Royal Blood

Goodbye

My mother hugs me tight then walks over to my brother.

My father is aloft his horse, shoulders back, chest puffed, chin high. My mother grabs her bow and arrow. Jumps aloft her own horse. My father nods and they are off.

My brother relaxes his body. He walks over to me as I slide my arms out my dress. He undoes my corset. Our butler brings me a robe. I am holding the corset across my chest. My brother undoes his shirt and removes it. He is toned from my father's grueling training.

I've asked to join them many times. My father always says yes. My mother tells me no for fear of risking a woman's grace figure. They plan to mary me with another kingdom. Building our wall of allies.

I'm afraid no allie will help here. We've been at great war with our neighboring kingdom. My mother insisted she go with my father. Many tears, screams, and fights later. My mother and father. Rode off, to war. Leaving me, Mari, and my brother, Alex, behind.