XVII

DAE

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After the prayer in the temple Dae returned to her room to change, Neviska had helped her as usual but after that she dismissed her, not feeling good.

She had upset her.

She thought hating herself, and feeling hurt, the princess had glared at her, she knows she's annoyed but... She couldn't help herself.

Dae looked at her hand and flexed, the princess hair is smooth, she would like to touch it again, but she might not have another chance, the princess hated her so. What does she have to do so the princess would forgive her?

She turns to her side and looked at the opened window. The sky remained gloomy for some reason. But it hadn't rained yet.

"Dae?" She quickly sat up when she heard someone calling her, she looks at the door startled to see the queen peeking at her door.

"Your grace? What brought you here?" She asked her, quickly approaching her, she opened the door allowing her to enter. The queen looked around the room with sa big smile on her face.

"I recognize this room." She begin, Dae watch her closely as she touches the bed, running her hand along it's surface, as if she's already familiar with it.

"This used to be room of the former crown princess Regina. His Majesty's older sister." She supplied before turning to her.

"I have a lot of good memories in here." She added, Dae had no idea who she's talking about, she isn't aware nor educated about the family tree of the royal family, so she doesn't know who she's talk

About, nor was she aware that the king has an older sister.

" She was kind." The queen then sat on the bed, Dae approached her sitting by her side, her was disheveled again, her clothes crumpled and dirty, her face as usual is filled with dirt and some grime. She sighed and stood up, went to the bathroom to fetch a wet towel then returned.

"How kind was she?" She began asking as she gently wipes the dirt off of her face.

"Oh, she's really kind, she's my best friend, we grew up side by side along with her little brother, Kalisto. People love Princess Regina very much. She's also talented and smart." After she was done wiping her face she went and clean her arms.

"When I give birth my daughter, they had shared the same face." The queen laugh making Dae smile, because her laugh is simply contagious.

"Imagine the horror in my husband's face. He told me it was like she's been reincarnated." She added. After Dae was done wiping the dirt from the queen's arm she settled back and listen to her story.

" Anyway my boy came back from his training." It saddened her of how the Queen still thinks that her son is alive. But at least she's happy.

" Hmmm... What was his story this time?" She asked, indulging with watch the queen was telling her.

"Oh, nothing much, he told me that his instructor told him he's getting good, sooner or later he'll be able to join in tourneys." The queen then snickers confusing Dae for a moment but she didn't say Anything, just listens.

" Little did his instructor knows that my boy doesn't actually enjoyed tourneys, no, he prefers reading in Library or playing his harp, he doesn't even participate in boys rough playing... His sister on the other hand is the very opposite of him. Oh the young lady will be a pain in my back I tell you that. She enjoys tourneys, and plays rough around with the other kids. Very much like her aunt." She chuckles at the memory, Dae could see the fondness in the queen's eyes before it turned sorrowful. She turns to look at her again.

"Do you think she'll forgive me?" Dae was silent for a moment, there she goes again, she had asked her that a couple of times yesterday.

"I was never a good mother to her... I was too... Too strict, too much on her. I often forget that she is but a child." And the story never changes. She's seeking for forgiveness always for being too much.

"She'll forgive you, even more so if you apologize to her." She held her hand and smiled, the Queen reflected her smile but worry still tinge her eyes.

"I never apologized before." Dae offered her small smile and tuck a lose strand behind her ear.

"Then you should start... Perhaps today if you saw her."

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The queen was fetched by the servant that afternoon, and Dae was finally able to leave the premises of her room, Neviska was following close behind her, she tried and asked her to walk besides her but Neviska had refused, saying it's not proper for a lowly servant such as her to walk besides her, a woman of a higher status, which had confused her because, she never really quiet see herself as a woman with a higher status.

Now as the ventured further into the palace, the halls have grown crowded, the celebration of the King's return is still in full swing, and she knows that in two days he will return, on the last day was the grand hunting feast he will held before their wedding. She stops in her track.

Wedding! She's about to be wed in two days. The king is to return tomorrow! How could she forgot about that? She looks up at the sky and saw the clouds. Grey as her fate. She began feeling cold and fear crept deep within her guts, she will see him again. Then her father would arrive. What would be her life after that? Would she be a prisoner too in this castle? Would she really be popping heirs after heirs until she gave the king what he desires the most? A son who bares the blessings of their gods?

"My lady? Are you alright?" She heard Neviska asked her.  Dae looks behind her, and shakes her head suddenly feeling nauseous.

" I think I need to go back." She whispered, She reached out towards Neviska, but before she could hold her hand someone else held hers.

