Diando

Diando, alongside Arcadia and Luretta, forms part of the six kingdoms governed by the Celestia Empire, indicating its significant role within this expansive and interconnected realm.

Princess Matilda and Isadora were taking their time to interpret their visions after the incident on the balcony. The air was thick with the weight of their revelations, each grappling with the haunting images that had imprinted on their minds.

*** Princess Matilda's vision***

The war with Diando was endless. Knights fell one by one, their lifeblood seeping into the soil, turning the battlefield into a scarlet wasteland. The once vibrant air was now tinged with the metallic scent of blood and the cries of the wounded. The food supply dwindled, leaving the soldiers and citizens of Arcadia on the brink of starvation. The ravages of war took a heavy toll, not just on the bodies but on the spirit of the people.

The final, brutal clash between Commander David Xerxes and the commander of Diando's army was seared into Matilda's mind. David, with a determined ferocity, managed to behead his opponent, but not without suffering a fatal blow himself. Victory came at a tremendous cost, and the kingdom mourned the loss of their brave commander long after the war ended six months later.

In the aftermath, the land lay tainted, its fertility sucked dry by the bloodshed. Crops refused to grow, leading to a devastating famine. The commoners, already weakened by hunger, fell victim to a deadly disease that spread like wildfire. The Blue Pox, as it was called, claimed lives indiscriminately, leaving the streets of Arcadia littered with bodies. Nobles, though better shielded, were not immune to the devastation. Each morning brought a grim tally of the dead, and hope seemed a distant memory.

"What a horrible future? I don't even know if I should think of it as merely the future of our kingdom or maybe I did get drunk that night to have such a crazy dream. Either way, I feel the need to inform father, maybe then will my doubts be cleared," Matilda said to herself as she recalled the harrowing vision.

She knew she could not bear this burden alone. Her father, King Fabian, needed to be informed. Perhaps he could provide clarity, or at the very least, support.

"I should also do well to send an invitation to Isadora as well," she murmured, leaving her room and heading towards her father's study.

******

Meanwhile, Isadora was preoccupied with her own concerns.

Her mission to prevent an impending war seemed more daunting than ever. The dream she had experienced on the balcony, when she touched Princess Matilda, hinted at the princess's potential to wield magic. This revelation added layers of complexity to her task.

"More importantly, I need to interpret that dream," Isadora thought, her mind swirling with possibilities.

*** Isadora's vision ***

During a meeting with His Majesty, the Dukes, the nobles, and the ministers, an awful event unfolded. The discussions were routine until His Majesty took a sip of his tea. Her Majesty, Queen Phoebe, had just excused herself and was leaving the room when she tripped, spilling tea all over the king.

"Phoebe, are you okay? You seem unwell," King Fabian had asked with concern.

At that moment, Queen Phoebe fainted. Chaos ensued as the queen was rushed to her chambers. It was later revealed that she had been poisoned. The culprit, a maid, claimed she was acting under the orders of Duke Matthias. Queen Phoebe, in a moment of altruism, had switched her tea cup with the king's, thinking it was unfair for her favorite tea to be served to him.

Duke Matthias was swiftly stripped of his status and banished from Arcadia. His duchy was then ruled by his wife, Duchess Matthias. Enraged and humiliated, Matthias sought refuge in Diando with his cousin, King Travaris.

"Do you see the attitude that the King of Arcadia showed to me, a maid that framed me?" Matthias complained.

"He knows you are a foreigner who married into his kingdom. This is why banishment and not death was your punishment," King Travaris responded, trying to rationalize the leniency.

Matthias then revealed a crucial detail. "Did you know that in one of the meetings His Majesty said he might start a war with Diando because of how rich we are in gems and his daughter needs it?"

Travaris's anger flared. The betrayal was palpable. When Travaris had been Crown Prince, he had made a deal with King Fabian to supply magic stones for the sake of the king's daughter. In return, he had asked for an unspecified favor, to be called upon when needed. This perceived betrayal by Fabian was the spark that ignited the war.

The Blue Pox outbreak that followed had a cure, but it was discovered too late. The temple mixed holy water, the nectar of the Arycus flower, and a drop of the patient's blood. After consuming the medicine, patients had to stay under the sun for at least two hours. Unfortunately, Arycus was only discovered a year after the war, and its full potential was realized much later.

******

"After reliving such deceit, I'll make sure such an event never repeats itself," Isadora vowed.

She called for paper and a pen, writing two letters. One was for Octavia Xerxes, a trusted ally. The other was to be delivered to Harley's Couture.

"Go to Harley's Couture and give this to Harley herself,"she instructed a maid.

"I would like a dress made out of Rubian silk and adorned with little sun patterns. Tell me when you would like to take my measurements."

Just as the maid left, Count Ashford, Isadora's stepfather, stormed into the house in a foul mood. Isadora watched as her stepbrother, Cole, rushed to him.

"Dad, what happened?" Cole asked.

"Apparently, Her Majesty, Queen Phoebe, was poisoned," the count replied tersely.

The rest of the conversation was lost on Isadora, her mind racing with the implications.

Concern etched into her features, she murmured, "It looks like the party has already started."