The Sacrificial Bride

Esmeray woke up, early in the morning. Trying to recall what happened last night, but couldn't. She only remembered that after the ball, her aunt's words couldn't let her asleep and then she heard some noises, but what? she didn't know.

"Esmeray! How long are you going to sleep?", Maria called her.

"Coming!", she answered and went to her mother.

As usual they started making bakery items, and started selling them.

"I knew Diana would want us to come, only to mock us", Maria scowled.

"But you handled it very well, it was a great trick to throw her taunt on her", Arthur laughed.

"It wasn't my idea, it was Esmeray's", Maria said.

"Really? Our little Esmeray is getting big and smart. I'm so proud of you", Arthur hugged her.

"She's very sharp", Maria praised.

"Well, to survive in this cruel and selfish world, you must learn to be smart", she giggled.

Strangely, there was a knock on the door. Maria opened it and saw, it was the match-maker.

"Arthur! Look it's the match-maker, she's here for Esmeray", she told.

"Esmeray, go inside", she ordered.

"I want to hear too", she pouted.

"Silly! Young ladies don't hear such things", she scolded her.

Esmeray stood behind the room, while her parents sat and talked to the match-maker.

"So, do you have a match for Esmeray?", Maria zsked excitedly.

"I'm afraid not, nobody wants to marry your daughter", the match-maker said.

"What? Why not?", Arthur asked.

"What do you except from the daughter of a run away princess, nobody wants to marry her", she answered.

"That's absurd! What does that have to do with Esmeray!?", Maria yelled.

"The choices a mother makes during her youth, affect the life of her daughter", she coldly said.

"Are you saying I made the wrong choice! I'm perfectly happy with my choice and my life!", Maria shouted.

"Maria, control your anger" , Arthur consoled.

"Because of your anger, you ruin everything. Esmeray is a disgrace, being the daughter of a run away princess and a baker. She won't ever find a man to marry her. People act nice to you because you're a Princess but deep down, they think you're pathetic, leaving your family and royalty for a man like that!", the match-maker taunted.

"I won't allow you to insult meand my family! Get out of my house!", she screamed.

The match-maker left with a very angry face.

Maria started crying,"I never thought that the choices I made would affect my daughter's life!"

"It's alright, it's a good thing that she won't marry a disgusting man with a mind like that!", Arthur consoled her.

"But how will she ever get married then?!", she asked.

"There's someone for everyone, Esmeray will find him", Arthur smiled.

"I hope she does", Maria stopped crying and smiled.

Outside the foom, Esmeray was keft heart broken, she felt like a burden on her parents. If only, she could find someone, her parents wouldn't have to go to trouble. But again, who would want her?.

There was a knock again on the door. Arthur opened it this time and saw a messenger from tue palace. He gave him a letter, Arthur read it and tore it apart.

"Impossible! I won't allow it!", he screamed.

"What is it Arthur?", Maria asked.

Esmeray came into the room.

"It's saying that the Lore king has asked for a bride and the king has decided to sacrifice our daughter as his bride!"

"No! We won't let it happen!", Maria refused.

"Oh yes, you would", Diana came in.

"Diana! I should've known that you're behind it", Maria yelled.

"Soliders! Grab her!", she said.

The soliders grabbed her and put her in the carriage. Then they took her to the palace, they're she was made ready for the Lore king.

The maids gave her a bath, dressed her as a bride and then she was ready to be taken to Maleficium.

Her parents kept trying to get inside the palace but all in vain. When she was in the carriage and was going to Maleficium, Arthur said:

"Don't worry Esmeray! I'll come to save you!"

"Father! Mother! I don't want to go! Save me!", she pleaded.

But the carriage left and they could do nothing. Maria saw Diana smiling at their helplessness.

"Diana! You!", she rushed to attack her but the soliders grabbed her.

"How could you sacrifice my daughter!? Aren't you a mother too?!", she mourned at the top her lungs.

"You should be proud that she was sacrificed for the sake of her kingdom and not killed by me!", she grinded her teeth.

"Diana! I curse you! You'll lose your everything! You'll suffer the same fate as a sacrifice! This my curse upon!", Maria cursed her.

"She's gine crazy! Take her away or else I throw her in the dungeon!", she warned and left.

Arthur took Maria home but he assured her that he'll surely save her.