"You have made a good choice. The only way I can protect you well here is if you are on my side and if you would do what I ask of you" Asalan said. He was glad she had agreed to what he proposed. If she had refused and he chose to end her life it would still not solve his issues. "First things first you would need to learn the ways of our people, our culture, and our land. How many days do you think you would be able to learn how to become a well-trained princess for the kingdom?" Asalan asked. Una did not know how bulky their culture was. She did not know how long it would take her to learn everything. If she was going to stand as the princess then she needs to learn everything and be perfect. She must not be found out or else she could be in danger. "A few days" She answered unsure of what to say. "Okay then, we would say you don't feel well and you have to go to the praying streams to pray and bathe in the water. Instead, you would go to the house on the east coast and be there
"Yes replace the princess" Asalan responded. He had thought it through and his idea was the best they could do for themselves now. Xisuthra did not know if the idea was a good one but he knew that if it was from the Emperor then it should be a good idea. The Emperor in his twenty-five years of reign had always made wise and good decisions. The people of the kingdom trusted him very much. He had ensured peace even if it meant giving up his precious daughter for its sake. "I will see to it that everything is settled," Xisuthra said. When the Emperor was safely in his chamber Xisuthra left back to carry out the Emperor's duty. Xisuthra called his son aside to let him know of his new duties. "Pishtu" Xisuthra did when he pulled him aside. Pishtu was the eldest son of Xisuthra. His job was to take care of the crown prince till he can ascend the throne and then serve him till his death. Being from the family of the head of the kingdom warriors Pishtu proved himself by being the best f
Of all the things he had been expecting his father to say that was not one of them. What could the Emperor's request be? Did he want to carry out a secret burial? It was a state of confusion to Pishtu that he wondered how the Emperor was taking the matter. "Baba, what do you mean by that?" Pishtu asked when he finally found his voice. Was his father trying to play a prank on him? Did the government house and political bodies finally approve a prank day where everyone goes around to prank others? "You heard me and I know you heard me loud and clear. The princess was found dead at noon time yesterday" Xisuthra said. It was impossible because Pishtu had run into the princess yesterday when she was going on her usual afternoon stroll. She had been kind as she always was. "But..." Pishtu began. "Now is no time for tales and stories," Xisuthra said cutting him off. "We have found someone who looks exactly like the princess. She is going to pose as the princess until the Emperor finds
The entourage of the princess left without any noise and most people were not aware. Inal the Empress stood in front of the princess room and her maid Idum kept screaming at the door. "Open up, the Empress is here," she said for the fourth time. Restless that she was being ignored by a mere maid Inal signaled to Idum to open up the door. The door opened to an empty room and great silence back at them. "The room is empty my lady," Idum said. "I can see that" Inal answered with gritted teeth. "I would go find out what went wrong now my lady," Idum said turning to leave. "STOP" Inal screamed as Idum made a move to leave. "Are you planning to leave me here?" she added still in a scream but lower. "My lady forgive my imprudence. I deserve to die" Idum said her head going to the floor. "And death you shall get," Inal said strictly. "Forgive me, my lady," Idum said loudly. "I am going to see the Emperor know what is going on. There is no way that the princess would be out of the pa
"I thought you said the Emperor did not want to be disturbed?" Inal asked stepping back out of the dark room. "The emperor has gone on a stroll and asked that if anyone comes looking for him I should tell them that he doesn't want to be disturbed," Tiartu said. "Mother, I am glad to have found you here, "Aranar Enlim said.Aranar Enlim was the crown prince and he was just nine years of age. He had been looking around for his mom for a while. "Crown Prince, what are you doing here?" Inal asked when she saw him walk towards her. "I came to see the kingdom's father" Aranar responded. They had been thought to call the Emperor and address him as the Kingdom's father and the Empress as the Kingdom's mom. Aranar had refused to call Inal the kingdoms mom because she was his mom. "What for? Tell me I would help you relay the message to him" Inal said. She wondered if what his son was about to say had something to do with the disappearance of the princess and the emperor. "My guard has
Ungan leads the way and takes the crown prince and Empress to the main palace where the king was. "Empress" Asalan said when he set his eyes on Inal and Aranar coming with the entourage behind them. "Emperor, Your Worship," Inal said courtesying a little. "Kingdoms Father," Aranar said too. The rest of the entourage bowed their heads to the ground to greet him. "Long life the Emperor" they all echoed. "Stand up, leave us," Asalan said as a command to the entire crew following them. "My Lord," Inal said. Since she was married to him and now held the rank as the Empress she could address the Emperor as 'My Lord' when others were not around them. "My Lady" The Emperor responded. He was aware that she had been checking in with the princess since the yesternight. "I went to check on the princess but her room was dark and lifeless. It seemed as if no one was coming back there this night. I also went to your chamber and it was the same. Is everything alright my Lord" Inal said. T
