Alliah's Promise

            “You summoned me father?” I asked bowing before him in his study. It was a cute study, completed with books shelves, a small desk, and a glass door that opened to the balcony. The walls where painted white with gold swirling patterns. It was like that throughout the whole castle. It was my mother’s favorite design, and eventually became our design on the backs of our cloaks. She really had a lot of influence over my father when she was alive. He absolutely loved her dearly and did everything to appease her. It was the one thing I admired about him, his love for his family.

              I could not help but stare at the dark circles that had formed under his already sagging eyes. The true look of a hardworking and tired man. After my mother had passed away, he spent a lot of his time in his study. Slaving over paperwork day and night until his fingers where tired. I would often come in and help him when I was not out on doing field work. I used it as an excuse to start preparing myself for the throne, but really, I was just keeping the man from killing himself before it was his time.

             

              He passed a shaky hand through his white disheveled hair and sighed. I could tell he was stressed with the way he sat slumped over his desk; his papers were strewn across his oak desk. The pile had seemed to grow lately and looked as if it was not going to stop any time soon. I saw the same word repeated over and over on the all the documents. Bandits. They had been over running our trade routes recently with other Kingdoms and it was becoming increasingly difficult to get merchants willing to come to our Capital and trade. Which meant that out people where not making enough money to support themselves or our Kingdom.

              “As you know, your sister has had her coming-of-age party and is at the age where she can marry.” He said slowly, testing the waters. I nodded slowly, not sure that this had to do with me after all. “Well, there are many suitors who are asking for her hand in marriage. They will all be coming here so they can try her hand at marriage. Our guest will be arriving over the next few weeks and I want them to be kept safe. You will need to up the patrols so that they don’t get ambushed by these bandits until we can keep these bastards under control.” Ah, so that is why this was so important. Officials from all over the country will be coming to woo my sister into a political marriage. I wonder if Nicklos would show up of not. He had a younger brother, and I am sure he was just as eager to marry the great Illia of Celestia just as any other man would.

              After all, if it came down to the two of us, she was the prettiest. She took after our father mostly with her bright blonde locks and soft woman features. Her eyes where narrow and sleek. She had the brightest green eyes, a slim and slender body in the form of an hourglass. She was praised and held high for her endless beauty, but not once for her attitude. She may look like royalty, but her demanding and whiny nature was far from it. She had no problems screaming and yelling if she did not get what she wanted or when she wanted it. It was like dealing with a toddler in an adult body. I blame her attitude solely on my father who babied her and gave in to everything she wanted as a child.

              “Of course, father, I will not let you down.” I said bowing to him. He held up his hand, signaling for me to wait. “There is more Alliah. It is no secret that I am not getting any younger. With this event, I would really appreciate you trying to get along with the other officials. Find a man to settle down with so that I don’t have to worry about you beyond my grave.” His voice was stiff, but he meant well. I knew he was worried about me having a successor as I grew older. I was already 21 without even a married partner, which is unheard of for Princesses. I of course was not a typical Princess either and that often-turned men away to start with.

              “I cannot make any promises father, but I will do my best to play nicely.” I offered a strained smile in response. Of course, I still had my promise to keep to Nicklos, despite his absence. I still have not heard anything from him after a whole year, and there have not been any announcements made that he was married off as well. I was not exactly sure what happened to him, or why he was being so distant, but I did know that if he did show his face here, he would need to work harder than he ever did before to earn my forgiveness.

              My father sighed as he adjusted the cufflinks on his wrists. The white fabric crinkled under his touch. He rolled the thin white fabric until it reached his forearm. His lips where set into a grim line as.

              “I understand why you are still single Alliah, but as your father and King, I am still responsible for you until the day I die. So please refrain from pushing others away. I know I ask a lot of you, but I would not ask this of you if I knew you could not handle it. I know I have been stiff with you over the years, but I think highly of you Alliah, and you are the perfect successor. So please, find a suitor. If not for yourself, do it for me.” He folded his hands on the table as he spoke, finality hung in the air as his words left his mouth. I nodded once, understanding that there was no room for arguing. I would have to be on my toes for the next few weeks while I not only baby-sat High Officials, but also trying to appease me father and find myself a proper suitor. With a wave of his hand, my father dismissed me, and I bowed once again before turning on my heel and leaving his little office.

