At the Kingdom of Olympia
Princess Zaria absentmindedly rode to her castle. Her feelings for Oscar were getting out of control. Logic told her to stay away from him but her heart was the one making all her decisions recently.
She was at the gate when she actively shut Oscar from her mind and immediately felt the dark cloud that befell her castle.
Her heart sank when she saw her kingdom's and the war flags lowered. That meant one of their great warriors had fallen. She knew all her kingdom's warriors and their families. She had her favourite but they were all good loyal men who served the throne and kept their people safe.
She was greeted by her lady in waiting at the stables. The look on her face telling her what she was hoping was a mistake on the flag bearer's part.
"Who is it, Daisy?"
Daisy lowered her head, unable to bear seeing her friend broken by what she was about to tell her. Her beloved princess got really upset whenever they lost their men in the war with the kingdom of Ranic.
"My Princess."
"Tell me," Princess Zaria urged.
"It is your favourite warrior, Your Grace," Daisy replied softly while the princess shook her head, refusing to believe it
"No. It can't be," her shaky voice and clenched fists the beginning of the storm brewing inside her.
"I am so sorry, Your Grace. He fought a good fight. The word is he took hundreds of Ranic soldiers down with him while saving thousands of ours. He died a hero."
"Has his family been informed?"
"Duchess Felicia and their son are inside, Your Grace."
The princess sighed and took deep breaths before heading inside to pay her respects to her favourite warrior' family.
Ignoring the cold and distant royal rules prohibiting her from showing any emotions, she ran to embrace the widow and her son.
"Duchess Felicia, Duke Lucas. Please accept my condolences. General Lombard was the greatest warrior and a good man."
The widow smiled warmly at the young woman she loved like a daughter and embraced her tightly.
"Thank you, Your Grace. May I have a word with you?"
Princess Zaria nodded and lead the widow away from eavesdroppers.
"It was my husband's dream for this war to be won and be over. He hated the deaths and suffering the war brought to both sides,"Duchess Felicia went straight to the point.
"I know."
"Then you know that he was also certain that your union with King Vincent would achieve this?"
Princess Zaria swallowed her saliva and nodded. General Lombard was never one to keep his thoughts to himself.
The Duchess smiled warmly at the princess, mistaking her nod as her agreeing to no longer opposing the treaty to wed King Vincent. As the closest friend of the queen she knew all about her objections.
"I will still be in mourning when you wed. I need you to know that although I would not be in attendance, my blessings will be with you. Know that my husband will rest in peace knowing that what he fought for has been achieved."
Princess Zaria embraced the widow with a feigned smile. She did not have the heart to correct the misunderstanding.
"Thank you Duchess. Your love and support is truly appreciated. My heart and prayers shall be with you during this difficult time."
On her way to her chambers, the princess missed the winks between the duchess and her mother. What she thought was a misunderstanding was in fact planned.
Getting into her chambers and closing the door shut. Princess Zaria found Daisy already waiting for her.
"What are you going to do?" Daisy asked when she heard about her friend's conversation with the duchess.
"Our people want the war to end. I do too and King Vincent is seemingly the answer," she responded with a depressed sigh.
"You will wed him then?"
"You also think I am being selfish, don't you?"
"It seems like that to those desperate, not me. I understand the desperation but all I want is you to be happy again,"Daisy said sincerely.
Princess Zaria slumped on her bed, all the weight on her shoulders dragging her down.
"I don't know how to get out of the treaty. I don't know how to save my people from King Marius without the treaty. I feel out of control."
"I might have found a way out of the treaty," Daisy whispered. She and the princess had been reading all the books in the library trying to find a way out without raising any suspicions.
It was easy for her to sneak in and out of the library. Even those who saw her there did not think of anything because no one knew that she could read.
"But it's …" Daisy hesitated.
Princess Zaria's eyes lifted, her heart picking up. Could there really be a way out of the treaty?
"It's what?" she asked eagerly.
"There's no way back once you chose it," Daisy warned. She would not have mentioned it had her friend not been so desperate and miserable.
"I want to know,"the princess urged.
"It will guarantee the end of the treaty and make us Tario's instant enemies, Your Grace."
Princess Zaria could tell that Daisy was reluctant to tell her. She extended her hand and commanded her.
"Let me see it."
Daisy passed the book to her beloved princess who instantly recognised it.
"Princess Milia. Off course," she beamed, surprising her friend.
"You know about her?"
"Every royal knows about the disgraced princess who lost her virtue to another while promised to wed the king," Princess Zaria responded. That book was part of their curriculum at royal academy.
"Her father disowned and banned her. Her lover was beheaded," Daisy related what she read. That was the reason she was reluctant to tell her friend about it.
"Yes."
"It says that she died miserable," Daisy continued.
"It also says no one knew where she headed after being banned. I doubt the author was very objective in that regard. She could have died an ordinary but happy citizen of another kingdom."
Princess Zaria argued. Even her teachers could not say with certainty that was what happened to the princess.
"Your Grace," Daisy called her softly. The last thing she wanted is her friend doing something that would still make her miserable.
"Yes Daisy, she could have ended exactly how the book says too."
"Then you know that it is not an option for you."
"Unless…" the princess stopped herself. She would not burden her friend with this.
"Unless what?" Daisy asked but received a warm smile and dismissal from her princess.
"Thank you for this and don't worry, I won't do anything stupid."
That evening Oscar's call was answered by a distracted and depressed princess.
"Condolences for your loss," he said sincerely.
"He was a great man. He wanted this war with Ranic over more than anyone."
"Close friend?" he asked what he already knew. He could not wait to talk to her the moment he received the news. He also kicked himself for upsetting her when she left him. His timing could not have been worse.
"General Lombard was dad's second command. He was my brother's godfather. He could have been mine too had the late king and queen of Tario not availed themselves for that position. The bravest but gentlest of souls and always fair. His widow is mother's closest friend. I am very fond of the family."
Oscar listened attentively not missing a word. "You are telling me something but I am afraid my brain is too slow to comprehend it," he confessed.
"Dad and our people are devastated by this. The General was the most experienced of our warriors. He kept Ranic in check. Everyone is now on urge. They want the war to end. King Vincent is their answer and I am selfish for opposing the union between us,"she explained herself.
"What can I do?"
"Nothing. Unless you have thousand tropes to stop the greedy Marius from attacking us,"she joked, knowing that only one man could do that.
"I will see what I can do," he responded with a serious tone but she could not help but laugh at how out of touch he was with reality.
"I promise you that Ranic shall be no problem to you anymore," he added, not caring that she did not believe a word he said.
"Don't make promises you cannot keep," she warned when she realised that he was serious.
"I never do My Love."
"You can't call me that," she warned, amusing him.
"What shall I call you then, Gorgeous?"
She sighed. "About us…"
"Yes?"
"It is not a good idea for us to meet again. Everyone is on urge…"
"I shall see you after I fulfil my promise, My Love," he interjected before ending the call.