Elaine

In an old apartment filled with many beautiful things, sat an old woman in her seventies, still looking so graceful. She stood up with the aid of her cane and headed directly to the well-furnished kitchen, where a sweet aroma was wafting through the air.

"Aren't you done yet? I'm so hungry," Nicole said, sitting on a chair in the kitchen.

"Of course not, I'm not done yet," Elaine replied while chopping some vegetables.

"You have to be faster. Is this how you'll keep your husband waiting?" Nicole teased.

Elaine sighed, "Come on, Granny, you talk about this all the time!"

"That's because you always cook slowly, or maybe I just feel hungry all the time," Nicole responded with a smile.

Hearing this, Elaine laughed. "You're spot on, Granny. You do seem to feel hungry most of the time."

A few minutes later, Elaine served the meal she had prepared on the table, and they began to eat.

"Hmm... the ribs are cooked perfectly, and the ingredients are balanced so well," Nicole praised.

"I always love cooking your favorite," Elaine replied with a smile.

"I've loved this meal since I was a kid. My mom always made it for me," Nicole said as she reminisced about her childhood days.

Elaine, noticing the light in her grandmother's eyes, laughed in amusement. "So... you still remember your childhood?"

"Silly child! Do you think I've forgotten those beautiful memories?"

"I thought old age had taken over your brain," Elaine joked, and they both laughed.

"Hey! Stop talking and let's finish this meal before it gets cold," Nicole scolded.

"Okay, Granny," Elaine replied with a grin.

---

By noon, a cold breeze blew, making the leaves move in the direction of the wind. It was chilly outside, but many houses were warm, thanks to their chimneys. Elaine moved her chair closer to the fireplace to get some warmth.

"Elaine! Elaine!" Nicole called from her room.

"Yes, Granny... I'm coming!" Elaine quickly rushed to her grandmother's room.

"It's quite cold outside. Make sure to wear a sweater and don't forget to close your windows before you go to bed," Nicole instructed.

"Okay, Granny, I won't forget," Elaine said, giving her grandmother a kiss on the cheek before heading back to her room.

---

Back in the kingdom of Khorsan, the current king issued a command that had been decreed by his father twenty-six years ago.

~Flashback~

"Father! Are you sure this won't cause a lot of problems?" a young Bernard asked in a serious tone.

King Gill responded, "No, it won't. Since they won't give their daughters in marriage, we'll force them."

"But, Father! That's not right. We can form alliances with other countries that have beautiful maidens to be our wives instead of purging innocent lands and taking people into exile."

Filled with anger, King Gill slapped young Bernard. "You are still young and inexperienced. You know nothing about ruling, so keep your mouth shut. Understand?"

"Yes, Father," young Bernard replied in a flat tone.

~End of Flashback~

King Bernard sat on his throne, recounting the story to his son. "That was twenty years ago, and I'm bringing back that tradition now." He chuckled darkly.

"Yes, Father, I love that idea. I'm ready to have as many wives and concubines as possible," replied Prince Louis, who, like his father, was evil and corrupt.

King Bernard chuckled. "That's my son! I wish you could take the throne after me, but your brother is the rightful heir."

"Does that really matter? You know my brother doesn't follow your ways. He's different from you, and he'll change all of your policies if he gains power," Prince Louis said with a flash of anger and jealousy in his eyes.

"Hmm... what you've said is true, but I can't change the fact that he will rule after me," King Bernard replied in a helpless tone.

Prince Louis smirked and responded, "Well, let's see how that will happen."

Hearing this, King Bernard's brows furrowed, sensing the potential for conflict. "I hope you're not planning to stain your hands with royal blood. Don't be ruthless. He's your elder brother, and it's his right to rule, despite the changes he might make."

Prince Louis smirked and replied, "Yes, I know, Father." He bowed and left the throne room.

A few minutes later, the king summoned the captain of his soldiers.

"Captain Todd, I want you to send your troops to Elyria and capture all the beautiful maidens. Have you executed the other plan?" the king asked.

Captain Todd bowed. "Yes, Your Majesty. I've sent some of my soldiers to assassinate their king, and it was successful."

Hearing this, King Bernard smirked. "Oh! I knew you'd always deliver! Yes, our plan worked!" He raised his hand. "Go and capture them now!"

Captain Todd bowed and left the king's presence.

During the daytime, Elyria was filled with confusion as the news of the king's death spread throughout the land. There was also a rumor that they might soon be attacked, which struck fear into the hearts of the people. Their king was dead, and there was no one left to protect their kingdom.

Hearing this, Elaine was deeply afraid. She stayed indoors all day, refusing to go out.

"Granny, is the king really dead?" she asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Yes, my child. As for the other rumor, don't panic. It's just a rumor, okay?" Nicole said, trying to comfort her.

"But Granny, I heard they're planning to take us hostage, and..."

"Shh... don't say that! It's just a rumor," Nicole interrupted, cutting Elaine off. She was actually scared, but she didn't want Elaine to feel the same. Nicole had watched Elaine grow up, knowing how fragile she could be. She always did her best to be there for her, to give her the best life possible. Hearing the news of the king's death frightened Nicole even more, especially the thought that they might take Elaine away from her, just as they had taken her daughter twenty years ago.

Though Nicole had a heart condition triggered by the events two decades earlier, she usually took herbs to manage it. But she knew she wouldn't last much longer. The pain had become more frequent lately, though she never let Elaine know, not wanting her to worry. Nicole's only wish was to watch Elaine grow up, get married, and live a happy life. But whenever she thought about it, a sad smile crept onto her face, because only she knew how little time she had left.

