While Valeria stood frozen, torn by her thoughts, her father spoke up, his voice shaky as he clutched his bleeding arm. "We are grateful for your mercy, Your Majesty. My daughter is yours." In that moment, his only concern was to save himself, taking away the choice from her in the process.
Valeria realized, with a sinking heart, that she never had a choice. She had to marry the king. She tried to protest, to find some way out of this nightmare, but the king didn't give her a chance.
"Perfect. I'll summon the priest so we can be wed tonight," he declared with a cruel grin, savoring her despair.
She didn't want this. She wanted to flee. Her eyes darted toward the door, but as if anticipating her every move, the king gestured to the guards. They grabbed her, hauling her toward a waiting room for the ceremony that evening. As they dragged her out of the throne room, the last thing she saw was her mother fainting and her father kissing the king's feet in gratitude, content to sacrifice his own daughter for his survival. She didn't know where her half-brother, Maximilian, had vanished to, but she didn't care. Holding back her tears, she allowed the guards to roughly pull her through the palace halls.
But her thoughts raced with desperation. Maybe I can still escape, she thought, though the risks loomed in her mind. Her father and Maximilian could die, a possibility that brought her a flicker of satisfaction after seeing how they sacrificed her so easily, but her mother? She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her mother behind. Who knew what horrors the king would unleash if she fled? Perhaps, she thought, they could escape together.
As she struggled to formulate a plan, the guards stopped at a door and shoved her inside a bedroom, locking it behind her. She stumbled, then rose, scanning her surroundings. A spacious bed lay against one wall, a small desk and wardrobe against another, and an attached bathroom. The colors were dull and cold, grays and dark tones, just like the king himself. She felt a chill settle over her; she couldn't bear to stay here.
Her gaze fell on the doors to a small balcony. Maybe I could jump. She rushed over and tried to open them, but they were locked. Desperately, she grabbed a stool from in front of the desk, lifting it to smash the glass, only to freeze at a sound behind her. She turned quickly, her breath catching in her throat. Relief flooded her as she recognized the figure standing in the doorway.
"Mother!" she gasped, dropping the stool and running into her mother's arms. Lady Isabell Elsass held her daughter tightly, her face pale with worry.
"Oh, my beautiful Valeria… I'm so sorry. I could kill your father for this," her mother murmured, her voice heavy with regret.
Valeria couldn't hold back any longer. She broke down, sinking to her knees while sobbing into her mother's shoulder. "I don't want to marry him… Please. Let's run away, Mother. You and me. Help me break the glass on the balcony door; we can climb down and escape." Valeria's voice trembled with desperation as she gestured toward the locked balcony.
Isabell gently but firmly grabbed her hand, pulling her back. "Shh… we can't do that. You need to calm down," she said softly, though her tone carried a weight of resignation. "The king would find us immediately. You're strong, Valeria. I know you can get through this. And… it was time you married anyway. You're nineteen, almost twenty. It was only a matter of time. I never wanted it to be to such a cruel man, but… I trust you'll endure, my sweet girl."
Her mother's words pierced Valeria's heart. She'd hoped, believed, that her mother would help her. She had longed for a way out, but all she felt now was betrayal. Without looking up, she whispered, "Leave."
Isabell hesitated, her face contorted with anguish. "I know this is hard for you, and that you're angry, but you have no choice. Obey him, and you will suffer less. I wish I could do more. I'd kill any man in this court for you, but… we both know that we women have no power. Did you really believe you'd inherit your father's title? That was just an empty promise. Listen to me, Valeria. Be cooperative. Survive. I don't want to lose you, my beautiful daughter."
Isabell's words were meant as advice, born from her own painful experiences. She knew how stubborn and hot-headed her daughter could be, and that scared her even more. If Valeria didn't learn to submit, the king would hurt her in ways Isabell couldn't bear to imagine.
But Valeria couldn't see that her mother's words were meant to protect her from the tyrant king, who was known to be violent and brutal. All she heard was betrayal. She looked up, her voice trembling with quiet anger. "I said leave."
Isabell looked conflicted. She didn't want to leave her daughter alone, but as the guards knocked on the door, indicating that her time was up, she had no choice. Rising slowly, she pressed a gentle kiss to Valeria's head. "I love you… Please, don't do anything foolish."
With that, she left, her footsteps fading as silent tears traced down Valeria's cheeks. She stood there, alone in the darkened room, the weight of her fate pressing down on her. What would she do now? She had no one to help her, no one to rescue her. And for the first time in her life, she felt utterly powerless.