XXI

DAE

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Dae stared at the mirror, at herself that she could barely recognize, they had put something on her face... Made her wear  heels and then dressed her in the white garment laced with gold that the princess told her is her wedding gown... She looks like a true woman now... Gone was the image of her innocence, and for a moment she likes it... If it weren't for that fact that she is getting married to the king.

"You look stunning sister." Her brother spoke while he watches her as the servants mover around her... The princess was in the room with them, talking to the other servant of what other things needed to be done. She smiles when she remembers what they did earlier.

After the king went to the royal hunt, the princess had fetched her from her room, made her wear a leather outfit before they went to the tower where Wildfyre is, and then she made her ride with! Never in her wildest dreams would she thought of riding that beast! Oh the experience was lovely, she was able to touch the clouds!

"What are you looking at? Didn't you hear what I said?" Her attention went back to Fredrick.

" Thank you brother, and pray forgive me... I was just thinking about the ride I had with the princess... It's was something exhilarating." She confessed to him. She saw him roll his eyes...he was tryin to act good and gentle knowing the princess was with her, he tried to engage in a conversation with her but the princess had ignored him. whenever Fredrick would bring out a topic, the princess would just blankly stare at him or not pay any attention pretending she didn't hear what he said.

"I wish father's here." Fredrick told her, he was smiling but his eyes says otherwise, he wanted their father to be there so he could keep a close eye on her.

"Lord Fredrick, if you would please step outside for a moment, the wedding will begin in a few minutes, the lady needs to be briefed about certain wedding traditions." One of the older servant told her brother, Frederick was ready to oppose but one look from the princess had him cowering. He left without a word.

"Are you alright?" Princess Roshanne asked her as she run her fingers along the soft fabric. Dae bit her lower lip and nod, though it was a lie, she wasn't feeling alright at all, she's scared, she wanted to run away but she had nowhere to go.

"Leave us." The princess demanded, the servants comply and silently left the room.

"Dae... Look at me." Dae did as what the princess asked her, she cupped her face and run her thumb along her cheeks.

"I know you are scared, but it will be alright... After this It's one more step closer to your freedom... That I promise you." The princess gave her a soft smile, in which she returned. Of course, it's a necessary step to take... For her freedom.

"Listen... You're wedding quick, but the celebration is long... It will be celebrated for another three days... Today you will exchange vows in the altar, and you will have to attend the ball, you will have your first dance with the king, then after that you are free to do as you please... Noble families will congratulate you. Now I want you to relax, they will simply engaged in a normal talk with you... If they ever said something offensive just smile, ignore it for today... Then before the ball ends you will have the last dance with the king... Then after that. " Roshanne paused for a moment looking at her with a worried expression... Yes Dae had already know of what is to come next after the last dance.

" The bedding ceremony will come next... You will have to lay with him... It will be quick I promise you." Princess Roshanne held her hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

" Bare the pain... It will be over before the sun even rises. But before the bedding ceremony began, I want you to drink this." The princess placed something on top of her hand, it was a small vial, containing a pink liquid.

" It's a protection." Was all she said before taking a step back just in time for someone to knock on their door, informing them that king have arrived, and the ceremony will begin.

"Good luck." The princess said before stepping out of the room. Dae looked at the vial in her hand and wonders what it was... She hid it on her sleeves and straighten up, the door opened again and Fredrick was their to escort her out.

Dae stood an the entrance of the temple, the vast aisle was filled to brim with noble lords and ladies alike, the temple was prepared and adorned with the finest of tapestries and chandeliers with studded sapphires and rubies, it made her head swam with anxiousness... All this people were staring at her, none of them are her own people, standing in the center of them all makes her feel like a sheep, dressed in a false fur of lions and wolves and dragons.

"Do not forget to smile wenche." Her brother whispered to her before gripping her hand tightly making her wince, Dae did as what he told her and smile. At the end of that aisle stood the king with his crane, he tried to stood up straight bu failed due to his age, but besides him... Stood the princess in all her glory, she shines more than anyone at that time. When the music had began Dae had began her march, towards the king, at that moment she felt like she's a sacrifice walking towards the maw of the great beast that would devour her whole, that would crush her bones and would eat her flesh, but she wasn't scared even if she's walking at the path of doom itself, because at the end of it. When the beast would be satisfied after consuming her flesh... She knew her God would be there, ready to take her and ready to give her the promised freedom.

"Tonight sister... Make sure you consumate this wedding." Her brother's whispered has snapped her out of her reverie, and before she knew it, the king was taking her hand to guide her towards the altar where they kneeled.

