The servent opened the door and Marianna entered. She wore a simple green dress, her hair was down and she wore light makeup up. "I, Marianna Sengrid, greet your majesties" she said giving a curtsy. "Please have a seat princess" the king said gesturing to the chair infrint of his desk. 

Marianna quickly sat down. "So what exactly is your plan?" The king asked. "To kill my father the king of Zera" she told him. "And how exactly do you intend to do that?" The queen asked. "I need political power not just in zera but throughout the continent" Marianna said "you have dragons why not use them to get what you wish?" The second Prince cut in. "I do not wish to destroy the kingdom it's not the people I have a problem with only the king" Marianna replied. 1

"And if we did become your allies, if we did lend you our army what would we get out of it?" The king asked. Marianna knew what his question meant. The king wanted to know how much this war meant to her. He wanted to know just how much she hated her father, and how far she was willing to go to achieve her goals. 

The king was smart, he never paid attention to those who were useless, to those who were cheap. But he sensed that Marianna was just like him, maybe worse. 

Marianna looked towards Theo. He gave her a knowing smile, then she looked back at the king. "I'll marry Prince Theodore and when I conquer Zera I shall connect the two Empires" she said In a serious tone. The kings eyes went wide. He certainly didn't expect her to offer herself. If she truly succeeded in taking Zera and combining the lands, they would no doubt become the most powerful Empire in the world. 

The queen lowered her brows in slight annoyance but didn't say her word. She was married to the king and knew exactly what he was thinking. Prince Theodore stood behind the king attempting to hold in his laughter, while the second prince looked at marianna with only contempt. 

"How intriguing" the king said with a smile. "What do you think of her offer Theo?" The king asked as he continued to look at Marianna. "It would be my honor to Marry the princess your majesty" Theo said looking at Marianna with pride. He was interested in her. She was definitely strange but he liked that about her. He wanted to see just how far she would go in order to achieve her goals. 

"Then it's settled, in exchange for becoming allies with Angeria and using our army to go to war with Zera you Will Marry the crown prince" the king said. "Elizabeth, begin preparations for their wedding, we shall have it held in a weeks time" the king said. "My king that's far to quick" the queen tried to argue. The king turned to the queen and glared at her. "You've prepared balls in less time I'm sure you can figure it out" he said. "You are all dismissed, I suggest the crown Prince and The Princess begin to get to know each other" he said. 

They all left his office, Marianna stood outside standing next to Theo. They were both silent for a moment, then he burst out into laughter. Marianna looked at him confused. "I gotta say I certainly didn't expect that" he said as he continued to laugh. Marianna turned away in a slight pout. "It seems you only see me as a joke" she said. "No, no, that's not it" Theo said wiping a tear from his eye. "I truly did not expect you to offer yourself as a trade for becoming allies, I could see my mother and younger brother were far from happy" Theo explained.

Marianna turned to look back at the prince who was now composed. "I wish to see my dragons" whe said changing the subject. "Then let us go see them" Theo said with a smile. They began to walk. 

"I don't believe your mother and brother like me very much" Marianna said. "No I don't believe they do either" theo said. "But I wouldn't worry to much about them" he added. "And why is that?" Marianna questioned. "You are now the future queen, not only of Zera but Angeria. And there is nothing they can do once you become my wife" he said as they reached the garden. "Does that mean they can do something before we wed?" Mari asked. "Possibly, but I doubt they would, they fear my father to much to do so, and now that you have offered not only yourself but the future of Zera, my father will see you as an important piece, one that inorder to get what he wants, he must protect" Theo explained. "Yes I see" marianna said as they approached the dragons. 

"You go on ahead Mari I have some business to deal with" he said, Mari looked at him for a moment, but nodded in agreement, then walked over to the dragons. A man suddenly appeared beside Theo, "your highness" he said as he knelt to the ground. "What is it?" Theo asked as he stared at marianna from afar. We have investigated the princess as you said, she has not told a lie" the mysterious man said. "I see" said Theo. "Have you prepared what I asked?" He Questioned. "Yes your highness. It is ready and awaiting you" the man answered. 

"Good" Theo said "make sure to protect Mari from a distance, don't let that imbecile of a brother of mine harm her" he said. "Yes your highness" he answered. "Now be off" Theo said and the man vanished as quickly as he appeared. 

Theo wasn't the man marianna had just met he had a dark side, one marianna would eventually have to see. One she would eventually have to know. 

To Be Continued