II

In the grand halls of the Royal Castle at the Eastern kingdom of Thanes, Ilena sat on the wooden bench, watching over her seven years old brother who was being taught horse riding.

She let out a sigh of envy, she had always wanted to learn horse riding but her wants were always out of the question considering the relationship she has with her father, King Egret.

“Ahh!” Rhett, Ilena’s seven years old brother yelped as he fell from the horse.

She gasped in horror. “Rhett!”

Ilena rushed over to aid him while the instructor called for help quickly. Rhett moaned in pain and clutched his right arm which he seemed to have injured.

The medics rushed over with a few guards who helped carry him to the Royal infirmary.

Ilena’s heart pounded in her chest in looming fear of what is to be upon her for what she has done. How could she be so careless to let the young crown Prince fall from a horse!

The sore marks of the lashes she had received just the week before still felt as fresh as day so the thought of another one being struck on her back sent chills of dread to her spine.

She rushed inside to check up on Rhett but was quickly dragged to the side and slapped harshly, making her stumble back slightly.

“Why does everything have to go wrong with you?!” Asla, the princess of Thanes and her half sister shrieks.

Ilena could feel the left side of her cheek swell and tingle in pain but she bites her lip to hold in a groan from the pain.

“I-i’m sorry....it just happened so quickly.” She trembled.

Maids and guards around all whispered to themselves as they passed by and gave her a look which held pity in them.

Asla eyes her wretched half sister in disgust, she always felt this rage within her whenever she looks her in the eyes. She was envious of her emerald green eyes.

She scoffed with a smirk. “Let’s see what daddy would think of this when he gets back.”

Ilena’s body trembled with fear of being punished by her so called father who seemed to detest her mere existence.

Asla then nudged her away and to make her way into the Royal infirmary.

The two princesses were of the same age and the same father but of different mothers. Asla was born of the queen who had passed on from the long dreadful birth of the young crown Prince Rhett.

Ilena was born of a royal servant who had gotten pregnant for the king and after much rejection from him, he finally took her in at the age of five when her mother had passed.

Ilena has spent fifteen years living as the pitiful and disgraceful princess of the Eastern kingdom of Thanes. She was treated poorly as a personal sitter for Rhett who didn’t know what respect was either.

She rushed back to her quarters and knelt down to pray for her safety within the walls of the dreadful castle. The church bell was rung loudly, indicating that the King is back.

She gasped with a mix of fear and happiness that he had come back alive because that was hardly possible after anyone encounters the Northerners.

“Ilena dear?” Oana, the old servant of the castle calls.

She turns to her only friend in these huge walls. “Yes, Oana?”

“Everybody is to be present to welcome the soldiers and the king into the Palace.”

Ilena nodded and stood up from her knees then guided the elderly woman out, towards the row of servants that stood in line to welcome the king.

King Egret sat in his cozy carriage in a slight panic from his deal with the Northern King. He mentioned princesses so it doesn’t matter whichever i offer up tribute, right? Egret thought.

The carriage comes to a halt and the door opens revealing his beautiful princess Asla and his handsome young Prince who he then noticed, wore a cast on his right arm.

Rage filled his chest from the sight. “What happened to the crown Prince!?”

Asla smirked and glanced back to Ilena who hid behind Oana in the crowd. “Daddy, I’m so glad you’re back, Ilena was careless and left Rhett unattended.” She pouts.

Egret fumes and pointed to one of the guards to drag Ilena out and they obeyed, dragging her put like a sack of flour.

“P-please my lord!” Ilena trembled in fear.

Oana rushed over to block the guards. “M-my lord spear her this once...”

The guard pushed her to the side which caused her to fall and yelp in pain. “I will spear you just because you were the late queen's servant.”

Thoughts of punishments he could inflict on Ilena rushed through his head but it quickly ceased as the thought of the Northern King flashed into his head.

No, he can’t let him see marks on her if she is to be his wife, he is to be deceived into thinking that this wretched girl is a worthy tribute.

“Let her go.”

Asla’s eyes widened in shock, this is the first time that daddy has ever speared Ilena which enraged her. “B-but daddy-”

Egret glared at her to quiet down which she did and to much of Ilena’s shock, the guards that held her, let her go. Her frequent prayers were finally being answered.

All servants welcome the soldiers and they have a large feast at the royal banquet hall. Ilena sat at the back gardens, reading the worn out book of a poet under the light of the full moon.

Oana walks out the kitchen to the back gardens with a small tray of food in the plate as she found Ilena on her usual spot, reading.

“Are you not cold dear?” Oana asked in concern.

Ilena looked up at her with a smile. “I have gotten quite used to it.”

Oana's heart tugged with pain for the young princess who was being treated differently just by being the evidence of the foul acts of the disgraceful King.

She takes a sit beside her. “Her eat this, you must be hungry.”

Ilena’s heart warmed from the kind act of the mother figure she never really had. “Oh thank you, Oana.”

She ate to her fill while Oana watched her with a smile on her lips. “You look just like her.”

Ilena paused, knowing who she was referring to which was her mother who had passed very early in her life that her face was now a blur in Ilena’s memory.

“Hey, Ilena!” a servant girl called out.

She stood to her name, seeing a frantic looking servant. “I’m here.”

The servant girl rushed over to tug her. “The king is requesting your presence at the banquet hall.”

Ilena paused in shock, had he finally decided to punish her in front of all the high ranking nobles and officials?

She glanced back at Oana who stood to hold her hand with sadness in her eyes as she guided Ilena into the grand hall.

This was the first time that she had entered the banquet hall and it was more beautiful and grand than she had imagined.

There was a large long table at the center if the hall with nobles occupied the seats and amazing, unique dishes right in the middle as they ate to their food.

“Ah, the star of the banquet has come!” Egret raised his chalice in the air.

Ilena’s heart pounded in fear as she stood like a deer in headlights at the entrance of the hall.

Egret stood and gestures for her to come closer. “Come, come!”

The nobles looked between each other on shock and curiosity from the sight of the wretched princess of the Thanes.

A noble turned to the king. “My lord, why has the girl been invited?”

Ilena stood in front of the King as she trembled in fear of what is to come next after making eye contact with a very rageful Asla.

Egret raised his chalice. “Let us toast to a wedding!”

The confused nobles raised their chalice while Ilena’s heart thundered in her chest as she gripped the ends of her dress.

“Daddy, who’s wedding are we toasting to?” Asla asks nervously.

Egret forces a chalice into Ilena’s hand and toasts against it. “Ilena would be getting married to the king of the North as tribute.”

Gasps were heard through the wall while Ilena stood frozen in shock with slight ringing in her ears.