"Lady Dae, so good of you to join us." It was none other than Prince Daylan.

" My prince!" She exclaimed startled by his sudden appearance, he pulled her out of Neviska's reach, panicking rose from her chest as he steered her towards the more crowded part of the hall where several esteemed guest has gathered to speak... They all turned to look at them when they arrived.

"Everyone! I'd like you to meet lady Dae of Lysos." He introduced to them, all eyes were on her now once that she was introduced, she tenses when everyone said hi, though she could feel their malicious intent from their eyes... Specially those from the lord.

"Wow! Is it true as to what they said, her beauty is of rare type your highness." One of the last spoke behind the fan that she used to cover half her face, she even more tensed when someone grab her by the hair.

"Tis true that your hair is as red as the flame, I've only seen a Sakran hair once and it belong to a beautiful male, I kept his hair in my collection of hunted ornaments." She paled even more at his words as he continues to touch her hair, another one did grab her hair.

"I've heard that Sakran people are born hale, women and men alike shares the same strong physique though you fall on the skinnier side. Could it be because your half?" Another of the lord asked while someone grab her by the arm and pulled her towards him, now fear had completely struck her. What were they doing?

"They said your people are savages, I wonder would you be a savage if I try to fuck you?" One of them asked making the other laugh. there laughter echoes around the hall. Some of the other guests even started approaching them to see the spectacle that was happening.

"Maybe t'was the reason why his Majesty took her? Maybe he likes to know how it feels mounting a savage!" One of them shouted over the crowd as more people try and grab her, Dae started fighting, trying to get away from them, but to no avail.

"They said a savage sucks a dick well. A man would even forget wence he came from!" All the laughter became even More louder, the nausea became even more harder to bear.

"Maybe the king would let us have a taste once his fini-" The other man couldn't finish his words when someone screams. The guest all parted ways just in time to see the man grabbing on to his bloody neck, he was gurgling with the blood on his mouth, he was gasping terribly for air, hi blood started soaking the floor like a river. Dae stood their frozen as the blood slowly traveled to her in a steady flow. Everyone just stared horrified at the sight of the man, above his laying figure stood Sir Alastair, she saw him just in time sheathing back his silver dagger. Behind him stood the princess.

"All of those who speaks Ill to the lady Dae shall be arrested, you are sentence to lose your tongue, so no further ill word shall even come out of your mouth, those who try and grab her shall lose their hand. And let this serves as a message, who dares to defile the name of the lady and offended her shall suffer a punishment." Princess declared making everyone gasp, soon royal soldier entered the the hall grabbing and arresting those who did offend her.

"Let this serves as a lesson for everyone, to mock her is to mock his Majesty, and the royal family." She added as she steps over the now laying dead body of the noble man.

At first she thought she was going to walk towards her, but noticed she was looking behind her, she turn around just in time to see prince Daylan looking furious but incredibly pale. She took a step aside to give way, and when the princess reached the prince, she stood their by the same height glaring into his eyes.

"Know that father will hear about this brother. And expect a punishment befitting your station." The princess didn't stop with just her word, everyone gasp when she strike him so strong that his head turned to the side.

"Cease him!" She ordered before turning to look at her.

" Come with me." She spoke, sternly. Dae followed her in a daze, she looks behind her just to see the chaos that they have left, not all were arrested, just the few people that was with them from the beggining.

"What would happen to them?" She asked her as they continued to walk to a quieter place in the palace.

"Like I said, they will lose their tongue." The princess replied, she brought her to a vacant room, where several paintings were hanged and several book shelves were placed. The ceiling was impressive, because on it painted was their sun Gods.

"This is called a parlor." The princess spoke, when Dae turned to look at her she jumped, too surprise to see her standing there in front of her.

She flinched when the princess grab her by the arm and slowly caress her cheeks with her other arm.

"Are you alright?" She inquires, her eyes soften a bit when speaking to her now.

"I'm fine, thank you." Roshanne nods her head and then pulled Dae down to sit with her.

"Pray forgive Daylan for being a fool, he wasn't exactly the brightest child, and often took action before thinking." Roshanne explained once they are seated, to her great surprise the princess even pulled her closer to her.

"Are you not mad at me?" She asked confused because she remembers just how annoyed she looks at her in the temple, Roshanne tilts her to the side.

"Mad? No. Why did you ask." Dae looks down remembering earlier's event.

"At the temple, when I touched you. You look mad." She reminded her, the princess nods her head, remembering what Dae meant.

"I'm simply not used to having someone touch me while I am praying, and also it's rude, but I could never be mad. You made a mistake that's all." She explained and relief washes over Dae, she not mad, she tell her self brightening a bit.

