The Princess' Choice

Quite a tale

Berke

After several minutes of arguing with the Princess, the Second Prince finally gave im and made a deal with the Princess.

- Fine, let me interview her, if she is fine I'll allow a trial day for her.

- Three days, and you won't make deliberately difficult questions! - I was in an awe, a child around five years using so difficult words and bargains with the Second Prince like she was on the market. Although, this time I was the goods they tried to seal a deal on, I didn't really care. The Princess seemed to be a vivid and stubborn child, but even if she will treat me like a rug, that would be still better than being executed.

- Fine! - the Prince said rolling his eyes and the Princess extended her pinky to him. He shook it and she left the room following the amazed butler and maids. As soon as the door closed behind her the Prince sighed.

- Don't think that just because my sister likes you, you are out of the hook! - he said with the cold tone again. It was like the spring left the room alongside the Princess, leaving me in the never-ending winter.

- I didn't even dare to think about it, your Highness! - the Prince nodded and leaned on his desk resting his chin on his strong and big hands. His skin was slightly darker than the Princess', but that wasn't a surprise. He spent lots of time on the battlefield and running around the empire, while no one ever saw the Princess before.

- Back to my original question, what happened when my knights captured you? According to their report. - he said and read it out loud what was written on the paper in front of him, by the knight standing right behind me. He was also a really handsome young man despite the large scar on his face. He could be only a few years older than I, with chestnut brown hair and brown eyes.

- The maiden "Disposed of three overgrown and rather inebriated mercenaries behind the baron Baker street with the top of a garbage bin."- I felt how my cheeks heated up due to shyness.

- That is quite a long story your Highness, I really don't want to take up too much of your precious time! - the Prince looked at his personal assistant who was waiting patiently on his side. I didn't even notice him in the presence of the Prince and Princess.

- Simon, please cancel everything apart from the dinner with my family for today. We have quite a tale to hear! - Simon nodded and left the room to take care of the changes in the Prince's schedule just like this was the most usual thing in the world. The Prince leaned back in his chair comfortably and said.

- I have all the time of the world as you could hear. I want to know everything from the day you have conscience to this moment. If I find the slightest issue I will never allow you near the Princess. - I nodded.

- Yes your Highness, this is perfectly understandable and a wise decision. - the Prince looked at me and nodded slightly. I took a deep breath.

- I was born in a tiny country far from the empire. My father was a blacksmith and my mother used to work as a maid for a wealthy lord in our country.

- Which country? - I swallowed.

- Your Highness it is irrelevant.

- What is irrelevant and what is not, is not your duty to decide! - I nodded.

- Used to be called as Cennet Arazisi in the language we used. Our country disappeared fourteen years ago when his Highness the Emperor united it to the Empire. - the Prince looked a little uncomfortable and stared at me for a second before nodding to continue.

- Our life was ordinary, until the Lord had desire for the beauty of my mother. According to the stories I've heard and the fragments of memories I have, she was a unique beauty. My father risked his life to defend her honor and when he defeated the Lord they had to run away. That is how we ended up in the outskirts of the Empire where we were treated as animals. Luckily the town slowly recognized my parents talents and they accepted us, until my fourth birthday when my appearance changed slowly. My mother gave birth to my sister, who was the carbon copy of herself. The town suffered form lots of misfortune ever since my eyes became like they're now and there was a huge fire which almost burned the whole town down except pur home on the day the first changes appeared in the color of my hair. People started to call me a witch, but my parents defended me, until my sister got sick. That moment I saw the fear in their eyes. When I was five my sister died in an unknown disease. Her skin turned darker and her eyes became lifeless while my skin had patches like a cow on it. - the Prince looked at me from head to toe.

- I cover my appearance your Highness to avoid trouble.

- Show it. - he ordered and I unbuttoned the sleeve of my shirt and rolled up until my elbow on my left arm. I revealed the patches on the perfect white skin there were, smaller and bigger darker patches. The Prince nodded and I rolled my sleeve back.

- Is it contagious? - he asked calmly and I shook my head.

- It is not a disease your Highness.

- Fine, continue. - I took another deep breath, it was years ago that someone saw my condition, but this was the first time they didn't scream and want to burn me alive in that instant.

- When still mourning my little sister, my mother expected another child. Unfortunately the words of the people and the malicious gossips found their way into my parents mind and later into their hearts. Before my brother was born another difficult time came to the town and my parents had barely enough money to feed themselves. On the night of my sixth birthday my father decided to end out misery and he took me to the nearest city. There was a secret slave auction and thanks to how I look, he earned a nice sum of money by selling me to a Lord who lived near the Southern borders of the Empire. That was the last time I saw my family. - the Prince's expression became darker.

- It must have been really difficult... - the knight behind me whispered and I glanced back at him with a sweet smile.

- Well, at least I hope this helped my brother grow up in better conditions than I lived in. Also, my parents didn't love me anymore, and a "human cow" is one of a lifetime deal. - all my words were true. It didn't hurt me the slightest even if I was young. The worst was yet to come.

- Who bought you? - the Prince asked with a pen in his hand and I couldn't hold back my smile.

- Lord Demish. - his eyes widened and I shrugged.

- The ways of the Lord are unpredictable how priests use to say.

- What happened while you lived at Demish Residence?