-PROLOGUE-
The Beginning Of Spring
Queen Emerald’s Garden715Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAijPMDKSA4
Empire Of Reozalia
“The golden sky has shined my sweet young heart, never try to cry or ever sigh. Tears might fall don’t worry it will dry. Your savior has come, it’ll save you love…” her mother, Queen Emerald ended her lullaby as she finishes combing the strands of her daughter’s hair.
“Please continue mother, I love hearing your voice.” The little Princess Alexis looked at her mother, wanting her to sing more.
The Queen smiled as she lightly tilts Princess Alexis to face the mirror once more, “but darling we have to go to the banquet. Your father and your brothers might be looking for us now.” she reminded.
“I want to hear more of it, mother. If you please, I would like to learn the song so that I can sing it for you next time.”
“You’re indeed my favorite daughter.”
“That’s because I’m your only daughter.” The little princess warily answer.
“Of course, darling.” Her mother silently chuckles at the thought. “Very well, but this will be the last one for now. We really have to hurry.” The Queen prompts before continuing the song, “Never fear the battle or upcoming wars. The kingdom will rise again as strong and might…”
“…for a certain the glory of this world will be ours, if you believe the victory is in our hands.” Princess Alexis suddenly continuing the latter part of the song with her gentle and sweet voice had completely made the Queen in awe.
“So you knew the song after all.” Her mother gracefully remarked but the Princess only retorted, “Not as much good as you Mother.”
The Queen rewarded her daughter a gentle kiss on her forehead, just before she placed the small tiara on top of the princess’s auburn wavy hair.
As the two were enjoying the pleasant atmosphere from the garden, one of the lady-in-waiting barge in, subtly addressing the Queen, “Your majesty, forgive me for intruding but his royal highness is looking for you and the princess.” The woman modestly said.
The Queen immediately rose from her chair to help the princess get on her feet. “Let’s go Alexis, it’s already time.”
Queen Emerald and Princess Alexis walk gracefully along the corridor as they were followed by numbers of female attendees. Alexis never set her sight away from her mother. It’s as if she was imitating every grace her mother shows.
Upon entering the banquet hall, loud trumpets and horns welcomes the two as the king hurried himself down the aisle to fetch the hand of her beloved Queen. Princess Alexis from the side lightly pulls the King’s cape to gain his father’s attention, only just made the king chuckle. The princess might have thought she had been forgotten by her father.
“Of course my princess, this is your day, how can I forget my lovely daughter?” the king proudly said. This returned the joyful smile on the princess’ face. The king escorted the two important women in his life and in the kingdom towards their respective chairs and moments later, the banquet has begun.
“From the small kingdom of Arvanthe, we offer the gift of the finest silk for the princess’s comfort, your highness.” The old man representing the kingdom of Arvanthe said with all pride after his guards laid the pile of silk fabric for the princess. The king raises his hand and smiled as he accepts the gift for his daughter.
Another man went up to offer gold and jewels from their kingdom. Others presented scented oils and perfumes, while guests from nearby territories of Reozalia showered the princess with colorful flower-bearing plants as gifts. The kingdom continuously rejoices for the natal day of the lovely Princess, but not for the princess herself. She abruptly becomes bored at the midst of the celebration and so she carefully sneak out while her parents are accommodating the guests. She hid herself behind the long curtain that unknowingly seals a secret passage heading outside the grand hall.
Among the children of King Alexandrius and Queen Emerald, only Princess Alexis was the hard-headed one. Her two elder brothers, Prince Timothy and the eldest Crown Prince Rozelius are too defined and well-behaved. But the Princess’ kindness and honesty made her only more enticing and lovable by the people surrounding her.
Princess Alexis dash her way out from the corridor to avoid bumping to any of the attendees that might just recognize her. She should change her clothes, she thought. For her current attire will only drag more attention. And so she secretly drags her feet to the maid’s chambers to rummage any clothing that could fit her, until she found one.
The Princess in her early eighth year of spring, had no idea what is to be like taking over any responsibility in the royal family, much more as the kingdom’s sole princess.