"I am the future of the kingdom, who more do you need to protect?" Aranar asked. "Crown prince, call yourself to order" Asalan commanded. "I am still your king and I have the final say. You might not even have the chance to be the king so do not think about challenging decisions" he added. "My emperor please do not say something as dreadful as what you just said," Inal said. The words of the monarch had sent chills down her spine. How was she to lift her head high up if her son did not end up as the crown prince? "I am sorry Kingdoms father," Aranar said when he saw the anger on his father's face. His lessons and tutors had thought him that the crown prince was the one among all royal blood to be given priority and protection. May the Emperor know better? "Let's retire to our chambers now. The princess would be back son and you would get tour guard back" Asalan said. "Yes nations father," Aranar said "Yes Emperor," Inal said as Aranar spoke. Inal and Aranar moved out of the r
KINGDOM OF IDUIVACAN "Your royal majesty," Uthyr said entering into the Royal chamber of the palace. The King of Iduivacan, Madi Rigia was in the royal chamber of the palace. He had just finished talking to the court men about the affairs of the state. He stood with his back to the door and he knew the voice of his trusted right-hand man Uthyr. "Yes?" Madi Rigia answered. "I have news from the kingdom of Slosalia," Uthyr said bowing his head to the ground. Madi Rigia turned and faced the man who had thrown himself to the ground and had not stood up. "Speak," Madi said going back to his throne. "The princess of Slosalia kingdom had been taken away from the palace walls for treatment. According to my source she is sick and needs urgent medical attention" Uthyr said. "What is the reason you are telling me this?" Madi asked. "Rise and then answer" he added. Uthyr stood up and gave a head now before proceeding to speak. "I still maintain my stance that the alliance by marriage bet
"I just have to tell you this beforehand, I am extremely terrible at studying, I never had to do it" Irkal watches her like she is spewing some kind of nonsense. Did she not say she was going to try her best to ensure that the people were safe? Was she suddenly backing out? "Don't look at me like that, I never said I won't go on. I am just saying that I need a little more effort and push because I am bad at studying"Irkal looked away. She could not believe the fate of an entire kingdom rested on the shoulders of a woman who was bad at studying. "I will do my best," she said standing up. "And I will do my best to help you do your best, my princess," Irkal said. One could hear her using respective names to address her but her tone said otherwise. She sighed and looked at Irkal. "What do I do now?" she asked when the girl made no move. "After the prayer, the princess usually takes her bath and prepares to have a walk around the palace grounds""And let me guess you have to bathe me
Una had been horrible with anything that had to do with schooling. After joining the gang at eleven she had not paid attention to get studies and always came out at the bottom of the class despite Collin's efforts. Her school teachers had done everything to help her get better but she had refused all the help thrown her way. After all her life goal was to die while she was killing those who took the life of her parents. She did not care about grades. Once she was able to successfully scale through high school she dropped out of school without caring about the result of her final exams. She gave her all to the spy academy and that was how she was able to get to go on the mission that somehow landed her decades into the past. "I have to memorize things?" she asked starting at the girl in front of her. "Yes, the princess usually had said the prayers first thing when she woke up""Can I not just read it off the book?" "It is not a book but a scroll and no you can not read it if not i
Una lay on the bed as she soaked in the fine linen underneath her. She took deep breaths to steady herself. She could not bring herself to understand the situation. Although she had decided to take the situation the way it was she could not understand it. Was time travel true after all? Were the dramas and movies not lying? Did she go to the past or was this some kind of well-situated deep dream that made you believe in it? Last she remembered she was putting bullets and knives in the head and bodies of her parent's killers. She was satisfying the longest-sitting desire in her heart. She was pleased with herself even as she felt herself losing breath. She avenged those people by doing the needful. She could not sleep, after all, she had the best and longest sleep of her life since she landed in this strange land. She heard the matching of the entourage that had come with her. Were they practicing or were they patrolling? She could not tell. She sighed and closed her eyes. Irkal ha
