1 Prologue: The Grievance

I don't know what to say but to stare at the bodies that the royal guards assured me. I was not going to cry, I won't but when Niklaus was hugging me and told me to be strong, the tears were just starting to accumulate in my eyes.

Heat swelled behind them before I was blinking my eyes as I turned to look at my cousin. He was looking solemn before he was patting my shoulder.

"Stay strong, Ara. You know you can do it," he said before I turned to see that he had ordered the guards to put the king and queen's bodies away before the funeral tomorrow. I looked after the white sheets that covered them and as always, the tears were not coming out.

I will not cry. I will be strong. I cannot let them beat me, I reminded myself before I took a deep breath and I went out of the hallway as I was going to my room. Preferably to sleep it off and just to think this was a nightmare.

A real nightmare.

The next morning came and I have been standing inside my room as my ladies' maids were fixing me up with the black gown for the funeral. It was the traditional clothes for mourning and to think that I will be leading the walk to the funeral was making this even more a reality than a nightmare.

At least nightmares came to haunt me at night.

I sighed before the maid was putting the veil to conceal my face as respect for my father and mother's death. It was a kind gesture but I don't think I wanted to cover my face whenever I can see the outside of the royal castle.

I walked out of the bedroom before I was escorted to the lawn of the castle. The carriage was waiting for me as well as the coffins for my parents. I took a deep breath before Niklaus helped me up the carriage before he entered it himself.

"Are you alright?" he asked me and I can only nod at him. The coachman whipped the horse and the carriage was moving. I turned my head to look out the carriage and enjoyed the scenery while I can.

"What will happen now?" I asked my cousin after a few moments of silence. Nick was taking a deep breath before he turned to look at me. I was looking at his handsome face.

Blond hair.

Blue eyes.

Just like mine since we're related anyway through my father's side. He smiled at me before he was putting his hands on my knees.

"You will have your coronation in 2 weeks and by that time, it is acceptable for you to lose the mourning clothes. It will give us some time for you to choose your prince consort, Your Highness," Nick said before I flinched. I never thought that he would be formal with me before.

It was always Ara or Arabella to him. But not this time, I thought sourly.

We have arrived at the cemetery. The land that has been dedicated to the royal families to bury their loved ones and deceased all together here. It was said that their spirits still lingered here but I was not one of those believers.

I believed when the spirits appeared before me until then no thank you.

I got out of the carriage as Nick held my hand. I was looking at the gloomy day. It was fitting, I thought before I was moving to where my parents' coffins were. The bishop was nodding at me, sending his condolence for my loss. I nodded, unable to say anything honest back.

"It is time, Your Highness," he said before I nodded as the guards were putting the coffins inside the hole that was meant for them. I looked at them and the heat was behind my eyes.

But I will not cry, I promised myself that much before I heard the bishop was reading those words to depart them for the afterlife.

If only he knew that royal families have a grave secret but it was not the time to tell anyway. I listened as Nick was putting his hand on my lower back, supporting me as I was looking at the hole.

Afterward, I took a fist off the ground and spread them on the coffins. I said my prayer before the others followed. Nick was the second person to do it since he was my cousin and a duke of our country.

He was the next in line for the throne but for now, I will be leading this country for better or worse.

"Long live the royalty," I mumbled before the others followed. Then, the guards were shoving the dirt into the hole as I watched it disappeared from my sight, forever in the ground where I know for a fact that my parents will never come back.

*****

"It is a shame that our king and queen were lost and drowned from the shipwreck. Our condolences to Princess Arabella and Duke of Belikov," someone from the Higher Court said as I was holding the champagne in my hand. I smiled before I nodded at him and drank my wine. It

was bubbly but nothing was much worse than pretending that I wanted to be here.

I just wanted to be left alone but of course, Nick will not let me have my moment.

After that, the Lords of the Higher Court were looking at each other before I put the glass down. Then, Lord Davenport spoke as he cleared his throat.

"Princess, as we all know, you are in mourning for two weeks and I understand if you think this discussion will not be gracing your ears but I must persist that you will hear it nonetheless," he said before I was looking at him, arching my eyebrows.

"And what matter is that you are trying to tell me?" I asked him before he was pulling a file that was thick enough to be a book.

Okay, what is this all about?

I turned to look at my cousin before Nick shrugged. So, he had no idea what was this all about. But I got a sense of what was being discussed right now, with all the Lords of the Higher Court, the trusted advisors for my parents' kingdom and my cousin was on the list as well.

But clearly, they have been doing some secret meeting behind his back. Poor Nick.

"We thought that we come up with a file for you to choose your prince consort as soon as the mourning period ends. It will be beneficial for you to get married as soon as possible in the nearest time," Lord Davenport said before he was passing the file toward me. It landed in front of me before I was looking at it. Then, I turned to look at the lords.

"I will think about it," I said before I can see the relief from their faces. They thought I will be an obedient princess and do what they suggest?

Hah! Then they did not know the real me.

"Now, if you excuse me, today has taken a toll on me and I will like to retire now," I said as I stood up from my chair. My skirts swirled around me before all the lords were standing to show me respect. I took my cousin's elbow and he led me to my bedroom.

"Are you seriously considering the proposal that they made?" Nick asked me before I was biting my lower lips. I cannot think of anything right now for I know the walls of my castle has ears and I don't want to spoil the surprise for them.

Once we were inside my rooms, I turned to look at my cousin as Nick was arching his eyebrow at me. Even though he was older than me, he never stops me from making my own decision.

He knew how much I loved my freedom of thoughts.

"Well, it was the best course of action for now. And as you said to me before, I have to be strong for I am only 18 years old, Nick. And I am the royalty of Niapachad Island. Everyone was depending on me," I said before I was sitting at the edge of my bed. I sighed before my cousin took his place next to me.

"Hey, don't be too hard on yourself. Not everything has to be done at a quick pace. Take your time, Ara, before you do any important decision," Nick consoled me before I nodded at him.

"Okay," I replied, not knowing what to say to him anymore. He nodded before he kissed my forehead.

"I see you in the morning. Try to get some sleep," he mumbled before I was looking at his retreating figure behind my door. He closed it and the maids were coming in to help me out of my dress. I was looking at the mirror as they removed my lacy black gown as well as the veil that I have pushed up onto my head. They changed me into a flimsy nightgown and I thanked them before I dismissed them.

I was pacing back to my bed as I blew my candle and laid under the covers. The darkness was consuming me and my thoughts before an idea came to my mind. I sat up on my bed as I was looking at the window and the moonlight that shone through.

It has to be tonight. I have to make my move.

"Fuck it," I mumbled before I flung the covers away and get ready for my stuff to leave the castle. I put on my riding habits before I stuffed some clothing into my traveling satchel, determined to be gone by dawn. I took some coins and some spare food that they delivered to my bedchambers for dinner.

I smiled as I was tying the rope to the window and I turned to look at my bedchambers.

"I will be back soon, I promised," I said to no one before I jumped over the rail and onto the ground. My mind was rushed and I was breathing heavily for this crazy idea of mine.

It's not every day their ruling monarch escaped their house, right?