Vechnost Empire.
Famous for its unparalleled sovereign authority and militarism.
It is also known for its notable ruler, his Majesty the Emperor ㅡ Louis Frederick Vechnost. The hero who conquered the sacred dragon and saved the Empire from being perished.
After a month of the Emperor’s glorious victory, the Imperial Palace announced that their humble Empress gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Prince Nicholas Cliffdale Vechnost, the one and only son of the Emperor and Empress. The only heir to the throne and will continue the Vechnost reign. The Crown Prince of Vechnost Empire.
Another banquets were held to celebrate the birth of the blessed successor of the Emperor.
However,
Little did they know, deep in the mountain near the main palace, there is something hidden to the world.
ㅡ 15 years later ㅡ
It was a quiet weekend in the Crown Princes' Palace. All the maids and butlers are doing their job respectively.
But …
"Young Miss!"
"Young Miss!!!" A very loud scream was heard, echoing outside the Palace.
"Oh Lucille! Can you please stop screaming? You'll alert every single soul in this place!" The young miss said to the lady who's been catching her breath just to follow her small steps.
"Please young miss, let's go back inside! The crowned prince must've been waiting for you!" Lucille said with a worried face plastered on her face.
"But I've been coming here for days now and his highness still hadn’t shown his face! I just wanted to smell some fresh air, please let me be" The young miss said that made Lucille lose her words. She couldn't fathom what her young miss is feeling right now.
"Okay, young miss. But please, let me join you. Also, please watch your steps young miss! A lady is not allowed to run like a wild animal! If the Duke saw you right now he'll probably give you another punishment!" Lucille said while fixing the hem of her dress that's been sticking into the mud.
"Father is the one who forced me to come here, and I don't want to kill my time doing nothing. So let's go! The garden is so ethereal, looking like gems that shine in the sun!" The young miss said, and once again ran away from Lucille.
"Wait up young miss!!" Lucille shoutes once again and runs towards her young miss.
Princess Solliana Kryndell Ambrose. The first born daughter of the Grand Duke Alexei Voltaire Ambrose and Grand Duchess Sophia Eleanore Ambrose. One of the two beautiful pillars of the Ambrose Dukedom, and the official fiancè of the Crown Prince Nicholas Cliffdale Vechnost. The Crown Princess of Vechnost Empire.
Her engagement to the Crown Prince is an agreement made before she was born. It was because of the Oracle who visited the Crown Prince during his first birthday and said 'The blessed light is destined to be wed to its fated partner that is sleeping inside a white rose, the one who will free the light in the deepest darkness and will bring prosperity and purity to the Empire'
The only white rose that the Empire has, was the Ambrose Dukedom. Their insignia is a white rose that means purity and loyalty. The Emperor was delighted from what he heard, because it was also reported that the Grand Duchess of the Ambrose Dukedom is having a life in her womb.
Like what the Empress experienced, the Grand Duchess also gave birth to twins. The two beautiful maidens of the Ambrose Dukedom. The first born was Princess Solliana, who had bright pinkish white hair that resembled the white rose and golden eyes that resemble the sun. While her younger sister, Princess Daneyrha Hailey Ambroseㅡ who inherited the appearance of her Mother, have a honey like colored hair and with a same golden eyes.
Princess Solliana and Princess Daneyrha look exactly the same but had a different color of hair, and personality. Despite her being the youngest between the two of them, Princess Daneyrha is much more refined than Princess Solliana. She is the epitome of elegance, her presence shines through the halls of their Castle. The exact opposite of Princess Solliana, who is a carefree soul that shattered the etiquette of being a lady of the house, a peculiar one.
"Princess, this side of the garden is not allowed to be stepped on. We must hurry and return to the Palace now." Lucille said full of worries, seeing that they've reached a garden that looked unorganized and dark. Princess Solliana luckily stopped. But she just kept staring into the strange mountain in front of them.
"Lucille … Why are you calling me Princess? I permitted you to call me young miss, did I not?" Princess Solliana looked at her for a while then reverted her attention again to the mountain that she felt like calling her.
"My apologies, young miss. But we must return, his highness must be waiting." Lucille said that made Princess Solliana just sighed in return.
"Alright. I will return, butㅡ" Princess Solliana suddenly ran off to the small abandoned pavilion and sat there.