SLOSALIA KINGDOMThe journey from the main palace to the mansion on the east coast took half a day and by the time the entourage got there it was dead night and it was exactly what they were aiming for. The woman who was now posing as the Princess and the whole crew who came with her found themselves sneaking into the mansion and settling down. "My princess," Irkal said as they entered the chamber prepared for her. "If you can just call me Una. Hearing you call me princess makes me afraid" Una tells her. "I am sorry but I have strict orders from the Emperor to treat you and train you as I would do the princess," Irkal said. Una could see that Irkal was not exactly pleased with her and her face showed it all. The two of them were in this unexpected situation and there was nothing both of them could do about it. They had to learn to accommodate and manage until a solution was provided for them. "I know you don't like me. It's so obvious that you don't but I want you to know that I
"Go ahead, Crown Prince. What is it that is troubling you" Madi said concerned. Copla was one of a kind person. He rarely had issues and when he did he solved them himself. He did not trouble the royal court by being a nuisance. He fulfilled his duties dutifully and did all he had to do when due. "I think I might have to visit Slosalia," Copla said. "You want to visit there? Why?" Madi asked. Uthyr felt his ears stand. He wanted to know why the Crown Prince was interested in Slosalia. Copla looked around uncomfortably and his eye landed on Uthyr who stood as a statue in the room corner. Copla gave him a look and then looked back to the king."Don't worry, he can be trusted" Madi said when he realized his discomfort. Copla took a deep breath. He hated what he was about to do but his gut feelings told him something had done wrong in the kingdom of Slosalia. How was he to convey the message to the king that would be understandable? "Crown Prince?" Madi said drawing his attention wh
KINGDOM OF IDUIVACAN "Your royal majesty," Uthyr said entering into the Royal chamber of the palace. The King of Iduivacan, Madi Rigia was in the royal chamber of the palace. He had just finished talking to the court men about the affairs of the state. He stood with his back to the door and he knew the voice of his trusted right-hand man Uthyr. "Yes?" Madi Rigia answered. "I have news from the kingdom of Slosalia," Uthyr said bowing his head to the ground. Madi Rigia turned and faced the man who had thrown himself to the ground and had not stood up. "Speak," Madi said going back to his throne. "The princess of Slosalia kingdom had been taken away from the palace walls for treatment. According to my source she is sick and needs urgent medical attention" Uthyr said. "What is the reason you are telling me this?" Madi asked. "Rise and then answer" he added. Uthyr stood up and gave a head now before proceeding to speak. "I still maintain my stance that the alliance by marriage bet
"I am the future of the kingdom, who more do you need to protect?" Aranar asked. "Crown prince, call yourself to order" Asalan commanded. "I am still your king and I have the final say. You might not even have the chance to be the king so do not think about challenging decisions" he added. "My emperor please do not say something as dreadful as what you just said," Inal said. The words of the monarch had sent chills down her spine. How was she to lift her head high up if her son did not end up as the crown prince? "I am sorry Kingdoms father," Aranar said when he saw the anger on his father's face. His lessons and tutors had thought him that the crown prince was the one among all royal blood to be given priority and protection. May the Emperor know better? "Let's retire to our chambers now. The princess would be back son and you would get tour guard back" Asalan said. "Yes nations father," Aranar said "Yes Emperor," Inal said as Aranar spoke. Inal and Aranar moved out of the r
Ungan leads the way and takes the crown prince and Empress to the main palace where the king was. "Empress" Asalan said when he set his eyes on Inal and Aranar coming with the entourage behind them. "Emperor, Your Worship," Inal said courtesying a little. "Kingdoms Father," Aranar said too. The rest of the entourage bowed their heads to the ground to greet him. "Long life the Emperor" they all echoed. "Stand up, leave us," Asalan said as a command to the entire crew following them. "My Lord," Inal said. Since she was married to him and now held the rank as the Empress she could address the Emperor as 'My Lord' when others were not around them. "My Lady" The Emperor responded. He was aware that she had been checking in with the princess since the yesternight. "I went to check on the princess but her room was dark and lifeless. It seemed as if no one was coming back there this night. I also went to your chamber and it was the same. Is everything alright my Lord" Inal said. T
"I thought you said the Emperor did not want to be disturbed?" Inal asked stepping back out of the dark room. "The emperor has gone on a stroll and asked that if anyone comes looking for him I should tell them that he doesn't want to be disturbed," Tiartu said. "Mother, I am glad to have found you here, "Aranar Enlim said.Aranar Enlim was the crown prince and he was just nine years of age. He had been looking around for his mom for a while. "Crown Prince, what are you doing here?" Inal asked when she saw him walk towards her. "I came to see the kingdom's father" Aranar responded. They had been thought to call the Emperor and address him as the Kingdom's father and the Empress as the Kingdom's mom. Aranar had refused to call Inal the kingdoms mom because she was his mom. "What for? Tell me I would help you relay the message to him" Inal said. She wondered if what his son was about to say had something to do with the disappearance of the princess and the emperor. "My guard has