Chapter 3

something smelt like herbs, or was it brewed tea mixed with herbs? it smelt comforting. do dead people drink tea ? she felt patched , would they offer her a tea cup should she ask ? “ she's awake Empress ” she heard someone say. was her mother alive ? was she going to be reunited with her ? she smiled , until she felt cold water on her face shattering her cocoon of darkness.

the light hurt her eyes at first until it began readjusting to the light , perhaps she had been in darkness too long that light felt strange.

her eyes adjusted to show the most beautiful woman she had ever met standing in front of her. blonde hair packed up with some strands falling down, eyes green like the forest and thin lips. she was a sight to behold that maria kept looking until a scowl formed on the woman's face transforming something so beautiful into something hideous. .

“ it is disrespectful to look upon royalties like that, do you want your eyes gauged out. "? the beauty said making her embarrassed. royalties? was this another kingdom? everyone in the surrounding seven kingdoms knew who the princess of Marsa was , obviously she was clueless because if she knew then the scowl wouldn't be on her face.

Marsa was a great kingdom. even though fallen the name still lingers with the feeling of respect.

“ I am ...” she wanted to tell her but the woman wasn't interested. “ it doesn't matter who you are for you are soon going to be put to death . you humans cross the line sometimes I wonder if it's bravery or mere foolishness. ” humans ?

a numb feeling started to invade Maria's body making her unable to breathe properly. the high duke went ahead with his plans. “ you are....” she was in doubt and wanted to confirm, perhaps it was a jest to tease her. “ wolves . “ her heart stopped beating, deeming it unnecessary to continue doing it when she was going to die anyway. she wanted to faint ,to return back to the comforting hold of darkness , but her mind refused what her body wanted she was a princess and she would die with honor.

“ your execution would be carried out on the Emperor's order , he isn't in the Empire now so you have a day to be free from death, after that.... “ the beauty said and she nodded accepting reality. there was nothing she could do to escape .

“ can I ask for my last wish before my execution? ” it would be disgraceful to die with an empty stomach. the beauty frowned , perhaps she wasn't used to being addressed by a commoner. “ I am in no position to grant your wish but I will send the maids to see to your needs ” and with that she left.

maria felt grateful for the silence, she observed her surroundings it was a little dark illuminated by the fire from the candle and a small light from the moon shinning outside . perhaps it was evening and the moon was just coming out.

the room had some tiny little holes bringing air in and light from the moon as well , a candle on top of the table in the center, nothing else. it was bland but it was the only thing keeping her from death which she would face tomorrow.

the door opened revealing a lady, “ The Empress of Audreit asked me to see to the prisoner's need. what do you want? ” the lady looked like she would rather be anywhere than there ,in a room with a prisoner. Empress? it answered so many questions, the beauty that just left was an Empress

emperor Kaliel 's queen High empress Kasan Fascar. the rulers of the seven Empires of Audreit. Thier stories were used to scare children in Marsa, they inflicted fear on whichever city they conquered. it is rumored that when the emperor doesn't go to war ,the Empress Kasan does on his behalf. even in war her face would always be covered by a thin white veil , making her enemies unable to know who was delivering them to Thier death . a deathly woman with the ability to manipulate and turn cities against each other. her face was never revealed before so she didn't know how the cold Emperor's Empress looked like , whenever she was to leave Audreit she covered her face . making stories circulate that she was hideous and beastly.

she was a beauty . an absolutely stunning woman. how such a beauty would turn deathly in war was far fetched. it is true what they say, a beautiful thing is the most dangerous. she sighed and looked up to meet the horrible scowl on the maids face .

she was lost in thought. “ I would like food and water “ she looked her dirt covered body “ and a bath please “ “ for someone about to die soon you are demanding ” the maid said making her feel embarrassed. “ I...” “ no need, you carry the air of a lesser royal around you , who were you in your former ? ”

former ? it wasn't long ago when she was the princess of Marsa, trained to be an example of a high lady to the other ladies in Marsa , she held balls and court meetings in the absence of her father , she could embroider, cook , sing , dance , play the musical instruments and other lady like things for she was to provide the empire with an heir to take over her father's throne , a lie it had all been a lie.

she had been living a lie all her life , she would take lessons on culture's and etiquettes, learn to dine and wine with the dignitaries of Marsa and beyond, go for visitations to the lesser towns of Marsa , play the instruments whenever her father organised events , hold balls in honor of her father , every thing she did thinking she had a responsibility to her father's throne. that she was to be Queen regeant on event of her father's death until her son should sit on the throne. she had never known love or friendship.

she never was living and the life she lived was all a lie. “ I had no life , I was a princess of Marsa but I had no life of my own ”. it was the truth.