I stormed down the hallway, my breath coming into a ragged gasp as fury coursed through me. I entered my room, slamming into anything in my path,I let out a loud scream. I seized the vase, hurling it against the wall, its shattering sounds filled the room.
Everything I had worked hard for had crumbled. All these years I fought with my life on the line, obeying every command without question and now, this was what I get in return.
"You need to calm down. You know you won't have your way as long as she remains queen," Bryn, my lieutenant, said, his voice low and steedy, attempting to soothe my rage but it was not working.
He was right. The only one blocking my path to the throne was the queen, and as long as she remained in power, I would never be crowned. I clenched my fist tighter, feeling the sting as my nails dug into my palm, drawing blood. The sharp pain helped steady my racing thoughts.
"Then we'll take her crown. If she won't yield, I'll remove her from my path," I declared, a dark plan forming in my mind.
"You are not thinking of..." Bryn's voice trailed off, his eyes wide with alarm.
"I am," I interrupted. "Summon all my personal guards secretly. I'll meet them tonight and we will take her out of the way," I ordered, pacing around the room and kicking over a small table in frustration.
"But have you considered the consequences? The king might demand your head if he finds out," Bryn warned, his voice filled with concern.
I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him slowly. His expression was not one of fear but of genuine worry. Yet I knew I could not survive in this palace if I let this opportunity slip by. If any of my sisters were crowned, the first thing they would do would be to come after me. They would not rest until they saw my end, for I held the military command of this nation. Instead of dying like a street dog and losing everything I had worked for, I would take all necessary steps now.
I moved closer to Bryn, placing my hands on his arm and looking directly into his eyes. "Didn't you pledge your allegiance to me?" I asked, my voice steady and firm.
He nodded slightly, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Then prove it to me."
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded again before moving away from my grasp and bowing his head. "Your wish is my command," he declared before swiftly departing to carry out my orders, shutting the door behind him.
I let out a huge sigh of relief. "No one could blame me for this; she dug her own grave," I muttered, staring at the closed door. I wiped away the tears that had streamed down my face, the weight of my decision pressing heavily on my shoulders.
I turned away from the door and began to undress, but stopped at the sound of it opening again. Fiona, my maid, entered the room.
"I'll assist you with that," she offered, moving closer to remove my armor and then my clothes.
She escorted me to the privy chamber, where she slowly washed away the day's tensions. I closed my eyes and breathed out in relief as she carefully cleansed each part of my body. The warm bath soothed my aching muscles and calmed my troubled mind.
After a long soak, I stood up from the water and stepped out of the tub. Fiona rushed to cover me with a robe and led me back to my room. As I stared into the mirror while Fiona dressed me, I couldn't help but wonder what the life of a normal princess would be like.
"Have you ever attended a ball before?" I asked, trying to imagine a different life.
Fiona chuckled softly. "That's quite funny. I am just an ordinary slave. How would I ever attend a ball filled with nobles and royalty?" she replied as she tightened my dress.
"But I haven't either. I don't even know what one looks like," I said, sighing heavily as Fiona finalized my attire and stepped away. I examined myself in the mirror.
No accessories adorned my hair, no jewelry graced my neck. Just a simple evening gown. I had spent so much of my life on the battlefield wearing armor that I had no interest in such finery. There was no one I wanted to impress.
"Maybe you should start prioritizing your own needs before anything else," Fiona suggested gently. "You should attend a ball, meet your prince charming, make friends with other princesses from other nations. That isn't too much to wish for oneself."
I smiled at her reflection in the mirror, then adjusted my hair. "And who will defend the nation if I did that?" I asked.
She had no answer for me, and we were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Check who's there," I instructed Fiona, my voice barely concealing my irritation.
Fiona returned swiftly, her face a mask of practiced calm. "The king requests your presence in his chamber."
I felt a surge of anger at the mention of him. "Why does he need me when he has his witch by his side?" I spat, but then reconsidered. Maybe he had changed his mind, finally seeing reason.
Without hesitation, I rushed out of my chamber, my footsteps echoing through the silent halls. The king's guards bowed their heads as I approached, and I barged into his chamber without announcing myself, finding him lounging on his bed with one of his mistresses.
As soon as he saw me, he ordered her to leave. She rose slowly, a smirk playing on her lips, and bent to pick up her dress. "If you spend another second here, you might have to walk out of this chamber naked," my father snapped at her, his voice cold. She hurriedly dressed and departed, casting a final, disdainful glance my way.
"You sent for me, Father," I said, bowing my head slightly, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Akira, I understand your anger, but I had to do what I did for the sake of peace. You know I have many enemies seeking to weaken me, to leave me vulnerable to attack."
"I don't believe that should prevent you from naming me your heir. You promised me. You told me if I won this war, you would name me."
"Yes, I know, but there was a change that I never planned for," he replied cryptically, leaving me to wonder what he meant.
"Father, what do you mean? What changes?" I asked, my confusion growing.
"In five days' time, you will marry King Alfred of Spook Nation. The engagement has been arranged, and everything is set for the wedding," he announced with a straight face, no remorse, no guilt.
I was left speechless, unable to comprehend what he was saying. I had returned from war only today, and he had already arranged my marriage without even consulting me. And to a nation known for its barbarism and lack of humanity. How could he do this to me?
Did he not even feel a single bit of pity for me? All my life, I had yearned for his recognition, for his love, but he chose to dispose of me this way. He had never been a father to me, not even once since the day I was born. I had always believed that every hurtful action of his was instigated by the queen, but I had been wrong. It had been him all along.
"Why me?" I asked, tears streaming down my face as I could no longer keep up my mask. "There are fifteen princesses of Astrra. Why choose me? Is it because I'm illegitimate? Remember, I'm not your only illegitimate child. There are others who have done nothing but good for this nation," I protested.
"But none of them were born of a slave. Their mothers were either from noble families or princesses of other kingdoms. You, on the other hand, are born of a slave. That's why you're the perfect candidate for that nation. Your slave blood mixed with their barbaric blood; it's a suitable combination," he explained callously, his words cutting deep.
"Then your manhood should not have found its way into the skirt of a slave," I retorted, my voice trembling with rage.
"You should mind the way you speak to me, Akira. I will not tolerate an insult from you," he sneered. "That is why you will never be chosen, because you are fit for the field and not for the throne."
Heavy tears streamed down my face. I had never known love, as my mother had died shortly after my birth. I had spent my life fighting for this kingdom since I was twelve, only to be treated like this. Now I realized I had no one; I was merely a tool of war to be discarded at their convenience.
"Consider this my last act of generosity. I have been informed about you summoning your private army to attack my kingdom and take down my queen; that is definitely a death sentence." He disclosed this with cold satisfaction, and then Bryn emerged from one corner of the room, his eyes avoiding mine. Betrayal stabbed through me like a knife.
All these years, I really had no one by my side, no one to trust. I had considered Bryn a brother; we had fought many wars side by side. But here he was, betraying me. What had I done to deserve this?
Without a word, I turned and stormed out of the chamber, intent on leaving everything behind. I would find a place where I was valued. After packing my belongings, I took a final look around my chamber, feeling the weight of years spent in a place that had never truly been home. I reached for the door, but found it locked.
Now I'm trapped….