War?

"Truly?" Adum exclaimed with shock as she pinned Dalia's curls in place, creating a stylish ponytail and adorned them with beads of various colors. "The king didn't just... oh my dear, he sent for you?" Her voice carried a mix of excitement and disbelief.

Moonlight had started to filter in as Dalia summoned Adum. It was the early hours of the night, and Adum had assumed she was needed to assist the queen with a bath and dress her for bed.

To her surprise, she was informed that the queen was to be dressed because she would be presenting herself to her husband tonight. Could it be finally happening? Would the king finally accept his wife?

Dalia laughed, observing the astonished expression on Adum's face. "Certainly, but I must admit I am quite nervous," she said honestly, clasping her trembling hands together. Since leaving the corridor, she had been battling conflicting thoughts, yet deep down, there was an excitement to be close to him again.

"You will be fine," Adum reassured her with a smile. She placed the last pin in Dalia's hair and then began to apply light brown powder to her face and coconut oil to her lips.

The queen's skin was fragranced with coconut oil, creating a warm and soothing aroma in the air. The applied powder made her face glow, accentuating her dark lashes that fluttered over her light brown eyes. Her petite and pointed nose was highlighted with dark powder, making it stand out. Dalia was undoubtedly beautiful, and Adum was certain the king would be captivated by her charms.

Dalia gazed at herself in the mirror, almost not recognizing the stunning reflection before her. There was no denying that Adum's skills were top-notch; Verina would have much to learn from her.

"I look..." Dalia paused, her eyes widening with wonder.

"Ravishing," Adum chimed in from behind her, smiling through their reflections. "Now, let us get you dressed."

After a few moments, Dalia was fully dressed and awaited her husband's call. She sat on her bed, her gaze fixed on the rose plant that had yet to bloom any flowers. Her trembling hands were clasped together, and her feet were held close. The warm light from the wall cast a yellow glow on the flower, the only thing she could focus on as she waited.

Eventually, a guard tapped on her door, and Dalia whispered to herself, "Now, it is time."

...

"A palanquin would have been better," Verina cursed as the cold of the night seeped into her skin, her lips twisting as she tried to suppress her discomfort. It had been two days since she started riding on the horse, and the worst part was the absence of any huts or rest houses throughout her journey. What a desolate place.

"How far is it to the next village?" she yelled ahead to the guard leading the way, who was one of those who had escorted Dalia to Zephyria, named Amon.

"A few moments from now," Amon reassured, feeling the cold biting at his own skin but trying to hide it.

Verina let out a sigh of relief at the thought of soon lying on a soft mattress. Though she was known for her reckless nature, she had never before ventured out this way in such cold conditions.

Their horses galloped faster, with the two guards behind her catching up. It seemed that everyone was exhausted and in dire need of rest as soon as possible.

The ride took longer than Verina expected. By the time they reached their destination, her teeth were already chattering, and her grip on the horse's reins had tightened.

"That monster of Dalia's husband better be treating her well. If it's the other way around, I wouldn't hesitate to show him who I truly am. A punch for a first welcome wouldn't be all that bad," she thought, her lips curving into a smile.

They passed many stony houses. Although it was late at night, it was eerily quiet, as if no one was around. In Azuka, people usually bustled about at night, so it was surprising to Verina. She shrugged it off, thinking maybe these people were early risers.

As they galloped ahead, the horse in front suddenly paused, and Amon's eyes squinted ahead. "Something is wrong," he said with a slight hint of panic as Verina and the other two guards caught up to him.

"What do you mean?" Verina asked, scanning the area for any signs of trouble, but nothing seemed amiss to her.

Amon closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them with sheer terror. "There seems to be some sort of... " he trailed off.

"War?" Verina finished his sentence, as she too began to hear the distant screams of people, though there were no sounds of clashing swords.

"We should go," one of the guards warned, "we can manage until we reach another village."

The other guard nodded in agreement.

Verina frowned, her teeth chattering so violently that she knew she wouldn't be able to endure the cold much longer. Despite this, she couldn't ignore the possibility that those people could be in danger. "No, we must go see what is happening."

"Princess," Amon warned with caution, "it would be quite dangerous."

"I insist," her eyes narrowed ahead, ignoring the other two guards wide eyes. Suddenly, she hit the horse with her foot, and off they went towards the sounds of screams and war. The guards had no choice but to follow behind her.

When Verina reached the scene, the stale smell of heat greeted her, and the pungent smell of iron and fire wafted through the air. She had to squint her eyes to see clearly as the flames engulfed everywhere.

As her eyes adjusted to the flames and smoke swirling in the air, she sucked in a long breath at the horrifying scene before her.

People were scrambling up and down, running for help, seeking shelter, trying to survive. All she could see was flames seemingly coming from nowhere, claiming lives and houses.

Verina frowned. This was the rumors she had heard about Dalia's husband, of how he killed people. Could this be true? She gasped, her eyes growing wide with fear. Was he the one responsible for this devastation?