Placed into a barely fitting and unflattering dress, I was hauled into the throne room like cattle.

I was surrounded on all sides by faces I did not recognize. Nobles who have come to witness the emperors decree. Turning, I looked for a moment to see if Warren was here as well, but didn’t catch sight of him. I was completely alone.

Lifting my head I set my sights on my father, a man who I did not recognize, brown headed and laid with red eyes in his skull. While the crown prince, a blond haired and blue eyed young man, stood beside him. They who were high upon their thrones looked down at me with disdain. The ones I shared blood with, but not a single feature.

“Kalisto Andromeda. It is by my order you are to marry the King of Martok once you come of age for the sake of our glorious empire.”

The entire room erupted in cheers and applause.

‘Martok…The warmongering kingdom of the north.’

It was obvious now what my father wanted. He planned to marry me off to avoid war with that nation, offering me as a hostage. Knowing this I acted as quickly as I could and knelt before my father.

“Your Majesty. If I may be permitted to speak.”

My father looked down at me. I’m sure a thousand calculating thoughts ran through his mind in that moment.

“...Speak.”

Immediately pressing down my surprise I spoke.

“Your Majesty. If I may be allowed to speak to my future husband before our union I would be put greatly at ease. I trust Your Majesty's foresight and mind, but find myself nervous to marry a prestigious man of the north who I have yet to meet.”

I continued before my father could stop me.

“‘So, if you would bless me with a meeting with my husband-to-be, I feel it would put my worries to rest,” I looked at his eyes, “and yours too, father.”

His eye twitched hearing me. I could only wait with bated breath what seemed like an eternity. The nobles around me murmured amongst themselves.

I lowered my head back down in hopes of swaying him, even letting my body tremble slightly to give a powerless image.

‘Please. Please agree.’

All I could do was pray and hope.

“...Alright.”

I lifted my head quickly.

“I understand it would be best to let King Maldeevs see you before your marriage. I will let you meet him in a few days, a week before your coming of age.”

I had to do everything in my power to not jump for joy right then and there.

“I thank Your Majesty for your generosity and kindness. Long live the sun of our empire.”

It was time to put that plan into action.

During the carriage ride here I knew there could only be two possibilities of why my father called on me. Political or scapegoat.

If the empire had been struggling then they could have blamed it on me. ‘The cursed princess is leading the ruin of our beautiful empire’, was all my father would have had to say and I would have met the guillotine. But as soon as those maids shoved me in that dress I knew it had to be political gain.

‘Now I just have to pass the time until I meet the king.’

I was shoved into a room. It’s current state was so shabby it made me feel at home.

It was a sizeable room nonetheless. A small bed, much too small for a grown adult. A dusty dresser, small vanity, and a tiny tea table were some of the only furniture in the room not in total disrepair. At the far end of the room was a large circle window with a ledge to sit on. The room was covered in faded pinks and whites.

‘This is too unkempt and large to be a guest room but…It looks like it was meant for a little girl.’

With the size of the furniture and the colors it was unmistakable. I sat myself on the edge of the bed and kept looking around. Eventually my gaze settled on the headboard beside me.

‘It looks like theres something written here…’

I brushed my hand over the engraving. A mountain of dust came off on my hand in the process. I looked closer.

‘For my beloved-’

“What in the…” I muttered. I continued trying to rub away the grime hiding the rest of the words. My mind went blank as soon as I saw it.

'For my beloved daughter, Kalisto-From your father, Aldric.'

From what I understood the emperor was a cold and cruel man. He was said to be someone who only did things for his benefit and made well calculated decisions. But…

I couldn’t understand. No, I didn’t want to in this situation.

‘If he truly cared for me before I was born why did he do what he did? To save his image? To keep his power? Nothing about this makes sense…’

Those in the imperial palace said that once His Majesty began spreading rumors of Her Majesty, my mother, it was like he became a different person.

‘Amelia said it seemed like they had a good relationship before my mother knew she was pregnant with me.’

“What happened for my father to be this way?” I pondered meaninglessly. 

Creak.

Looking over my shoulder a small figure slipped through the door. Closing it behind them they sat on the ground and sighed. It was a little girl with brown hair.

“Uh. Hello?”

Bright red eyes that she had, nearly escaped her skull when I spoke. She laid her sight on me.

“Who are you? You aren’t supposed to be in here!” She whispered angrily.

I raised an eyebrow. “Are you supposed to be in here?”

The small girl had a disgruntled look on her face.

“My older brother is trying to make me attend my lessons…You aren’t going to tell on me, are you?”

I laughed a little.

“No, I won’t. May I ask who you are?”