Dalia tugged at her mother's dress for the tenth time. She wasn't going to be sold off to a monster. The rumors she had heard on the walls of the palace couldn't be true, could they? It was said that the monster needed a bride, and the unfortunate scapegoat happened to be none other than her, the last princess of the kingdom.
They could have chosen any of her older sisters... Why did it have to be her? What made her so special? She looked no different from her sisters – same thick, black, curly hair, same glistening olive skin. The only distinction was in their eyes; hers were light brown while theirs were either dark brown or black.
"Mother," she whispered, clutching her dress, "Please, there must be another way."
"It has been decided," her mother replied, looking away, her hands fidgeting at her side. "You cannot object."
Tears welled up in Dalia's eyes. Why couldn't she choose who she wanted to marry? Why did politics interfere with one's marital life?
And why did they have to pair her with that rumored monster, a king whose face was always hidden behind a mask; gossip had it he wore it because he was hideous.
Maybe she had woken up on the wrong side of the bed. Why did her life have to be like this? Had she angered the gods?
"Dalia," her mother came up behind her and gently squeezed her shoulder as she looked at her through the mirror. "You must know," she choked, then looked away, unable to meet the pain in her daughter's eyes. "This is to protect our kingdom. The man you are to marry is the most powerful king; he can protect our land."
"He is a monster," Dalia cried, desperately searching for a way out. "I do not want to marry a monster."
"I know, but perhaps he is not as bad as they say," she said softly, fear still lingering in her gaze.
"Mother," Dalia's shoulders slumped from exhaustion from crying all night. "Please tell father to find another solution. You are sending me off to a monster in a faraway land." Dalia tried to meet her mother's gaze, but she averted her eyes.
"I am so sorry, Dalia. I wish I could change this, but I can't. No one can."
"Do you not fear what will happen to me in his home?" She pleaded, hoping her mother could persuade her father to reconsider. But she knew it would be difficult; once her father made up his mind, it was nearly impossible to change it.
"Your ride will arrive shortly," her mother said, turning to leave. As she was about to move away, Dalia grabbed her dress. "How much did you pay him? Why is he so insistent on marrying me?"
Her mother took a deep breath and faced her. "We did not sell you, Dalia. The monster... he needed no money, only to marry one of our daughters."
Dalia realized then that she was the scapegoat. A bitter smile crossed her face. Of all her older sisters, she, not yet eighteen, was chosen to marry this fearsome man. She fought back the tears threatening to fall; there was no use in crying. The decision had been made, and there was nothing she could do to change it. Crying would only weaken her.
She nodded and gazed back at the mirror, her life was already in dire straits, from which she could not escape. She didn't know whether to blame her family for this or direct her anger toward the monstrous king. Perhaps she should blame the ways of the world itself - why did she have to be born a princess? If only she were a commoner, she could choose whom to marry.
"Did you see his face behind the mask?" She whispered, her eyes fixed on her tightly clasped hands.
"No... I haven't," her mother's voice stuttered. "I will leave you be for now." With that, she hurried out of the room, and Dalia couldn't steal one last glance at her for her eyes were fixed on her clasped, trembling hands.
She stayed there for a few minutes before a knock jolted her, causing fear to seep into her bones. "Come in," her voice barely audible.
The door pushed open slowly, and in came her older sister, Keturah, her eyes watery with tears as she reached for her. "I'm so sorry, Dalia. I pleaded with father, but he said no. I tried to take your place."
Dalia stood up and hugged her, finding solace in her warmth. Tears fell again, her shoulders shaking with fear. The reality was sinking in — she was leaving for a strange land to marry a strange man. "I'm so scared," she whispered.
Keturah held Dalia like a precious egg. She was Dalia's best sister, the most caring, the one who would sleep next to her when she was scared or had a nightmare. She was Dalia's shield in times of danger. But now that Dalia was leaving her, she would no longer have anyone to protect her but herself.
"I am so sorry," Keturah whispered. "I wish I could do something."
Dalia looked up at her, drying her tears. "It's alright. No one can change father's mind." Then she held Keturah's hand and squeezed it. "Tell me what to do when I get there."
She watched as Keturah's shoulders slumped, her lips pressed together. There was nothing to do. Keturah need not tell her, for she could see the fear in her eyes.
There was nothing to do. Dalia was to marry the monster king, and no one, nothing could change that, for it had been decided.