---

At night, all the men in the kingdom gathered to mourn the king. They ate and drank in his honor and discussed who should rule next, as the king had no heir. By midnight, they all fell asleep, unaware of their surroundings.

From a distance, the sound of horse hooves could be heard pounding the ground, and the women who were awake began to shout and raise the alarm. But none of the men could wake up-their drinks had been drugged by an intruder who had snuck in. Soldiers descended on the village, killing all the men and abducting the women, leaving only the elderly behind.

Elaine was hidden in the basement with her grandmother, so she wasn't captured. Nicole, however, became increasingly scared and suddenly started coughing violently.

"It's okay now, Granny. I'll get a doctor for you," Elaine said, her voice filled with worry.

Sensing that her time was near and fearing for Elaine's safety, Nicole spoke through her coughs. "There's no need. I'll die soon," she said, coughing again. "You need to stay out of trouble and live a good life."

"Granny, don't say that! You'll be here with me," Elaine replied, trying hard not to cry.

Hearing Elaine's words, Nicole smiled sadly. "I wish I could, but I can't promise you that," she whispered between violent coughs. "Make sure to be a good mother to your children in the future and marry a good, responsible man who'll love you no matter what."

Tears streamed down Elaine's cheeks. "Granny, I promise you that... but you have to stay with me," she sniffled. "I need you..."

Nicole's coughing grew worse, and she tried to say something, but the words wouldn't come. Her hands fell limp, and she slumped lifelessly in the chair. Elaine's eyes widened in shock, and she shook her grandmother's body desperately, but there was no response. Realizing what had happened, Elaine let out a scream of pure agony.

~Khorsan Kingdom~

King Bernard chuckled, "Yes, we did it! Captain, put them into hard labor for three days to get that stubbornness out of their bodies, understand?"

"Yes, my lord! Also, I heard from some of the captured women that there's a girl hiding somewhere. They say she's the most beautiful of them all. Should we go back and capture her?" Captain Todd asked calmly.

"Hmm..." King Bernard paused in thought. "Who cares about that girl?" he laughed darkly. "Tell the crown prince to gather his soldiers and go capture her." His tone was filled with malice.

Captain Todd bowed and left the king's presence.

---

A handsome young man in his early twenties sat beside a large ornate mirror, his sapphire eyes reflecting his striking beauty. His dark, long hair cascaded down as several maids carefully styled it. His lashes were thick, adding to his captivating appearance. Suddenly, a knock came at the door.

"Your Majesty, should I let them in?" Selena, one of the maids, asked.

"Yes, of course," Prince Julian answered, not sparing her a glance.

When the door opened, Captain Todd entered and bowed. "Your Majesty, there's a message for you," he said, his eyes cast down.

Prince Julian raised a hand, dismissing the maids. "What's the message?" he asked in a calm tone.

"The King has ordered that you go to Elyria to capture a girl who's hiding there," Captain Todd relayed.

Prince Julian's brow furrowed. "Is that really necessary?" he asked impatiently, feeling irritated. His father always knew how to annoy him. What could be so important about some girl? He muttered under his breath.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Todd affirmed.

"And after we capture her, then what?" Julian asked, feigning annoyance.

"The King said it's up to you to decide."

"Fine," Prince Julian said dismissively. "Take some soldiers and capture her yourselves. I don't have time for such trivial matters. I'm preparing for my brother's birthday party."

"Forgive me, Your Majesty, but the order is directly from the King," Captain Todd said, pleading.

"Alright, then leave. I'll handle it myself," Prince Julian replied curtly, and Captain Todd bowed and left.

---

Elyria had been in turmoil ever since the attack and the abduction of its people. A beautiful girl sat near a pile of sand, alone in the desolate environment. Tears streamed down her face, her swollen brown eyes a testament to the endless crying. Her rosy lips were chapped, trembling as she whispered words of agony. Her brown hair, disheveled and unkempt, gave her an almost witch-like appearance.

Minutes later, the sound of horse hooves grew louder as they approached. Elaine didn't move, though her heart raced with fear.

George, who was leading Prince Julian's soldiers, spoke up. "Hey! What are you doing out there?"

Elaine heard him but chose to ignore him. They had come to capture her, and she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of playing nice.

Seeing her stubbornness, George decided to issue a threat. "Turn around, little girl, or you'll be dead in seconds."

The threat worked. Elaine was terrified of dying, especially without achieving anything meaningful. She hadn't even avenged her grandmother's death. Reluctantly, she turned around and stared at George blankly, her witch-like appearance catching him off guard.

"Oh! What are you doing here?" George asked, trying to regain his composure.

"Go away!" Elaine thundered. "I'm mourning my grandmother. What else do you want from me?" she asked, her voice filled with pain.

"You're coming with us," George said, his tone impatient.

Little girl trying to be brave? he muttered under his breath.

Seeing things were not going according to plan, Prince Julian dismounted his horse and approached her. He had told his men not to use force but to talk her into coming along, but she wasn't cooperating.

As Prince Julian came closer, Elaine felt a strange sense of safety, though she quickly pushed that feeling aside. *These people are evil,* she reminded herself.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly.

"I am Julian," he replied, deliberately withholding his royal status, not wanting to scare her. He extended his hand. "You can come with me. It's safe," he said reassuringly.

Elaine hesitated, unsure if she should trust him. But before she could stop herself, she reached out and took his hand. Gently, he helped her up from the ground.

"Shall she ride with me?" Elmer, one of Prince Julian's trusted men, asked.

"No, she'll ride with me," Julian replied without hesitation.

George, surprised by the decision, tried to intervene. "Your Majesty, she-"

"I insist," Prince Julian interrupted, silencing him with a look.