The only thing that matters now is her blissful escape to see, Peefa—a white stallion which her father promised as gift on her natal day. Princess Alexis badly wants to ride Peefa but her father often refrain her from riding her stallion until she gets a proper trainer to guide her. But not today, she made her father promise not to halt her from anything that she wants on her natal day and one is to finally ride her stallion, Peefa.
Alexis tricked the stable watchers as she mimicked an older maid’s voice yelping for help in an echoed throbbing tone, thus instantly alarmed the trainers to trace the location of the voice. She then drags the stallion out into the fields. Alexis can’t help but express how happy she was caressing the beautiful and soft hair of her horse. “Peefa, will you promise to take good care of me? I promise that I’d be gentle towards you as long as you would do the same, for if something went wrong, my father might end up serving you to his men’s plates.” Alexis stated but the horse only answered a low sound as if insinuating that he doesn’t like the idea at all. The princess pats him slowly, assuring him protection.
The princess soon placed a wooden stool enough to help her reach the back of the horse. “Let’s go into the fields Peefa. Show me the wonderful terrain of Reozalia.” And as though the horse understand, Peefa obediently runs outside the back gateway.
Outside the palace lies the vast land of Reozalia from the world of wall roses. Reozalia owns the northern part of the wall roses realm, where winter majestically takes place swiftly almost twice or thrice the year every after spring.
The village houses had always been made from ligneous materials with almost all their shelter coverings linked with chimneys that aren’t much heavy-duty during spring. Alexis felt amused seeing the grandeur of Reozalia’s land yet at the same time she couldn’t help but feel bothered somehow. The little princess could hardly vision the king getting terribly mad and upset but more than that she never thought it would be so amazing and wonderful to be freed from the castle. At one moment the princess thought of wanting to live outside the stone walls of the castle and just freely travel around with Peefa. However, Alexis knew that at the end of this was all just a false hope. The Princess can never escape the fate that awaits her once she returns to the castle.
As Princess Alexis was traversing the woods—which leads a shorter route—back to the castle, a few number of mountain bandits happen to appear before her. The Bandits rapidly surrounded the princess upon learning that she is a girl. This suddenly made Peefa feel uneasy, turning him wild only making Princess Alexis falls off the horse.
The Princess immediately rose to manage her tough escape, but it was too late since the bandits were already surrounding her, “Looks like our lucky day, we get to sell this one to slave traders.” One of the bandits snorted.
Alexis began trembling at the thought of being sold to slave traders. She often hear the maid’s from the kitchen gossiping on how horrible the industry of slave trading is. And indeed, it was much more terrifying on her part, for she knew she was defenseless and that no one is coming to save her. No one, not even her Peefa can help her as well for the horse ran away.
“Stay away from me!” the Princess yelled but it was useless. As she came to dodge her way across them, one of the bandits instantly took a grip on Alexis’s left elbow and pinned it together with the right elbow behind her. Alexis tried to struggle from the tight grasp, but then another man immediately came to tie her arms together, along with sealing her mouth. Then the bandit rips out a portion of his clothing, folded it as he placed it on Alexis’ eyes.
The poor princess deeply felt petrified. Behind the fold covering her eyes were tears soaking the piece of cloth that blinds her. She was shaking and trembling, yet at the end, all she could ever think about was her father and mother as well as her brothers. The Princess suddenly thought, Could they be looking for me now?
She hoped. She prayed. She wished they would realize her long absence from the banquet and that at any moment now she’d be rescued. But no, all in there were just noise and hoarse laughter coming from the bandits dragging her somewhere far from the castle, far from her home.
At the midst of the trail, the bandits were taken aback when a male voice surprisingly appeared out of nowhere bearing a sudden query, “Does anyone of you know the way to Reozalia’s castle?” it was a very poised question for a young male voice, Alexis thought after hearing his deliverance of words. Though the princess have never heard of the voice before. But he was talking about our kingdom, the princess thought, thinking maybe she could ask help. And so, Alexis began struggling despite the thought that it might seemed pointless. Apart from the tight grasp of the bandits, the conversation between the young male voice and the bandits were just pretty normal.
