Sunlight streamed through the open windows of the Crown Prince's chambers, casting a warm glow over the scene within. Crown Prince Percival lay sprawled across his bed, his chest bare and his trousers undone. Surrounding him were several women; their dresses were scattered, and their bodies were also exposed.
The prince's face was serene, his lips slightly parted as he slept quietly, probably tired from last night's rigorous activities. What activity could he possibly engage in? Who knows?
The peaceful atmosphere was shattered by the sudden burst of the queen's entrance. She flung open the doors and rushed into the room, her face flushed with rage.
"What is the meaning of this?!" she screamed, her voice echoing off the stone walls.
The women surrounding the prince scattered to gather their clothes and flee; their faces were red with shame. The prince, still asleep and not bothered by the noise, turned to the left side of the bed, to continue his sleep, and this enraged the queen more as she went ahead and hit him so hard on his back.
Startled by the commotion, Percival slowly sat up, rubbing his ocean blue eyes and trying to adjust to the scene before him.
"Mother, what?" he said, but the queen's anger silenced him.
"Get out! All of you, get out!" she shouted, pointing at the fleeing women. Her rage was dreadful, and her eyes definitely looked like she could kill someone.
As the last of the women escaped, the queen turned her attention to the prince.
"Percival, how could you?!" she demanded, her voice trembling with fury.
The prince shrugged, a lazy smile spreading across his face. "I'm just enjoying life, Mother. You know that."
The queen's expression darkened, her eyes flashing with anger. "Enjoying life? You call this enjoying life? You're the future king, Percival! You have responsibilities!"
As the argument escalated, the prince's smile never wavered. He seemed too delight in pushing his mother's buttons, and the queen's anger only seemed to fuel his amusement. He never took the role of the crown prince seriously; to him it was just an ordinary title that means nothing.
"The King is awaiting your presence at the courtroom," she said, accompanied by a deadly side-eye. A bombastic side-eye, if you may ask.
Sage, the second son of Queen Lisa, rushed in trying to tell his brother the king was on his way, but he was struck by an unusual smell and chaos.
"This place reeks of women," Sage said, covering his nose.
Queen Lisa, out of anger, threw a cup at him.
"Owww, by the way, Father is on his way." Sage added and walked away casually.
"What!!!!!!" Lisa and Percival screamed in unison.
"Clean this mess while I go ahead and stop him." Queen Lisa said and left hurriedly . The King must not meet his son in such a situation; it will be bad.
The prince stood up from his bed, stretching his built body frame. As he walked to the window to adjust his clothes, he caught sight of a figure standing outside. Queen Lorraine, the Queen Mother, stood staring at him with a haunting gaze. Her eyes were sunken, her skin pale, and her hair unkept and undone. She was the true definition of a living corpse.
The prince hissed, his eyes narrowing in disgust. "What does the living corpse want?" he muttered to himself as he dragged his window and shut it, closing the curtain.
The door into the courtroom was opened widely for Percival; he gracefully walked into the room all eyes were on his blue velvet doublet with delicate silver embroidery matching hose and breeches and polished leather boots with silver buckles. His Guards of Honor walked right behind him; their mix of black and navy blue uniforms created a sharp and sleek look that complemented the prince's attire. What a grand entrance!!
He was welcomed with a bow from the ministers, and a huge smile appeared on his mother's face, who was proud and satisfied with her son. Percival was handsome; it is never a lie. His hair was dark and shiny, and his figure was perfect, AKA, every woman's dream man. The king didn't welcome him, and his tone sounded mean.
"Where have you been?"
"You shouldn't sound so mean to him, my lord," Queen Lisa said.
"I had some important documents to go through and assignments from the ministers," Percival replied calmy, maintaining a huge composure.
"That gives you no right to appear before the whole council this late," the king raised his voice. He was expressionless, and all that could be said of him was that he was too mean towards Percival. This was not the first time such had happened, so no one seemed surprised or shocked by the king's attitude towards his son.
Percival kept quiet and didn't say a word; this was also not the first time the king had been mean not only to him but to the other princes. The whole room was filled with silence until a minister broke it.
"How about the crown prince's partner? The ministers are left behind," a minister said with a fake smile . "There is a rumor going around the palace that their marriage is an arranged marriage."
"It is in progress, Minister Zayn," Queen Lisa stepped in.
"There is also a rumor going on in the palace about the crown prince bringing in strange women to the palace." Zayn added. He never liked the queen or the prince, and he was looking for every means to cause chaos in the courtroom.
The king's head was raised in alarm.
"Is that true?" he asked.
"Father, there is something I must discuss with you; it is of huge importance." Percival tried to divert the king's attention.
There was silence in the room, and it was interrupted by the sudden entry of a maid who was shivering and screaming.
"The Queen, the queen!" she lamented.
