Cost of the Crown (UNREVISED VERSION)

Cerulean

Though time felt normal for Maria, everyone else knew that two more years passed. Though nothing felt out of the ordinary since Maria's shadows took her place when she was gone. Her powers did not work in the catacombs and it was no question. She was still alive after all.

A young woman of 21, running through the halls as she wore a violet dress and brown boots. Her hair tied in a half bun, nothing was out of the ordinary. Until she opened the castle doors to see half the kingdom in chaos and barely alive. Everything has changed and it was not the good type of change.

"I see you wished to show up to my masterpiece!" A voice laughed behind her.

"What in the name of Queen Elisamae did you do to my kingdom?!" Maria yelled at the person behind her.

"Simple as I am near to getting the crown and my brother has just fallen into my trap." She chuckled.

Maria turned around to see Cassandra laughing as her eyes glowed gold. The young princess felt her blood boil and she wanted to hit Cassandra so bad.

"Lady Cassandra, the meeting will begin soon, you might want to attend it." Lady Clara sighed.

"Lady Clara?" Maria called. The lady looked at her then left with Cassandra to the court.

"I will do what I must to validate my identity... I will get back my crown." Maria swore under her breath. She walked towards her old room. It looked decent, even after years of being unoccupied. "My room..."

When she went in and closed the door, she felt herself crying. She remembered the games she played with her brother as they laughed and cried. All their arguments and the mornings when they used to have the same room before her brother went to live in their school dormitory. 

"I'll make this right." She told the wind, hoping her brother would hear.

She walked out of the room then she went straight to the court. She felt mixed emotions and she just wanted to cry, but no. She'll have to suck it all up for the sake of her kingdom. When she arrived at the door of the court, she could hear yelling and arguments from the door. She took a deep breath then she opened the doors with force. Everyone's eyes shifted towards her as she waltzed into the court uninvited.

"Who's she?" the court representative asked.

"Oh, she's just a maid here in the castle that my love admitted." Cassandra rolled her eyes as she laid back onto her seat.

"I'm surprised that you still haven't killed Lady Clara... Like you did to me." Maria smirked.

"What are you saying?" Cassandra laughed.

"I think you remember me quite surely." Maria responded. "A descendant of the queen with red eyes."

"What gibberish are you speaking? Guards, take her away." Cassandra ordered.

The guards took Maria by the arms then they forcefully carried her out. As they carried her out, the princess did not squirm or retaliate but two words made everyone freeze. "Maria Wordsworth!"

"I beg your pardon?" The council asked.

"Tell your guards to let go of me then." Maria glared.

The council gave them a signal to let go of the young lady then she walked back to the pedestal. "Maria Wordsworth is my name and I am claiming the crown."

"Impossible!" Cassandra exclaimed. "I knew it."

 The people whispered amongst themselves as Maria scanned the court. Lady Clara smiled faintly for she knew that someday they'll get back their rightful ruler.

As for Hans, Cassandra locked her in the room he was assigned to stay in. It had everything he needed but he wanted to leave. Due to his inability to get information for Sarah, she gave up in controlling him and ruled over Madara where she became one of the most beloved royals in their history. As for Eric, he's still waiting for a signal from Hans. He lived in the ruins of the villages with his men. Roads tainted with red, flowers ruined and buildings are abandoned in which as of now, Cassandra has turned a blind eye.

"Hans... It's been two years... What happened?" Eric asked as he worried.

Lady Clara teleported out of the court to Hans' room wherein the man was shocked to her there.

"What are you doing here?" Hans glared.

"Go give the message to your brother. Queen Maria is back and a war is about to happen." Clara smiled.

"It has been years... Hasn't it..." Hans replied with a satisfied smile.

Clara took Hans out of the room before heading back to the court. She was swift to not let anyone notice. When she got back to the court, everything fell silent.

"How are we so sure that she's the late princess?! She was publicly killed so a lot of people are eye-witnesses to it." Cassandra slammed her hands over the table in front of her as she looked down on the princess.

"I may have only my name and my memories to hold on to but don't pull my strings, Sandra." Maria shot her a cold-blooded glare as her eyes glowed. "Do you wish to pull my strings right now?"

"Finally... Will you shake my hand and give away your sanity?" Elise giggled in Maria's head.

"Feliz, please stop this gibberish. You are embarrassing yourself." Cassandra laughed.

"Cass... Please... Just give me back my kingdom and I won't cause a homicide.

"Let your morality jump out of your window, Maria... Let me take over..." Elise whispered as she smirked.

"No one gets hurt if you let me do this..." Maria reasoned.

"This is hell and it is my kingdom... Come on Maria..." Elise continued.

"No. Just leave. I don't need your gibberish." Cassandra told her.

"How about let's listen how she 'survived' her execution in Madara?" the council asked.

"Fine." Cassandra sighed.

"Thank you..." Maria sighed. "Someone helped me escape my death. Two people who were kind enough to lend me a helping hand as I walk through death row."

"Who were those two?" The court representative asked.

"The present king and queen of Madara." Maria glared at Cassandra.

"Ha! Impossible. Eric and Sarah couldn't be the ones to do that. They have the same hatred towards the Orient as their family!" Cassandra laughed.

"How is it not probable? Were they with you as you stood on the platform beside the executioner by the guillotine?" Maria raised a brow.

"First of all, how bold of you to assume that I was there. Second, how dare you assume that I am the exiled princess of Madara?!" Cassandra exclaimed as she hit the table with her hands.

Everyone whispered to each other for they did not know about another princess of Madara since they thought there were only two heirs to the throne in the west. Maria smiled for the only people who would know about that exiled princess are royalty.

"You see, ladies, gentlemen and everyone in between, her ineligibility to rule is based on how she handles the kingdom and I tell you, does the kingdom you and your family live in, in peace right now?" Maria argued.

"No..." The council whispered.

"Exactly my point. Though I only have my name and my memories am not only a citizen here in this kingdom but I also have blue blood that goes straight back to my lineage. I manifest abilities that goodness forbid me to use against my fellow people, but if a war is needed to solve this, I'd gladly drop the niceties." Maria told the court as her eyes glowed crimson.

"Gladly." Cassandra accepted as her eyes glowed yellow.