"Before I go back, can you please fetch me some snacks and water? I am starving that I can't move my feet right now." Princess Solliana said while caressing her abdomen, and acting feeble. Making Lucille release another heavy sigh.
"Okay, young miss. But promise me, after I leave you please don't run off somewhere dangerous, is that alright?" Lucille begged her young miss because she knows her too well that once she takes off her attention to Princess Solliana, she will definitely disappear.
Lucille is a daughter of a Baron who was chosen to be a personal maid of the Princessesㅡ but she was only assigned to Princess Solliana, because of how she dedicated her life to the Duchess, and how she can take Princess Solliana's unladylike attitude.
"I promise, Lucille. I treasure you, so I won't do anything that might result in your head being detached from your body." Princess Solliana said that made Lucille smile in assurance.
"Well then young miss, I'm off to fetch you some snacks." Lucille said and bowed her head, turning away from the smiling Princess Solliana who had a plan going on inside her head.
“I’m sorry Lucille, I’ll promise you I won’t get caught” Princess Solliana said and walked towards the mountain, full of curiosity. Princess Solliana feels a strange energy coming from the mountain, a feeling that she’s being pulled in.
She was about to enter the mountain grounds, when two knights suddenly showed up and unsheathe their sword in front of her. Making her fall down to the grounds because of fear.
"This place is forbidden. You mustn't pass here more than this part. Please go back to the Castle, young miss." The Knights sternly said while looking coldly at the sight of the Princess who's been shaking non-stop because of what she's witnessing.
"Young miss!" Luckily, Lucille arrived on time and hastily ran towards the Princess and hugged her tightly.
“How dare you unsheathe your swords in front of a mere child? More importantly, to the lady of the Ambrose Dukedom! Have some respect! How can you all be so shameless!?” Lucille shouted that alerted the Knights and the General Knight all of a sudden showed his face, instructing the other Knights to get back to their posts.
Marquess Aziel Werstine ㅡ The General Knight of the Imperial Army, and the apprentice of Grand Duke Alexei Ambrose.
“My apologies, ladies. The Imperial Knights were just merely following his highness, the Emperor’s order. This area of the Palace grounds is forbidden because of monsters residing inside that cursed mountain. Their actions were not acceptable, be at ease, I will make sure to punish them for disrespecting the young miss.” Marquess Aziel said that made Princess Solliana calm herself. Both ladies stood up and fixed their self.
“C-Cursed Mountain?” Lucilles said with a shaking voice, gripping Princess Solliana tightly because of fear.
“Yes, My lady. Beyond this area, a lot of Knights died because of a mysterious monster residing that mountain. The Emperor proclaimed that this mountain has a poisonous soil that produced by that monster, that’s why this area was abandoned in order to not cause any more danger.” Marquess Aziel explained that made the both lady quiver in fear.
“I-I’m sorry. I am also at fault, I let my lady wander around alone in this dangerous area of the Palace. I promise not to take off my eyes on Princess Solliana again.” Lucille said and bowed her head. Guilt is evident on Princess Solliana’s face seeing her beloved maid apologize for her own mistakes.
“It’s alright, my lady. Please go back to the Palace, the Crowned Prince is not available for audience as of the moment. I will escort you to the main entrance where a carriage from the Ambrose Dukedom is waiting for you.” Marquess Aziel said and escort them on their way out.
“Understand, Marquess Aziel” Lucille said, holding her Princess Solliana’s hands and proceeded to perambulate the garden of the Palace.
Father probably sent that carriage because he knew I caused another trouble. Princess Solliana thought while walking along with Lucille, holding her maid’s hand tightly while trying to keep her tears inside her eyes. I hope Father won’t punish Lucille because of my mistakes.
While the Princess is supressing her tears, Lucille, on the other hand, just couldn’t fathom what the Knights did to her young miss. How dare them unsheathe their swords to a 14 years old lady? My lady made a mistake but it doesn’t mean their permitted to draw their sword recklessly! Oh, my poor young miss, I feel her hands are still shaking because of what she witnessed. Lucille thought.
--
They arrived at the Main Entrance of the Palace, where the carriage with the Ambrose Dukedom crest is waiting for them.
“Thank you for escorting us, Marquess Aziel. We won’t trouble you again.” Lucille said and showed her courtesy. Marquess Aziel only bowed in return as respect to the ladies and turned his back on them, making haste towards the Knight’s training ground.
