Guests had flooded the palace the day that followed while waiting for the crown prince' engagement ceremony to commence. Though that was the main reason for most people's attendance, some young men and women grabbed this as an opportunity to find suitable spouses for themselves.
The hall was filled with music that spilled out throughout the palace grounds but the people in the room had ignored it as they continued with their cheerful conversations.
Most of the men tried their best to sway the young women who were present while the older ones tried to catch up for the long time they had spent without seeing each other.
It was a joyous occasion for everyone whereby two strong kingdoms would be strengthening and cementing their relationship through marriage.
At the other side of the palace in one of the chambers, princess Lilith sat in front of a large oval shaped mirror that reflected her beautiful face that was now laced with a blank expression as she continued to stare at her reflection while the maid's were busy preparing her for the occasion that she was not eager for.
She was trying to absorb the reality that she could never run away from about how her fate had betrayed her but being born in the royal family, certain things such as who she would end up getting married to were out of her control and the thought that she would become someone's wife in a month's time had started to sink in her head which made her gulp painfully.
"You are all ready, princess." She had her maid proudly comment as she watched the princess through the reflection of the mirror. Her chestnut brown hair had been tied into a bun and some trands had been let loose to freely fall on her temple. "Thank you Mandy. I would like to have a time of my own now. Would you please...._"
"My My, I knew that I gave birth to a beauty but right now I am out of words." Her mother interrupted with an elegant smile that revealed her pearly white teeth and headed towards her daughter who was still seated but not before dismissing the maid's."Lily, you might not see this right now, but what your father and I are doing is for your own good."
"I never wanted any of this mother. I..._ This is not good for me. It will never be good for me." She affirmed calmly while trying to hide her pain and helplessness.
"Lilith, you are a princess and soon you will become a queen and soon enough when you have a child of your own, you will come to understand my predicament."
"And it's not like I have a choice but to do as you please." Her voice was a whisper and her eyes became glassy due to the tears that threatened to come out while blurring her vision and not a second after, a single drop of tear slipped from her eye to which she did not make an effort to wipe it away.
Before she could utter another word, her mother tightly squeezed her shoulder painfully while glaring at her through the mirror and said, "This is for the best Lily. Now put yourself together because the ceremony is about to begin.
"I need a moment." She stated and as those words came out of her mouth, more tears spilled from her eyes and streamed down her cheeks but this time she attempted to wipe them with the back of her hand.
"I will be here in five minutes." Her mother declared as she let go of her shoulder and walked out of the room. This was one of many times when she would wish that she was born a commoner. Where her decisions would matter even if they were wrong.
The news about her marriage to the crown prince had been a shock to her and before she and before she could sink in the information, their engagement day was already set. All this had been overwhelming for her and what hurt her the most was that those people who were supposed to support her decisions or understand her turmoil were the very same people who were pushing her deeper into the abyss that would eventually destroy her.
Her thoughts were brought back to the present when she heard a knock and upon answering, she got up and straightened her dress with her palms while she watched her mother entering the room. "We have done our part of raising you and giving you the best we could lily, it's time for you to make up for all that."
Princess Lilith did not bother to urgue with her mother and instead gave him a tight nod and the duo walked out of the room.
It had been a conversation between a mother and a daughter. At least that is what they thought but someone else had heard them.
Richard had arrived a while ago with the thought that the ceremony had started but when he got to the main hall, the royal family was nowhere in sight and not interested with the unnecessary chatter, he decided to take a small tour at the back of the palace where no one would come to bother him. As he continued with his walk, he removed a cigarette from his pocket and lighted it whereby he came to lean against the wall and took a long puff that he slowly released through his slightly parted lips.
He could clearly hear the conversation that was going on between two women behind the wall which made his face twist with annoyance. "Greedy maniacs!" He stated while taking another drug from the cigar.
It was ironical how women pushed their daughters to the men of the highest status without a second thought yet that was the very same fate that they had tried to run away from when they were younger. He mused and at the same time, he walked away from there.