than her parents, so they knew most things about her that the king and queen didn't know.
" My princess, you can't defy the king's orders," Iris continued.
" And sir Oliver is only but a knight, and the king wouldn't consent to it because he's not royalty.
" Your highness, this is only an obsession you have with sir Oliver."
Princess Elsa glared at Iris in utter fury.
Her voice rose hysterically.
" You'll not speak about him that way, Iris."
Words that had been on the tip of iris's tongue refused to come out as she stiffened.
Iris bowed her head.
" I'm sorry, your highness," she apologized.
Princess Elsa bit her lower lip while suppressing the urge to cry more.
She had come a long way with sir Oliver ( the only knight she admired.)
He had been the only one who was courageous enough to save her from deadly assassins.
These assassins had kidnapped her and she was to be their bait.
They had demanded so much shillings to release her but her father had declined their proposal and sent out his only brave knight.