The Fae Princess' Hidden Fate

20.

Orange glimmers stretched over the grounds of the castle in the early hours of the morning. A cold fog hung over them, and it seeped into the rooms slowly, reaching my room, where I was sitting anxiously on the edge of my bed with my eyes narrowed and my lips pursed.

Sprawled all over the bed was the many scrolls which Abigail had dumped in the room the previous day, scrolls which contained all the details of the royal faes of Cornia. All through the night, I had stared at them so much that almost all of them had been carved into my memory. I could recite nearly all of them without even having to look at the scrolls.

The one which rested on my lap now was the one describing Prince Blaze in detail, my betrothed. Bile rose to my throat at the thought of the fact that I could end up marrying the prince very soon. I couldn't even fathom the idea of being wed to someone whom I felt no attachment towards.

The conversation with my mother had given me a beacon of hope though. It seemed so simple, and almost too good to be true. I had a way out, and I was going to do everything possible to get out of it. All I had to do was get the prince to reject me by himself. Once he did that, then I would be free to choose whomever I wanted.

I glanced at the scroll once again, and I couldn't stop myself from swallowing nervously. This wasn't going to be difficult at all. I had everything I needed to know right here. It was well detailed, and I pored over every single detail, trying to figure out a way I could twist everything to suit my ambition. And from all indications, this shouldn't be too hard.

The description was well-detailed, and it was almost as if I could see the real prince standing in front of me while I read it. Everything I needed was right there, and I held back a grin as I read it again:

Prince Blaze; the only son of King Denemir, also known as a High Fae and Queen Namira. 25 years old, black hair, green eyes and a muscular build. Trained in sword fight and horseback riding since he was seven years old, and enjoys reading poetry and history. Has been described as having a quiet demeanour, but a loving heart and a willingness to help his people in any situation they might find themselves in. Named the Rogue-slayer after his triumph at the battle of Alghazar, where he led five thousand soldiers to battle and forced the surrender of the tyrant, Lord Grenadine. General of the King's forces, and second son in the kingdom of Cornia.

Subjects usually kneel before him, except when he is in the presence of His Majesty, the King, where they will be required to prostrate before them both. His place is by the King's left hand side, on a smaller throne made of gold and silver. He presides over affairs of the state, mostly those who concern trivial matters which his father does not have the time to deliberate over and which his brother always try to escape from.

At the bottom was scribbled: Betrothed to Princess Layla of Nibiru. To be wed after a year of courtship.

I chuckled as I read the last sentence once again. Did they really think this simple sentence would be enough to compel me to reason with him? Was there really no other attempt they could make to try and make him seem normal? History and Poetry? He sounded so unbearably dull and pompous, and I could never allow myself to be forced into a marriage with him. Armed with the knowledge of who he was, I was ready to wreck havoc on everything.

A soft knock came on the door, and I immediately felt my heart skip a beat. I wasn't ready to face the truth just yet. I didn't want to accept the fact that I was going to leave my home. All my life, I'd never been allowed to go beyond the palace walls before, not to talk of journeying to an entirely different kingdom. I had snuck out many times already to go into the forest for a walk or some exploration, but this was something else entirely. This was me leaving everything behind, to go and live with complete strangers for a very long time.

"Come in," I muttered as I felt a wave of nausea descend on me. Sure enough, the door was pushed and Faun, one of my maids stepped in, a hesitant look in her eyes.

"Good morning, Your Highness," she curtsied. "It's time for your bath. The royal procession is waiting already, and all the guards have prepared for the journey."

Reluctantly, I climbed out of bed and made my way to the bathhouse. Several thoughts were swirling in my mind, and none of them were able to dispel the single most important thought in my head. I was completely focused on one thing, and one thing only.

Ruining the marriage proposal between myself and Prince Blaze.

The anxiety weighed heavily on my heart, and even after I got bathed and returned to the room, I was still feeling anxious for reason which I could not quite understand. The maids had already cleaned up the mess in the room, and all the scrolls were neatly gathered and tucked into a bag which sat at the foot of the bed. A pretty pink dress lay on the bed, and I made my way towards it with a lot on my mind. It was a pastel tone, cinched at the waist and flowing with a short train behind me. I would have asked for a more comfortable dress if I was going to ride on a horse, but since I would be sitting in the carriage all day, they opted for a dress which suit my royal status. My dark skin would make a good contrast with the dress.

"We will miss you, of course," Faun said as she helped me slip into the dress. "The palace will not be the same without you."

