Left No Choice But To Be A Sacrificial Pawn
"Class, I am sorry but we should dismiss our lesson for today. I have an emergency meeting that need to visit as soon as possible."
Yukie said in a hurry as she grabbed her books and things while her students were pouting and whining a bit cause they were diligent in attending her class.
Yukie is a great and passionate professor without offering the students' parents a payment or even a gift, she is happy with her job for community work as she teaches homeless and poor children on a non-payment basis.
"I'll give you an assignment about the Classification of Animal Kingdom and please pass it on Friday. If you pass the assignment, we'll have a feast as my reward for all of you."
The children suddenly behaved and were quiet for her announcement as she witnessed with their curious expressions. Seeing their happy faces and mirth laughs gives her a warm comfort in her life full of melancholy.
"Not only you will eat a delicious buttery flavor croissant and freshly squeezed raspberry juice but there is more than that."
Their eyes are sparkling with excitement as she mentions the reward and their cheery voices can be heard as they jump for joy and meek screams.
"Teacher! Teacher! I do hope there'll be colorful sweet macarons during our feast." A little girl with ginger pigtails and freckles says with a high-pitched voice.
"Teacher! I love your roasted turkey and beef steak with mashed potatoes when you give it to me on my birthday. It's my first time to eat those dishes and it's delicious." The little black boy said as he felt tears of joy remembering his birthday when Yukie prepared him a feast during his 7th birthday last 4 months ago.
Her eyes were swelling with joy but she controlled her tears as she wanted to continue her career as a community worker and a teacher.
"It'll be more than that, my dear students. And I am so grateful for you, my dear children. Seeing your happy faces with bright smiles and jubilant laughter makes my heart warm. Please do not forget me class no matter what happens."
"We won't forget you teacher cause you are our angel in our Kingdom, you are the kindest and most generous princess in all royal family members here in Derora. We may not recognize you but after knowing the truth that you are also a princess, you're better than Princess Sophia Lynn. Because of you, we can attend classes for free."
The comments from one of her students makes Yukie feel glad in an unexpected way. If her family didn't acknowledge her, at least, her students praised her while she did not expect anything in return.
Heine happens to eavesdrop on Yukie's classroom, he is only a faithful mistress to his Highness but also a good and loyal childhood best friend. Heine chooses the path of being her personal servant instead of working for the monarchy law firm.
"Auntie Kateleryn, your daughter grew up into a fine wonderful lady. You'll be proud of her own achievements and accomplishments."
Heine mutters while gazing at Scarlet.
****************
The sky is painted in baby sky blue with a swirl abstract shape of clouds and the rays of the sun are beaming even if it's already afternoon. Heine rides the carriage while Yukie just staring at the beautiful sky to not let herself be stressed at the main reason why she needs to be summoned as soon as possible.
The young maiden admires the breath breathtaking of the serene city of Derora, Yukie can't help but worry deeply as her life becomes more problematic at the news. She felt like her father gave her unfair treatment, showing that he didn't show concern nor care about her, but only used her if her youngest sister was in danger.
Why would she marry King Alexander? And what would she gain if she married him?
Speaking of that, she hasn't seen the King of Adkins since her father didn't bring her to a formal royal party and banquet, only Sophia Lynn.
Even though she heard rumors about King Alexander, she is the type of lady who is not easily believed by rumors, cause Yukie is the type of woman who prefers knowing this said person in private. Cause mostly, rumors are unreliable and dubious.
"Your Highness, here we are." Heine said as they were already at the front gate of Assfrior Palace.
"HEINE, I TOLD YOU THAT CALL ME YUKIE only if we're out of people and palace! The "YOUR HIGHNESS" title is making me nauseous." Yukie whispers as she keeps telling him that he should drop the formality in private.
"Sorry, sorry Yukie but kind of a habit, and your father would kill me if one of you made me fail to address the proper greetings and titles."
Yukie just sighed cause Heine was doing his job even though they'd been friends for 21 years. Heine opened the door of the carriage and escorted Yukie while she gave him her genuine smile. The guards and maids are already forming in line at the entrance, she knows the meaning of this. Yukie was saddened as her eyes lost a spark, her aura projecting a grey ambiance.
As the sound of her royal vintage white shoes clicking on the marble floor while her loose semi-wavy black hair reaches her chest, Yukie walks elegantly even she is the unrecognized princess.
The romantic royal core princess white dress below the knee length gives her a well-dressed manner that the skirt is lightly swayed when she walks.
