The frigid wind that evening felt frosty. The shadows frightened her as if it were a monster. Elizabeth surveyed the surroundings. The port was teeming with visitors. The ocean was encircled by vessels. Elizabeth observed Betty, who was nervously biting her nails. Betty watched the individuals walking by while shielding her face with the cloak. Her shaking body was clear evidence of her fear at that moment.
Elizabeth and her maid Betty stood in the shadows behind the post office of Hisvalt port. Their old, wrinkled dresses were entirely concealed beneath the dark brown cloak. Elizabeth pulled a small pocket watch from her pocket. It's past twelve-thirty. Their ship is set to leave in fifteen minutes. Elizabeth shut her eyes and inhaled deeply. She took Betty's hand and turned, walking back toward the entrance. Betty gazed at her master in confusion, pulling her hand away from the hold.
"My Lady, where are you headed? The ship will leave in a few minutes."
"We are returning to the palace."
After listening to her master respond, Betty remained frozen in disbelief, her eyes widened, and her face turned as white as a ghost.
"After all this effort to flee, why are you returning, my lady?" Betty's quivering voice saddened Elizabeth. Betty's eyes brimmed with tears as she gazed at her mistress in fear.
"Don't," Elizabeth brushed away her maid's tears.
"We are going to live." Elizabeth declared with resolve.
"I will not flee from my destiny; I will change my world using my hands."
They climbed into a dilapidated carriage from the street. It will require three hours to return to the palace. Betty did not inquire any further. Her thoughts were engulfed by fear. Betty gazed at the princess, who was calmly staring out of the window, unaffected by the circumstances.
Elizabeth is the princess of the Assyrian kingdom. In just a few hours, the princess will marry the king of Assyria, her half-brother. The Assyrian royalty had a tradition of marrying siblings to preserve their bloodline. The previous king wed his sister and fathered three sons, yet the queen could not bear a daughter. The king wed his younger sister once more. She delivers a son and two daughters. The initial princess was engaged to the crown prince Alexander Louis Bernard. At twenty-two, Alexander ascended to the throne as the new king of Assyria. Alexander was obsessed with warfare. Upon his rise to power, he ravaged the adjacent kingdom with his might and became the most fearsome ruler. Assyria emerged as the strongest kingdom, yet Its tranquility has twisted into a grievance. The inner palace quickly became occupied by concubines from various parts of the globe. Once Elizebeth reached the age of nineteen, their wedding date was set. Upon receiving this news from her mother, she resolved to flee the palace with assistance from her maid and her companion Theodore, the son of Duke Desmond.
The vehicle halted at the edge of Harriet Forest, located behind the royal palace. Elizabeth and Betty proceeded on foot towards the mansion. Knights stood guard at the rear entrances of the royal compound. Elizabeth advanced beneath the canopy of trees. Reaching the back gates required a considerable amount of time.
"What's our plan for getting inside, My lady?" Betty whispered anxiously.
Evading the watchful guards seemed like an impossible feat. Elizabeth crept through the shadows, making her way to the left side of the entrance. A small portion of the wall was obscured by plant growth. The guard's visibility was restricted due to the wall's imposing height. They had arrived at their target. Betty, frozen by dread, couldn't devise a strategy. Elizabeth delicately pushed aside a cluster of vegetation. A small opening was discovered, providing an entry point. Elizabeth gestured for Betty to squeeze through. Betty first throws a small bag into the gap before crawling in herself. Elizabeth surveyed the area to see if any individuals were approaching. Once inside, Betty assisted Elizabeth in entering. The wall was situated behind an abandoned garden within the castle grounds. After ensuring they were alone, Elizabeth and her companion navigated through the darkness towards their intended location.
...............….
