(Kingdom of Elarion) General Goldon could not believe what he was seeing at this moment.
He had dug deeper, trying every possibility to find out who the commoner that Princess Elira had been involved with was.
He had asked around trying to find out until he began seeing the results.
People described the commoner.
some confused him with others, while some couldn’t even describe what he looked like.
Then, when he was about to give up, he met with the hairpin seller.
The man swore how the commoner always gifted Elira hairpins which he bought from his shop.
“Can you describe how he looks?” Goldon had asked.
“I can make a sketch of him if you want.” “Can you?” Goldon’s eyes lit up.
The hairpin seller brought out a paper, he sat at a corner and began to sketch.
At first, Goldon thought he was just trying to do a rough work.
“If you can’t sketch it’s fine, just describe him” But the aged man didn’t answer him.
Rather, his hand kept moving.
After what felt like an eternity, the hairpin seller got up and wiped a bead of sweat which had formed on his forehead before handing the paper to Goldon.
“It’s not for free.” The man said and Goldon chuckled.
Of course he knew.
Then he looked at the paper.
“Hey you’re holding it upside down.” The man yelled almost annoyed that Goldon couldn’t even hold it properly.
Goldon couldn’t glare at him, not after the man had helped him.
Then he positioned it well and took a very good look….
And the world stopped.
His heartbeat seemed to stop thumping for some seconds as shock vibrated through him.
King Zareth!
He looked at the hairpin seller who had gone back to selling hairpins to a young couple standing at his shop, then back at the drawing.
Goldon immediately went to the hairpin seller.
He dragged him aside while the man cursed.
He immediately brought out his badge and showed it to the man.
“I’m a General,” he said.
“you know what happens to men who speak lies.” The man immediately fell to the ground begging for his life.
“I swear, I swear that’s him….
You can ask around.” Goldon clutched his head in frustration.
King Zareth.
Little by little, some images began putting themselves together.
The same man that fought and killed his men in the woods and the same man that threatened their kingdom had the same face.
He remembered the way King Zareth had stared at him with, smirking.
The way he had berated Elarion soldiers for being weak.
All was because, he was the same man that had come to Princess Elira as a commoner with the name Adrian.
He tossed a pouch of gold coins to the hairpin seller.
“Keep this a secret, else I will find you, and I will kill you.” The man nodded rapidly and Goldon left towards his horse in long strides and rode off to the palace.
The doors to the throne room slammed open.
General Goldon didn’t just walk in, rather, he stormed in with both anger and frustration clouding his face.
King Budegha was seated on his throne.
He was at the desk, rubbing his temples over grain reports.
When he saw Goldon’s face, he set the quill down slowly.
“You look like you saw a ghost, General.” Goldon dropped to one knee.
He didn’t waste time.
He pulled the folded sketch from his coat and held it up with both hands.
“Your Majesty.
I found him.” Budegha scoffed before taking the paper.
“I told you general,” He spoke, slowly unfolded the paper which seemed to have been rough handled by the angry general.
“It’s of no use.” “It will be of use when you find out who the supposed commoner is.” The king unfolded it and placed it on the table, then his eyes landed on the sketch.
For three heartbeats, nothing.
Then the paper crumpled in his fist.
“Zareth!” Budegha hissed.
The name sounded like a curse.
“That bastard!” “Yes, my king,” Goldon said, voice tight.
“King Zareth was the commoner.
He didn’t only deceive you, he also deceived the princes.
And he was the same man who killed our men in the woods.” Budegha was shaking.
Not from cold.
But from fury.
“HOW DARE HE?!” He slammed both palms on the desk.
“In my palace!
Under my roof!
With my daughter!” Silence stretched between them for a while.
General Goldon stood rigid.
“My king, we must….” “Must what?!” Budegha whirled on him.
“Fight him?
Declare war?
What must we do?” He gestured violently towards the North.
General Goldon was silent.
The king did not lie.
A day was enough for Nebuzza to burn Elarion to ashes.
What could they do.
“Zareth knew what he was doing from the beginning.
But for what cost?” He grabbed the wooden chair he had been sitting on earlier and hurled it across the room so hard that it shattered.
“He played me right.
No wonder he called me blind and weak, all because he has been invading my kingdom disguised as a commoner.” Goldon said nothing.
Because it was true.
They were indeed blind, so blind that they couldn’t even notice what was happening in the palace.
Budegha dragged a hand down his face, breathing like a bull as he inhaled and exhaled deeply.
It was an insult to Elarion.
Perhaps William was right.
He had bowed his head so low that Zareth trampled upon it.
But wasn’t it for the best?
He had ended the war with a peace bride and now peace had returned to Elarion.
But Elira…..
He looked at the sketch of Zareth one last time, then threw it in the fire.
“If I take her from him, I lose her.
If I go to war for her, I lose my kingdom,” He said in a concerned voice that Goldon hadn’t seen before.
“He has promised to take care of her.
And she had promised to send me letters of how Nebuzza was treating her.
