Rosella, the maid of Princess Alexandra stood behind her. She softly combed Alexandra's long oily hair.
'. Your Highness, do you want to choose your hairstyle today?'. Rosella asked with a gentle smile.
'. Hmm!, let's see!'. She looked at the mirror, turning her head to see what hairstyle would work well with her dress.
'. Your Highness is just as bright as the morning sun!'. Rosella said with a soft voice.
'. Flatters can wait, but my father can't!....let's go with simple elegant styling!'. Princess Alexandra said with a little smile.
'. Yes Your Highness!'. Rosella bowed and resumed the hairstyling.
The King's study room exudes both grandeur and functionality. High ceilings and a large chandelier illuminate the dark wood-paneled walls lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with leather-bound volumes.
At the center stands an ornate mahogany desk, neatly organized with papers, quills, and personal items, facing grand windows with royal blue velvet curtains that overlook the palace gardens. A pair of high-backed leather chairs for visitors sit in front of the desk, while a luxurious chair for the king is positioned behind it.
The room also features a polished wood cabinet for documents, a round meeting table with chairs, and an ornate fireplace with a marble mantelpiece. Above the fireplace hangs a majestic portrait of the king, emphasizing his authority and legacy.
The King, Gavin Velaryon II, sat on his luxurious chair. He gently opened each page of the book he held. The study room was filled with elegance as Princess Alexandra majestically walked into the room. Her dress was as graceful as her beauty, and her hair as sparkling as her skin. She bows to her father, the king.
'. Dear father, you sent for me!'. She said with a smooth tone still bowing towards him.
'. Oh!, take a look at my stunning Princess!". He gets up and moves towards her with a smile.
'. Father!'. She smiled as he hugged her.
'. You must have been the Moon Goddess's lost twin!'. King Gavin said with his hand gently patting her hair.
'. Oh, father!'. She smiled.
'. So how is my beautiful daughter doing?'. He gently walks back to his seat.
'. Well!....am fine!'.
'. Have you been able to level up your archery skills?'. He asked as he focused back on his previous book.
'. Yes, I have. Father!'.
'. That sounds more like my daughter!'. He said.
'. Father, you sent for me so early in the morning, do you want me to help you with anything concerning the court?'. She gently asked as she moved forward to the desk staring at the book placed on it.
'. Have this!'. He handed a scroll to her.
'. Hmm?'. She takes the scroll from him gently unfolding it.
'. Make a pick!'. He said.
'. A pick?'. She said as she kept staring at the unfolded scroll with different names written on it.
'. Those are the names of Young Lords from prestigious families!'. He said.
'. Young Lords from prestigious families? did something happen to them?'. She asked curiously.
'. Of course yes!'.
'. What?'. She gasped.
'. The beauty of my princess caught their soul!'. He smiled.
'. I thought something bad happened!'. She sighed.
'. Go on, choose a young lord!'.
'. Why do I need to choose a young lord?'. She asked staring at her father.
'. My darling Princess has come of age and needs to start fulfilling her duty as a Queen to be!'. He said.
'. Father, what do you mean by that?'.
'. You can't become a Queen if you don't have a husband! so you need to get married to any of the young lord's name you to choose!'. He said staring at her.
'. What?'. She folds back the scroll and places it on the desk.
'. Why are you surprised?'. He asked.
'. Father, you are...getting me married?!'. She said as her eyes expressed sadness.
'. You are a princess and you shouldn't be surprised that you are getting married!'.
'. Father, how could you...I mean why would you want me to get married?'.
'. Alexandra, you are already a young lady and you need a young lord to accompany you when you are qualified to ascend the throne!'. He gets up and walks towards his portrait.
'. No!.... I don't want to get married, father!'. She said as tears welled up.
'. Well, you have to!'.
'. Why?. A Queen can rule without a man behind her!'.
'. I do not want my darling daughter to be a lonely Queen!, and also I want you to have a man who would cherish your beauty and stand beside you like the queen you are!'.
'. Father, I do not want to get married!'.
'. Are disobeying your father, the king?'. He turned to her.
'. I wouldn't dare, father!'. She bowed.
'. I just want you to be prepared and choose a young lord during the upcoming banquet!'. He moved towards the bookshelves.
'. Yes, father!'. She slowly stood up.
'. You don't have to worry, the young lords from these families are your dream men!'. He smiled at her.
'. The King takes after an eagle he wouldn't identify the wrong people!'. She said with a smile even though her eyes expressed sadness.
'. You can go take your archery classes now!'.
'. Yes, father!'. She bowed at him and walked out of the study.
---
Princess Alexandra walked slowly down the palace hallway, her steps muffled by the plush carpet underfoot. The walls rose tall, adorned with ancient tapestries depicting heroic tales and royal lineage. Soft candlelight flickered from golden sconces, casting gentle shadows on the polished marble floors. Sunlight filtered through stained glass windows, painting colorful patterns on the walls.
The air carried a faint scent of roses from nearby gardens. Portraits of stern-faced ancestors in ornate frames lined the corridor, their watchful eyes seeming to follow her progress. Each painting whispered tales of the kingdom's history and the weight of duty that now pressed upon her.
Lost in thought, Alexandra reached a grand staircase adorned with intricate carvings of floral motifs and regal insignias. She paused, her hand resting on the cool marble balustrade, contemplating the choices that lay ahead. Her soul, far from her and her mind, lost.
---
A hand waved at her from afar. She stared at the figure and, curiosity piqued, moved towards it.
"Hello, niece!" Moriah smiled as Alexandra approached.
"I thought Mother had you grounded for a month. Why are you here?" Alexandra asked, sitting down beside her aunt.
"What's wrong with coming out here to enjoy a cool moment?" Moriah said, gesturing to the beautiful flowers in the garden.
"You should have thought of that before verbally disrespecting the Queen of Narva," Alexandra retorted.
"Hahaha! You sound so much like your mother!" Moriah laughed.
"You should respect my mother, your sister. Decisions may be made in moments, but their consequences last a lifetime. What we get in the end is either regret or happiness," Alexandra said firmly.
"Are you saying that because you got caught up in the feud between your mother and father?" Moriah asked.
"What do you mean?" Alexandra's brow furrowed.
"So you don't know?"
"Know what?" Alexandra's eyes were fixed on Moriah.
"I can't believe my dear sister didn't tell you anything!" Moriah said with a hint of amusement.
"Enough of the suspense!"
"My sister was forced to marry your father, the king. There was never any love between them," Moriah revealed with a broad smile.
"And why are you telling me this? Do you think I would hate my mother for this, like you?" Princess Alexandra scoffed.
"Of course not! I know how much you love your mother. I'm just reminding you that following rules, even when you hate them, might lead you to a life of regret. Look at my sister—she lost not just her value, but her dreams."
"Dreams? Mother never told me about this!" Alexandra stared at Moriah, shocked.
"She's very secretive. Of course, you wouldn't know."
"And so what? Everyone has secrets!" Alexandra said, standing up.
"As your aunt, I'm only trying to protect you from those rules."
"Aunt Moriah, I appreciate your concern, but I don't need someone to help or protect me. When challenges arise, we face them, not run away. I am of royal blood, a princess, and I won't shirk my duties. As your niece, I hope you understand that things don't always go as planned." She bowed to Moriah and walked away.
"Things never go as planned?" Moriah scoffed. "Dear sister, what have you taught her?" She rolled her eyes.