Chapter 1 : the punishment

2361 AD

The light flickered inside the young miss's room. It was as if the light itself is mocking the dark haired princess as she begrudgingly flipped the page of her etiquette book.

Hmphh! If it wasn't for that rascal of a brother, she wouldn't be on this punishment, reading such boring book for several days now.

 Her bitter thoughts only fueled her irritation as she angrily flipped another leaf of the poor book on her hand which has been receiving the wrath's end of a really scorned woman.

It's been a week since that little incident in the library happened. She was having a great time being surrounded by the books which has successfully muted the happy tune below the grand hall where a party was still on going. She was halfway through the book when her annoying brother decided that it was a perfect time to  disturb her.

 “Hey, little Utoh! What are you doing here all  alone? Are you supposed to be having your time below with the other noble girls?” Crowned Prince Elysian asked as he lazily plopped into one of the soft one seat cushion  inside the room.

 “Ha. ha. Ha. Nice joke, brother. As if you have seen me in such situation. Should I also ask why you are here when you are supposed to be with your lovely fiancée? It's your engagement soiree, after all?” She rebutted, eyes were still glued on the page of the worn looking book.

The prince acted as if he was greatly humiliated. His eyes sharpened, he dramatically palmed the part where the heart was located and gasped.

 “How dare you sister?! Me, getting married to that girl? Are you serious!?!” His thick accent lingered in the air, his bellowing echoed  making her  eyes roll.

 “Must you be so dramatic? I can't believe you. You know her since she was a kid!”

 “Can't you be a little compassionate to your big brother? I'm getting tied to a stranger” one wouldn't believe that the of a man in front of her acted like a brat child.

 “She is my best friend, you small brain!” Utopia can't help but screeched in rage. Her breathe was labored as she tried to calm herself down. How could he!?

'her blood sister, a stranger!? How dare he call my only friend a stranger?'

 “Isn't she the prime minister's third miss? you  know, I don't keep tabs to strangers even though I see them everyday, but I heard rumors saying she is a fool”. His words send a prick of hurt in her heart.

“ that's it! That's the last insult I should hear from your filthy mouth! Don't act as if you don't know her! “  it took all her  strength not to hurl the poor book to his brother's face. Her heart can't take the insults being thrown to her kind best friend. The only  one that she had kept for almost a decade. The girl she knows like the back of her hand.

 “Or what, sister? What will you do?” He mocked her, eyes challenging her to do something.

her judgement was clouded, all she was the red haze of irritation she felt for the man in front of her.

Pulling the twin pins in her hair, she attacked his brother, with the intent to make this hulk of  a man to take back all the bad things he spewed out  to her friend.

Thrust after thrust, almost of the things breakable inside the library  were broken, painting the mess the siblings had made.

Both panting heavily, they both parted halfway. The princess' hair was a mess, a bit wet with the sweat on her forehead. The prince was almost the same except for the trickle of blood from the scratch on his porcelain like cheek.

Taken aback by the sight of his blood, he looked at his sister incredulously. Even when they are sparring with each other in the past, during their training ,she was never this cruel.

“If you don't want to marry my sister, tell  that to father, you don't deserve her.”  Her words dripped venom. It was true, her best friend is pure. She doesn't deserve to be given to such monster, to her brother.

If glaring can kill, they must be both six feet underground after a long time of silence. Destructive current seems to sparks between their gazes.

and that was the cause of her being locked in her room to read boring books!

It was that bastard of a brother's fault and somehow she was also inflicted with punishment.

She was silently writhing in rage inside her room when three taps echoes from the massive door on the far left side.

 “Young miss, its time for breakfast. You are summoned on the dining hall by your queen mother.” An elderly voice said outside the door. 

'Summoned!? What do they think I am? A prisoner who committed some kind of heinous crime? This has to be stopped!', she thought inwardly, silently groaning as she willed herself to stand up.

Utopia unhurriedly went into the door, after checking her appearance in the mirror. Sighing for the nth time this morning, she opened the door, plastering her smile in front of the elderly servant who has given the task to call her in her room.

 “Thank you Aunt Eva, I hope I haven't bothered you for so long.” She said to Aunt Eva. Aunt Eva was her nanny when she was young. 

 “Oh hush, dear! It is this servant's job to serve you” the latter replied calmly, her eyes smiled as she looked at her little mistress whom she had served since she was young but old enough to be separated to the queen during the morning services.