“Are you going to let it go, my king?” Goldon asked stepping beside him.
“Shouldn’t I?
We don’t have a choice.” “Then we write a letter to him,” Goldon said, voice like stone.
“We cannot raise swords.
But we can raise our voice.” King Budegha looked at him.
“He deceived us and called us blind.
Let us make him understand that strength isn’t all about raising swords.” Goldon continued.
“What could I actually do without you General Goldon?” The king smiled.
General Goldon dipped his head and smiled.
“It is my duty, my king!” He replied.
King Budegha couldn’t waste more time to write the letter.
He wrote with anger .
It wasn’t a long letter but it was enough to pour out his heart.
And then he sealed it with enough force to crack the wax.
“Send this,” he told Goldon, placing it into his hands.
“Tonight.
Fastest horse.” Goldon took it, bowed, and left.
**** **** (Nebuzza) Elira was dragged out of bed by Nasha and pushed her towards the bathroom.
She tried complaining but Nasha wasn’t giving her the chance.
Lillia and Rosa waited in the bathroom.
Warm bath was already drawn with rose petals which filled the tub.
“Be a good girl and take a good bath.” With that Nasha turned around and left.
“My princess, you need to know that the rules of Nebuzza differs from that of Elarion.” Rosa said helping her into the tub.
“I’m a bit tired this days.”Elira complained.
“You are with a child my lady, it is very common for you to be tired.” Lillia whispered.
Elira didn’t answer.
She knew that was the reason and it was bothering her.
“My Princess, you have to tell the king” Rosa said.
Voice low enough for Elira only, and she immediately paled.
“I can’t…I” “My princess!” Rosa called out and began scrubbing her back.
“It is something that you have to do, you don’t have a choice.” “The king will still find out even if you didn’t tell him, because soon your stomach will grow and…..”Elira cut her off.
“I’m scared!” “What is taking you guys so long?” Nasha’s voice sounded through the room.
Elira smiled.
“She’s so bossy!” Soon, Elira stood before the silver polished mirror, staring at her reflection.
She had changed.
Completely.
“You don’t have to stare that long” Nasha hissed.
“I’m just admiring myself,” “I know!
I could have let you admire yourself for as much as you want, but the queen Dowager demands your presence.” Nasha said, adding a few more gold hairpins to her hair.
“How is she?” Elira asked immediately.
“The queen Dowager is quite healthy now.
But we are not going to her chambers.” “So where are we going to?” “To the Royal Harem court!” Nasha said and Elira’s eyes widened.
“What!” “Yes!
The queen Dowager wants to introduce you to the royal Harem.” “I didn’t prepare a speech or a gift or anything …” “Who said you need to prepare anything?” “Huh?” “Listen, the royal Harem of Nebuzza isn’t a place for a perfect speech or gift.
You are going there to be introduced by the queen Dowager and then you will be on your own.” “How?” “Nobody will defend you, not even the queen Dowager.” “You are confusing me Nasha.” Elira said almost in a whisper.
Then Nasha took in a deep breath and then looked at her.
“You are fragile Elira, and they will use it against you.
They will mock you for being a peace bride and and they will shred your dignity.
But you can stand against them only if you don’t show weakness.” “If they mock you, you smile and give them a comeback without being afraid of anybody.
The queen Dowager doesn’t like weak women and you will be in her good books if you show her that the Elarion princess is not fragile.” For a moment, silence.
Then to Nasha’s surprise, Elira started laughing.
“Does this sound funny?” Nasha was furious.
“No!” “Then why are you laughing like I was some kind of a talking clown?” “You called me Elira!” Nasha sighed.
“I’m sorry, I was….” “I like it!” “Really?” “Yes!
I mean, everyone kept calling me my lady and hearing you call me Elira for the first time while scolding me made me happy.” “You can’t be serious.” Nasha smiled.
Her anger melting away while watching Elira’s round eyes.
“Keep calling me Elira.” “No.
The king will be furious.” “Can I talk to him about it?” Elira asked, hands clasped together.
“Alright.
But only if you make me proud today.” **** **** Elira and Nasha stepped into the hallway as they walked towards the Harem Courtyard.
Elira was dressed in a sapphire dress and she was adorned with gold jewelry.
She walked elegantly with her head raised high.
Nothing like the illegitimate princess of Elarion.
“You walk with precise confidence!” Nasha said.
“I learnt from you.” Elira chuckled.
“Haha… don’t forget what I told you.
When speaking to them, keep eye contact and a smile on your face.
If they ask you to serve tea then serve only the queen Dowager.
Most of the women want to be the kings consort so badly but do not let them berate you!” Elira smiled.
But her heart felt a little crushed when Nasha spoke of other women wanting to be the king’s consort.
Immediately they reached the giant door.
Elira heard it, the guards announced her presence.
“Princess Elira of Elarion.
The peace bride has arrived.” ‘Wait, what?
How dare he?” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS Mickeywrite Have some idea about my story?
Comment it and let me know.