A mysterious man in a cloak

Princess Lura stood by the open window. Lost in her thoughts as she gazed at the only star in the dark sky. Her late mum knew she needed her and she had come to console her. By this time tomorrow, she would be in her husband's house. The mere thought of it sent shivers down her spine and made her stomach tighten into a knot from disgust.

Her father, King Edward VI, was getting her married to Prince Louis, the crown prince of one of the greatest Dragon Kingdoms, Furyss.

Prince Louis and Princess Lura had been betrothed to one another at the age of six. Her power-hungry father's only reason for doing so was to have the dragons by his side and make Astyria one of the greatest and most feared human empires.

In most of the arranged marriages she had seen, they both ended up falling in love but Princess Lura and Prince Louis had grown up despising one another. He was the complete opposite of what she wanted in a man. He was an egotistical, controlling, and arrogant fool. A man who took pleasure in hurling insults at her, telling her what to do, wear, and who to talk to. They weren't even married and he was already behaving in this manner, what if they were? He would probably lock her up in a tower.

Lura didn't know who to blame. Her late mother who left her at a tender age or her wicked stepmother who completely changed her father from the loving and caring father he once was to the power-hungry and controlling person he was now.

The sound of the huge black gate creaking open drew her out of her thoughts. Strange! The gate led to a pathway in the forest that served as an escape route should in case they were under attack. Only the members of the royal family knew that route.

Who could that be? Lura wondered. Could it be a guest? No, the back gate was never opened unless it was important, and all the guests that had been invited to her engagement party all came into the palace through the front gate.

A carriage that was driven by four black horses rolled into the palace. King Edward was standing outside and the carriage came to a halt in front of him.

"Turn off the lights," Lura ordered her maid who was busy picking out her dress for the party. The maid did as she was instructed, wondering what had caught the Princess's attention.

Lura crouched low to avoid being seen. A man dressed in a long black cloak alighted from the carriage. Most of his face was well covered and the only thing visible was his lips. He lifted his head and was facing her direction. A devilish smile tugged at his lips.

"Who was the man? What was her father up to?" Many questions ran through her mind as she stared down at the man whose back was now turned towards her.

Her father and the mysterious seemed to have a brief conversation before her father led the mysterious man and his entourage who were dressed in similar cloaks into the palace.

"My lady, the guests have all arrived and they all await your arrival." The maid informed her.

"You may turn on the lights." Lura walked away from the window towards the dresser. She took a seat in front of the mirror.

"I'll make you look so pretty that Prince Louis won't be able to take his eyes off you." The maid smiled.

Lura contorted her face in disgust at the maid's utterances. Everyone in the palace thought he was head over heels in love with her because his acting was top-notch. Pretending to adjust the strand of hair that had come loose from her ponytail, taking her out on a date and gently holding her like she was some kind of glass figurine. Behind closed doors, he would metamorphose into the beast he was.

The maid applied little makeup on her, not like she needed it anyways. Her long chestnut brown hair was in a ponytail with two curled hair at the front.

The maid laid out the dresses on the bed and asked her to make a choice.

"A black dress is best for such an occasion," Lura replied.

A black dress, which was worn on sad occasions. She was not getting married, she was being offered as a sacrificial lamb to be fed upon by wolves.

"My lady, wearing a black dress on your special will send nothing but bad luck your way."

"The marriage itself is bad luck so there won't be any difference." Lura hissed angrily.

"Here." The maid held out a gold-colored dress. "You'd look beautiful in this."

Lura changed into the dress and the maid brought her to stand in front of the mirror. As the maid said, she looked beautiful, if only she was going downstairs to meet the man of her dreams, she would have been all smiles.

There was a knock at the door before it opened and one of her maids walked in.

"I've been sent by the King to come to fetch you." The maid announced.

"Just a minute." The maid who was getting her ready said. She reached into the jewelry box and brought out a pearl necklace with a pair of pearl earrings and wore them on her. She wore her shoes and that was all, she was ready.

Lura took one last look at herself before exiting the room in the company of her maids.