              Just as I reached my hand out to open the door, it swung open angrily. It just grazed my hand as it slammed against the wall, an angry Illia storming in and to my father’s desk. She had no problem slamming her hands down on his desk and getting in his face, glaring down at him. I felt my body tense at her sudden appearance, worried that my father would snap at her intrusion. But he sat still, looking bored and tired as she ripped into him.

              “Why is it that as soon as I turn 18 you must wed me off! This is outrageous!” She spat at him. His eyes narrowed at her anger and he stood carefully from his desk, his hands splayed out as he leaned in to meet her. His face had slowly started to turn red with his anger and I felt myself reaching towards Illia to spare him of her attitude. But he stopped me with a glare, and I retracted my hand.

              “You will do best to know your place Illia. Do you forget your duties as a Princess? I have been nice to you in the past, but do not think that you can just do as you please because of how I treated you. You are obligated to marry a suitor; you should be happy that I am even giving you the chance to choose for yourself.” He said angrily to her. I watched her own face turn red with anger. She clenched her hands into fists and stood tall, her curls swaying ever so slightly as she turned. With a manicured hand, she jabbed it in my direction.

              “Then why the hell isn’t she being forced to do this? Or is it because she is a disgrace to the throne that she is unwed.” I inwardly flinched at her words but remained composed. Of course, it was because I was a Knight that I had not found a proper suitor. But I would not give her the satisfaction of knowing that, as it would give her more fuel to bully me. I went to open my mouth to respond, but father once again silenced me with a glare. I shut it tightly and forced my hands behind my back. His anger was truly something else. Even a slight glare was enough to silence the most arrogant of officials.

              “Alliah has her own duties to full fill, not only as my successor, but as a Knight as well. Her plate is already full of obligations that she has not had the chance to find one. I should not have to explain this to you. So, while I am still feeling gracious, leave my office and don’t ever come barging in again.” I felt the heavy warning of his words and even I felt tense as he sat back down heavily in his chair. Illia just sniffed her anger and retreated out the door. But not without shoving her shoulder into me to try and knock me over. To her dismay I was expecting her attack and did not even budge. I watched as she angrily stormed off down the hallway, a set of guards quickly separating as she strolled past. The passed each other uneasy glances as they continued to walk toward my father’s office.

              “Your Majesty, the General asked us to come find you. We spotted a Royal Caravan not to far from us and headed this way. We have been asked to escort it safely into the Kingdom.” The young guard spoke hurriedly. I glanced over my shoulder to my father, who was watching intently. He never blinked as he waved a hand towards me, once again dismissing me. I turned my attention towards the guards and nodded my head.

             

              “Very well then, gather my horse up and we will escort them into the Kingdom. Let us make haste before there is an attack.” I followed the guards out into the hall. I wondered who would be showing up so soon. Must be someone that admired Illia immensely and wanted to make a good first impression. “Gather up Princess Illia, and make sure she is at the door when we arrive. She needs to greet her guests. So, make sure she is presentable and without an attitude.” I instructed the other Guard. He swallowed nervously and nodded his head once before peeling off down a separate hallway where her room was. I felt bad for sending him off to her after only briefly dealing with her tremendous attitude, but it was still my duty to guide the young Princess until she left the castle.

              “Do we have any idea who the Officials are by chance?” I was hoping that it was not Nicklos. Apart of me prayed that he would not show up at all. I would not know how to face him after all this time, because deep down I still cared for him. But I was still extremely angry with him for ghosting me. If he did show up, would he try for his hand with Illia instead of me?

              “It is the Crown Prince Nicklos and his younger brother Prince Jespah. They arrived a day earlier than expected.” I cursed inwardly at my bad luck but kept my self-composed. The day has finally come, I thought bitterly to myself. I wondered if he would even bother talking to me at all.