𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔐𝔢, 𝔏𝔬𝔳𝔢 𝔪𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔱

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 2

My red hair was held up in a half up-do with the rest falling down my back. Soft rose petals were strewn through each strand, and a gold crown decorated with red gems shaped like diamonds lay atop my head as a heavy reminder of my life long burden. A gold netted turtle neck covered my chest and neck while red silk fabric ran down in layers of folds and patterns continued down to my legs. The corset was embroidered with gold pattering's, and my shoulders were left bare with puffy sleeves stretching down my arms getting tighter and fitting the shape of my arms. My heels were gold with the binding winding up my shins with gold leaves attached to them. Yasmin had tried to make the outfit as comfortable as she could, which helped a bit but the itchiness of the gown still remained and so did the reopening of the blisters on my ankles.
I walked down the corridors with Yasmin who was wearing a loose white dress and luminescent blue coat and headscarf. Tables topped with lit candelabras and ceilings holding magnificent chandeliers lit up the vast hall with a red and gold carpet. Servants bustled around as I finally reached the doors that lead to the front gate of the palace; a cobbled stone path lay in the middle of a grassy meadow and led up to a platform of stairs that led into the main entrance of the palace. I was the last to arrive my father standing of the highest platform of the stairs dressed in a gold and white tuxedo and trousers his gold crown lay atop his head while his black hair which was cropped close to his skull was slicked back. My mother stood beside him in a similar coloured dress adorned with white sleeves with gold buttoning her ginger hair was held up in a bun adorned with gold metal flowers.
And there was my brother.
Leon De Flore Fae. He was younger than me by three years but still taller than me by a few inches and that's when I wore my tallest pair of heels. His black hair was tied into a ponytail and he was dressed in a burgundy and black coloured tuxedo and thin gold framed glasses, slightly crooked- he stood beside mother on a slightly lower platform.
           "Greetings to the sun and moon of the empire," I greeted my parents who in return nodded their heads smiling allowing me to stand in my place beside father. I approached my brother and he frowned upon seeing me.
            "You know punctuality is a very important trait to have as a ruling monarch right?" He chided.
            "Of course and having proper balanced glasses are all the hype in the world of a nerd," I said tipping his dropping glasses to the other side. My brother was a fanatic for philosophy and law he was expected to be the next adjudicator if things kept up like this. He was nineteen while I was twenty two and he had already memorized every law and code in the royal archives.
Of all six empires.
Maybe that was the reason why we got along. He had no desire to sit on the throne which left me to my ambitions as I worked my way through, and even though he was the great scholar the empire had ever seen he was still my younger brother and soon to be labourer.
         "No it is not actually; it's a common stereotype referred to nerds as you say it to have crooked glasses due to the way-,"
"From the bottom of my heart dear brother, please shut up," I mumbled so only he could hear me. I didn't want to hear an endless speech about how peoples minds worked and all of that stuff.
Not unless I needed to at least.
           "I am worried for the well being of this empire, oh what will we do?" My brother complained dramatically.
            "Oh no the empire will be fine. You on the other hand will be my personal assistant," I smiled. It would be more like a slave than an assistant to be honest.
The flutes started to play a melodious tune to signal the arrival of delegates. The flutes were played instead of trumpets because it was sacred instrument used by the goddess of hospitality, Iris to welcome her guests. It was much better than the blaring trumpets and drums in my personal opinion.
               "The official delegation of Zengis led by emir Mustafa Ahmed!" A grand carriage holding the flag of two gold crescents opposite to each other with a dark red background was Zengis.
                "The official delegation of Ivanova led by Archduchess Hannah Wickenden!" A dove holding an olive branch atop a snowy white backdrop was Ivanova.
                  "The official delegation of Iskander led by Duke Vladimir Dmitri," a mountain deer embroidered on the background of a royal blue flag was the empire of Iskander.
                 "The official delegation of Harofeh led by General Di Polo," It was quite a depressing flag for such a lovely civilization- a lily of the valley atop a checkered grey and black background.
                     Whoever came up with the idea of this flag is truly a terrible person. I thought.
The procession was going awfully slow the carriages were taking so long to enter. Just grab the reins you god damn drivers and be done with it already. I was glad this was the last carriage.
I shouldn't have been.
                      "The official delegation of Eridanus led by the second prince Mathew Florencio!" A pearlescent constellation of a Hydrus-- a water snake was present over a duller shade of blue. I felt my father and mother tense and even my brother when the arrival was issued even the speaker felt a bit uncomfortable judging by his voice.
Everyone knew the relationship between Eridanus and Fae. They were sworn enemies. Apparently Eridians were a rebelling majority that wanted to have their own country. The dispute lasted for years until these people were banished from Fae only to find a place to settle for good. And the dispute was led by no other than the ancestry of Eridanus's royal family.
                    "I expected them to do something cheeky, but this? This is outright disrespect!" My father whisper shouted.
                      "Calm, now your majesty. They are our guests we must treat them with respect whether we like it or not," she touched his hand gently.
                        "And maybe prove to them that this place is much better without them," I said with a smirk. It was true after all no? Many innocent people lost their lives because of their tantrums, it was better when they left the empire for good.
These guys were traitors and cowards. They were lucky enough to even be allowed to attend. It would make sense why Zengis's crown prince was attending they get along with us so they put an important royal under our supervision as a sign of trust. It's a way to keep each other in check but we both benefit from this deal. But this?