The princess began losing hope once more.
“I wanted to know which road would take me there faster.” said the young male voice.
“There are no free trade here young man. You want any information, give us silver coins.”
“Why ask for silver coins when I can give you gold?” the young man answered.
The bandits were about faced of the sudden offer. They knew that they should never trust him but with the way the young man appears before them immediately convinced the bandits, since the young man undeniably looked like he came from a very wealthy clan.
“Take the route on your left. It’ll take you to Reozalia’s castle in no time with this white horse you’re riding.” One of the bandits answered.
“I see, very well, thank you.” The boy said as he tossed the small purse of gold to one of the bandits.
As the troop of bandits were about to start their trail again, the young man heaves his horse to halt them from continuing, “I was just curious you people…” The young man said as he points Alexis at the back before speaking again, “…that girl over there, her clothing is from the attending maids of Reozalia. Were you perhaps thinking of selling her to slave traders?” he added.
“That’s no longer your concern boy, get out of the way.” One of the bandits grunted.
“For now she isn’t but very soon, she will be my concerns.” the young man stated—emphasizing on the ‘concerns’—which only resulted an uproar with the bandits. Princess Alexis was promptly tossed aside as the bandits encircled the young man. Synchronically, the bandits swiftly attack the young man upon pulling their sharp daggers. Amusingly, some mysterious arrows surprised the bandits as it went flying around hitting them as they were an inch away to kill the young man.
The young man was so calm while watching the bandits perished from the pain of arrows which was later found by the bandits’ furnished with poison. The young man grins at the event. And as if he was expecting the reinforcement of the poisoned arrows, he then puff out, “What took them so long?” he then whispered to himself.
Upon confirming that none of the bandits were breathing, the young man climbs down from his horse to walk towards the trembling princess Alexis. “It’s alright, they’re gone. It’s fine, I won’t hurt you. Please let me untie you.” Offered the young man and soon the princess gave in.
The young man became dumbfounded for he was surprised seeing the beauty hiding from the blindfold. She was too fine and young to become a maid, he even thought. Could any more kind of her await him at Reozalia’s castle, then what more if he meets the sole princess of the kingdom?
While the Princess Alexis on the other hand, is still puzzled who is this young man in front of him. In her calculation, she could estimate the young man in his early fourteenth spring. Very young in his appearance but somehow matured as how he shows gestures of a fully-grown man.
“Thank you, mister.” The princess can’t help but express her gratitude.
“Mister?” asked the young man, who is still recovering from becoming stunned.
“Forgive me, are you perhaps a noble man from a nearby kingdom?” asked the princess instead.
“I had never seen any maid who is articulately inquisitive as you are young lady.” The young man answered him, chuckling.
This made the princess quite furious after she had been addressed as maid and not as the princess, “I beg your pardon but you’re addressing Princess Alexis Sapphira Libertha of the Reozalian Empire.” She proudly introduced herself to the young man.
What happened next was beyond the princess’ expectation. The young man tossed himself to the grasses and held his stomach as he can’t help his laughter.
“You dare laugh at the empire’s sole princess? Aren’t you afraid of my father, the king?” Princess Alexis prompted and the young man stop from laughing as he faces Alexis once more, “Young lady, could that stallion over there be yours or perhaps from the castle? I saw it like he was running for rescue, and I wasn’t wrong.”
“Peefa was shocked after being surrounded by the bandits.” Alexis respond.
But the young man only chuckled saying, “Peefa? Is that the name of this handsome horse?” He said caressing the soft hair strands of the horse. Hilarious it may seemed, but the silent horse was the one who answered the young man in a horse’ sound. The young man then faced Alexis and she only sent him a grinning look.
The young man offered his hand for Alexis as he said, “Your coworkers might be anxiously in search for you now. You have to return the king’s property or you might get punished.”
