Dutiful Love

The kingdom of Navaria boasted the largest biodiversity, with glacier mountains in the north, lush green forests in the south, deserts surrounding the west, and flowing waters to the east. It was a beautiful kingdom blessed by mother nature.

King Veer, the ruler of Navaria, was known to be one of the weakest kings in the kingdom's history. Once celebrated for producing the greatest warriors, that legacy seemed to have vanished with Veer, who appeared more interested in women than in warfare. 

''What do we do my king? We are short on men! The ratio of the Selene Army against us is 10:1000!'' A voice echoed through the palace court.

In the court of the Kingdom, King Veer sat with a defeated expression on his face, he replied, ''I can't give away my land nor can we afford to fight we must come up with a truce or a treaty,''

The ministers were agitated, ''But what could Selene possibly want from us? They have everything! It's the biggest kingdom!''

''How old is this Cyrus?'' asked Veer as if something was brewing in his head.

The ministers couldn't understand how Selene's ruler's age was important now, one of the ministers answered, ''26, my lord,''

A wicked smile bloomed on the king's face ''That settles it then,'' 

''What do you mean my lord?'' 

The question came from Veer's 14th wife, Willow, whom he had recently married. Adorned in diamonds and wearing a pink gown with blonde hair that cascaded down her waist, she was his youngest wife at thirty.

The King smiled affectionately at his wife as he replied,

''There has been a commotion since Cyrus became the King five years ago, the Kingdom of Selene has a rule saying that its king should already be married within five years of ascending the throne,''

The court went silent for a moment awaiting an explanation.

''Princess Nila, my fifteenth daughter will get married to him''

Gasps rippled through the court, followed by murmurs.

"How can someone sane even think of marrying him?"

"He is not even human! What is the king thinking? Oh, poor princess!"

"The decision has been made. Court dismissed!"

As King Veer dismissed them, the ministers walked out, murmuring their complaints under their breath. Although Princess Nila wasn't the king's favored daughter, the public adored her.

Ten Kilometers away from the Palace.

A woman wearing a blue skirt and blouse padded carefully along the forest floor, her face concealed by a blue veil adorned with golden patterns.

"There you are," she murmured, approaching a small fawn trying to hide in a cave.

She gently lifted the fawn and examined its limbs, already bandaged.

"Your limbs are much better now. I will dress you again, and then you can happily join your family!"

The young lady carefully dressed the fawn using herbs, securing the new cloth bandage with precision.

The fawn nudged its head toward her, and her eyes teared up. "I wish I could take you where I stay, but humans outside the forest are more dangerous!"

"You will last longer here in the forest than you would in the palace."

"Okay, off you go! I don't know when we will meet again, but I hope you live for a very long time!"

The young lady kissed the fawn's forehead and turned away from the forest, taking a path that led to the city streets.

"There you are, princess! What took you so long?!"

"Shush, Laila! If you scream any louder, the whole world will know I'm out here," Nila replied, pulling back her veil slightly to reveal a playful smile.

''I can't help it! If the king gets to know of your adventures he may detain you for some time, but I will lose my job, my lady!'' Laila, Nila's maid replied anxiously.

''That is so mean! How could you assume that I will let you lose your job? My loyalty has no bounds, dear Laila,''

''Enough of the small talk Princess, let's return to the palace it's already late,''

Nila dramatically gasped, ''It's probably just noon Laila, why are you acting as if it's midnight?''

Laila stomped her feet frustrated, ''Princess, please!''

''Ok, ok, let's leave, I can't afford to see your face so scrunched up, let's go,'' 

Saying this the princess and the maid mounted on a brown horse returning to the palace.

Nila sped through the shortcuts she discovered as she frequently went out for an adventure while Laila clutched onto the princess's waist for her dear life.

The horse ride which usually took twenty minutes was turned into a ten minute horse race by Nila.

Reaching the palace Nila slowly dragged her horse Athena back to the stable while Laila was busy trying to stand on her feet as her head kept spinning.

''Laila, why are you out here in the ground?''

Hearing the familiar strict voice Laila's back straightend, she turned around to see the head maid glaring at her, ''Umm, Uh..mother, I mean Ma'am the princess wanted to spend some time with her horse,''

''Just spend some time?'' The head maid raised her eyebrows srcutinizing Laila.

''Ya, Yes, yes...that was the intention,'' Laila murmured the last part only for her to hear.

''Laila, be careful from now there has been a big announcement made,''

The head maid paused as Laila stared at her waiting for an answer with a slight tremor in her voice she spoke up,

''Princess Nila, is getting married to Cyrus Selene, the werewolf king,''

Nila who was happily humming and walking towards the mother daughter pair paused in her tracks, The illusion of the perfect life she had formed in her head shattered like glass dropped to the ground, breaking into a thousand shards.

She could feel her ears ringing as her brain tried to process the information.

Nila knew about Cyrus, who didn't? Terrifying, bloodthirsty, cold, cruel and what not? She was also aware of the impending attack that would eventually come to their kingdom but she never knew that she would be the sacrifice.

She was ready to die for her kingdom, fight for her kingdom but this was equivalent to selling her off!

Nila would do anything for her kingdom but she couldn't afford to paint a picture of her disastrous future that was awaiting her.

A war of thoughts was brewing in her mind, Her Freedom or her kingdom?