"There's no need to try and flatter me, Faun," I laughed. "You'll have a lot of free time on your hands now once I'm gone. What do you plan on doing when I'm gone?"

She blinked, and I realised for the first time that she probably never meant to have any free time at all. She was probably so content in serving me that she never had time to think about the things she could do that would make her happy, or anything she might engage in which didn't involve me or working for me in anyway.

"I haven't thought about it like that," she said truthfully. "But I'm sure that I can find something to do in your absence. Maybe I could knit a scarf for you so I can have a gift for when you return. Mara has been showing me how to do it, and I'm starting to learn."

I smiled at her reflection, and she smiled back at me in a goofy manner. Of all the maids I had, she was the one I was closest to, most likely because she was also the youngest. There was something so innocent and sweet about her that made me wish I had a sister sometimes.

As I sat down so she could oil my braids, Faun looked at me through the mirror and said, "Why can't I be allowed to come with you? You will need my help when you're in Cornia, and I'm sure their maids do not know how you like your things. Also, who will keep you company while you're there all by yourself?"

"I won't be by myself," I replied. "Abigail is coming with me. We'll keep each other company."

"Only the two of you? Well that's hardly any fun."

I had to fight back a shiver before I added, "Cassia will be there as well."

"Cassia?" she shrieked. "But that woman is awful. I swear, she's the meanest b***h in all of Nibiru. She's going to make this trip a nightmare for you."

"I can handle Cassia on my own," I said. "But promise me you'll take care of yourself."

"I'll try," she replied before finally oiling the last of my braid. Being as naturally curly as it was, I could feel the locks already beginning to clump together and twist into curls. But I didn't have time to focus on them. Instead, I was too concerned about the procession waiting for me downstairs. They were all ready to leave, but I felt like a child who was being forced to do something she didn't want to do. If it were up to me, I wouldn't even want to ever lay my eyes on Cornia at all. But now, I would have to live there for who knows how long?

Abigail knocked just then and stepped into the room, a small smile on her face. "You look beautiful," she grinned. "Absolutely stunning. Sebastian - I mean Blaze - is going to absolutely lose his mind once he sets his sights on you."

I knew she did that on purpose, so I shot a nasty glare in her direction before she came to stand next to me.

"Ready?" she asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," I sighed, rising slowly. "Let's go."

Outside, the carriage was waiting for me right in front of the palace entrance. It was pure white, with ornate gold designs and a plush leather interior. Twenty guards would be escorting me, with ten in five of them on every side of the carriage. Cassia stood in front, with Sebastian sitting on tall white stallion beside the carriage. I wonder how he was going to manage our type of horse, since ours were different from the one humans use.

When his eyes shifted to look at me, my breath caught in my chest immediately. For a long moment, he stared directly at me. But then he averted his gaze, and he chose to look straight ahead. I had no idea why he was acting strange around me, but I intended to figure that out quickly. I couldn't have him being awkward around me for the rest of the journey.

Mother and father were waiting for me as well, and they offered their brief goodbyes with father looking very uncomfortable with the whole situation.

"Be good," mother told me as I hugged her. "Look after yourself, and don't do anything you wouldn't do here while you're there. Remember the importance of this journey, and the reason why you are embarking on it. I know it's not ideal, but one day you will come to understand. Your father and I will be here waiting for you eagerly."

When I hugged father briefly, he kissed me on the forehead and whispered, "Give him a chance, Layla. This is more than anything the two of us imagined. It's about the future of the kingdom, and the safety of your people. They need you to do the right thing. So when you're in Cornia, think about them."

He hugged me back before he stepped away, and I made my way to the carriage. The footman bowed as he held the door open for me, and I stepped in with a brief smile at him. My heart was thumping so loudly in my chest, and I felt like running back up to my room and insisting on not going. A sense of duty meant I wouldn't be able to do that however, and I had to keep to father's words. He had told me about how I could only ascend the throne if I married a royal, and that was the only reason why I hesitated on my plan. If I pushed Blaze away, then who else would be left? But I had to see him for myself before I decided if he was worth it or not.

Suddenly, loud clunking steps came from the palace hallway, and everyone looked up to see Antonio stumbling forward with his armour glimmering in the sunlight. He look completely flustered, and slightly tipsy even though it was barely past daybreak. He bowed clumsily before father and mother before he rushed towards the carriage. I felt irritation rise to the surface immediately, though I tried to hide it.

"Your Highness," he greeted when he came to stand in front of me, bowing slowly. "Are we all set?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, a horrible realisation suddenly descending on me.

"Weren't you informed?" he asked. "I will be escorting you to Cornia as well."