"So we are still friends?" She hopefully asked making the princess laugh. Dae thought she should make her laugh more often. Laughter suits her well.

"So that's what you're worrying about. Us not being friends? Hmmm?" The princess tuck a lose strand of hair behind Dae's hair.

" Yes... I don't like it when you're mad." She admitted. The princess stared at her a moment longer. Then she placed her hand beneath her chin and tilt her head up.

" There's no reason for me to get mad. You are a good girl after all. Aren't you?" Dae nods her head, yes for the princess she'll be a good girl.

" Good... Now let's talk about something else, you birthday is in two days... And so is your wedding. Is there something you'd like?" Dae never asked for anything during her Birthday, because usually there is a price to pay. Her father taught her that, is she wanted something, then she had to give him something in return. She rarely got any gift, because she doesn't have anything to offer.

" I don't have anything." She told her confusing the princess.

" What do you mean you don't have anything?" Dae lick her lower lips and cleared her throat.

" I don't have anything to give back to you. I only have my old clothes, some old jewelry that aren't even as expensive as the one you're wearing. I don't have much, that's all. So I cannot ask for a gift." Roshanne looked at her in disbelief before shaking her head, she sat up straight.

" You didn't ask me, it's the other way around, I asked you what you wanted, so you aren't obligated to also buy me something. And you're the one celebrating your birthday and wedding. So it's only natural for you to receive gifts." She explained to her while Dae just looked at her blankly, she doesn't know that, all this time she thought that... If someone gives you something you have to give it back.

" You don't always have to give back something, a gift is given out of free will and the giver will not and should not expect anything in return, Because they had given it out of pure intentions." Roshanne added more, well it seems that not all the things she knew are correct, she looks at her princess and smiled.

" Anything you give me will be enough your highness." Roshanne smile and hum again before she looks outside the window as if thinking, and now Dae got to study her more. Now that she's looking at her, she realized that, she looks more like the king, perhaps in the king's Younger years they may have looked like one another, because she doesn't look like the queen either, she got the king's brow, she got the shape of his nose, though on the more feminine side, even the shape of his eyes. It was all in her.

" Fine, I'll think of something worthy of you. But for now. Would you like to see your wedding gown? It had been prepared and finished just in time for your wedding." The princess stood up and pulled her, they walked out of the parlor.  But while they are walking in silence Dae couldn't help but feel dread at the reminder of her approaching wedding.

"What's the matter?" The princess asked her, having noticed her silence and discomfort.

"Nothing... Just... Just scared that's all." She told her, the princess sighed and looked at her once again.

"I know you're scared, but there is nothing to fear, you have me. Trust me and I will help you get through this." She promised her.

"You promise?" Roshanne smiles at her.

"I never break a promise my lady." She spoke before they took a turn and entered another room. There in the middle of the room was a gown, a beautiful gown that reflects the light, Dae had never seen such a beautiful gown before. Everything about it is immaculate.

It's made of white and gold silk, the veil was also white but it was bedded with thousand of white diamonds that reflects the light of the sun making it glow, at the back of the dress there were crystalized golden and white butterflies. It's simply beautiful.

"Yours a bit Different, usually queens wore golden gowns on their wedding days. But we decided to make it white." Dae turned to look at Roshanne who's also admiring the gown.

" Why? Wouldn't it be more reasonable to stick to tradition? I know sticking to tradition makes people more comfortable. It makes them accept things faster." Roshanne chuckles at her words, then she looks at her impressed.

" I see that you are studying well." Her cheeks redden at the compliment, rare is the day that someone compliments her.

" Well yes, your words held sense. But we are not here to stick to tradition, infact your wedding will be spectacular, something new. It would be the mark of a new begging." Roshanne now stood in front of her, blocking the view of the gown. She cups her cheeks between her palm and made Dae look at her.

"Because Dae, you and I will work together to build a new kingdom, a new beggining that will mark this world's history." Roshanne leans a bit closer, and Dae's breath hitch.

"You will help me get what I want. You will be the key to my success." She added before kissing her on her forehead. But Dae is filled with doubt, as much as she wanted to help her, she just cannot trust her own.

"How can I do that? How can I help you?" Roshanne grabs her hand, squeezing it a little.

" Just follow what I tell you to do, do it without questioning me. That's all you have to do." Dae looks at their hand, as doubt slowly raise in her mind, she gulped before speaking again.

" What if I fail?" Roshanne held her chin and tilt her head up, so she's looking into her golden eyes.

" You will never fail... I won't allow it." Dae at that moment was like a devoted follower, who's faith was all on her God, she surrenders and trusted her with her life.