Elira did not sleep the night to her supposed wedding.
She was curled up into a ball and cried.
Why her?
Why should she be the atonement for their sins?
King Budegha’s voice kept echoing in her head.
“I will have his head right in front of you!” Now, she could not let her poor heart at ease when Adrian was still out there.
And knowing her father, he is a man that never stops till he gets what he wants.
Adrian please be safe!’ Morning arrived early or Elira had thought so.
Her eyes were still closed but she was awake and felt uncomfortably tired.
The maidservant’s had already arrived to dress her as the palace seemed to be in chaos, but Elira, she hated the fact that all this had to do with her.
“My princess!
Please…” one of the servant pleaded but her expression held suppressed anger or impatience.
Slowly Elira got up like she has already lost her spirit.
She was done being stubborn.
Done fighting a battle that she would never win.
Lillia and Rosa stood by and watched them, helping with little things needed.
This servants were sent by the queen to prepare her for the wedding and being the queen’s subordinate’s, nothing good could come from them.
Just as Elira tried to steady herself, one of the servants grabbed her harshly causing her to stumble forward.
“You need to stop acting like you own the world, you’re delaying us” she yelled at Elira and Rosa stepped forward to speak but she was stopped.
“Know your place” she said and turned towards Elira.
“You should move your feet, we don’t have enough….” Her words were cut short as her eyes went round in shock.
There was a loud gasp that echoed from the other servants.
Elira had slapped her!
Before the maid could recover from the first slap, another one landed on her other cheek making her scream out in pain.
The slap wasn’t just a light one.
Rather, Elira had poured all her pain and frustration into it, making the maids face crack.
“You were given an other to dress me but not the right to disrespect me” she roared at them and they were immediately reminded of their position.
“I’m sorry my princess!” “Your sorry means nothing to me!
Now, send words back to the queen that I have my maidservants with me, so your services won’t be needed.” Elira said and Rosa stepped forward immediately and took the dress from them while Lillia carried the tray containing the accessories too.
She watched them hurry away with their faces facing the floor, and Rosa quickly pulled her into an embrace.
“It’s fine Rosa, I have been maltreated in Elarion for eleven years and I have endured it all but I will not allowed to be mistreated on my last day at Elarion.” Elira said hugging Rosa back.
“I just wished my mother was here” she added letting the tears she had forced to put away came alive again.
“It’s fine, I’m here.
Even though I can’t protect you, I’ll always love you as my daughter” Rosa said and Elira nodded and withdrew from the hug.
“We need to start preparing you my princess, words has it that king Zareth keeps his time.
And judging, he hasn’t returned to Nebuzza.
He still governs the outskirts of Elarion till the wedding is over,so, he will be arriving soon” King Budegha stood in the council hall and Prince William stood beside him, their eyes locked onto each other.
Queen Elzier sat on her throne while princess Mirelle stood beside her.
The council members had not arrived yet.
“I did what I had to do to protect my kingdom and my family, but you have kept bringing more troubles for me!
You put this kingdom in another risk after trying to destroy the image of Elira and now you have the audacity to question me, how dare you?” King Budegha roared.
His voice strained with anger.
“Elira deserved whatever she claimed she went through.
That title was never for her.
Have you ever wondered father, king Zareth has been a war king, if he had meant to fight against Elarion he would never have accepted the marriage proposal in the first place, and suddenly he wants Elira!
He….” Prince William was silenced.
“You are as vile and scheming just as your mother!
But when it comes to ruling and war, you have useless brains.” King Budegha was furious.
“Do you think I went to Zareth, faced death, just to give Elira to him?
I wanted a life time peace with Nebuzza and also strong allies as them.
Now he choosed Elira in exchange of peace and you dare speak to me!” “How does he know of Elira’s existence if you had not spoken of her.” Queen Elzier asked getting up from her throne.
“If this marriage should have gone to Mirelle we would have a lot to benefit even as William is becoming the future king!” “Elira despise us, and you think she would think good of this kingdom if she ever finds favor in his sight!” William yelled.
“Enough!!!!!” King Budegha raised his hand “this is not the time to worry about her future with king Zareth, but rather the time to worry if he had decided to let your schemes against his bride go!
Now all of you leave.” He has had enough.
Prince William was the first to storm out in anger, then Mirelle.
She first stared at her father and with clear disappointment while king Budegha stared back before looking away.
And she left.
“If you cannot protect your family against a human just like you, I guess it’s not worth it!” Queen Elzier spat.
And with that she walked away.
While king Budegha slumped on his chair trying to control his emotions before the council members arrive with another report.
**** **** Elira stood in her chambers, watching her reflection through the mirror.
Rosa and Lillia had taken enough time in beautifying her as the bride of the day.
She was dressed in deep royal purple wedding gown with gold embroidery flowing like rays of sunshine.
Then a gold veil covered her face, which the jewelries that adorned her made her a perfection.