It literally was disrespect.

There were practically showing outright opposition and arrogance by sending a member of the royal family here, it was utterly disgusting how one could be so cocky.

            "Whatever the case, we still must treat our guests with respect," Leon spoke up.

              "Sadly, but surely," My mother urged.

                "Might as well get this done with, I don't wish to look at those pig-faces any more than I have to," my father said, raising his hand everyone stood there in silence waiting for the king's next words. It was awe spiring how one could have so much control over the other, it fascinated me for some weird reason.

And I thought my brother was the philosopher, as I sorted through any means possible to why people did that and how the brain worked like that.

               "Welcome our dear guests-- you have honored us greatly by showing your presence to this invitation and for that I thank you," my father started off.

                 "This banquet, as every that comes along is a sacred event that we have invited you to visit. We wish to open our arms and form new friendships and alliances through this. So I urge you to enjoy your stay here," he finished as a round of applause scattered through the courtyard.

              "My servants shall escort you all to your quarters. Please rest well for the welcome banquet that will take place this evening-- we hope to see you all there," he ushered to his right hand man, George and the head maid who hurriedly opened the gates of the castle doors to let everyone in.

Finally it was over.

I hurriedly rushed inside after my parents had gone in and barged into my chamber with Yasmin at my heels. I had worn several outfits that itched and stuck, but no matter how many times I did, it only got worse. When I am to be made queen I will ban such dresses, it's abuse.

I quickly tore off my heels which had now engraved it's painful markings on my legs, and hurried Yasmin to help me with my dress. I changed into a soft, silk baby pink dress with sleeves that hung down my shoulders and ruffled sleeves with a bow tied in between my breasts, the ribbons hanging down low to the bottom of the tulle weaved skirt that was a shade lighter than the top. Of course I still had to look the part of a princess so Yasmin had placed a silver circlet on my head that was entwined with pink roses and silver accessories such as necklaces and earrings. I wore a comfortable pair of pale pink flats so that I could easily move around.

             "Yasmin, you are a life saver do you know that?" I asked breathing a sigh of relief.

              "You flatter me, you highness," she smiled.

               "Well since now I'm in much more comfortable attire I will now retreat to my study," I sighed-- I still had a year's worth of work on my shoulders; news, laws, legislative passes to confirm, making sure everything was set for the Spring Banquet and so on. It was an endless list.

                "Well then I'll be here if you need my assistance, your highness. The welcoming banquet will be held this evening so I will leave you at peace until then,"

I nodded my thanks as I hauled myself out of my chair and walked towards my study and stared at the neatly folded piles of documents on my desk.

It was going to be a rough afternoon.