Yukie dresses simply but looks refined and feminine, she is completely different from her sister Sophia Lynn whom she extravagantly dresses to impress yet she also respects her since their accomplishments are a far cry.
She managed to reach the main office of the King as Heine knocked on the door three times.
"Come in" said in a low but commanding voice, and it gave Yukie shivers down her spine. Her hands are all cold and sweaty covered in her wrist-level white gloves.
The moment of truth was finally here as she greeted an old-looking man with three lines of wrinkles on his forehead, hair color blonde with a side parted hairstyle, and a neatly-trimmed beard sitting on his royal chair as his ocean azure orbs, the only thing Yukie copied his physical features, stare at her deep defenseless soul.
His gaze could kill a person Yukie just suddenly became nervous and scared of his piercing gaze.
The two royal chairs are instantly prepared in front of King Harry.
The first chair is the young woman with fair skin, blonde curly hair that gives her a princess look, a V-shaped chin, a small pointy nose, and cherry lips color which Yukie's insecurities are eating her alive. Her fairycore vintage lavender dress with puff sleeves and champagne color high-heeled sandals give her a princess royalty look.
She did a bow to her father and then she took a seat next to Sophia Lynn who just ignored her and didn't even greet her eldest sister which Yukie was getting used to it.
"You understand now why you're needed to summon here." King Harry said with a cold tone.
"Yes, I do." she immediately responded to his questions.
"But" Yukie added, and King Harry raised his eyebrows in suspicious.
"WHY ME FATHER?! WHAT WILL I GAIN FOR THIS IF I MARRY BY AN ARRANGE? I ALREADY LOVE MY CAREER AND LIFE AS A COMMUNITY WORKER! NOT BEING A WIFE OF THE KING FROM ADKINS! "
Yukie raised her voice for being upset which made King Harry give her a deadly gaze but Yukie did not buy it, and Sophia Lynn was surprised to see her that she talked back to their father.
"COMMUNITY WORKER?! YOU BRING NOTHING BUT A SHAME AND DISGRACE OF OUR FAMILY! YOU ARE WORTHLESS COMPARED TO YOUR SISTER SOPHIA LYNN!"
"YEAH, IF SHE'S MORE ACCOMPLISHED AND PRETTIER THAN ME SINCE I'M WORTHLESS, FATHER, WHY NOT MARRY HER TO KING ALEXANDER SPENCER ARISON THAN ME!"
Sophia Lynn was also mad at her as she abruptly stood up and gave her a harsh slap even though she was younger than Yukie.
Sophia Lynn is a quiet woman but a secretive spoiled rotten brat because of King Harry's parenting method.
"My, my. Sophie, my dear. You don't have to slap her cause her learning center will be stripped off and gone for good soon. She'll marry King Alexander on Saturday evening and she'll be gone for good in our palace."
King Harry said nonchalantly as her eyes widened in horror as he mentioned her learning center would be suspended.
"THE CHILDREN ARE INNOCENT HERE! WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THEM IF YOU SUSPEND THE LEARNING CENTER?! OUR KINGDOM IS UGLY BECAUSE YOU RICH AND NOBLE PEOPLE ONLY CARE ABOUT IMPRESSING YOURSELVES AND YOUR STATUS! NOT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE AND HELP THEM!"
Yukie fought back even her left cheek had a red hand mark that came from Sophia Lynn's slap.
"And I won't let Sophia Lynn marry a cruel and cold king since her life is too precious." These words a painful enough to hear in Yukie's ears as Sophia Lynn dramatically cries and looks insincere.
"How could she do that Father when I don't want to get married to that cold king! I cannot stand it and I'd rather marry Prince Viktor than him!!"
Yukie's life was slowly shattered in pieces as she is also like Prince Viktor but what would she do? It is obvious that Viktor and Sophia Lynn's marriage has a high chance to happen into a reality since their father will do anything for his youngest child.
"Your Highness, I will allow myself to marry King Alexander then, but let me teach the children until Friday. And I'll obediently follow you."
Yukie said as she accepted her defeat, which Sophia Lynn's lips curled into a sinister smirk.
She stepped forward and whispered in her ear which made Yukie's teeth grit in annoyance and her balls form into a fist.
"You won't be an unrecognized princess anymore but a sacrificial pawn in the eyes of King Alexander."
King Harry clapped his hand while giving Yukie a triumphant scheme smile.
"Very well Yukie, I approved, and better not stained our family name, or else I will disown you for good."
When King Harry threatens her like she's not his biological daughter, Yukie realizes that being close to her father and loving her as his daughter is a mission impossible.