As I entered the grand hall ,the sight of the Garuth family waiting for me at the long,ornate table made my heart skip a beat.
Prince Gastoh sat at the head of the table facing his father who also sat at the other head of the table , his brothers sat opposite each side of the table .
The entire atmosphere was stiff ,formal . Kings Hadran ,Gastoh's father ,gave me a small nod ,while his son's barely acknowledge my presence, their eyes curious but Indifferent.
Prince Gastoh remained silent ,his gaze steady as ever , making it hard to read his thoughts. I took my seat , trying my best to stay calm and compose. The air was thick with tension as breakfast began , the clinking of the silverware filling the room. I couldn't shake the feeling that I am now part of something far larger than myself , a pawn in a game I don't fully understand.
The food was rich and unfamiliar, but it was hard to focus on anything other than the feeling of being watched.
It wasn't long before a voice broke the silence
"I'm Matthew, the youngest, this is Barthan , the second son"
Barthan nodded slightly, his gaze cool and distant as he acknowledge my presence. Then Matthew's eyes flickered to Gastoh ,who sat at the head of the table ,his usual calm expression barely changing.
I nodded politely, still unsure of how to navigate the silence but I didn't have anything to say.
The silence continue as we eat ,then a voice rose
"You are free to explore both the inside and the outside of the castle ,Marv. Feel free to ask for anything you need "
I was puzzled ,but I still said thank you to his Majesty. The words were a strange mix of generousity and formality, and I couldn't help but wonder if there was a hidden meaning in them.
The king gaze lingered on me for a moment before he turned to his meal, signaling that the conversation has ended .
After the meal , the atmosphere remained stiff as though the conversation has already been exhausted. King Hadran stood first ,followed by Gastoh and then Barthan , who gave a quick nod in my direction before leaving the table . The heavy wooden doors closed behind them , leaving me alone with Matthew , who remained seated , his gaze thoughtful but not unkind.
Matthew leaned forward slightly , a friendly smile tugging at the corner of his lips .
"My lady , would you like me to be your tour guide?"
His tone was lighter than the rest of the royal family, as though he were offering a rare moment of genuine kindness.
" I would be grateful if you could show me around your highness" ,I said .
Matthew's eyes brightened slightly , his grin widening as he stood on his feet, he motioned for me to follow him , and with that the two of us Left the dinning hall together , ready to explore the vastness of the castle and it's grounds.
Matthew led me through the vast corridors of the castle , each hallway more impressive than the last. The walls were lined with ornate tapestries depicting scene of conquest , royal lineage , and the kingdom's proud history. We passed by the royal chambers, some of them grander than others , before eventually arriving at the library, one of the most important places in the castle , filled with ancient tomes and records of the kingdom's past.
My eyes wide at the sight of the shelves reaching high up to the ceiling ,laden with scrolls and books of every size . The scent of parchment and ink filled the air , and the quietness of the library was a welcome change from the tension I had felt earlier. Matthew gave me a moment to take in the place before leading me back into the halls.
The tour continued , and as I moved towards the castle's other grounds, Matthew mentioned that he would now show me the practice grounds ,where the royal army trained.
Matthew:"this is where we prepare for battle, my lady . The training is rigorous. It's where all of our soldiers hone their skills"
As we reached the practice fields, the sound of swords clashing and commands being shouted filled the air. The sight of hundreds of well-trained soldiers sparring with one another was both awe , inspiring and intimidating. The men moved with precision , their bodies honed for combat , every strikes deliberate and powerful.
As Matthew led me closer , the soldiers instantly paused in their movements, and as one ,they bowed deeply before me in a sign of respect. They uniforms were a mixture of leather and iron, and their faces though fierce from training , softened in reverence to me as the princess now tied to this kingdom.
Matthew chuckled softly, noticing my wide-eyed at the display of discipline and respect .
" They may be warriors, but they understand who you are now , my lady"
I nodded , still absorbing the enormity of it all . The practice grounds, the soldiers unwavering respect. It was a sharp reminder of my new reality and the kingdom I were now a part of . Yet , in the midst of it all , Matthew light-hearted demeanor made the experience feel a little more bearable, even welcoming.
The evening had passed more peacefully than I expected. Matthew's company had been a welcome escape from the rigid , a formal atmosphere of the royal family.
He was easy to talk to, and for a brief moment, I was able to forget the height of my new life.
Dinner had come and gone before I realized, and after the meal , Nancy had escorted me back to my chambers, preparing me for a familiar routine : A warm bath , the rose-scented oils, and the soothing touch that had become part of my evening .
As I lay in bed that night , the events of the day lingered in my mind . The prince ,his brothers, the soldiers , and the vastness of the castle, it was all so much to take in.
Sleep came slowly , but eventually ,I drifted off into a restless slumber.
The morning light crept through the windows, waking me from my dreams . I stretched , expecting to find Gastoh somewhere in the room, but to my surprise ,there was no sign of him . The emptiness felt strange ,like a missing piece of the puzzle.
Nancy entered with her usual quiet grace , and as she greeted me , I couldn't help but feel sense of unease in the air.
"Nancy, where is Gastoh, his highness?"
Nancy paused , a flicker of something unreadable passing through her eyes before she spoke .
She then spoke , her tone carrying an undercurrent of seriousness.
Nancy:"he's gone ,my lady"
Her word sent chill through me, and I felt my heart tighten.
Nancy:"his highness has left with army three hundred thousand strong. They've marched off to aid your father's kingdom in the war. The two kingdom have formed an alliance , and your father called upon Gastoh's Force for support"
The words hit me hard , Gastoh the prince I barely knew ,had left to fight alongside my father's force, to help secure victory for the kingdom that I was a part of .
The alliance between my kingdom and Gastoh's was now a matter of life and death.
My father's kingdom , despite it limited allies, had relied on Garuth kingdom's strength and vast army to stand a chance against their enemy.
For a moment , it all seemed so surreal. I had been thrust into this world of politics, war and alliances all tied to a man I hardly knew. But at least ,in this case , Gastoh's intentions weren't to harm my homeland,he was fighting for my father's kingdom victory.
I swallowed hard , trying to steady my emotions, the realization that Gastoh was gone and that I was left behind in the castle , with so much uncertainty surrounding me, made the reality of my situation sink in deeper than ever before.
Nancy seemed to understand the weight of it all ,her eyes softening slightly as she gave me space to absorb the news . It wasn't easy ,but she knew I'd have to face it , just as my new life , my new responsibilities, were waiting for me to step into them. And as they stretched before me , I knew that my world was forever changed , and the path a head was one I could not turn back from.
As the months stretched into a Year , and the war raged on in the distance , my life in the palace became a blend of uncertainty and routine. Each day, I learned more about my new home , it's customs , it's history ,and about the man I am married to.
Gastoh had been gone for so long that it almost felt like I was no longer a wife , but simply a princess waiting for a stranger who would never return.
I spent my days exploring the castle , learning from the royal scholars , practicing the art of diplomacy with the nobles , and observing the kingdom's soldiers , whose respect for Gastoh was matched only by their fear of his legend. But despite all the knowledge I've acquired, a piece of me always felt empty, like a question without an answer.
Then ,one day ,a rumor reached my ears , a whisper that seemed to fill the silence of the castle like an ominous wind . The talk was about Gastoh, the prince who had gone to war alone.