"Is this what you wanted?" The princess, with her thin nightgown, walks down the grand doors of the castle. The fading sounds of the angry thunder and storm as the stone walls, etched with centuries of history endlessly down to the sight, instead humming the weight of the rich past of the La Sangue Empire.
Her footsteps echoed across the polished marble floors that embodied the wealth of the bloodline, who knows how many blood or bodies laid there before the century?
Her heart sinks, trying hard to control her emotion, even knowing that what will befall her is something that will crush her heart. The beating of her heart gets louder just like how her footsteps echoed, beneath she reached her goal. The sacred grounds of the La Sangue, only the direct line of the family could ever enter, here lies the history and secrets older than the empire itself. Whispered among the ancient stones, the gold decorated doors, it is unimaginable even in her own mind, to be able to witness even what is untold.
The air grew thick with expectation, as the chamber doors with her presence lighted the way as if acknowledging her blood.
"So it was you?" She asked, there kneeling the great presence of the fallen king, with the same golden hair and the eyes that used to resemble hers.
Bright and lovely.
"Why did it have to end this way?" she repeated seeking an answer.
His eyes met hers, his gaze unwavering but his facial expression shows how tired he is, the faint smile emits nothing but bitterness. As if at any moment he will fall and banish before her.
"Oriana, the dignified Queen" He called.
"What nonsense are you spouting? We both knew that the only one you see as your Queen is none other than the one who was buried there?" She looked at the exquisite designed tombstone, it shows how high and mighty who is buried there.
"Enough for you to bury her body in the sacred grounds of our empire." It may sound as if mocking him, but the man didn't see it like that.
"I know how much you cared for the empire my sister, and I know that you don't have anything against my decision of letting her lay where I am soon to rest." He then turned to the tombstone and with his fingertips felt the embossed inscription of the name.
"Oh how much I wanted to utter her name, but even I do not deserve to speak of it."
"It is not your fault, and I know that you did everything in your might Kallistos."
"My sister, I know that you held on to the day the crown will be yours, but instead I claimed it."
"I don't hold a grudge against you and father, I see you have reasons as to why you eliminated the whole senate and seek to change even the parliament." Remember how the news was spread like fire throughout the empire, that the newly crowned king of La Sangue has gone mad and committed to wipe all those who plotted against him. At that time, Oriana was already at the North Hohenberg, married to the second prince of the royal family of Vasilis.
"I know that your heart is pure, don't be upset and I don't take it with you my dear sister Oriana." He smiled one last time to her, reminiscing the colorful youth they have shared together..
"Brother." Knowing in the depth of her heart, it is the last time she will hear his brother's voice speaking of her name. She felt how beautiful it sounded, every syllable uttered with unconditional love. But what has led her brother to give up?
"Claim the crown and be the queen that you are, I hope to see you smiling just like how we did in our youth."
He breathed the last of his life and left her with the promise of fulfilling the legacy of the blood that runs through her veins.
She stood at the threshold, looking at the now cleared sky nearing the dawn. Left with the vast empire, this woman transformed by destiny and the fate that had brought her to this moment.
The shattered crown won't stop her, once again the rising queen, Oriana Stelle La Sangue, Claims the Throne.