Her sisters

The Kingdom of Azuka, Dalia's home..

Keturah stood at the window, her gaze fixed on the swaying trees, her mind consumed with turmoil ever since her sister had been sent to a faraway land. Her brown eyes squinted, her petite, brown lips forming a pout. "Do you think she will be alright?"

Verina, the second sister of Dalia, lay on Keturah's bed with her legs crossed and raised. Her black curls, typically allowed to fall freely around her shoulders, were now styled into two cornrow braid, a common choice for her, as she often found wearing her hair loose makes her uncomfortable.

Her eyes, the brightest among the sisters and of the deepest brown, contrasted with her slim and tall stature. Despite her royal status, she possessed a nonchalant demeanor and often found herself in trouble for venturing out of the palace and engaging in activities unsuitable for a princess, such as fighting.

She dropped her legs and rolled on the bed, propping her head with one hand as she gazed at Keturah. "Have you tried talking to father?" Since Keturah was the firstborn and next in line for the throne, their father usually turned to her first.

Keturah sighed and turned to her sister. "You won't believe that Father ignored me when it came to Dalia."

Verina sighed as well. Though she may appear nonchalant at times, she cared deeply for her sister and was fearful for Dalia's well-being. The thought of her younger sister being in a foreign kingdom, married to a man who was rumored to be a monster, filled Verina with dread. One could only imagine what Dalia might be facing.

This troubled both Verina and Keturah, and they had constantly tried to get their parents to help their sister. While Verina talked with their mother, Keturah discussed the matter with their father.

Keturah walked towards the bed, adjusting the crown on her head. She had already begun taking lessons on being a queen, as their father had started presenting suitors from noble homes for her consideration.

"How are they not worried?" Verina asked, sitting up as Keturah sat next to her.

The future queen rubbed the lines that had formed on her temples, expressing her own exhaustion over the situation. "I do not know, Verina. I am just as concerned. We need to come up with a plan to ensure our sister's well-being."

"Yes," Verina agreed, nodding. "Until I hear from my sister directly, I will not believe any messenger claiming she is alright." She pressed her lips together before continuing, "I heard he never takes off his mask. He must be so ugly. Someone who kills others for power will surely have too many scars to hide. He must be horrendous."

"Verina," Keturah chided gently, "he is still Dalia's husband." Verina's quick wit matched the speed of her words.

"That still doesn't justify all the lives he's taken. Above all, I cannot believe Father married Dalia off just to protect the kingdom," Verina scoffed, disbelief evident in her voice.

"It is not Father's decision; the king has requested a bride in exchange to protect our kingdom," although that was what she was told by their mother. It only makes sense that the king would need something to protect their land, but what Keturah did not understand is why the monster has requested a bride.

"It should have been me," Verina frowned. "I could have easily survived there, and I am older, I am the strongest..." Her voice trailed off, turning hoarse. "It should not have been Dalia... poor girl."

"Perhaps," Keturah's shoulders slumped. She had been fighting hard to control the tears from falling, but they eventually fell without her control. "Perhaps I can bring her out of there when I become queen. I will make alliances with other powerful kingdoms," she shook her head. "I will have to do something; she is too young to be there."

"Keturah," Verina held her sister's shoulder to comfort her. "No one is as powerful as the king of Zephyria. No matter your alliances, it will be impossible to defeat him." She sighed, letting go of her sister's shoulder. If they were to do something, it wouldn't be when Keturah becomes queen.

"Stop crying, sister. We will find a solution out of this," Verina said, reassuring her.

But Keturah shook her head. This is what they had been saying ever since Dalia left. If they must find a solution, they must think of something and they would have to think very fast and quickly. "I don't know what else to do. Father is clearly not helping."

"I know," Verina said, her gaze traveling towards the open window. The wind came in slightly, caressing them. It seemed this was now in their hands. If they did nothing, their sister would be in a strange land with that man who could likely kill her. For that man had killed multiple people. What made her parents think that Dalia was safe in his hands?

"How could they even!" Verina sighed. Who was she going to blame? Perhaps herself, for on that day she had been sent on an errand by her father, only to return and realize that her younger sister had been married off—a marriage she had only found out about on that same day.

Her father knew clearly that if she were present, she would have jumped into the palanquin and sacrificed herself instead of Dalia.

"I will go," Verina turned to her sister, "make a good excuse for me and give me some guards to tag along."

"Verina, are you certain?" Keturah asked, unsure if this was a good or bad idea.

"Very certain," Verina nodded, "I cannot sit idly by while my sister is in a strange land, possibly terrified for her life. I must," she took a deep breath, "I must ensure that my sister is safe. As for you, in your role as the future queen, find a way to help me leave the palace. By tomorrow before sunrise, I should be out of here."