 “If it is the case, then let us be on our way?” 

 the elder only nod her head and they started walking towards the direction of the dining hall.

But as if her luck ran out this very morning, her path was blocked by a woman or a girl? The latter was almost six years younger by age, blue eyes, golden hair twisted in very weird way, face filled with chemicals the people of the city called make up, she was the epitome of how vain women looked like. Painted and twisted.

 “Well, well, well, if it isn't the unruly princess whom graced me with her presence.  good morn, my lovely cousin, how are you?” Her shrilly voice made Utopia's mood sour.  

 'how many times today should I be tortured dear gods?!!'  Her annoyed self questioned the gods above for really wanting to ruin her days

 “I'm perfectly fine, Miss Csilla. And don't bow too much, you looked like you have been unwell by the looks on your face and my!? How hideous are those twist! I have heard by the royal physician that it can lead to hair loss,hmmm. “ she said in her fake caring tone. Her hand gestures made it almost believable.

Utoh smirked inwardly when the arrogance on the woman's face faltered and turned into  hatred. 

When will I care if you hate me, dear cousin?

 “It must be the weather that made me look a little bit shaken and look sick, Utopia. This chignon is quite loose on the contrary, so there is no need to fuss about hair loss. “

Before she could retort to this pesky monkey, she was beaten by Aunt Eva.

 “How dare you?! You should not say the princess name!, Where  are your manners, you should have known that  such person like you, us! should know respect and show honor towards the royal family or your tongue will be cut off because of your arrogance!” the elder servant reprimand the blonde making the latter blushed profusely from the embarrassment. 

It was quite true. No one, other than the royal family itself and the privileged nobles can call the royal family members by their given name.

If one, noble or not, was heard saying their names, it is considered to be such a crime towards the monarchy as the era is a strong believer of respect and harmony.

 “Pardon me for my mistake, Head Servant Eva, but am I not a part of the royal family? My father is the king's brother!” Rebutted the stupid one. It's always the stupid one who ask such question.

 “ a child of a courtesan, even though sired by the prince, should know the difference. after all, you 're only here because your mother is smart enough to enchant the prince. But keep in mind they are never wedded, so know your place inside the palace, even us, the privileged servants have higher status than you.” Spat the old woman. Most servants in the palace were fed up to the women's attitude towards them. If it wasn't for the prince's warning to the two, they would have been living in hardship twice than before.

The disbelief was written on Csilla's face. In her mind, she had killed the old woman countless of times as she speak. Her mother is one of the first prince's long list of concubines. The most favored one. Their time permitted one man to have multiple wives, as long as one can tend to their women's need. 

 After she had heard the servant's words , it felt like she was slapped in the face. The impact of such blunt words deepened her hatred towards the young princess in front of her. She coveted her place. She wanted to become the nation's princess! The only one!

By the looks of it, it was  needless to talk more to the petty girl. Utopia gestured Aunt Eva to continue their walk to the dining hall. Wasting more minutes talking to that girl can cause her reprimanding words from her father  who valued his time.

She was on time thank god! Utopia uttered a short prayer of relief as she saw that the room was still  on the process of being filled up with important people, more like her father's trusted officials and even her Uncle Levi is here!

Smiling, she  went towards her uncle. Third prince Levi was the youngest of the three brothers of the previous royals. He was currently in charge of the legislative branch of the monarch. Under him, Was the great general Solomon, whom was given the title of the God of War, when he was younger as he viciously protected the lands of Florin when it was being attacked by the native tribe of Alil Umiz on the northern part of the nation.

 “Uncle! It was surprising to see you here! And you too Great General Solomon!” Utopia said after she had bowed down as a sign of respect towards the elders.

 “ ah my lovely niece! You are looking very pretty as the days gone by! “ her smiling uncle commented.

 “What's with the sudden brunch with a lot of officials, uncle?” She asked as she swept her gaze all over the room. It was not a n everyday occurrence for the trusted members of the court to gathered at such early time of the day.

 “We are called by your father here as he has news for us. “ 

News? Was it Ely's engagement?

 “What kind of news, uncle?” She probed further. She had remembered that the engagement news was like ages ago. Being locked truly sucks

 “ Well, if you haven't fought with your brother that night, you could have had some inkling what will happen seven days from now. “ he answered, his eyes displayed humored on the thought of this grown up kids still fight over simple matter.

