Chapter 3 Kingdom of Keragania

KIARA

The Royal carriage rolled smoothly carrying me and Zuko. I stared at the scenery passing by. It was all forest that surrounded us from both sides. Leaves were fallen off the trees everywhere. Once again, everything looked too gloomy.

Or maybe it was my heart.

My teacher Mori used to say that if a person was peaceful and happy inside, even ruins looked beautiful.

The only thing I could ask was...

How to be truly happy and peaceful? How?

All I saw and experienced in my life was slaughter, bloodshed, people dying from hunger, soldiers dying in front of my eyes, fear of getting invaded anytime, shouldering great responsibility and feeling everything even more because in some way I, Princess Kiara Sindlaire, was responsible for my people.

Sighing, I thought about the only good thing I experienced in my life. Calic Kroner.

But even with him by my side, I could only feel love not peace or happiness. It was like these feelings did not exist for me at all.

" From now on, Be on your best behaviour, Princess Kiara. " I heard Zuko's authorative tone and turned my head to take a look at his face, that resembled mine. He was addressing me not as his younger sister, but as the Responsible Princess of Kingdom Mylvania.

That was all he had to say to me?

I was certain that he was the only person who knew about my love for General Calic Kroner. He saw us together once, but never said anything about it.

" Ofcourse Your highness. I will be on my best behaviour. " I raised my head and assured him, using the same tone as his.

" The survival of both Mylvania and Keragania depends on this marriage, Princess Kiara. You shoulder a great responsibility. Can I hope that you will never disappoint us? " His eyes bore into mine, his voice sending chills down my spine.

Brother.

I want to ask you to take me home.

I don't want to stay in an enemy kingdom all alone.

Tears pricked my eyes, disappointment settled in my own heart.

How could someone not disappoint the others if they were disappointed in themselves?

I had to find this out.

I had to find out real quick.

" Ofcourse Your Highness. Rest assured. " Giving him a curt nod, I gazed at him until he detached his eyes from mine.

Slowly, my Amber orbs went to the crown on his head that stood so proud that it had me wanting to bow my head for a moment.

This was the Crown that came between us.

Between a brother and sister.

Between a father and daughter.

Between two lovers.

Between humanity and Power.

Everything was for a crown like this or some was for the crown heavier and more Powerful than this.

Sometimes, I found myself wondering about the kind of Crown Dark King carried over his head. Was that crown stained with all the blood he shed?

The carriage kept rolling over, leaving me and Zuko stranded in the defeaning silence which weighed heavy on us.

The day gradually turned into night. The stars shined brightly in the sky, as I watched them from the window in the carriage.

Then it came into view. The soldiers of Keragania Army at the border to escort us to the Palace. They followed behind our Knights and soldiers silently and orderly.

Averting my eyes away, I sat straight in the carriage. My eyes went down to my hands, that were clasped together and placed on my lap.

The Royal Castle of Keragania was not far now. My fate was sealed. I wanted to cry, but crying was not what ever suited a Princess. I was taught this lesson from an early age.

I was going to face everything head on. Even if it was heart-tearing for me...

I would never back down from responsibility and never stop hating the one person who was the reason behind this ill-fate...

Dark King Cassian De Kiligan.

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We were met with a Royal Welcome. The soldiers surrounded the whole Palace, as me and my brother were escorted to the main hall where only General of Keragania - Desias, was waiting for us.

" Your Highness. " General Desias bowed at Zuko and then turned to me. " My Princess. " He bowed down to me as well and I nodded my head ignoring how he referred to me as ' My Princess '.

I was not his Princess.

' You are going to be his princess soon ' My mind whispered to me and I stiffened.

" I suppose there is a reason behind the absence of any Member of Keragania's Royal Family here, General Desias. " Zuko spoke in his powerful tone of a Crown Prince and I observed how Desias' expressions turned grave.

Seemed like something bad happened.

" King Luca is sick. He fainted earlier today... " Bowing his head down, General Desias informed us both and I inhaled deeply

King Luca was sick? I gulped. He was a great King who could hold back the Dark King's Army for years and now he was sick? What did this mean?

" We should meet him immediately and wish him health. " Zuko stepped forth, showing the mannerism of Royals, that I defintely lacked in this moment.

But as a princess, I was taught to never speak between people higher in status than me, until I was spoken to.

" Your highness. " General Desias sounded desperate, as he adressed Zuko.

My eyes scanned his expressions that were grief striken. The king could not only be sick for this general's expressions to be so serious.

" Your Majesty King Luca is on his death bed. The healer said that Your majesty has two days left at maximum. " He pursed his lips and broke the news to both of us.

My eyes went wide and instantly travelled to my right to glance at Zuko, who visibly stiffened. He was staring at General Desias silently, but I knew what he was thinking.

He did not believe in Crown Prince Kylo Antiglone's ability to hold off Dark King. Keragania might fall soon without King Luca.

The end was near.

" It's King Luca's wish and demand for the marriage to be held tomorrow. " He added further and my shoulders slumped down in defeat.

The end was near and I...

I was going to be the one in the middle of all of it.

I thought I had a week, but no. I had no days left of staying as a Princess here. I was going to be Crown Princess and then a Queen soon.

The thought was horrible.

" Then we must fulfill King's wish. I will like to meet with him to discuss this further while Princess Kiara will take rest in her assigned chambers. " Zuko announced his decision and finally glanced at me.