After weeks of bloody battle the kingdom of Kalon had only one choice, surrender or the entire village will be reduced to ashes. King Hero was a great king , he couldn't let his people die, but been a slave of a foreign kingdom was not an option eit...
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It was a gloomy day at the kingdom of Esparcia, it matched to perfection with the mood of the people. Everyone mourned for the loss of a great king, their king.
Samira stood next to her husband in front of the coffin while a beautiful ceremony took place, it made her think of her dad. King Odo was old and she knew that one day will be him she will be saying good bye to. All she could do is hope for when that time comes to be able to be next to him and see him alive one last time.
"We are only weeks away to meet our goal." Prince Henry walked behind her keeping distance but close enough to let her hear him.
Samira did not move to face him but asked, moving her head slightly to the right. "What are you talking about?"
"Our plan." Henry replied.
"This is not the time and place, I'll look for you and we will talk."
"I'll be eagerly waiting my lady."
The ceremony ended with the royal family entering the castle and the court following behind.
"Philip, Samira..." The queen called making both look her way. "Start thinking on a date for your coronation."
"Mother, is this necessary today?" Philip was annoyed.
"It is indeed son, right now Esparcia has no king, do you know how weak and vulnerable that makes us look to the world, to our enemies." The queen explained.
"Then why don't you pick a date." Philip replied and turned his back to take his way back to his study.
"Philip...." The queen made him stop again, he took a deep breath with his back still facing his mother and everyone else.
"Yes, mother, what now."
"You can't leave, you and Samira have to step out in the balcony and greet the people, the are waiting to see the new king and queen."
"Of course... how can I forget ..." Philip rolled his eyes and took a seat in a nearby chair.
"My lord, please be quick, your brother must not see us talking." Samira said with a nervous tone as she approached prince Henry.
"Everything will be ready in two weeks from today, we meet at the stables at midnight, my lady please don't bring anything with you that way will be easier to escape in case we need to."
"Understood, thank you." Samira bowed to Henry and half turned around because he stopped her by grabbing her upper arm.
"My lady ... Are you sure about this?"
"Never been in my life so sure of something as I am right now of leaving this place."
"Alright," He smiled. "See you in two weeks."
She bowed again and left.
Philip saw every bit of the short encounter of his brother with his wife, blood boiled in his veins, the nerve of that woman to have a romance with his own brother under his nose. This situation was making him loose control of his actions, something that he had never experienced before. What was she doing to him? He thought as his eyes followed every single one of her gracious and elegant moves. She was so different form all the other girls at court, she was indeed born to be queen. Just the idea of his brother being the the one who owns her heart was giving him a feeling of disappointment and rage at the same time. He got up from his chair and took long steps towards Samira, took her arm pulling her away from the ladies whom she was talking.
"What's wrong ?" She asked.
"What's wrong? Everything is wrong, you are wrong."
"What have I done?"
"Can't wait to be crowned king to order you execution."
"Philip, please..." Her eyes full of tears, and her voice broken by how terrified she was.
Pain was what his heart felt after seeing her reaction, the complete opposite of what he was looking for. Her wanted to say something comforting, even look like an idiot and say he was lying, that instead of ending her life, he will willingly give his in exchange for hers if needed but his mother's voice interrupted.
"Philip, its time."
Philip and Samira walked to the balcony, her teary eyes making him feel like a monster every second more and more.
The moment they stepped on the balcony the crowd got wild, what an amazing thing to see, so many people with their hopes in them, their youth not only promised a long reign but lots of new fresh, ideas new blood meant a breath of fresh air.
"Long life to the queen!!" A woman shouted from the crowd
"Long life to the queen!! Long life to the queen!!" Everyone else in the crowd followed.
Philip looked over to Samira, realization sinking in. Not only her execution will not be possible but she will also be playing a very important roll in the kingdom of Esparcia, just what his late father, king James predicted.
Samira's heart could leave her chest any minute, a mixture of bittersweet feelings took over, she was born for this, raised for this, these people loved her and she was about to disappoint every single one of them by walking away. She was not going to fight for them like her father hoped and she hated herself for it.
The next morning like the usual she woke up to a rose next to her, it brought a smile to her face. Esma entered the room with a tray in had and her breakfast in it, she ate while shearing small talk with Esma. After she was done, Esma helped her take a bath, put on a new dress and brush her long hair.
She was looking for her book to go read in the garden when a commotion coming from the other side of the castle started, Samira and Esma looked at each other and without saying a word they both ran out of the room and towards the noise, the closer they got the more they could identify the voices. It was Philip and queen Helena, they were having a heated argument.
"She's not going anywhere mother!!!" Philip shouted.
"Don't you dare speak to me lake that Philip, I'm your mother. Lady Alice is my lady and I have all right to dispose of her service." Queen Helena was very upset, for the sake of the kingdom and her own son's life she needed to make Philip and Samira's marriage work. She even promised her husband in his deathbed that she will get rid of Alice.
Courtiers started gathering in the scene due to the commotion, lady Alice's sobs could be heard from a far distance, three servants holding her belongings in anticipation of what to do, return the items to where they where or into the carriage that waited outside.
From the top of the stairs Samira took in the scene unfolding before her eyes, it made her feel nauseous. Her husband openly defending his mistress in front of the entire court. Her eyes gathered tears and one of them rolled down her cheek. The book she was holding fell on the wooden floor, the sound of it made everyone look up to where she was, and then... silence, not a single soul dared to say a word. Philip's eyes reached Samira's and another tear escaped her eyes, in that moment he hated himself, he hated the situation they were in but most of all he hated to see her in that state knowing he was causing it.
Samira ran back to her room, unable to control her sobs.
"Take everything back to lady Alice's cambers." Philip directed his attention to the servants. "Is an order, from the king." He now looked into his mother's eyes and before she could say anything else he ran up the stairs in the same direction Samira went. Lady Alice called him multiple times getting no reaction from him.
Philip tried to enter Samira's chambers but it was locked from the inside.
"Samira, open the door, I know you're in there."
Silence.
"Samira, please."
Esma stepped out quickly closing the door behind her.
"Your highness." She bowed.
"Is she in there ?"
"Yes your grace, however I believe is not the right time for your highness to walk in."
"I don't care, I'm going in."
"My lord, please... if you do, you will only make things worst."
Philip stormed out, rage evident by how long and fast each of his steps were.
