A Silver Lining

*FIVE MONTHS AGO*

Illyria~

“What do you mean they can't go?”

The sound of my father’s stern roar woke me from my afternoon nap. He was probably just scolding another guard; nothing unusual. I laid back to sleep.

“Your majesty I'm sorry, but both princesses returned from the beach with a terrible fever. They were fine this morning. I warned them not to go swimming in the cold but-”

“I don't bloody care if they're dying!” my father’s voice came again, this time it sounded more like a threat than a scold. “Get them ready. We leave at sunset.”

I instantly pulled the sheets away and got out of bed. Did I hear the maid right? Cleo and Chloe have a fever? I rushed out of my room and tip-toed down the stairs while raising my nap dress. I snuck past the patrol guards and continued to the corridor where the voices came from. I hid behind a pillar where I could watch what was going on.

"My king, but what if they refuse? You know how they can get toward us maids," the maid had her head down as she spoke.

I couldn't see much from where I was but I could hear her shaky voice.

It was the head maid. Father must've ordered the old lady to do something beyond her abilities again. The next thing I saw made me gasp. He went for her hair and pulled it back, his intimidating figure towering over her.

"Do I need to repeat myself?!" I flinched at the intensity of those words.

"N-no, Sire."

I watched as he harshly let go of her hair and stormed off. I couldn't see his face, but his words alone were enough to know was very angry. The old lady fell to the ground with her hand on the back of her head. I waited till Father was out of sight before coming out of my hiding place. I hurried to her and helped her back up.

"Thank you, princess," she said as I sat her down on a marble bench.

"Are you okay? I'm sorry I couldn't stop him from hurting you," I apologized, still looking at her hurting head.

"You don't have to be sorry about anything my dear," She tried to stand but I held her back. "I have to get your sisters ready for the unity ball," she informed.

"Are they really ill?" I questioned, not that I cared if they were.

"Yes. I'm afraid they might not have their strength back in time for the ball." A smile crept up my face on hearing those words. "I best be going now."

I let go of her hand and she walked down the corridor to the stairs leading to my sisters' room. I remained on the bench, pleased at another opportunity to leave the palace.

My life here hasn't been easy; having five siblings who wouldn't miss out on an opportunity to trample on me, a father who loathed my existence, and stepmothers who were indifferent toward me. I could never leave the palace on my own accord and was never allowed to participate in any royal event.

Some princess I am.

The Unity Ball; is a grand celebration every year where the five great kingdoms come together and made merry of the existing peace among them.

As a general rule that had been in place for as long as I could remember, every king and queen of the five kingdoms was to attend with at least two children; a male and a female. I had never attended one. Maybe because I was the king’s youngest daughter. Father always declined my requests and had me stay in the palace.

Most years, Father took my eldest brother, Valerian, and my eldest sister, Regina. With Regina now married and my two sisters ill, Father will have to let me go with him.

I hurried back to my room smiling all the way. I had two hours to prepare. It wasn't certain that I'll be taken but I needed to be ready anyways.

"Please call Helena to my room," I instructed, stopping a guard on patrol.

As I sat on my bed waiting for my maid, thoughts of how amazing the ball would be flashed through my mind. I could already smell the sweet scent of freedom. Hopefully, I'll meet a fine handsome prince who'll take me out of this prison and-

"Can I come in?" The knocking sound on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Yes," I urged.

Helena walked in and stood by the door with her hands behind her. Helena was more than my maid; A genuine friend and a sister at best. Sometimes I wished we were. She was the one person I could trust. She was a few years older than me but we got along just fine.

"You seem happy, my princess," she observed with a smile.

"When will you stop calling me that? We both know it has no worth." I rose and bounced to her. "Come sit with me we don't have much time." With a little force, I dragged her to my bed.

"Why do I have the feeling this has something to do with your sisters’ condition?" Helena guessed, raising a brow.

"Good guess. The twins might not be able to go to the ball tonight, so Father would have to take me instead,” I explained, clasping my hands to my chest.

“What did you do?” Helena’s hand went to her mouth.

“I didn’t do anything. It’s been freezing all day but they still went to the ocean for a swim. Can you help me prepare? This is my shot at alluring a prince into asking for my hand,” I asked with a little squeal.

“You should have led with that.” Helena stood and rushed to the door. “I’ll go get water for your bath.”

Helena returned some minutes after and within an hour, she helped me wash, and dress for my supposed first unity ball.

