2 Chapter 2

Nine months ago

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Viera sat under the giant oak tree at her courtyard, reading tales of battles and wild hunts. The noon was clear and warm, with a breeze that reminded the skin that summer was coming. The tall tree had been here for centuries, surrounded now by the walls of the courtyard. She loved it here, it was bright with flowers, and almost quiet. The birds sang from hidden nests and the air scented of the roses and tulips.

But despite the calmness of this place, her anger still boiled within her. The lords of the realm had travelled down to the castle for the celebration of the king's appointed heir. Her father had chosen her uncle over her to seat on the throne after his death. 'A woman would never be accepted to rule the realm' he had told her but she knew if he wanted to make her his heir, he could, and no man could stop him.

As she sat there all alone, reading, with Sir Lodric guarding the entrance, A daring woman approached her, in a yellow silk gown. Her long ginger hair was styled in a low messy bun, and for a woman her age, she was still beautiful. She walked full of pride and elegance, she was royalty after all, the king's oldest sybling, and also the wife of Lord Hermes— one of the richest lords in the continent. With such power, and influence, any woman would be proud.

"You should be at the feast and not here" lady Aera said standing some inches besides the princess.

"My father has no need for my presence, no one does" Viera said bluntly, refusing to look away from the page she was reading.

Aera stared at Viera, almost wanting to show concern for the young girl. She understood the young princess anger and pain, she once felt the same way, when her younger brother Raedis was made heir and king and not her, despite she being King Aeryn's first child. She was forced to accept the cold truth that a woman could never seat on the throne, a truth Viera still refuses to accept.

"You are the princess, are you not? there are duties you cannot evade" she reminded sternly.

"Tell me again what my duties are my lady, for it seems I have forgotten" the princess spoke coldly, with her eyes now staring at the lady.

"Spare me your anger, I have no need of it" Aera said frowning. "No woman would ever seat the bronze throne, the sooner you accept it, the lesser it'll hurt" Aera said but not with sympathy, but with a nonchalant expression on her face.

Viera turned back to her book, feeling the hurt grow more inside her. She refused to let anyone see her pain, she had no need for anyone's pity, nor their pretentious concern for her.

"Did you come to remind me of my place my lady?" the princess questioned, flipping through another page.

"Quite the contrary. It is your father's command, that you join us at the feast" the lady told. "Lord Ross eagerly awaits your attendance"

Viera smirked. It wasn't enough that her father had given her birth right to his brother, now he wants her to celebrate it as well, and even worse, to entertain the man he was forcing her to marry. She wished she could resent him, but she couldn't, he was still her father, and despite her anger towards the man, she just couldn't hate him

He was no longer the man who would tell her past tales of wars at night when she was little, nor the man who would go horse riding with her all morning in the forest. It all changed after her mother's death, he became so cold, so distant, even towards her, but it no longer bothered her, she was used to it already.

"If it is the king's wish" the princess replied, closing her book and standing to her feet. "Excuse me" she said, and left the courtyard annoyed.

She walked into the grand hall slow in her steps, looking around at the river of silk and satin as they were dining and wining, chattering and laughing. Some lords gathered at the giant double oak doors, with their full cups, bantering, but as she walked past them, they turned their gazes towards her. Flutes, harps, pipes and lutes graced the hall for the guests entertainment.

The princess gown was no lesser than that of the polish ladies in the hall, it was made of red silk, matched with the ruby jewelry worn on her neck and fingers. Her hair was prepped in a partial updo, she was just as beautiful as her mother.

There he was, the king of Asdall, seated at the center of the royal table. Even she had to admit that her father looked delightful in his grey doublet, with a red cloak held on his left shoulder. The crown that rested on his head was a sensation of bronze and red gems.

Viera approached her seat beside the king, and her uncle, Odis, ignoring the lords that tried greeting her. She lacked the mood to give ears to their flattering and futile attempts to court her. She felt tired of such matters, and it was the least of her concerns, besides her father had already chosen a man for her.

"Where were you?" King Raedis asked, taking a sip from his cup.

"At my courtyard, reading, until his highness demanded my presence" she rudely replied looking at the lords and ladies dancing at the center.

King Raedis looked at Viera indifferently, unamused by her sentiments. "How long would you act this way?"

"I'm afraid I do not know what you mean father"

"You're not a child viera, you're sixteen, act like one and stop being bitter over my choice of heir"

The princess chuckled slightly, amused by his word 'bitter'. "I may be bitter but I got it from you" she whispered to herself.

"Come again?"

"I'd rather not" viera replied, but this time, she turned to look him in the eyes, with intent on her face.

There was tension between them for some few seconds, and realizing her anger swelling, viera turned back to stare at the guests. The man would never change she said inward.

The silence between them, grew stronger, until the king broke it. "Your marriage to Lord Ross will hold in a month. I'm sure by now you would agree he's the most suitable match for you".

Viera took another bite of the pastry coffyn filled with pigeon meat, eggs and nuts, that was laid before her. She preferred it to the other meals arranged. There was so many on the table.

"Are you that eager to rid yourself of my presence?" She asked boldly instead, pushing aside the pastry.

"It is my wish to have you here close to me always" the king expressed himself sincerely, she could see it in his eyes that he meant it. "But you have come of age viera and you must marry".

"I do not wish to get married" she barked, finding it hard to contain herself. Her tone was audible by a few people, which made them turn their attention to her and the king.

"I will not have you talk to me in that manner, I am your father and your king" king Raides spoke with clenched teeth.

"And I am your daughter, which you seem to have forgotten" Viera blurts out in a low tone, and then her eyes met Lord Ross.

The golden haired lord walked to their table, his beard had been shaved, bringing out the youthful look in his face. He had a heavy built like a knight, and also wealth that surpasses any lord in the realm. The lord of every lady's dream, except for Viera, but it did not matter if she liked him or not, she would still marry him. There was a limit to her stubbornness, and she feared what her father could do if she pushed him too far. She was not ready to find out.

"Your highness" he bowed before Raides, and then turned to the princess with a smile she hated, a smile filled with lust in his eyes. "Will the princess permit me a dance?"

'She will not' she wanted to say but the king was quicker in responding first. "Of course she will" Raides said, sampling his mouth with chopped lamb stewed in almond milk and raisins.

Viera turned to her father with unspoken words. She wished he would bite his tongue while he ate, but then she noticed the stares of the lords seated with them at their table and kept calm. She looked at lord Ross and took his hand, allowing him lead her to the dance floor.

While they danced, he could not stop gazing at her. He could not wait to marry this woman, to take her to his bed already, to drown her in the tender delight of his body. She was so young, and untouched, and he was thrilled to be the first man who would break her innocence.

"You'll make a better ruler than Prince Veha" the lord complimented trying to gain her attention. Despite they were dancing together, she had been staring at the other guests dancing besides her.

"I guess we would never know" she gave a forced smile, and then turned back her eyes away from him.

He was not giving up just yet, he was determined to have a conversation with her. "I see there's still a dragon's nest behind the castle".

"I see you've had your stroll around" Viera replied, still uninterested in talking to him.

"I'm having one built behind our castle in Greyvalley" he told and it seemed to catch her interest.

"What for?" She asked looking him in the eyes.

He smiled, and it almost killed her sudden interest, but then he spoke. "To house a dragon".

Her eyes flared up in surprise, but she waited for him to continue.

"You see, I've sent a thousand men to find the last dragons, they should be far deep at sea by now" he whispered so only she could hear him.

"And what do you need the dragons for?" She asked but then their attention was caught by the grand entrance of the king's heir.