The Fallen Princess

Two

Zakai renounced any real claim to the throne when he was just a child and remains a prince only to Cecil, who has served them from a young age. Instead, he trained as a knight, which was more practical for his and his sisters' situation. Zaria splits the meager allowance she receives, for remaining a member of the royal family, with him, and he acts as her personal knight. Protecting her from the dexterous schemes of the Queen, the vipers who reside in their father's harem and from the lustful eyes of all the greedy men who walk these halls.

Their father, King of the southern continent, collects beautiful women and his Queen retaliates by using those beneath her to rid the harem of the most beautiful and of those vying for the king's power and attention.

It's not as if the women want to be collected, many of them were taken as spoils of war or trafficked from their homeland. Such was the case for Zakai and Zaria's mother, who was murdered shortly after they turned 9. The children, born from the women the King collects, are given royal titles and forced to act as courtesans for his allies, earning him the title, the Lewd King.

“Zaria!” Her little half-sisters shout gleefully as she walks into the front garden to meet them. “Hello my beautiful sisters.” She replies, kissing her hand and touching the head of each of them in greeting. Zakai is bombarded by the 4 little girls shortly after, as they give him a collective hug and he awkwardly pats them. The oldest is 10 and the youngest of the girls is 4.

It was difficult for Zakai and Zaria to remain alive at such a young age without their mother's protection. There were those who wished for them to follow their mother into death, and not even a year after their mother's passing, they were force-fed poison and tossed to the far edge of the castle gardens. Left to die.

Miraculously, they both survived and, as fate had it, years later Zakai happened across these four girls in a pitiful situation much like their own, and brought them to his sister, who nursed them back to health. Unsurprisingly, they found that the little girls' mothers had also met a cruel fate and were no longer alive to care for them. So, Zaria and Zakai did what they could to look out for the little princesses.

“Come children, put on your cloaks and let's go!” Zaria says cheerily, “Our dear brother will be escorting us to Saint Lia’s orphanage outside the castle grounds today so you can play.” The girls clap gleefully. It is a safe place for the girls to be able to act as children should, away from the castle and its schemes. They walk together over to the Knights' quarters where a group of handsome young knights await them on horseback to bring them into town.

“I was beginning to think you weren’t coming. I skipped breakfast to be here, you know.” Zakai’s close friend Aldric teases. The two met as children while training to become knights and have remained close friends even after Zakai dropped out of the Knightage to escort his sister. “Princess,” Aldric turns his attention to Zaria. “You look radiant as always.” He flashes her a brilliant smile as he jumps down from his horse and walks over to her.

She offers him her hand, and he kisses the back of it, purposely letting his lips linger on her skin longer than necessary, to provoke her brother. Zakai releases an annoyed sigh and walks over, shoving Aldric away. “One of these days I will do more than shove you.” Zakai says flatly, making Aldric laugh. “I look forward to that day my friend.” He teases, then turns his attention to the girls.

“Oh my!” Aldric exclaims in an exaggerated manner, “Zakai! Please tell me you didn’t steal these lovely little fairies from the forest. We must bring them back before they hex us!” Aldric scoops the youngest in his arms as he chases the others around the clearing. Their delighted giggles fill the air, and the princess smiles at the sight of it all. ‘It is these small moments that make here life worth living.’ She thinks to herself.

“I hate him.” her brother scoffs coming to stand beside her, “you do not.” A little laugh escapes her lips. “He is a good man, but I hate him.” He repeats and Zaria shakes her head still laughing. “What grudge could you possibly have against him?” she asks in jest, but he responds. “I think he would be a good suitor for you . . . and I both love and hate him for it.” It takes a moment for Zaria to process what her brother just said. “Aldric . . . and me?” She pauses to consider it for a moment.

“However attractive he may be, the man is in love with the knightage and is in no way ready to settle down and take a wife. In fact,” the princess pauses for a moment before she continues, “I feel Aldric may be better suited to be your husband my dear brother.” She teases and Zakai looks over at her appalled by her suggestion.

“How so?” he asks flabbergasted, and she chuckles. “Well how I see it, he only uses me as a tool to tease you as he pleases.” She looks over at her brother and gives him a grin. “You must be drunk;” he tells her dryly, folding his arms across his chest.

They stand silently until a breathless Aldric staggers back over to where they are standing. “The fairies . . . are too much for the likes of me . . . I have . . . been defeated. Please carry on in my stead.” Aldric bows before Zakai and then looks up at him and winks. “If I must,” Zakai groans and stalks off towards the girls.

“Jester at heart that one.” Aldric says, motioning towards her brother, and she laughs harder than even she expected at his words. “Let him be Aldric, he does the best he can.” she tells him, a smile still plastered on her face watching her brother's stiff and serious demeanor, while he awkwardly chases the girls.

“Zaria, I have given this a lot of thought and-” “Sir, pardon my interruption, however if we don't leave soon, we will not return in time for the meeting with the Corporal.” Aldric runs a hand through his golden spun hair and sighs. “Yes, you're right. Thank you for reminding me at this exact moment.” he says flatly, staring at the knight annoyed. “I’ll go . . . gather the girls.” I say slinking away from the awkward tension permeating into the air.