My platinum blonde hair was styled with dazzling hair ornaments and let down in a ponytail. A beautiful royal blue gown tailored with some gems hugged my skin, accenting my blue eyes. This was my first time in a dress this beautiful.

Looking in the mirror, I was so different from my usual self. The usual me who wore the hand-me-downs of my sisters; dresses that were both faded and outdated. I could never outshine my sisters in beauty. I had to always look normal compared to them who looked like the princesses they were.

“Thank you,” I said, watching Helena fit my shoes into my leg.

“What are maids for?” she smiled. “What’s your plan now? I doubt the king will request for you even if your sisters can not go.”

“You’re right. He’ll probably just go ahead with Valerian and give an excuse about his daughters,” I reasoned, crossing one leg over the other. “I’ll just wait by the courtyard and ask him to take me along.”

“Good enough. You better get going princess, the sun is already setting,” Helena said, taking more logs from the reserve and placing them into the fireplace.

“You’re right.” I took a deep breath, ready to try my luck with fate.

I walked out of my chambers and hurried to the courtyard. It was the one place I was sure Father would pass on his way to the stables. I sat on a marble bench and waited.

“Did you always have a dress this beautiful?” I turned to see Valerian observing me from behind.

“Brother Valerian,” I stood up and bowed to him. I tried to hide my cheekbones that went high at his compliment.

“You’re my sister, not a commoner. You don’t have to bow,” he frowned, walking closer.

“Yes, but Father would punish me if I don’t,” I countered, raising my head to meet his warm brown eyes. He chuckled.

“Did you do all this for the ball?” he questioned, running a finger from my head to my shoes. “I doubt Father changed his mind about taking the twins.”

“He didn’t I just thought, as they weren’t feeling well, I could go-”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to convince me. I think it’s high time the other princes saw my gorgeous baby sister,” he chimed in, giving me that bright smile of his.

Poles apart from everyone else in the family, Valerian is the only one that treated me like I am family. He is ten years older than me but is by far my favorite. I am happy that one day, he’ll be the one to rule Alvannia after my father.

Valerian wore a long black jacket over a waistcoat that was buttoned down. A black long-sleeved shirt underneath hugged his skin. Unlike the other black parts of the jacket, the top collar, the lapels, his cuffs, the buttons, and the center fronts of the coat were striking gold. His long black hair fell graciously on his shoulders.

“Who’s that?” I asked pointing at a man that walked beside my father as he approached us.

“Oh, that’s King Iyrick of Meldonis. This year’s ball will be hosted in his palace. I’m guessing he came to personally escort us to his kingdom.” Valerian answered, waving at the unfamiliar old man.

I linked my eyes with Father and the frown that was aimed at me made my heart skip a beat. I hadn’t done anything wrong but I couldn’t control my racing heart. Bad things always happened to me whenever Father frowned because of me.

“King Iyrick,” Valerian greeted with a slight bow. I followed suit behind him.

“Crown Prince Valerian.”

Something about the way the king called Valerian’s name gave me the creeps. I raised my head to meet his awkward stare.

“And you are?” he inquired, stretching forth his hand to me.

“I-I-”

It was hard to form words with the stern glare my father was giving me. Almost like he didn’t want me to tell him who I was, but the king had offered me this hand, I could get punished for not giving him mine.

“I am Princess Illyria,” I muttered almost in a whisper as I placed my right hand on his, curtsying.

“Illyria? Oh! You must be the youngest Valerian mentioned to me,” he said, placing his other hand on him. Remember when I said that this man gave me the creeps, well the feeling of his hands on mine was far more disturbing than his voice.

There was something about him. I just couldn’t place my finger on it, but I had a feeling, it was best to stay away from him.

“You never told me you had another child after the twins,” the old man turned to my father whose deadly gaze was still resting on me. “Since they are too ill to come to the ball, Illyria here should. I don’t see why not. She even appears to be prepared already.”

The neigh of a horse took his eyes from me as two big carriages came into the courtyard and stopped just beside us.

“Great, the carriages are ready,” Valerian took my hand from Iyrick’s and led me to one of the carriages.

I entered with a beaming upturned face. The creepy king had helped me get what I wanted, and I didn’t have to ask Father myself. I had Valerian to thank for telling him about me. Just when I thought, I had gotten away with my plans, Father walked up to my carriage.

“Haven’t I warned you to stay in your room when a royal visits?” My heart sunk to my stomach at those words. “Ensure you have as much fun as you want, Fen because when we get back, I’ll make sure you never leave that room again.”

I swallowed. Hard.

He sent a warning glare to Valerian before he walked away.

What have I done?