With that, Alexis suddenly remembers the banquet at the castle. That long absence could no longer be supported by any childish reasons. The whole castle might be in chaos searching for her. All of a sudden, Princess Alexis ignored the young man’s offering hand and head her way straightly to Peefa.
“I need Peefa back. I must return to my banquet at once.” Alexis said. But before she could even reach her horse, the young man head pass her and jump his body at the stallions back. He immediately offers his hand once again but the princess remain refusing it. The young man who was left with no choice grabs for the princess and seconds later, the princess can’t believe she was riding the horse with the young man. “This is my stallion, you are not allowed to ride it me.” The princess stateded but the young man can barely hold his laughter. The princess scowled at the young man, “Why do you keep on laughing at me? I’ll assure your punishment mister once we return to my castle.” The princess added.
“What kind of punishment would that be?” teased the young man.
“Behead you?” the princess boldly answered.
“What a tyrant one. The princess would never behead the man she’ll marry, I assure you that young lady.” The young man answered him confidently, “I was invited by King Alexandrius for my betrothal with his only daughter, Princess Alexis Sapphira.” the young man added.
“Betrothal?” the princess suddenly sounded coyly. Alexis was shut after what she heard. She wasn’t aware what the young man was talking about. Her parents had never spoken anything about it even once. She knew what marriage and betrothal means but she never thought she would be in that state at her very young age. And this has made princess Alexis remain silent throughout the way.
“Please drop me by the back entrance.” The princess asked upon reaching the castle.
“As you please.” The young man immediately responds.
“I am deeply grateful mister, thank you for saving my life.” told the princess as she was brought down by the young man from her stallion.
The young man smiled as he caressed her Auburn waves, “For someone who is in rags and cinders, you appear of such splendor. How I wish you’re born of nobility young lady.” He stated.
Princess Alexis held the young man’s hand just before it reaches to touch her lips, “Young man, though I am indebted to you, I assure you that I can never forget the nuisance you’ve done to me. Introduce your name and you shall have the corresponding punishment for your act.” Alexis retorted.
The young man grins as he places his free hand to cup Alexis’s chin, “I can never forget you, young lady. And I want you to do the same.” He said as he seized the lips of the young princess in his. Alexis felt dazed. It was the first time she had ever felt that kind of sensation. It was tormenting deep inside for her blood rapidly boils. But she can’t help to admit, it was indeed wonderful. She felt as though she is being drowned by the connection of her and the young man’s lips. After a short while, the young man paused to remove his lips to peek straightly at the princess’ golden brown eyes. Teasingly grinning at the princess, he pressed his lips on hers once more. It was obviously too early for the princess to experience it but evidently, Alexis’ body cannot deny the sweet bliss she just received.
“Remember me by the name Cairo, young lady. I shall go ahead.” And the young man left after he wipes off the stain from the princess’ lips.
The Princess hurried her footsteps forth the corridors heading at the banquet. She needed to tell her parents but would they believe her? The man who took away her lips’ purity went off and she did nothing but just let him go. She sealed her lips with both of her hands as if it were cursed. She knew it was a sin she can never cleanse. She went through the same secret passage, and the scenery horrified her upon catching the glimpse of what supposed to be a celebration. The Banquet had become a pool of dead people. Alexis immediately went through the room in search for her parents but her bravery turn into terror when she found them lifeless on the floor. They protected one another as both of them got stabbed on their chest.
“Mother, please…hear me mother. It’s me Alexis.” The princess pleads as she keeps on shoving her mother. The queen was lying beside her dead husband, the king, who shielded her from the spear. “What happened mother? Why you all are wounded? Why is father not responding? Where are my brothers?” Alexis keeps on asking.
Suddenly even at the verge of her death, Queen Emerald, tried to catch her last breath to speak with Alexis. “Fear not my child. Your father and I have decided to sleep for long. Forgive us for we won’t be able to see you grow.” Her mother said.
“WHO DID THIS MOTHER? TELL ME MOTHER? WHO ARE THEY?” Alexis raised her voice as her tears began to fall from her eyes.
