Divided Loyalties (Incomplete)

A Clever Plan

Xenovia

As noon finally neared, Xenovia knew that it was time to put her plan into motion. At this hour every day, the maids and servants were scheduled to change shifts. It was often a rushed and hectic transition period, which left the perfect opportunity for her to escape from her room. Of course, as the princess she was free to roam around the castle whenever she pleased. Nevertheless, Xenovia was hoping to slip away from her chambers unnoticed, as her goal was to confront her father and her fiancé in secret. As the king's daughter it was still difficult to gain a private audience with him these days, let alone one with him and Halvar. And yet, that is exactly what she needed if there was to be any hope of avoiding the drama a meeting with her father might normally present, with counsel members and other noblemen weighing in on and criticizing her every word. She had a tough fight ahead of her today, even without any outside distractions. But with them it would be downright impossible!

Over the last year, Xenovia had done her best to remain patient about her situation as she worked endlessly to postpone her wedding. Of course, an alliance with the kingdom of Ruto was no small issue that could be taken lightly. After all, as the princess of Luxo, it was her duty to ensure her people's safety through any means necessary. However, Xenovia had recently come to the conclusion that Halvar's political support was simply not necessary. Besides a few added trading routes, her fiancé brought nothing at all to the table. So, why was it so imperative that the two of them wed again? Not only was the land of Luxo rich in soil and gold, two resources Ruto often lacked, but she was also the king's only child. In a nutshell, whoever she married would become king after his death. And if that someone happened to be Halvar, he would inherit both his throne and her father's!

As the heir to the House of Basileos, Xenovia could not allow any of that happen. Her father's military might could stand on its own, and their economy lacked nothing. They didn't need Ruto's support, nor their pity. That is why, although her engagement had been set in stone long ago, Xenovia was determined to fight against it. Whether that meant convincing her father that she could be capable on her own, or by showing him that Halvar was in no way worthy of becoming Luxo's next king, one way or another she was going to escape this pointless marriage!

As the palace bell rang loudly throughout the courtyard, indicating the strike of noon, Xenovia prepared to take action. First and foremost, she made sure the coast was clear and that no servants were in her room to stop her. Then, she opened the door to her balcony and stepped out. It was a windy day, so she kept a firm grip on the door as she closed it behind her slowly. Then, as quietly as she could, Xenovia secured a strong hook and rope to the railing. She hopped up and over the ledge, being careful as she moved so that she did trip over her dress. Next, she lowered herself down to the window below using the rope which she had tied to the balcony. Once her feet touched down on the edge of the windowsill, Xenovia turned around to face the glass, keeping one hand against the stone wall to steady herself as she moved. Then, very quietly, she used a small hair pin to undo the latch on the inside of the window. Once it was unlocked, she opened up one side of the glass and entered into the empty room, safe and sound at last. Xenovia let out a breath of relief and turned back to retrieve her hook and rope from the balcony. She quickly pulled it down and stuffed it away in her dress, hoping to hide any evidence of her stealthy escape.

She now took a moment to gaze around at her new surroundings. This room was a place of lodging in the east wing normally meant for special guests and ambassadors. She noticed that the accommodations in this particular space were minimal, which was a true injustice in her mind. Halvar on the other hand received one of her father's best rooms and stayed in the west wing of the castle, otherwise known as the Hall of Kings. Although, this worked out to her benefit today, since that meant the east wing was rather empty and void of roaming servants.

With a few more steps Xenovia found a small washroom off to the right of the room. She entered inside and soon found a large mirror hanging by the changing wall. No matter the occasion, a princess always had to appear presentable. So, she used the casting reflection to fix her hair and straighten her dress. But before Xenovia turned back to depart, she briefly paused to examine herself in the mirror.

Her mother's dark hair happened to be her favorite feature. It was thick and silky, and these days it could reach all the way down to her waist and needed two servants to brush it each morning and each night. On the other hand, she was not as fond of her amber eyes, which she had inherited from her father. And her skin, though light, showed no blemishes or imperfections, which caused many to label her a matchless beauty. She had even been given the nickname 'The Raven of Luxo'. Still, Xenovia scoffed at such a shallow title. It was truly a shame to think that her looks so easily outshined her grand intellect! At times it even cast a shadow over it. No one seemed to believe that a princess could be wise, let alone wise and beautiful.

Though to be fair, having to wear a silly, frilly outfit probably did not help her case. Why, she certainly looked like a doll, wearing twenty pounds of brightly colored fabric like this! Then again, the very men who looked down on said attire were also the very ones who enforced the traditional dress code, claiming it was only right for women to be adorned in a dress with stockings and heeled shoes.

"One day, when I am queen, I shall be seen waltzing around in whatever I like, the same as a man." She grumbled, smoothing out one last wrinkle in her sleeves.

And just like that, Xenovia was ready to go. So, after making sure the coast was clear, she left the room and made her way across the hall to a small locked door. Once there, she used a key she had stolen off a maid years ago and opened the entrance that led to the servants passageway, a secret path tucked away within the walls. It was used only when important guests occupied the east wing, so the maids would not have to be seen coming and going all day long. Xenovia took a deep breath before entering.

"Oh mother, give me strength..."