Forged Legacy ~Path of Blood

Chapter 1

The palace is silent, only the steps of a pair of wooden shoes are heard crossing the balcony from one side to another. The man, in his late years, has a deep frown on his forehead. Indignated, he carries his beard while glancing at the lady who nonchalantly is staring at the view before them. Her long red hair flips in the wind and if he wasn't to be angry he would have admitted that the lady looked very majestic.

But in this situation, he deepened his frown as he got closer to her aware that she was the reason his hair would grow whiter faster than it should.

"Isabel you have to go. I don't think you understand how important it is. Every royal did this at some point out of duty and you should as well. I can't just let you do whatever you want ..." His voice carries urgency as well as a quick reminder of her duty as the Red Queen of the Histar.

"I don't want to hear ya ....You are ruining to vibe, old man. " Her eyes pierce the vast horizon not even bothering to look at the man.

"Isabel! Do you understand what will happen if you don't go? The whole kingdom of Sunnyr will declare war, and your kingdom will be against you. There is a pact and it has to be respected. Your situation is already bad compared to the past royals..so don't make it worse. Pray that they will give you at least a human as a mate ."

Breathing heavily, his rage reaching the maximum level he could at his old age, for one moment he wished that she was listening to him. He caresses his chest and with a few steps, he is by her side, glancing at her face.

She was expressionless and a sigh left her partly opened mouth. Turning on her heel she faces the man.

"I see you still have the vigor to lecture me even at this age, Grandpa. But, seem to forget something. " Her face darkens and stepping a bit too close to him, she looks up at his face; her height shorter than his. "My only purpose is revenge and I think this situation is perfect to start a war. You and I seem to not have our plans aligned, therefore, refrain from lecturing me. You are just trying to keep your idealistic plans when the reality is asking for a much harsher approach. Just leave. You are starting to annoy me ."

With a hand waving she dismisses him. Turning towards the natural view, her elbows rest on the balcony.

Sigh .... Fake ass man ....

The old man leaves accordingly, but his mumbles are heard.

Isabel glances to see if he left and is surprised to sense that she wasn't alone even if the old man left. Strolling towards the door she opens it in a swift movement while two girls fall at her feet.

The two smile sheepishly and rise to their feet while the smaller one jumps on Isabel.

"You two ..sigh ...have you heard everything I talked with Grandpa?" She carries the young girl in her arms while glancing at the woman in front of her.

"We heard everything. Are you sure you're doing the right thing? "

"I have never been more sure, Aunty. "

"Isa, will we ride dragons while going to war? " With sparkly eyes, her sister Lilyanne is shaking in her arms with excitement.

"Of course " Isabel smirks as she has a similar excitement in her eyes.

"What am I gonna do with you two? " The aunt is mumbling as she remembers that Isabel is the Queen and she can't say any offensive words towards her. Also is not like she could feel safe saying them even if she wasn't the Queen. In her eyes, a sinister air was always engulfing Isabel.

"Say say! Can I pick my dragon already ? "

"Not yet, Anna. The dragons are off in the mountains. After I bring them back, then the dragon will pick you up. Isn't that more fun? " The Queen lets her down as she walks towards the balcony showing her where the mountain where.

"But I wanted to pick it myself ...." Her wavy black hair covers her face as she looks down disappointed.

"The rule of the dragons was that they pick ...but I guess this doesn't matter as long as I can make the dragon you pick, pick you. " She smirks and ruffles the little one's hair. In her eyes, her sister was the most precious object after their parents' death. Only she was the one who could make her smile and keep her sane.

"Yey! You are the best sis! " Lilyanne jumps around and hugs one more time Isabel, she yells as she departs, leaving the balcony, " I will go tell Grandpa and Marcus! I bet they are gonna be happy since they will have their dragons as well! "

Elara, steps forward, now that Lilyanne is gone she can talk freely with Isabel. What could a 10-year-old comprehend ?... Lilyanne was too small to care about anything else than dragons and animals and of course her baby nephew Marcus, the child of Elara.

"Talk freely. I know you have some things to say as well. " Isabel sighs as she propts her chin on the hand she rests on the balcony stone.

Elara gulps and looks away, but Isabel continues, "Say it. If you keep it in, the stress will flow to your milk and Marcus will become a stressed man. We can't deal in the future with Grandpa and Marcus at the same time. "

The demeanor of the woman changes and a smile covers her lips. Isabel never saw Elara smile often after her husband died of the illness, so from time to time she liked to amuse the women to see the soft smile she used to have back then, when everything was how it was supposed to be.

" You have a way of making me smile ...And this is why I don't want to lose you too. " Her eyes pierce into Isabel's, and both of them know; they know the pain of losing someone dear. "Father-in-law lectured you, but I don't want to do that. I can only tell you what worries me. Isabel, you are not only our Queen, but our family as well. If the war breaks, not only you might die, but Lilyanne and the family that remained as well. I know what I am about to tell you will hurt, but I have to. " She takes a breath and feeling the need to lean on something, her palms press on the stone the balcony was made of.

"Past can't be changed, but you can shape the future. If you hold on to the past, the future might be a copy of the past."

Isabel's silence is making Elara stiffen, not knowing if she said too much or not.

"I made my choice, Aunty."