Princess Victoria Herman

"How can they decide without even asking me? How can they? They should have at least asked me what I want." With these words, a girl shouted in her room before falling to her knees and crying loudly.

Outside her room, her maids and bodyguards stood, feeling sorry for their princess. Her name was Victoria Herman, the princess of Country K, and the daughter of King Edward Herman and Queen Mary Herman.

Recently, King Edward Herman and Queen Mary Herman had announced the fixed marriage of their daughter to the King of Country A.

Country A was the richest and most powerful nation, ruled by the formidable and ruthless King Alexander Knight, often referred to as the "God of War" for his undefeated record on the battlefield since the age of 15.

Country K, in contrast, is a small and vulnerable nation, situated next to Country A. Due to continuous attacks from their powerful neighbor, the people of Country K had suffered greatly. Their resources and strength were insufficient to defend against the aggressors.

King Edward Herman, deeply distressed by the ongoing attacks and the plight of his people, summoned all his ministers, nobles, and officers for a meeting to discuss a solution. During this meeting, one minister proposed seeking help from neighboring Country A. Consequently, an agreement was reached for Princess Victoria Herman to marry King Alexander Knight of Country A.

As Princess Victoria continued to cry in her room, King Edward Herman and Queen Mary Herman emerged from her door, their faces filled with sorrow. They were not only the parents of their daughter but also the royal figures responsible for the welfare of all the people in Country K. They had to make this sacrifice to save their nation.

King Edward gently knocked on the door and said, "Victoria, open the door, my princess. I need to speak with you." Victoria, upon hearing her father's voice, ceased her tears, wiped her face, and opened the door. Her father and mother, accompanied by maids and bodyguards, stood outside.

Seeing his daughter with red eyes, swollen from crying, disheveled hair, and unkempt attire, King Edward was heartbroken. He approached her and tenderly placed a hand on her cheek, saying, "Can I talk to you, my princess?" Victoria, teary-eyed, nodded in response.

They stood together in front of a window that provided a view of the picturesque landscapes, hills, rivers, lakes, villages, and more. After a moment of silence, King Edward addressed his daughter, "Do you understand why our country faces these constant attacks?"

With a faint smile, Victoria replied, "Yes, Dad, it's for the sake of wealth and power."

King Edward continued, "The sad truth is that we are powerless to stop them. We lack the strength and resources to defeat our adversaries."

Victoria, while holding her father's hands, responded with teary eyes, "I don't blame you and Mom. I was upset because you didn't consult me before arranging the marriage. I will marry for you, for Mom, for our people, for our country."

King Edward was relieved by his daughter's decision and hugged her tightly. While they embraced each other, a voice interrupted them, "Hugging without me?" They broke their embrace to find Queen Mary standing at the door with tears in her eyes. Victoria smiled and wiped her tears, saying, "No, Mother, how could we forget you?" The three of them hugged each other tightly.

Witnessing the royal family's embrace, the maids and guards outside the room couldn't help but smile. They admired King Edward for his unwavering dedication to his country and his daughter. Despite not having a male heir, he had declared that the throne would pass to Princess Victoria Herman.

Afterward, the three of them, accompanied by their maids and guards, proceeded to the dining hall for dinner. A feast of Princess Victoria's favorite dishes was prepared for the occasion. Following dinner, they bid each other goodnight and retired to their rooms.

Victoria bathed and donned her nightdress with the assistance of her maids. Afterward, she stood by the window, contemplating the fact that starting the next day, she would no longer be known as Princess Victoria Herman of Country K, but as Queen Victoria Alexander Knight of Country A. She was grateful for her loving parents, unlike King Alexander Knight, who had a reputation for cruelty.

Victoria had heard rumors about King Alexander Knight's brutal actions, including the murder of his own brothers for the throne. She wasn't afraid of being killed; her concern was whether she would receive the love and care she had always dreamed of from her husband. Lost in thought, she was startled when someone knocked on her door, and a voice called out, "Victoria, my princess, may I come in?" It was the voice of her mother, Queen Mary Herman.

She opened the door and found her mother holding a box. Together, they set up a tea table. Victoria's curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, "Mother, what's in the box?" With a smile, Mary handed the box to her daughter and said, "Inside this box, you'll find some jewelry that my mother and mother-in-law gave me. Today, I want to pass them on to you."

"But, Mom, this is your jewelry," Victoria protested. Mary replied, "No, my dear, these are now yours. You are my only child, and to whom else would I give them?" Victoria accepted her mother's gift and said, "Okay, Mother."

As Mary gazed at her daughter, she couldn't help but feel sorry for her. She sometimes wished that she had been physically and mentally stronger, which might have allowed her to bear sons who could have taken on the responsibility of saving the country, sparing her daughter from this forced marriage. Unable to do anything but pray for her daughter's future, Mary said, "Victoria, what happened? Why are you crying?" With a smile, Victoria reassured her mother, "Nothing, my princess. I'm fine. Now, you get some rest. Tomorrow, you have your wedding rituals to follow and a long journey ahead." Mary kissed Victoria's forehead and left the room.

Victoria watched her mother's departing figure, placed the box on her dressing table, and then went to sleep.

In Country A, within a dark cell, a man endured relentless torture. His screams echoed as he pleaded with the black-clad tormentor to stop. However, the merciless figure continued the brutal assault. Blood flowed from every part of the man's body. He looked up at his tormentor and gasped, "You're a true monster, so cruel... you don't deserve to li... ah... ah..." Before he could finish his sentence, the black-clad figure ended his life.