 “Uncle! It's not funny! It was Ely's fault!, If he didn't said nasty words to me, I won't retaliate.” The princess scrunched her face in disgust as she remembered her brother's words. Those words had nab her ego ah!

 “Hmpph! You're just too sensitive! If you really looked into my words, you can see that I was merely joking!” Grunted by the newcomer.

 “Crowned Prince.”, the elders and officials bowed towards him. The man only nod his head as he was still flustered by them bowing in respect towards him when it should be him who should show respect to the old people inside the room.

If one can read the prince's mind, they would be astonished! Even the previous line of the monarchy has reveled to this level of respect.

 “Oh, it's you.” Utopia can't helped but to roll her eyes in annoyance. It was her brother. She look behind him and sighed in relief when she didn't see their parents at the room at the moment or she will be doomed! Again

 “Yes, it's me. Do you have any more brother than me?, who's more handsome, more intelligent and more----” the prince was cut off by a soft voice that both of the siblings knew by heart.

 “More arrogant? More annoying? a little bit rude? Your highness? My son?” The queen said jokingly, her elegant brow was raised higher than the sky in jest.

 “Mother!” Both hollered in unison but differ in tone . One was delighted and the other one was begrudged...

The queen, along with her quiet husband, who's eyes were smiling at the bickering siblings in front of them, walked into the room. The air shifted into a serene one as the couple exude such aura that totally influenced everyone inside the room.

 “Your majesty!” 

 “Your highness!”

The king only nodded.  Feet shuffled as the elders and officials of the kingdom went to their respective places. Seated on the right side next to the royal sibling was the left prime minister's third daughter, Lady Kleir Dannielle McArthy.

 “Lady Kleir, how are you fairing?” Utopia asked. It was her best friend. Her brother's fiancée.

 She mentally cringed as she forced herself to be demure and well spoken in front of all these important people who composed the governing council of Florin.

 The laughter in her friend's eyes made her want to roll her eyes but then her will this morning was quite strong after being thrown into the pit by the gods several times, testing her temperance.

She can only do their secret gesture to show her displeasure towards the lady. The lady only smiled at her sweetly.

Oh how fun, she thought in grievance.

 “I am fine, your  highness. How about you?  rumor has it that you have been ill ? “ 

The crowned prince coughed out of the blue. His face was slightly read as he understood the hidden meaning in her words. It  seems like his future wife caught a whiff of what had happened inside the library that night. He suddenly felt a little flustered.

 “Are you okay, brother? You looked so red right now?!” Utopia decided to rub salt on her brother.

Elysian could only glare at his sister for teasing him in his state?!

 “I am quite fine, sis. something so small decided to block some pipe.” He grumble almost inaudible but she heard him clearly.

HA! Serves you right you mongrel! She sneered inwardly, truly having fun seeing her brother's paling face.

The quiet bickering stopped when the servants brought in the food and placed it in front of them.

In the middle of devouring the juicy steak that the royal chef had  prepared for their brunch, the king had announced a decree from the holy temple of mid realm.,

 “I have gathered you all here this morning as I have received an order from the holy temple that the Princes of the Veldt shall be visiting our city.” King Leroii said while his eyes never left his plate. The guests on the other hand, were all stunned by the news. They were not stranger to the other city's princes, but to have them in their territory all at once made them flustered.

Prime Minister Rhyes McArthy was the first one to recover. 

 “Your majesty, please forgive this one for asking, but shall we prepare a welcoming banquet for the visiting princes?” He asked. Some of the elders gave him stink eyes as they felt that he was doing things for him to gain more favors from the king. 

 His daughter is betrothed to the crowned prince and is close to the princess. What more does he need?  They sneered inside.

If the minister could read mind, he would feel wronged! He was just asking a harmless question. 

 “Well, I have been thinking about it for some time since the decree has been passed. But aside from that, I, I have another news to say.” The king hesitated for a moment. To the guest, it seems like the other news was really heavy that their king hesitated . 

Queen Liliane squeezed her husband's hand, giving him her comfort as well as support. The latter looked at the beauty gratefully and nodded his head.

 “The lord also wanted for the princes to marry anyone of their liking. I am requesting for the ladies of every family in my sect to be present during the visitation period.”