Decisions

I woke up to the voice of Mrs.Hanzah as the bright rays of the sunshine passed through the curtains and into my eyes.

Groaning, I took the duvet off me and saw Mrs.Hanzah softly smiling at me.

“Get up Arah, today is a special day.”

“Hmm?”

Clearly confused, I sat upright, and with a heavy voice, I asked, “Why? What is there to be special for me today?”

Her smile got even brighter as she replied sweetly, “Your father has requested your presence at the main hall, so, we have to get you all dolled up. Hurry up now, you already woke up quite late.”

Nodding my head in agreement I started to wonder why father has requested my presence today. It has been a month since the incident of me trying to find a way to get out of this wrecked facility, and I have been avoiding him ever since. Getting back on my feet, I made my way towards the bath where a few other maids were waiting for me already as the intoxicating smell of roses became a part of the atmosphere.

I got out of the bath smelling myself as the sharp scent of roses had deeply penetrated my skin. Water dripped down my fair skin as I stood up and walked away from the bath. When I was done with everything, I saw a maid bringing an extravagant light pink gown which had white butterflies and flowers decorated all over the bodice as the skirt was quite puffy and pretty. I noticed that Mrs.Hanzah tied the corset a bit tighter than usual. My hair was styled into a formal braided bun as I looked marvelous.

Walking towards the main hall in which father was present in, the guards opened the doors as I stepped in and look at a few guests present as I passed a soft smile at them, but they did not return the favor which was a bit…offending.

Bowing at my father I greeted him and asked, “Good morning, father. You called me here?”

“Good morning to you too, sweetheart. I called you here to introduce you to the King and Queen of Azaleth.”

I had learned about them as they were our neighboring kingdom and both of our kingdoms had a bit of problem, but we had never taken it too far--they were dangerous people. Azaleth was a dominant kingdom with its monarch at the most of its dominance

“Good morning, your majesties”, I politely bowed at them.

In the corner of my eye, I saw the Queen’s satisfied look.

“Ah, Louis, what a well-mannered child you have here. I must say, I am quite glad to have her in the family soon.”

Confused at her statement, I looked towards my father’s eyes for an answer as he passed an awkward smile.

“Arah dear, meet Prince Egon, your future husband.”

He introduced as I bowed in return, but I then deciphered his statement and looked at my Father in utter shock and disbelief. A wave of sadness and anger coursed through my veins as I looked at the prince again to see a smug and arrogant look on his face. I hadn’t realized when a tear started to form in my eyes accompanied by many others.

Wiping the tears off my face with my sleeves, I looked over to my father to see guilt present in his eyes as he diverted his gaze somewhere else.

“Well then, I must leave.”, I said with a slight quiver present in my voice and ran out of the door in the direction of the room of my mother.

Pushing the door open, I saw my mother smiling at me, but she immediately stopped once she realized that I was crying. I ran my way towards her to engulf myself in her warm embrace. Worried, she asked again and again on what was wrong as I told her about everything that happened today.

Exhaustion took over my body as I closed my eyes fell asleep.

Opening my eyes, I realized that dusk has already fallen as the sight in front of my eyes was truly breathtaking.

The white colored curtains flew as the wind coming from the window pushed them apart. The stars shone ever so brightly that one could get lost just by counting them. The moon yet again displayed its beauty successfully as it could lure everyone in, and upon my skin, I felt the sweet kiss of the wind which caused shivers to run down my spine.

I removed the duvet off me and placed my feet upon the floor as I turned on my heels and marched my way back to the room which I called mine. I made my way inside and closed the door shut. With small and silent steps, I took out my diary and began writing.

 Dear Diary,

Today was the day I realized that my feelings and emotions have no worth in front of my father.

I had always told him that I wanted to marry the man of my dreams--the man whom I had loved, and the man who had loved the very essence of me. Father always would laugh and every time I asked him to promise me--he did but today he had broken all those promises that he had made for his very own daughter. He had never let me get out, but I forgave him for that, but this was beyond of what I had expected from him.

I loved him more than I loved myself--I trusted him more than I trusted myself but today he had broken my trust.

He has arranged a man for me--the prince of Azaleth, Prince Egon. Azaleth is known for their ruthlessness, their selfishness and their dominance, and the number of wars in which they have taken a tremendous part in. I get that my father is arranging myself to him so there are no wars that take place, and I am fine with that but does my life, my thoughts, my opinions, interests, and emotions do not matter? Father had always kept me as his right hand. I was with him always when he had made plans or deals with other kingdoms or just choosing the right decision for himself--I was always with him guiding him and he himself guiding me.

I know that my existence had succeeded over twenty years--an age every woman gets married and already has children at but that does not mean I have no opinions and feelings enough to get wed without my input.

I cannot reject this proposal since Azaleth may start a war with us. They have highly trained knights and many weapons, a lot of which we do not even know about. If we ever have a war with them, we would lose. We have already lost so many knights and warriors in the Great war of Dajoah and Caldorus.

I send prayers to God so he himself could help me in this matter but as for now, I have decided.

I will run away from this kingdom someday or another.

Standing up from her bed, the Queen’s raven hair fell upon the floor. Glaring at the king who was sitting down upon her bed, she yelled, “She did not at all want to marry a man already chosen for her Louis!”

Standing up, the king got angry as the conversation was getting quite heated.

“Take some sense, Meredith. This is not a fairytale that our daughter has made for herself! Do you even realize how much of a problem it could be if Azaleth Ambushes a war on us?!”

‘Oh, how wonderful! You're just going to sell your daughter--your right hand--the one who has helped you be a great king ever since she was born just because of a stupid mistake you had made three decades ago with the kingdom of Dajoah?! If you did not have made that mistake, we could still fight wars and protect the promises you had made for our daughter!", she questioned and at this point, poison was dripping from the tone of her words.

As she completed her sayings, she received a harsh slap across the face from the king.

"I have made my decision Meredith and you are no one to question it, you are just a toy of which I own.", Those words of the king truly had broken her and as well as his actions.

 Marching towards the door and slamming it shut after getting out of the room, leaving his wife alone with a face soaked with tears as she cried herself to sleep.