"Leal lords and ladies, noble and common born, we are gathered here today in the Holy temple of Imyrill to bare witness to this holy, blessed and ordained unions of his Grace Kalisto Helios the Great, whom the blood of the Gods flow and the soul of Helios lives." The Cardinal paused to look at her.

"And her ladyship, Dae of Lysos." Dae's gaze slowly lingers towards the Princess, she stood their looking at her. Dae couldn't tell what's going on in her mind. at that moment...she wished she did.

"Marriage is a hol- " The Cardinal couldn't finish his sentence when the king cut him off.

"Oh for fucks sake! Get to end! I couldn't kneel for long!" He demanded, the cardinal looked at the Princess who nods her head in approval. the cardinal cleared his throat before speaking again.

"Please raise." He stated and they did. Dae faced the king who held her hand.

"Do you Kalisto Helios take thee as your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?" Dae watches as the king placed the golden ring with the dragon sigil on her finger.

"I do" It was nothing compared to the princess gift to her.

"Do you Dae of Lysos take thee as your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish until death do you part?" Dae Stared at the king as she places the ring on his finger... And wonders would it be easy stabbing him in his sleep? He is already a frail man after all. He couldn't even stand tall without his cane.

"I... Do. " The cardinal then step aside to give way to her highness. She held their hand and placed it on top of one another. A white cloth was then gently wrapped around their hands... Dae watened mesmerized as the princess hands move... Then prince Alastair approached them, handing to her a dagger... With it's health made of the biggest Ruby Stone.

"I.... Roshanne Regalia Helios, Blood of Solvira, messenger of the Gods, Do blesses this Holy union." She gasped when the princess slit her palm and let her golden blood drip upon the white Cloth.

"Under the blessings of Solvira, that whoever dares harm to come and harm this marriage shall suffer from her wrath." She finished, after that the bloodied cloth was removed and Roshanne looks at her father, she nodded at him before turning at her, and to her surprise, she had shown her a little smile.

"By the grace that was casted upon me, I know pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride" Roshanne announced, Dae turned to king and held her breath as he lift the veil, Dae tilt her head up when the king cupped her face and fought the vile from rising in her throat when his rough chapped lips made contact agains her own, it wasn't even the beginning of their wedding celebration yet she could already smell the wine from his breath. And to her great relief it was only a quick kiss. When they faced the crowd everyone was standing at their seats and the whole temple erupted with cheering and clapping, though she knew it was only for formalities. She looks at the king and smiled at him when she saw her looking at her. And together they walked down the aisle waving at the people who where at the wedding, they will now head to the King's city where the grand celebration is to be held. Dae held her breath as the king turn her towards where the great beast Areus is, besides him is the Wildfyre, two of the great beast of the Solviran empire, Wildfyre is only a few inches Smaller than the King's beast but from what she knows, she still continues to grow day by day. The king's dragon lowered it's head, the soldiers around them helped her up. When she was settled they strap her foot against the saddle. Her heart was beating loudly, this would be a second time she would be riding a winged beast. While first she felt safe because it was the princess who she ride with, this second time though she is unsure. She looks behind her whe the king had finally settled, He looks a bit out of breath, When She rode with the princess She has her arm wrapped securely around her. Promising her that she wouldn't fall, that she has her. But with the king... There's no promising that she'll ever made it back to the castle. The king then hold the reign and commanded his beast, and with one powerful thrust from it's wings they ascended from the ground up to the sky. For some reason the sky was clear, and the day was of fine weather, something it hadn't been in a few days... And the king was joyous, telling everyone that it was a sign, that the damned Gods still favored him, and he will live up another long years. As they rise further above, Dae has to grip on the leather saddle, she closes her eyes to keep the strong gush of wind from making her eyes water. It remained like that for a few moments, until the it stops, and the wind began to calm...

"Open your eyes my sweetling." The king whispered, and she did... She gasp when she saw the whole of the city of kings. It was simply marvelous, everything was made of gold, marbles and silvers, from the towers, up to the roofs everything was beautiful... Truly, the kingdom is one of the great wonders of the Gaian. It was breath taking.

"You see this?" The king whispered to her, as he wrap his arm around her waist, she had almost forgotten about him. Dae nods her head to let him know she heard him.

"Give me a child... That bore the Golden sign and everything will be yours." He whispered to her, before kissing her cheeks... Dae was silent, just looking at the great city below.

"From the lands to the rivers, it shall be yours... Every people, from the poor to the rich shall bow down to you... You will be wearing the finest of silks and gowns, the most expensive jewelries, the finest horses shall be yours... Just give me a child... I wouldn't even care if it's a girl. I will make them my heir... And you my only queen... It is your blood that will reign." Her eyebrow furrowed. He said even if she has a daughters, he would make it his heir... As long as it bore the golden sign... But he already has a daughter who bore the signs that he was looking for.

