Chapter 1

1

She sat in front of the mirror as her maids fix her hair. Her eyes staring at her pale reflection on the mirror and the bold red lipstick on her lips.

She knew that it was only a matter of time before a man of high profile whether from her kingdom or beyond came for her hand in marriage.

As a woman and most importantly as a princess she has never had a choice on who to marry. She always knew that one day she would be married off to a man but it won't be out of love but for more power and wealth to her kingdom.

"You look so gorgeous, my princess." One of her personal maids gushed over her as she slipped the last golden hairpin on her black hair.

" I'm sure that any general or Prince that will ask for your hand in marriage will be so lucky." The second one stated. But she couldn't place her hand on what it is that would make any man feel 'lucky' to have her.

"What is the current situation?" Princess Amerah questioned.

" My Princess, the king, is currently having a meeting with his ministers at the throne room." Her maid responded calmly.

Princess Amerah stared hard at her heart shaped lips and her highly praised brown eyes but she saw nothing that pleased her at that moment.

Her father had three concubines and they all gave birth to 10 boys combined. Her mother, the Queen gave birth to her and after so many years she finally had about which she was a decade older.

As the only Princess of the Kingdom and the first child of the King she had so much responsibility on her shoulders and since she was a kid she started training for it. Everyone knows that she would be married to a powerful General or a Prince one day and even when she had no choice she secretly hoped that her husband would be considerate of her.

Princess Amerah stood up elegantly from the chair and placed her hand on the tie of her beautifully made dress before she started walking outside, her personal maids following closely behind her.

"The flowers beside the pond look so beautiful today, would you like to go and see it?" One of them inquired softly and Amerah hummed.

As they got to the pond, she plucked out a flower and brought it close to her nose. She smiled as the scent of the flower assaulted her nose but raised her head when she heard someone cleared throat close to her.

She raised her eyebrow and glanced up but it was her assigned bodyguard.

"Dian, what is the current situation in the city?" She asked him.

Dian bowed his head as he held his sword closely to his chest. " Your highness, I went to the city as usual and while walking around I saw people running towards the palace gate, I stopped to know what was happening since no one was stopping and noticed that Greshi's warriors are currently in Manika with their princes and killing the people, they are on their way to the palace as I speak, my Princess." He reported.

A gasp slipped out of Amerah's lips as she glanced frantically around trying to come up with something. "They will soon reach the palace. Is Father aware of the news report?" She asked him.

" Yes, my Princess. The military warriors and the general are already out to control the ongoing disaster. I don't know how bad it looks right now since I hurriedly came to inform you about it, my Princess."

Princess Amerah sighed softly, she didn't know what to do. She had to do something before things get out of hand.

"Go to my mother's quarter and make sure she's okay, also check up on Prince Andrew as well." She instructed Dian who bowed his head in respect before walking away.

"My Princess, what are we going to do now? Manika has always have a bad relationship with Greshi, Greshi is the most powerful kingdom out there." Lola, one of her maids said and glanced around before lowering her voice. " I heard that an evil immortal vampire lives in their palace."

" Don't let people hear you, Lola. It is an abomination to accuse people like that, especially Greshi. We will get framed." She cautioned Lola who bowed her head apologetically.

Amerah glanced at the fish pond for the last time before walking away.

"Where are we going now, my Princess?" Stella, her second maid asked.

" Stop asking questions and follow me, I don't have much time." She groaned angrily.

As they walk close to the assembly ground leading to the throne room, Amerah stopped as she heard the sound of sword and the groans of the military men.

She could feel it. They are here.

***

"Get down, your highness!" Dian screamed as he came running towards her, he grabbed her shoulders and hurled her away from the red carpet but he wasn't fast enough as an arrow hit him on his left shoulder.

Her maids screamed and everywhere turned into chaos as the military guards tried to stop the invaders.

"Let's run, your highness." Dian groaned. He stood up from the ground and grabbed Amerah's shoulder, without thinking of anything else he started running.

"Wait! I…. I can't run, the Queen…. Prince Andrew….. my kingdom…." She stuttered as she struggled to run in her dress.

" I don't know about them, your highness. You're my responsibility and I have to protect you, at all cost." Dian panted as he keep running while fighting off invaders.

Amerah glanced back to see what was going on but rather than relief a scream tore through her throat instead.

Immediately she turned back and saw Lola and Stella get beheaded by a Greshi warrior.

She struggled to free herself but Dian was adamant on taking her away.

Her mother. Her brother. Her maids. She couldn't tell what was going to be of her anymore.

"Going somewhere, your highness?" A mocking voice asked. Amerah stopped running and glanced up at the owner of the voice, her legs wobbled, almost causing her to hit her butt on the floor.

The prime minister?