Shortly after the end of the Golden Dawn of Latarias, war threatened to break out between the three kingdoms for the first time after five centuries of peace. For Veruna, the Terensar family wanted to avenge their second prince, Russek Terensar. For Saraja, it was retribution for the Latarias Massacre by the same culprit.

- The History of the Three Kingdoms

“What do you mean?” Nia exclaimed, her eyes wide in shock. “How can Prince Russek be dead?”

While she despised Roshana the most because of her betrayal, Russek was still a major target of her hatred because of the role he played in her brother’s death. She was a little disappointed and surprised that he died so easily without her there to witness it. She wanted to make him suffer a little bit more as comeuppance for all the deaths he was responsible for.

Sierra nodded, looking a bit uneasy herself. The death of a Verunan prince in Saraja has nothing to do with a Zahdian family like Danif’s, yet everyone looked troubled. Nia immediately realized that there was more to the news.

They were eating porridge for breakfast with the Odessi family. It was already awkward enough at first due to Nia’s identity as a fugitive princess, which the people at the dining table had largely avoided talking about.

Nia was also grateful that breakfast wasn’t stew. She wasn’t sure if she could stomach it properly after being fed drugged stew by that Zahdian woman from before.

“There is more, isn’t there?” Nia probed cautiously.

Khiran took a sip of his milk, his face unsurprised by the events. “I didn’t think this would be the news that comes as soon as you wake up.”

Sierra hesitated. “I didn’t want to say this since you’ve just woken up, but…”

“Please, I need to know.” Nia pressed on.

“Prince Russek was assassinated. According to the rumors, it was believed to be the same assassins as the one who killed most of your family—”

“That’s impossible! The ones behind my family’s deaths were the Verunan soldiers.” Nia interjected, thinking hard. “There’s no way they will turn against their own prince, so my sister is most likely responsible for Russek’s death. But why would she do that? Unless his death was more useful than his life, she wouldn’t have done that. Which means she murdered him and used his death to frame someone. Would it happen to be me or Khiran?”

“Neither, actually.” Khiran spoke up at last. “The ‘assassins’ were all captured. And according to what they’re saying, the ‘assassins’ are Zahdian spies sent by the Nekaris family.”

Nia went through another shock at his words. “Do you mean that she intends to frame Zahdi for everyone’s deaths?”

“That’s what it looks like.” Sierra looked solemn and serious at the implication of this.

Latifah cursed. “What is her aim? Don’t tell me she wants an excuse to go to war with Zahdi?”

“Yes.” Khiran answered. “When I went to the Dream Market yesterday, I had someone use her power of psychometry to read Roshana’s engagement ring, since I thought her engagement might be linked to whatever conspiracy she’s planning. I was told that Roshana planned to unite all three kingdoms and rule over them.”

“All three?” Nia shuddered, horrified at the thought. She had no idea Roshana was that power-hungry. “Is she mad?”

“She’s not actually going to declare war on us, is she?” One of Danif’s family members asked nervously. “Zahdi has the smallest army out of all three kingdoms.”

“What will happen if she does declare war?” Takir asked.

Nia frowned as she thought hard. “If war between Saraja and Zahdi does occur, Veruna will definitely side with Saraja. Even if it weren’t for Russek’s death, Veruna depends Saraja’s resources too much to risk losing Saraja as an ally. I suppose my sister will turn on Veruna once she has Zahdi in her grasp.”

Dead silence reigned at the breakfast table. Everyone either stared at their plates or avoided making any intense eye contact with her.

If war does break out, then it would be the first war in over five hundred years, the first since the three kingdoms were established. It was practically unthinkable and unprecedented. How did diplomacy between the three kingdoms even reach this point?

“I need to stop her.” Nia stood up abruptly, almost knocking her chair over.

“You just recovered from your coma. Sit down.” Takir chided her softly. “Finish your breakfast first.”

Nia glowered at him. “How can I eat breakfast while my sister is waging war? I need to make a move fast.”

“You can’t plan on an empty stomach.” Khiran pointed out bluntly.

“Why did you say anything about this to me this morning when I woke up?” Nia accused him as she sat back down.

“Because I thought our heart-to-heart was more important? Obviously I didn’t know about it since we’ve been traveling for three weeks straight and the news came just a few hours ago. Now eat.”

Nia resumed eating her porridge despite losing her appetite. She suddenly paused, her spoon frozen in mid-air as she remembered another issue.