"You already have the princess. Is she not enough?" She asked him confused and the king chuckled.

"I despise that girl... She reminds of everything I hate." He darkly stated while he looks blankly at the castle ahead of them, Aureus didn't move, he simply just levitated.

" You'll give me everything?" She asked him, as she looks back at the castle, the promise he gave her was beautiful, she knows that every woman had dream of that, to marry a king, to then have his babe that will carry on their blood and legacy, she will spent the rest of her life in luxury, in comfort. But Dae also knows that it is a lie... Marrying the king surely would give her comfort. But not the freedom she always longed for. The castle would just be a large gilded cave for her... Dae looked beyond the castle and into the horizon, what she longed for is to be able to travel and perhaps find her mother.

"Of course... If it's within my power I would give it to you.". Dae slowly looks behind her, and into the king's eyes.

"Would you give me freedom then?" The king stared at her for a moment long before smiling and kissing her forehead.

"Anything but that."

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PRINCESS ROSHANNE

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Roshanne watches Dae as she stood beside the king, greeting the guests from all around the kingdom as well as some foreign lords from the Genosis, a neighboring continent of Gaia.

Gifts showers them, from the most expensive jewelries to the most exotic of beasts. Yet the princess looked forlorn, Roshanne couldn't miss it, even though she tried to hide it with polite smiles and fake pleasantries.

"She looks like she had just come from a funeral." Alastair whispered to her, as he placed his hand on her hips.

"I would look the same if I had to marry a man who looks like he's close to a corpse." She answered him removing his hand from her waist.

"What's gotten into you sweet sister? You've been in a foul mood since earlier." Roshanne just scoff, trust her, even she herself doesn't know why, everything irritates her today, from the simplest of mistakes to the bigger one, she ignores noble lords and ladies who she knew doesn't support her. She has no need of them.

"Trust me dear brother you wouldn't want to know." She told him, Alastair remained lingering to her side, they have been receiving knowing looks as well as looks of great bewilderment. The two of them have always been close, back then wherever she goes the young prince would follow her like a puppy. But today he's extra clingy. Which she doesn't mind. It's good for publicity.

"Do you want me to go? Leave you be?" She shakes her head, she doesn't want him going anywhere.  Not when Kaspian is lingering with them like a leech. He might stir some trouble again today.

"Just stay close." She whispered before returning her look at Dae who's now talking to the Duke.

"When will you tell him?" Alastair whispered to her, she looks at him for a moment regarding him.

"Tomorrow, early in the morning I will tell our  father of our engagement." Alastair nods his head before looking at the their father and his new bride, Dae blushed about something the duke had said, she looks at the king uncomfortably, Roshanne never misses the way she fiddles with her dress. She's anxious, the dukes probably scaring her. She wanted to interfere at some point, when the discomfort was very prominent in Dae's features but she has to remind herself that Dae needs to get used to it. She would encounter many more situation like this. And she has to find her own way out.

"She looks rather... Appealing to me." Alastair spoke making her snap out of her thought, his word made Roshanne raise her brow, she was right all along, Alastair indeed is interested to the red haired lady, which is rare... He rarely shows interest in women.

"Hmmm.... You wanted to fuck her?" His head snaps at her, he looked appalled at the notion and it made her laugh.

"Of course not! She's... She's our fathers new wife and she's yours." He whispered the last part... Ah yes! Dae is hers... Her little blood pawn. Roshanne took a sip of her wine.

" You know me brother... I wouldn't mind sharing. I have never been a selfish person." She told him with a smirk.

" Besides aren't you curious? Of what she would taste like? Father had been obsessed with her and her people. Telling us that he hadn't fucked anyone like he had fucked a Sakran woman. He even dared to father a few bastards from them." She told him. Alastair swallowed and looked at Dae... Despite being small Dae actually has a good psyche. Her breast was just the right size, not too big, not too small, her rear is volumptus and she is healthy with good amount of fat in her body. Though many claims that she is still thin. Alastair cleared his throat a couple of times, he didn't dare speak again but he looked. Roshanne shakes her head before looking outside the window at the sun that is beggining to set... Just a couple of more hours before the bedding begins.... Before Dae would lose her innocence for all eternity and she will see the world as it is. Cruel and unfair, and made Roshanne a bit melancholy, poor girl having been caught in a tangle of webs, she's like a butterfly desperately trying to set herself free... Something she'll never have.