1 I Am Okay Being Alone
Callupe Kingdom is one of the leading kingdom in the East. Their Military might are one of the top 3 recognized by the allied kingdom.
King Leon Callupe is the 115th King. He has two wives.
One is the Queen and One is the King only concubine.
He has 2 sons and 3 daughters in his first wife and has 1 only daughter in his concubine, The 4th Princess.
Leon look at the baby in his arms.
The Queen look at the King and there is pain inside her heart.
The first Prince look at the King and the baby in his arm. It is unknown what he is thinking.
The Queen walks to the King.
"I can take care of her." she said and extend her arm.
The King looks at the Queen and seeing her pained expression he cant let the Queen take care of his bastard daughter.
He shakes his hand and call the head maid.
"Take the 4th Princess in the Former Concubine Palace and let her live there. She doesnt need to go to the Jade Palace or have to pay respect to me or the Queen. "
The Queen looks shock but in her heart she feels relieved.
The baby didnt make any noise as if it is dead.
The Head Maid nod and takes the child.
That is the last time the King has seen this daughter of his.
7 years ago.
Hearth turns 7. Her birthday is the same day of the first Prince birthday. She always looks at the far away Jade Palace and wonder what it feels like to be having a celebration.
"Princess,your hands are dirty again." Fiona is the head Maid in the Jade Palace before but now she is nothing but the unwanted 4th Princess only maid and nanny.
The former beautiful and bustling Lutos Palace is now old and unmaintained. Fiona maintain that it is safe for the Princess but being alone makes it hard to cover every inch to make it presentable.
Princess Hearth is holding a sweet potato she hide in her back.
"Tsaran! I dig this sweet potato for Mommy."
Hearing the little Princess acts of filiality, Fiona heart warms.
"How many times do I have to tell you,Princess? I am not your Mommy. I am your maid.".
The Princess looks sad and her head hangs down.
Fiona takes the big sweet potato in her hand.
"Wash your hand. I will roast this for you."
"Yey! Fiona is the best!"
Princess Hearth will hurry and wash up. Not only her hands but her whole body too.
Fiona looks at the bustling Jade Palace. At first, she resent the Princess for being sent in this ruined palace but now she cant help but pity the abandoned Princess.
"Your Highness, The Princess is not at fault for her Mother's mistake. Abandoning her like this.How can your heart even rest at night?"
Fiona silently shed a tear.
She will prepare a bit special dinner for the princess this evening.
It her 7th birthday afterall.
The Kingdom is celebrating the First Prince Birthday. The Jade Palace cant help but be extremely busy.
Food are being send here and there.
The decoration planner are all frantic.
Everyone is in festive aura and cant help smiling in this good fortune.
The King is alone in his study.
He is standing in the window of his office.
His eyes are looking at the far away Lutos Palace.
His heart is always unsettled every year.
But knowing that she is at least having a decent meal and a luxurious life, the pain is lessen a bit.
The Queen enters the study room and see the King who is looking at the Lutos Palace. Her heart is unsettled.
She didnt try anything life threatening but she refuse to give the 4th princess anything. She make sure no maid will be assigned in that palace. All the King gifts are blocked and burnt. All their monthly budget are reduce alot. And no one is sent to fix the kingdom how many times the Former head maid requested it.
The Queen is not cruel.
But blame it to the child's mother.
She, who killed the Queen's baby in the Queen's womb deserve to die. Her benevolence is that she spare the child's life.
The King has no idea and he will surely hates the Queen once he learned the truth but since the King didnt properly investigate, it means he is also at fault.
"Your Majesty, The guests has arrived."
"I will be there." The King said sighing and he walks straight to the door not even looking at the Queen.
The Queen grit her teeth but says nothing.
They proceed to the party venue.
Hearth knows that she is not loved.
The moment she can understand that,she refuse to admit it to herself.
But as time goes, she accept her fate.
Its not yet dinner.
Fiona is cooking something good.
But Hearth havent eaten lunch yet and her stomach is grumbling.
She went to the near forest and sat under the tree.
She is sitting there like a ball when she spotted a brownish mushroom.
She remember hearing from Fiona that there is a mushroom in the palace that is very tasty.
Tempted.
Hearth reach out and eat it.
Fiona smiles after she arrange all the three simple dish she prepare for Hearth.
She remember Hearth havent eaten yet so she hurry and call her.
After sometime,she doesnt hear a reply.
She went outside and look for Hearth.
She still cant find her.
Worried.
She ask the roving guard to look for Hearth.
The good Soldier who is a good friend of Fiona agreed.
They find her foaming her mouth from poison.
Fiona forgot everything and she carry Princess Hearth toward the Jade Palace.
The Queen heard the commotion and went to see what is happening.
The Prince also intrigue and secretly followed.
The Queen didnt look for a doctor or give the princess any medicine.
She even refuse to ask the imperial doctors.
"leave." She coldly said.
"Queen. I beg you. Princess is innocent. Her mother's mistake is not her mistake!" Fiona sobs. Pleading.
"Leave or I will released the lions and feed you two to the hungry lions."
She left.
Fiona doenst know but her strenght escape her body.
The guards pity her and help carrying her back to Lutos Palace.
The First Prince eyes widen and he shakes his head.
His mother is really hot headed.
But that Princess might really die.
He shrugged his shoulder.
It means one less competition to the throne,He thoughts.