Elira was pleased with her looks, but all this does not worth it as long as it wasn’t Adrian that will be waiting for her in the grand hall.
How she wish she could see him for the last time and assure him she would still love him.
Even though she would be trapped in Nebuzza, her heart will always beat for him.
She wanted to assure him that she would protect their baby even if that’s the last thing she would do!
“You look beautiful my princess!” Rosa said standing behind her.
Elira looked exactly like her mother.
Those doe eyes.
Beautiful full lips.
Pale smooth skin.
And her curves were glorious.
“Call me Elira” she said and turned towards Rosa, “Elira!” Rosa called softly and Elira threw herself into her.
“How I wish you too would come with me” she said as tears rolled down her face.
“Shhhhhh!
Don’t cry.
You will ruin this beautiful powder I used on your face.” Rosa chuckled and held her cheek.
“Just know you will always be in our heart” she said and hugged her again while stepping away so Elira could hug Lillia as well.
**** **** King Budegha was already in the grand ceremonial hall as they await the arrival of king Zareth.
The nobles, Dukes, and Lords of Elarion were already in celebration at the grand hall for the marrying off of the princess, but the room still felt suffocated.
They tried to keep it lively while being on guard incase king Zareth changed his mind.
Not long after, loud sounds of horses and chariots were heard.
Accompanied with the voices of vibrant soldiers were heard, arriving in the city of Elarion, almost at the royal palace gates.
The banners of Elarion were already raised high, its deep blue and gold reflects with the sun but nothing of its nature matches the black banner of Nebuzza which had a golden embroidery of a dragon bold enough to possess an intimidating aura against Elarion.
“My king, the king of Nebuzza has arrived, they stood before the ivory crown of Elarion!” A messenger announced and their was a dangerous silence for a while.
“Open the gates to them” king Budegha ordered and the messenger bowed before leaving to deliver the message.
“Are the soldiers prepared?” King Budegha asked Glomon who stood behind him, “Yes my king!” The gates to the royal palace was opened and the Soldiers of Nebuzza rolled in towards the grand ceremonial hall where the occasion was to be held.
King Budegha rose from his throne.
He had expected king Zareth to arrive with his troops of soldiers but instead there were just about 50 soldiers and a wagon, probably for the bride.
He stood at the entrance to welcome king Zareth.
The soldiers of Nebuzza were the first to dismount from their horses and bowed to the king Budegha which caught him by surprise.
“So they can be respectful!” King Budegha thought.
His mind back to the same men who seized him up with their gaze when he had sought an audience with their king.
Then, king Zareth dismounted and walked towards king Budegha.
His eyes landed on Glomon and his gaze lingered for a while, but Glomon, he felt something was off.
“This stature,this hight, they look familiar.
And the mask, where has he seen them before?” Glomon questioned himself.
“King Zareth!
Welcome to Elarion” king Budegha said and king Zareth nodded but his face were void of emotions.
King Budegha led the way into the grand ceremonial hall where the king was to meet his bride.
And inside, was queen Elzier, prince William and princess Mirelle.
The entire hall fell silent as heads bowed.
King Zareth did not react.
Then they stopped at the throne dais.
“You shouldn’t have bothered coming, king Zareth.” “I choose to claim my bride myself, king Budegha.
No offense right?” “Not at all.” King Budegha chuckled.
Zareth is always arrogant.
“I did not come for a long parade king Budegha, once I take the princess, I will leave for Nebuzza” king Zareth said and king Budegha was caught off guard by that.
“Elarion does not bite!” “It does!
But too bad it can’t bite me!!” King Zareth chuckled.
Putting on that annoying smug on his face.
King Budegha did not respond, rather he turned towards the guests and addressed them.
“Great Lords of Elarion!
Today our hall has been graced with a presence that needs no introduction.
‘King Zareth of Nebuzza'” he was silent for a while as Zareth rolled his eyes at him.
“He comes not with armies but with peace and unity.
And let it be known across the lands that Elarion and Nebuzza has now been bound not with war but treaty and …marriage” he stressed the last part as his eyes were fixed on Zareth.
Zareth smiled, he knew the trick Budegha had just used, but to him it’s of no use.
“I never said we are bounding, king Budegha” zareth said admist that cunning smile of his, but only to the hearing of king Budegha.
“Then explain to me why you’re here seeking for my daughter’s hand in marriage?” King Budegha replied with the same tone before turning back to the guest.
“Let the ceremony begin” suffocated cheers of excitement erupted but behind those cheers, laughter and jubilation, king Zareth could see the fear and hatred in their eyes.
Anyways, he couldn’t care less.
The air in the room felt stiff and suffocated.
“We need to speak” king Zareth said and king Budegha knew at that moment that the dangerous king Zareth has arrived.
I just upgraded some chapters, so you might like to re-read so as not to miss much details.
thank you