Elizabeth walked past the people gathered around her towards the wedding platform. Her face was covered with a veil. A long white garment draped over her body showcasing her figure. Elizabeth's father, the king's mother, and Elizabeth's mother and siblings were in front of the pavilion. She raised her eyes to look at the king. His strong presence overwhelmed her. Elizabeth approached the man, but the king did not look at her. He was very tall, with a strong build and a fair complexion that made him completely distinctive. He was beautiful as a god. His aura spread like a ghost. His black hair and gem-like golden eyes attracted any woman. But Elizabeth trembled like a rabbit in front of him.
She looked outside at the decorations from the giant window. The palace was decorated with colorful lights. Elizabeth turned her eyes away in discomfort. She was in the room where the previous queens of the Queen's Palace used to reside. Elizabeth glanced at her silky white dress in front of the mirror. She had never dressed up for him before. But today, she had to. Elizabeth untied the long black hair that she had tied up. It spread out, cascading over her shoulders. Although the dress concealed her large white bosom, its allure was evident within and beyond the garment. After glancing at her reflection in the mirror a second time, she turned and left.
The king possessed numerous concubines, yet he did not father a child with any of them. Alexander displayed no inclination to pursue the royal lineage. Despite the decree from the former king, he paid no attention to it. Nonetheless, none of his lovers ever conceived. All the royal members were excitedly anticipating a child from her. Elizabeth needed to have an heir. Only a small one could rescue her from dying. The night hours gradually went by, while many individuals walked around with a burdened heart.
"Mother, there's no need to worry; everything will unfold as planned," the fourth prince Albert reassured his mother while twirling the wine glass in his hand. Concubine Diana looked at her son and exhaled.
"Elizabeth needs to conceive. Otherwise..." she remarked, slightly furrowing her brow to highlight her concern.
"Elizabeth is capable of doing it. Could anyone possibly withstand her beauty?" Albert admired the beauty of his sister.
"Her charm will captivate everyone. But aren't you aware of how foolish she is? "Diana voiced her frustration, saying, 'She is unable to defeat a man.'"
"But mother, up until yesterday, my sister opposed this marriage. However, she got ready for the wedding without any complaints. It seems like she transformed all of a sudden into someone else," Princess Eleanor stated in her view.
"Elizabeth ultimately acknowledged her situation. Despite the passing of all these years, she never attempted to obstruct Alexander's journey. If she had acted differently, we would be in quite a predicament now," Prince Albert recalled with a trace of irritation.
Betty looked through the window, trying to find any indication of the king. She had been observing for a few hours, wishing to catch sight of him nearing the queen's palace. The other palace maids were forbidden from accessing the fifth floor, which housed the queen's chambers. From time to time, Betty watched the guards, evaluating if any of them could be a danger to the queen. It was a well-known truth that certain people aimed to end Elizabeth's life. While absorbed in her thoughts, Betty noticed a crowd of individuals heading to the entrance. She could feel the king's presence within the crowd. She rushes to the Queen's room to inform her of his arrival. The guards stationed outside the queen's room looked at the small figure. They opened the door sensing her urgency. Betty gazed at her master with compassion while sharing the news. Elizabeth smiled at her servant, feeling Betty's concern for her. Elizabeth told her to go outside and wait for her to call.
The door swung open with a cracking noise. The queen gazed at the doorway. Alexander stumbled in, slightly intoxicated. Elizabeth performed a bow to display her respect but the king casts the finely stitched rope onto the ground. His loose black shirt seemed appropriate due to his large physique. He sat on the bed, ignoring her existence. Elizabeth struggled to steady her shaking body, glancing downward and inhaling deeply. The stillness in the room intensified her torment.
"Elizabeth..." the king summoned his wife with a deep tone.
"Your Majesty"
"Come forward," he ordered. Elizabeth walked a short distance closer to him. Her elegant form radiates beneath the moonlight. Alexander gazed at his new young spouse with his eyes partially shut. He muttered something quietly. He rose and positioned himself in front of Elizabeth. Her breathing quickened with fear. Alexander brushed her hair gently with his fingertip. Elizabeth sensed the warmth of the king enveloping her.