"What's wrong with my wife?" The King's voice was calm, filled with worry, and everyone would be confused if it was the same person speaking. This same king who was mean to his son, but when he heard of his wife, he sounded calm like a child.
"She needs you." The maid shivered.
"Father, it is of great importance." Percival said, trying to get his attention and just listen to what he has to say. It will not take time.
The king ignored him and stormed out of the courtroom.
The king had an issue of showing love to his other children; he only loves Rwaine and his mother . Hearing that there was trouble, he was worried, and he had to rush to Lorraine's room only to find out her room was disorganized and scattered with guards holding Lorraine. He rushed towards her.
"Lorraine, what's wrong?" He said, looking worried and scared.
This was the second time Lorraine was portraying such behaviour, and it was because of Rwaine; she still suffered from the trauma every day and night.
"I want to see my son, please," she pleaded with tears welling up in her eyes. "It's been 20 years; my heart longs for him," she cried out.
'We'll find him," the king assured her, hugging her close and tightly.
-----
Meanwhile, screams of pain echoed throughout the walls of the Dragonseeds' whole mansion. Fanaza was being caned on her feet as the heavy books she carried fell to the ground.
Elizabeth had woken up at night and discovered she was nowhere to be found. Realizing she had sneaked out of the house to a tavern, she was being punished for her disobedience. Her mother stared at her in disappointment.
"I'm sorry, Mother." Fanaza said slowly, trying to win the heart of her mother and in hopes of her reducing her punishment.
A loud voice was heard outside, which drew the attention of both mother and daughter.
Outside, Sally was dragging and begging Elric not to burn some dresses. Elric must have gone into Fanaza's chambers after she was caught last night, and he found her designed dresses. This made him furious, as a noble and with the training given to her since birth, her only duty was to serve her husband.
"Please don't burn my lady's dresses; they belong to her. She worked so hard to make them," she pleaded.
Elric pushed her aside.
Elizabeth and Fanaza had to witness the scene, as Fanaza realized the dresses in her father's hands were hers. She ran to him to beg, but before she could get close, some guards held onto her. The grip was strong, and it was not so easy for her to break free.
"You are a noble, and your duty is to serve the future king, not indulge in stupid crafts." Her father screamed and threw the dresses into the fire to burn.
Fananza screamed and tried to free herself from the guard, which was successful. She ran towards the burning clothes and pulled it out of the fire, sustaining a burn. Her father, seeing this, slapped her angrily and threw the cloth back into the fire.
"Please don't!" Fananza screamed and cried for help, but no one was able to help her. Sally could only console her.
Her parents never supported her dreams; all they ever cared about was marrying her off and enjoying the money they would get off her, the promotions, and the new names that would be attached to their clan if she got married to the Crown Prince, who would soon become a king.
Her world crumbled as she watched her dresses burn; all her hard work and sleepless nights were in that fire. Her situation was hopeless, and all she could do was stare at the fire.
"My lady, you need to get your hand treated." Sally said with an effort to pull her up, but Fanaza pushed her away forcefully in anger.
"Go away!" she screamed.
"My lady!" Sally moved closerm
"Go away!"
"My Lady!" Sally called again, hugged her tightly, and watched as Fanaza cried. She was hurt and scared. She was a lonely person, and as she grew up in a noble family, she had no friends or even enemies to have fun with, and now that she had discovered something that made her happy, her parents were not in support; they were still clouded by the laws created by their forefathers that noble women's only duty is to their husband.
What a shame!
-------
Fanaza was with the noble tailor trying out the dress she would wear to the palace. Her face was expressionless. Poor girl, she never wanted this life; it was choking. If only she could run away or commit suicide, maybe things would be a bit easier for her, and her parents will cherish her more when she is in her grave.
"You look so beautiful, Fanaza." Her mother adored her, but she said nothing.
Deep down, she was sad. Being forced to get married to a stranger and into a royal family, someone she had never met or had any connection with, what if he was ugly? Or he is a woman beater who would just use her for childbearing and be with strange women at night . Many thoughts echoed in her mind, and she knew she would never be happy.
Get married to a crown prince, disgusting, what a joke, she thought.
It was time for her to leave her parents' home and leave for the palace. As she stepped into the carriage, looking at her parents waving at her, she knew this was the end and there was nothing else she could do; it was her fate. The carriage sets off until she is out of sight of her home. During their journey, she asked Sally, who was walking with the other guards and maids, to join her in the chariot; at least she is the only sane person in her life.
"My lady, what's wrong? You look sad." Sally asked in concern.
"I do not want to get married." Fanaza replied, holding Sally's hands tightly.
"I know it may feel overwhelming, but trust me, it is not so bad. What if he is a handsome prince, with broad shoulders just like how you like them?" Sally said.
"Or an ugly old womanizer," Fananza said.
They both laughed.
"My Lady, you will definitely love him, or have you ever considered running away?