“My lady!” Lucille and Princess Solliana looked at the man who suddenly called them, it’s the old butler of the Ambrose House. Mr. Jerard, the loyal head butler of the Ambrose Dukedom through the years.
“Mr. Jerard!” Princess Solliana said and stride towards the old man waiting for them outside the carriage.
“Mr. Jerard, why are you meeting us here at the Palace?” Lucille said, wondering why Mr. Jerard is here knowing he’s too busy making the Ambrose Dukedom organized.
“The Duke informed me that I must see for myself that the Princess is not harmed in any way.” Mr. Jerard said and proceeded to inspect the appearance of Princess Solliana.
“Why would Father ask you to do that? In the first place, he was the one who sent me off to this place.” Princess Solliana said with a sad tone, immediately riding the carriage, both Mr. Jerard and Lucille hold their tongues because they all know what Princess Solliana said was true.
“HEYAAAAH!” The coach from outside yelled when all of the passenger of the carriage are all inside. But, the carriage was filled with silence because none of them would want to dishearten their precious lady any more than this.
It was an old tradition of the Empire that when the Oracle said an important prophecy about the fated partner of the Imperial people is born, it is destined for them to be together to bring peace for the whole nation. It’s an inevitable thing that even the Grand Duke of Ambrose who’s on the neutral faction couldn’t stop this from happening.
Princess Solliana was engaged to the Crown Prince the moment she saw light for the first time out of her Mother’s womb. For 14 years, she was trained to be the next Empress of the Empire, but that’s not what she wants so she rebelled in order to stop her Father to marrying off to someone she don’t love. But, because of a royal decree, her wedding with the Crown Prince will happen as soon as she had her Coming-of-Age ceremony, whether she liked it or not.
I just wanted to be free from this chain that bind me inside this cage. Oracle my ass! They just wanted someone to like that Prince who can’t even show his face to her fiancée. What would I do if that person abused me once we got married? Why would Father allowed this to happen? Princess Solliana thought while staring outside the carriage, envying all the young children who’s laughing and enjoying their selves freely, without reserve or eyes on them.
“Then, don’t dare set your graceful feet again in the Palace”
Huh? Princess Solliana opened her eyes widely when she suddenly heard a man’s voice, but she couldn’t sense where this voice is coming from.
“The Princess doesn’t deserve to be with monsters, so if you want to live, don’t go back to the Palace.”
Where is that voice coming from? The Princess suddenly moved her head vigorously, searching for the voice she kept hearing.
“Princess, is there something wrong?” Lucille said when she noticed the movement of Princess Solliana.
“Did you hear a man’s voice?” Princess Solliana said, but looking at how puzzled her maid is because of her question she realized that only she can hear that strange voice coming from somewhere she couldn’t find.
“Wait, Did the Princess heard me?”
Another voice from the man was heard, making Princess Solliana searched again. But to her dismay, she couldn’t see anyone outside the carriage who is likely to be the holder of that voice.
“How in the world could you possibly do that? No one ever heard me here no matter how hard I screamed.”
Scream? But that doesn’t sound like a scream! Oh please, where are you? Princess Solliana thought while searching the city, frustrated because she can’t find anyone.
“I can’t believe this, someone finally heard me. You will never find me in the street, Princess.”
The voice said as if he’s talking naturally. Wait! Can you hear me? Princess Solliana said to her mind when she noticed that the mysterious voice answered what she’s thinking.
“I can hear you, Princess. Loud and clear.”
Another answer was heard from the mysterious voice that made Princess Solliana so intrigued to see where is it coming from. Then, if you can hear me, can you please tell me where are you? Princess Solliana asked.
“South.”
South? What do you mean south? Princess Solliana asked in frustration, impatiently kept thinking where south is that voice referring to. But, the voice didn’t answer again, instead, there was a sudden breeze passes behind her head that made her look at the back of the carriage. The only scenery can be shown was the infamous cursed mountain near the Palace that the Marquess said to her earlier.
It’s coming from the cursed mountain!? Princess Solliana was shocked by what she’s seeing, but the voice is not responding to her again. The Princess stared intently outside that made her see a bright red eyes that glimmered in the dark mountain.
I-Is that … Is that a Panther!?
Comments (0)
See all