Her mother tried to smile for the last time, “Do me a favor. Let’s play hide and seek Alexis. I’ll count to three and you’ll start to run outside the castle. Run as far as you can away from here. Never trust anyone but yourself, not even your brothers.”
“How about you mother?”
“Mother will always look after you.”
“I can’t do it Mother. I cannot leave you and father alone.”
“You have to go Alexis. You’re the Tag and the Its are coming to get you. I’ll start counting to three, Alexis.”
Alexis shred more tears as she was about to leave her mother and father. “y viémo, Father…Mother.” The princess said in their almost dead native Reozalian tongue, as she bid her last honorific kiss for her parents. The honorific kiss is a kind of wedding ceremony in Reozalia when the daughter of the family needs to leave her parents to be with her husband for good.
“y viémo, Alexis.” Her mother responded as she began to make her counts. Alexis never wanting to leave strengthened her will and tried to run as fast as she can. Alexis hurriedly ran outside the hallway. Despite her mother’s plea, she still looks back one last time. Alexis could hardly handle seeing her mother so pale and no longer breathing. Out of astonishment, Alexis ran across the corridors in such haste, not even minding where her feet might take her.
Upon seeing Peefa at the opening gate, Princess Alexis instantly rides him. Wanting the horse to run rapidly, Alexis kept on whipping Peefa’s side incessantly. Alexis fearlessly went through even in the misty forest at the borderline of Reozalia. It is the eeriest place of the kingdom, where the rumored oracle and her lucrant guards resides. Alexis was only ceased when Peefa can longer manage to get deeper in the forest. The princess climbs down from Peefa and decided to walk herself, freeing Peefa to escape.
“Everyone has abandoned me.” The princess whispered as she reach an uncanny meadow, “No one loves me after all.” She abruptly screamed which distract the bats lurking at the dead oak tree. “What have I done wrong Reozalia?” Alexis added hoping that their patron Goddess Reozalia hears her.
Chills began tickling her skin’s thin hair but this didn’t halt her, “Yes you’re! The high supremacy and sovereignty, Reozalia the Goddess of victor. You knew this would happen, so answer me!” the little princess sounded valiant, less anticipated from a jovial eighth spring princess of the kingdom.
The winds began to play and blow heavily around Alexis. It wasn’t as pleasing as she had anticipated but she had already braced herself for whatever might happen next.
“You who dare to encroach on my slumber, so fiercely and bold, state thy name…” a hoarse female voice said. Alexis trying to locate where the voice was coming immediately responds, “I am Princess Alexis Sapphira Libertha of the Reozalian Empire.”
“Ah I see. The abandoned princess has come to question their Goddess.” The hoarse voice said back.
“Are you perhaps Reozalia?”
“I am not whom you seek but I can help you rescind the pain, dear princess.”
“How can you possibly remove the pain from a helpless child like me?”
The voice then becomes a formation of woman’s silhouette figure. The shadow envelopes Alexis as a thin voice echoed within the outer part of Alexis’ ears stating, “I shall seal you away from the pain, far from everything you’ve known, Far from everyone else.” And just with one pause, a strong surge of black mist followed, covering the princess’ entire body and having her unable to move her feet. Seconds later, her breathing becomes a struggle and after that her visions slowly becomes a blur until it went entirely black.
∞∞∞∞∞
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[Please feel free to leave your comments and reactions for this story for it will be very helpful to me in any ways. Thank you.]
ᴕ ‘y viémo’ – means ‘I love you’ in the dead native tongue of Reozalia. Most people don’t commonly use the language except during ceremonies or festivities.
ᴕ Reozalia was name of their Guardian Goddess. The Empire was named after her in return of all the victors and prosperity that the kingdom has received.
[I have more to share on the next chapters so please keep supporting. Updates will take a bit slow for I also have other things to prioritize, nevertheless I would still keep the story up to date for everyone. Thank you and see you on the next chapter. ‘y viémo’]
~ Amedrianne
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