Chapter 5 AT THE BETROTHAL CEREMONY.

CHAPTER 5: AT THE BETROTHAL CEREMONY.

A man accompanied by a Sovereign guard walked hastily through the hallways of the Sovereign's hold. He nodded, greeting some of the officials who were standing and those who were up and about at the hold. It was a busy day at the hold.

He got to a section of the palace and walked to a twelve-foot door. On each side of the door stood a soldier, dressed in navy blue uniforms and armed, looking well-groomed.

He went ahead to knock on the door. "My Lady? It is time."

After a short while of getting no response, he knocked again. "Lady Raika. It's time."

Once again, there was no response. Lord Keefe went ahead to push open the door and walk into the Princess's chamber. He met her absence.

"Where is she? Where is the Princess?" he asked the soldiers who stood guard by her door. They looked confusedly at Lord Keefe.

"After she returned from lunch, she hasn't left her chambers, my lord," one of the soldiers said.

"Well, she isn't in her chambers, is she? Go find her!" lord Keefe yelled. The soldiers skedaddled. He also turned and walked away, wondering where she could have disappeared to. She was unpredictably slippery.

As he walked back to the Sovereign's wing, he ran into the Sovereign and the Empress. Lord Keefe and the guard accompanying him quickly went on one knee as they bowed.

"Your Sovereign."

"Where is Raika, Keefe? She is supposed to be here so we can make our entrance into the banquet hall," His Sovereign said calmly.

"Lady Raika isn't in her chambers, Your Sovereign. I have soldiers searching all the possible places he could be within the palace," lord Keefe replied, gulping.

"Within the palace," His Sovereign scoffed. "If for any reason my daughter isn't here for her Betrothal Ceremony, I'll have your head for it. Find her!"

His Sovereign's deep voice thundered mildly through the hallway. The Empress placed her right hand on his left shoulder. He took a deep breath in and exhaled, growling softly.

Lord Keefe quavered while he was on his knees.

"Find her," His Sovereign said, then continued to the banquet hall with the Empress.

Lord Keefe waited until his Sovereign was out of sight before he stood up.

"I'm getting too old for this," he said under his breath, sighing exasperatedly. Then he walked away, fuming.

His Sovereign and the Empress made their way to the banquet hall through the front entryway, beside the majestically built thrones made of gold and ore from the blue meteor.

It was quite a unique-looking throne that garnered the admiration of anyone who saw it. It was a testament to the tasteful sophistication of the Sovereignty.

The moment he walked into the banquet hall, all the chattering of the guests ceased as trumpets were blown by Sovereign guards, heralding his arrival.

The guests all bowed as they walked in.

His Sovereign and the Empress sat on their thrones respectively, with his being the biggest and at the center.

As the guest raised their heads, the absence of the Princess was obvious. They wondered where he was.

A man walked forward close to the thrones and bowed. "Your Sovereign."

His Sovereign nodded in acknowledgement.

"Your Sovereign, Lord Castor of House Brakken, Lord Kole of House Griffen, Lord Maryl of House Armagen, and lastly, Lord Julius of House Alakkan, Barons of the Sovereignty," the man announced.

All the Barons walked forward as their names were mentioned. Then they bowed in unison when the man was done announcing them.

The Sovereign nodded slightly in acknowledgement. Then he stood to his feet.

"I welcome you all, Barons, and noblemen of the Sovereignty. Thank you for honoring this invitation," His Sovereign began.

"Today indeed is a special day as the future of this great Sovereignty is once again going to be secured for another generation, by the union of Lady Raika, the Princess and daughter-heir of the Sovereignty, and Percy, son of Lord Julius of House Alakkan."

"And where is he that is to be betrothed to the Crown Prince, Lord Julius?" His Sovereign inquired.

Lord Julius turned back and nodded. His son, Percy, gallantly walked up to where his father stood, two maids walking behind her. Lord Julius and his son walked closer to His Sovereign and bowed.

"Your Sovereign, my son, Percy of House Alakkan," Lord Julius introduced. Percy went ahead to bow respectfully. His Sovereign nodded in acknowledgment.

"You've grown to be a strapping fine young man, Percy," the Empress commended.

"Thank you, Empress," Percy replied, cracking up a mild smile. Indeed, he was a good-looking man and was admired by all.

"Pardon me asking, Your Sovereign, but where is Lady Raika?" Lord Julius inquired, voicing what was on everyone's mind.

Just as His Sovereign was about to speak, the doors to the banquet hall swung open, drawing the attention of everyone. Right before their eyes stood none other than the daughter-heir, Lady Raika.

His Sovereign sighed, as he was spared from responding to the question. Lady Raika gracefully walked in, adorned with a navy blue and black flowy gown. Her twisted hair lay beautifully on her shoulders.

Oh, she was a sight to behold. All the guests looked in admiration at her beauty.

His Sovereign got up and received her, helping her to her seat to his right.

"My daughter loves making grand entrances," His Sovereign said, chuckling. "Well then, let the feasting begin."

Saying that, servers made their way into the banquet hall with drinks and all sorts of delicacies. There was a band playing music in the background while the noblemen, guests, and Barons interacted.

"Don't tell me you were at the Creeks," His Sovereign leaned to the side and asked his daughter.

"I wasn't at the Creeks," Raika replied. His Sovereign chuckled, shaking his head.

"Well, you said I shouldn't tell I was there, so I did as you asked," Raika shrugged.

"I forbade you from ever going there, but you keep disobeying," he said.

"How will I be able to serve the people when I don't know them?" Raika argued.

"But they are nothing but lawless peasants. You need not concern yourself with their affairs. Well, not directly anyway. That's why we appoint Governors who handle the affairs of such places. I don't want you there again."

Deep down, His Sovereign knew his instructions fell on deaf ears. Raika wasn't one to be tamed.

Percy walked over to where His Sovereign and his family were seated, and bowed.

"Your Sovereign, I'd be honored if Lady Raika gave me this dance," he requested.

"Well, of course," His Sovereign agreed. Raika stood up, and Percy took her by the hand and led her to the center of the banquet hall. The band then began playing music that they waltzed to.

As they danced, Raika saw a man who had a scar beside his right eye. She furrowed her brow and looked around, noticing that something was off with some of the servers in the banquet hall.

Her eyes widened when she realized who they were.