Elsa could see her entire world crumble in her presence and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
This marriage had indeed cascaded shadows over her seemingly bright future.
She moved her clammy hand slowly from the window of the carriage.
Tears that had formed in her eyes let itself loose.
It crawled helplessly on her face.
Her mother waved at her, so did Iris and Irene.
She could see their cheeks glisten with tears.
She would surely miss them.
She would miss the night stories the twins often told her when her insomnia repeatedly resurfaced.
Most of all, she would miss her brother.
He wasn't back from the treaty yet and she was leaving already.
Her skunk of a father stood firm with his arms clasped behind his body.
He couldn't wave at her and she felt hurt and abandoned.
This hurt overlapped with her memories.
She had been overwhelmed at her twisted love, or rather obsession for her father ( who couldn't show his affection for her in little ways.)
" We'll be on our way, then," the king of Albalon divulged to king Owen.
Ivan's father trudged towards the second carriage.
King Owen smiled and nodded obediently.
" Farewell!"
*****
The carriage moved slowly until her mother, Iris and Irene were out of her sight.
At the moment, it dawned on her.
Her time had already begun; the time her mother told her of had come already.
Her breath quickened and she swallowed saliva constantly.
Her first hiccup since the journey began came out loud.
She covered her mouth while she bowed her head.
The second sound came out the loudest.
Prince Ivan turned around with a start.
The fluttering of her heart came to an abrupt stop when prince Ivan flustered his eyes open.
He stared at her.
" Are you okay?" he questioned in a cold but soft voice.
Elsa froze and shrank back.
" I'm sorry, your highness. I...I...It's only a hiccup," she stuttered.
Prince Ivan's hard gaze softened as he glanced at the outer world through the window.
His words came out strong and cold.
His voice bore no emotions.
" We'll arrive at the palace before nightfall, Elsa."
The third sound came out and she covered her mouth while bowing her head.
By the time she raised her head again, the prince had gone back to his subconscious state - closing his eyes and humming indistinctly.
*****
Princess Elsa yawned and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.
This journey was taking longer than expected and her legs ached.
She inwardly tried to recollect all her mother had taught her.
Right, all her life, she had been groomed for this; she had been groomed to be the ideal and submissive wife.
She had been taught to not talk back at her husband.
She had been taught to not raise her voice whenever her husband yelled at her in fury.
" You'll only have to bow your head in remorse and apologize," her mother had advised.
Her mother had taught her to not be curious about her husband's life ( he was the man and she was the woman.)
He could remarry if he decided.
Her mother's heavy words echoed in her head.
" You have no rights."
Elsa shrugged and her mouth thinned with displeasure.
All these to be done because she was just a woman - a wife.
Now she hated that she was made a woman.
Men were always imposing rules....
God could have made her a man instead.....
The galloping of the horse and the abrupt stop of the carriage pulled her from her drowning thoughts.
This was when her husband opened his eyes and straightened up from his lying position.
" Welcome to your new home," he said calmly in a soft but cold voice.
His eyes brimmed with an uncertain emotion.
Elsa let out a soft, close-tipped smile.
" Thank you, your highness."
He alighted from the carriage and stood outside.
Some guards walked briskly towards the carriage and began to carry out the luggages.
Elsa sat rigid - too overwhelmed to move her hands.
She said nothing even when he offered her his hands to get down from the carriage.
This was the ritual for royals.
It was a normality for the prince to help his wife get down from the carriage by extending his hand for her to take.
She took his hand and alighted from the carriage too.
Elsa gasped in awe of her new home.
She fixated her gaze on the exterior designs outside the palace.
" Welcome back, baby brother."
These words jolted her from her thoughts.
A lady smiled softly at the prince and trudged towards their direction.
Her sunflower blonde hair complimented her violet coloured eyes, thus making her look more stunning.
Her porcelain skin shone brighter under the setting sun.
Elsa stared at the lady who wasn't too older than she was.
The lady had a striking resemblance with the prince.
" I've only come to welcome you and your new bride," she disclosed and smiled again.
Elsa was beginning to feel the aura of hostility between the lady and her husband because a frown etched on his face and he didn't seem pleasured to see her.
" Father has retired to bed already," she continued.
This lady sighed softly and massaged her temple.
" Forgive my manners, brother. Greetings, princess Elsa. I'm princess Harriet - elder sister to the prince. Welcome to Albalon."
Elsa smiled faintly at the moment because she didn't know what else to do.
Princess Harriet seemed to emit an aura of great charisma and she immediately adored her for that.
But, the hostility between the two siblings worried her.
There was no way she would be asking questions related to a family she only got into some hours ago.
" Thank you."
All of a sudden, her husband intertwined his fingers with hers and he pulled her roughly.
Slowly, she looked behind as he pulled her alongside him.
The young princess bowed her head slightly in utter stiffness.
She could tell princess Harriet was hurting, and besides, who wouldn't feel hurt with the way the prince handled things.
There was simply no respect.
How was he going to respect her as his wife if he didn't give his sister the slightest respect?