Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Rose

Cedric just crossed the Oriental border and he was hours away from reaching Madara.

He took stops so his horse could rest. He took his journal out, along with his pen and ink, there he wrote:

January 3rd,

Though I know that it's just January 2 in Madara, I'll write using Oriental time.

It's has been days, since I last saw my sister. Even before she was taken hostage, I haven't seen her due to my busy schedule. I have not been giving her much attention like I used to when I was prince...

I miss her so and I'd do everything in my power to get her back. Whatever it takes.

He then closed his journal again to continue his journey to the west.

Maria on the other hand met the youngest of the royal family. They were in the courtyard as Hans and Eric trained with each other. The youngest was wearing yellow and always had her porcelain doll with her.

"Your doll looks pretty." Maria smiled at her fellow princess.

Sarah glared at Maria. "I'm Sarah Qinn Zephyra. I heard you're the princess with the longest name."

"Apparently." Maria awkwardly laughed. "My name is Maria Venice Victoria Elizabeth Helen Paris Cordovin Wordsworth."

"My doll's name is also Paris. She loves the colour purple and could possess you like my custom puppet." Sarah's yellow eyes glowed into light gold as she told Maria all of this.

"Pardon?" Maria was quite confused of what Sarah meant by to possess like a custom puppet.

"Oh nothing!" Sarah shrugged. "I'm surprised my family hasn't killed you off yet."

"I, too am surprised..." Maria mumbled.

"Anyway, wonderful seeing the descendant of the devil." Sarah waved as she walked past Maria with her smug look.

Maria swiftly turned to Sarah as her blood boiled in irritation. Though not knowing who she was pertaining as the descendant of the devil, she thought that Eric and Hans were the only people who are nice in the kingdom.

The Oriental princess's stay was fairly good, due to the hospitality of the prince and his friend. As for Cedric, he is still in the middle of nowhere under the heat of the sun and sometimes the strong winds with the heavy rains. He was exhausted but he needed to continue, he has come so far, he would never turn back without her sister. It's either he dies in Madara, or returns with his sister.

His horse, too was exhausted, despite of the constant stops they took for both water and food. Cedric took his journal again then wrote:

January 3rd,

The most I have written in my journal in one day. The sun is going down as I see the stars go up with a beautiful gradient of light to dark transitioning.

The Madaran kingdom really suits their colour, yellow, it blends in with the beautiful sunset of the west. Though having the chance to go to Madara, once, I actually hated it with a burning passion. The last time I went there, the only time I did, was for the war.

I must continue my journey in the night so my horse won't lose that much energy. It really needs some water.

Cedric closed his journal for a bit to reach out to his water container beside the resting horse he was sitting next to. He gave the horse some water to drink after he drank a portion of it.

"You ready to continue our journey?" He asked as he petted the horse's mane.

The horse neighed for it was well rested during the afternoon and was ready to continue the journey.

After the sun has fully set and the bright yellow full moon was seen in a distance, he put his journal in his satchel before mounting his belongings onto the horse then they continue to the west.

Maria was about to go to the courtyard for a relaxing walk under the stars. She normally did this in her garden back in the Orient but since she didn't like their garden that was filled with marigolds and sunflowers, she settled with the grassy courtyard.

"Have you eaten dinner yet, Princess?" Hans asked as he approached the wandering princess while holding a rose in his hand.

Maria turned to Hans then averted her attention to the rose in his hand. "Who's that for?"

She glanced at Hans whose face was bright pink. He was really flustered and he couldn't look her in the eyes, "I-it's... I... Uhm... This rose... Uh..."

Maria smiled faintly then thought, "He's cute..."

"This, uh... Rose... Is just like your eyes... Red... A beautiful shade of red... And I-" He was getting words out of his mouth slowly and it was making Maria adore him more. He stopped abruptly for the words just disappeared.

"You?" Maria tried helping him piece his words.

"I- uh... I think that your eyes are beautiful, just like you. I don't think you're a bad person. I like you and I wish to show that affection with this rose." Hans finally finished what he wanted to say. He gave the rose to Maria then just ran away.

"I haven't seen these in a while." She smiled. "I'm sad that this is not a white rose, but nevertheless, I like you too."

As Hans tried erasing his smile from his face, he came across an open door and yelling was heard from it.

"What do you mean you don't want her killed?!" The queen asked Sandra.

"If I kill her, more on, if we kill her, I can't take the throne from Cedric! I'm enjoying shattering his heart, you know?" Sandra argued.

"She's quite close with Hans and Eric... They also might get hurt..." the king explained.

"That girl, what is her name?" The queen asked. "I don't even care... She's the biggest threat here and you wish to set her free?!"

"I talked to Eric one time and he told me that he liked the princess." Sandra shared.

"Are you serious? Are your brain cells flying towards the Orient, you two?" The queen slightly raised her voice.

"Oh goodness lore, mother! We are being practical for King Cedric will soon be here either armed or not." Sandra slammed her hands on the table in front of her. "Has your court gone mad?!"

"The least you could do is to fool King Cedric that you killed her sister until he agrees with your conditions." The king decided.

"Public guillotine execution it is!" The queen exclaimed.

Hans heard this from behind the wall. His tears suddenly poured when he heard the news. It made him so sad and heartbroken that he didn't talk all night, he just stayed silent and lifeless as he contemplated.

Hans went back to the room the three of them shared then lied down next to the sleeping Prince Eric. He constantly looked at the empty bed, thinking of the princess.

"I wish I could tell you..."