Knock!! Knock!!
The sound of knocks on the door of the princess can be heard but there is no response from the other side.
"princess, it's time for your evening lessons."the princess's handmaid said after knocking and still, no reply.
"princess?! princess!!" she tries to open the door but to no avail.
" The key " fumbling with her small purse, she brings out a single key and opens the door. Scanning through the room, she noticed that all the mattresses and few curtains were missing. She immediately knew what was happening. "Oh! Not again, princess." she had tied everything together to get down from the tower.
"goodness" she said as she rushed out of the room almost forgetting to lock the door.
Meanwhile,a slender figure from the shadows laughed as she observed what had happened. As soon as the maid went away, she came out of hiding, unlocked the door and entered the room.
****
"Slow down, Jul." the head servant said as she saw the maid running. "you don't want to incur the royal family's wrath upon you for running recklessly in the halls of the palace. Even the royal children are prohibited from running." Jul obeys and tries to catch her breath.
" why are you running? And where's the crown princess? the Queen and royal governess awaits the princess's presence."
"The princess is not in her Chambers." Jul said "I'm going to check if she is training with master Rozek. The Queen will be very angry should she know of this secret training which her highness is receiving from him."
"I have always been against the princess's idea of training with the knights and guards. Although, I want the princess to stop her dangerous activities,I don't want her to be caught."
"I will leave now madam Rozeboom. It is getting late and her majesty is quite particular about her time." Jul said as she bowed in respect to take her leave.
****
Outside the princess's study chamber…
" Announcing the presence of the crown princess, Lilith Astrid of Suterra Kingdom"
Looking at the guard that announced her presence, Lilith said "you don't have to announce my presence. It's troublesome."
"The king had said that it is compulsory and necessary and that you have to get used to it as you will be a future Que…"
" alright, enough with the long talk. Open the door." she said looking bored. As she entered the study Chamber, she greeted her mother "good evening your majesty." she curtsied. "get evening, governess." the governess gave her a nod. She is a middle-aged woman,her nut style packed up hair is a combination of black and grey.
"You're late, Lilith" the Queen said with a frown. "what important matter had made you waste our time today, Lilith?"
' she must be really angry because she's using my name today.' Lilith thought. She meekly smile at her mother " mother, nothing so important. I was just taking a stroll in the garden with Kiki and lost track of time." Kiki was the name of her pet dog.
" You should improve in your lies, Lilith. It's getting bad. Anyway, you father has sent for you. He is planning a royal masque." the Queen stood up and added "there will be no evening lessons today. Looking at the governess that stood up with her, she said with a straight face "you may come tomorrow. It is already late now. She needs all the rest she can get to prepare herself for the next two days." saying this, she walked in the direction of the door which was opened by the guards inside the room, followed by Lilith while heading to the king's court.
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Toplux Kingdom…
"No father! I refuse to accept any marriage proposals." prince Lothaire said angrily
His father,king Maynard said " No need to be rude and raise your voice. You have to get married sooner or later. The best is now. We have received an invitation from Suterra's king. You have to attend and who knows, you might catch the eyes of the princess."
"I don't want to get married, father." Lothaire insisted "even if you don't accept me as your son, don't cause me eternal unhappiness by putting me in the shackles of marriage. This is not fair."
" What isn't fair,is you being given to me as my child. No, first born son. Do you think I want a wizard to take over when I'm gone? I'm doing this for you." the king said in anger. " as my first son, you have to take over from me according to tradition. Ingrate. You and your wickedness has…"
Lothaire was not surprised at his father's talks. He had expected it. He just wanted to burn his father's mouth to shut him up. He didn't need a wife, especially not the one his father chose for him. He had to accept as he wanted to ascend the throne quickly and punish some people.
After his father finished blabbering and insulting him, what he heard was "so, are you getting married or not?"
"Yes father."
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Suterra Kingdom
Still on the way to the king's court…
"you still have not told me your reason for coming late to your evening teachings. Is this what you have been doing, Lilith?" asked the Queen whose name was Carey. Princess Lilith walked two feet behind her mother with her head a little bit bowed " did you Hornswoggle your father and I into believing that you were committed to your studies? and your current affairs, do you even know the first king to be sacrificed for his people? I know you may think that many kings sacrifice for their people but you're wrong. This king was taken as a slave. You know the story so answer me. What was his name?" Queen Carey stopped walking and turned to face her daughter.
"Umm… king… Hunsaker?" Lilith answered hesitantly. She was sure she had read about it somewhere.
" Stupid girl." Queen Carey spanks Lilith's shoulder " King Hunsaker was the king that made the Qentis tribe go extinct. The answer to my question is nobody ."