“How is the drought in Saraja?” Nia recalled how the oasis outside of the capital seemed to be struggling with food and supply when they escaped from the slave market.

Latifah let out a groan while Takir sighed and Khiran continued to eat his breakfast without a single reaction.

“Can’t you put it off until later?” Latifah complained.

Nia set her spoon down again. “Is it that bad?”

“It’s worse,” Takir admitted before he could stop himself. He instantly clapped a hand over his mouth when he realized that he let something slip.

“Worse?” The dread in Nia’s stomach increased.

Latifah glared at him. “Don’t listen to him, Nia. Eat your breakfast first.”

Nia glared at them before picking up her entire bowl and started scraping the remaining porridge into her mouth as fast as she could.

“Don’t eat so fast, you’ll get a stomachache!” Sierra chided her, concerned.

Nia set the empty bowl back on the table and calmly wiped any traces of porridge off her face, her cold eyes locked on Takir and Latifah the whole time.

The two of them gulped under the intensity of her gaze.

“I’ve finished. Now tell me.” Nia ordered.

“There is now a famine in Saraja right now because of the drought,” Takir explained in a sheepish voice.

“But wouldn’t the capital start distributing supplies by now?”

“Princess Roshana is hoarding them, most likely in preparation for war.”

“What?” If Nia had still been holding her wooden spoon, she would have snapped it in anger. She glowered so angrily that even Khiran looked at with a nervous expression. Nia’s rage increased as Roshana’s crimes grew longer.

As Nia thought it over, she had to admit that it was despicably clever. There would be a higher number of civilians looking to join the army as the famine grew worse. Roshana was taking advantage of the famine to gain more power. But why wasn’t the sagehand doing anything to stop her?

She cursed under her breath as she tried to think of something to do.

“What can you do about it?” Latifah pointed out another issue. “You’re a fugitive in your own kingdom.”

Nia winced at the truth. “Only a fugitive in my sister’s eyes. I might be considered officially ‘deceased’ in my kingdom.”

“Which is just as useless as a fugitive.” Latifah countered.

“What if I go to the king of Zahdi?”

“You want to go to King Altair? After your sister framed him?” Takir’s eyebrows shot up. “I can’t say that’s a good idea either.” 

“It’s too dangerous for me to return to Saraja right now as Roshana’s forces are still searching for me. Besides, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. If my sister can make an alliance with Prince Russek, then why can’t I make an alliance with King Altair?”

“What can you offer in return for his help? You have no power right now.”

“My identity as the second princess of Sarja is still enough for me to be a major pawn in politics. Don’t forget, I am now second in line to the throne of Sarja and the heir presumptive.”

Latifah immediately quieted as she remembered Nia’s status.

“How did I, a former slave, get involved with a princess in hiding?” Latifah sighed as she flopped backward on her chair. “At least I got to see the Dream Market portal ritual last night. That was fun.”

“Are you sure you want to go down this path? This may be your last chance to run away from all these responsibilities.” Sierra turned to the fourteen-year-old princess. 

Nia couldn’t deny that Sierra’s option was appealing. She would love to run away from all this mess. After all, Nia had never liked any sort of responsibility or burden. Yet…

Nia’s eyes flickered to Sierra’s. “I can’t run away. Even if it weren’t for my desire to avenge Vivian’s death, he wouldn’t want me to abandon our people. He would want me to do the right thing. I may not have wanted the throne, nor was I educated for it like Vivian was, but I want to carry the dreams and goals that he had. I want to make him proud so that he can rest assured in death.”

Sierra’s eyes started getting misty, touched by Nia’s conviction. Even Khiran, Latifah, Takir, and Danif seemed to be moved by it. 

Sierra moved forward and wrapped Nia in a tight embrace, startling Nia. Nia couldn’t help but hug back. She couldn’t help but think of how she never received such warmth from her own mother.

“You must try to stay safe.” Sierra cautioned her as she finally pulled away.

“I’ll try my best.” Nia promised. “You must stay safe as well. My sister must have sent people to investigate where I disappeared to. There might have been witnesses who reported that I was taken away by your family. They might come after you and your family soon.”

“I’m already aware of that,” Sierra replied with a nod. “They wouldn’t dare to invade Zahdi so easily without probable cause. But just in case, we’ll be traveling further east for good measure.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Madam Odessi.” Nia smiled gratefully at the stranger who had done so much for her despite the danger involved.

“My pleasure, Your Highness.”