Taking a deep breath as I paused outside the dinning room, I pulled the calm facade I wore around my mother over myself like a cloak and mask. Nodding to the guards, they opened the doors allowing me to enter. Curtseying to everyone, I apologized “apologies for my tardiness” before taking my seat next to the twins, Orthos and Andronicus whose hair was a dark red almost burgundy and were dressed in matching grey dress shirts and jeans. Waving her hand, mother, who wore a black gown with her red hair pulled up in a fancy bun atop her head topped with her tiara, signaled for dinner to be served before making her announcements for the evening.

“As you all may know, I have been in talks with several other royal families in regards to marriage alliances. Four of you are now betrothed to royalty from neighboring kingdoms. Evander, Raynald, Cristian, and Margaret. The four of you will be married within the next year. Margaret shall be married first in a months time to Prince Mikail Astros of the Mournside Kingdom” she said causing a stir to erupt from my brothers as I just continued eating without a word since I knew I had no choice in this even if I did voice an opinion.

“Wait mother, does Prince Mikail know the truth about Margaret or does he believe everything every one else does?” Octavius, the oldest among us asked.

“He knows nothing as of yet since his delegation just left and should be back to their kingdom tomorrow afternoon” she said calmly taking a drink of her wine. Meeting Octavius’ eyes, he gave me a sad and angry look as I shook my head almost imperceptibly. Nodding in turn, he continued eating without another word as I did the same until our third eldest brother, Cristian who had black hair like Evander and wore a blue dress shirt and jeans, asked “are you really alright with this Margaret?”

“It’s my duty to accept things decided for me by our Queen and as her daughter I am grateful for the match as it means I won’t be forced to marry a local noble who may cause more issues for us later on” I shrugged maintaining my mask. Meeting my eyes, Evander said “she has a point” his words dripping with distain as he used the wrong pronoun before continuing “it is our duty to our queen and country and if you think about it, mother could have made a worse match for Margaret and cost her her life.” A silent paw went over the table at that causing all eyes to fall on me and I knew what my brothers did, this match could still cost me my life when the prince learns the truth.

That night when I went back to my room, I stood before the mirror looking into my own sad forest green eyes before looking over my five foot eight inch form from my waist length brilliantly red hair to the pink ball gown my mother insisted I wear since it looked good with my hair. Reaching over to the dressing table. I grabbed the make up remover wipes and began wiping away the traces of make up that covered my pale skin. Another few minutes passed as I removed it before a knock sounded and Mina came to help me dress for bed. As she worked, Mina quietly apologized “congratulations of your engagement my lady and I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for Mina?” I asked making her pause to look at me in the mirror over my shoulder.

“I’m sorry that this could cost you dearly all for politics” she sadly commented. Reaching back, I took her hand and sighed “or this could be the greatest gift since he could accept me for who I truly am instead of who I’ve been forced to be all my life.”

“That’s true, I hadn’t thought of that” she commented thoughtfully as she went back to work getting me out of this dress.

That night, I couldn’t sleep so I put on my robe and went out to my balcony that overlooked the garden and looked at the moon not noticing my brother, Andronicus, was on their balcony drinking at the same time.

“Can’t sleep little brother” he asked.

“No, you?” I asked glancing over at him as he took another drink while I took a seat on the railing. Shaking his head, he complained “I can’t get mothers decision and your indifference out of my head.”

“I wasn’t indifferent, Andro. I’ve just learned that nothing will change for me no matter what my opinion of the situation and it’s expected of me to take it with grace. So, I’ve developed a mask of sorts when dealing with mother” I shrugged as I felt a tear slide from my eye. Wiping it away as he watched me, he gently offered “it’s good to see the real you sometimes, little brother.”

“Too bad I can’t be the real me all the time” I shrugged knowing I’ll never get that chance around mother who will forever see me as a daughter.