Chapter 23 [past Pt. 1]

After Avyanna and royal princess Angelina left, Amourora sent everyone out with the excuse of being tired and wants to take a nap. However, she sat on the bed with a book instead.

After a long morning of learning tea etiquette, she realized that she had been taught in the Cloud kingdom. Although the countries were similar in many aspects, each had their unique rules and etiquette.

For example, in the Cloud kingdom, women had more rights, but they were still expected to be graceful and polite. And women there were taught a different set of skills other than basic education and how to manage their households and raising their children.

Horseback riding, ballet and figure skating, and playing the violin, which are popular in the Cloud kingdom, aren't taught in the Lilacian empire. And although, dancing was allowed in both kingdoms, the dances were different.

And of course, the social circles are different. Amourora was introduced to the society earlier in both countries, but in the Lilacian empire she was respected and excused for misbehaving. In the Cloud empire, the queen taught her the rules of society and socializing before introducing her, but she was still shunned at first because she was from a fallen kingdom but had a higher status than them.

Comparing the two kingdoms and her past and present, reminded her of old memories she had struggled to forget, memories that haunted her at night that she couldn't shake off, and a deep feeling of guilt that choked her until she gasped for breath.

Amourora's life had been tough.

She knew that princesses in fairy tales just sit still, look pretty, and their prince charming will come riding in a snow white horse, bringing them their happily ever after. But she knew better than that.

Being a princess was hard work ; ever since she opened her eyes to the world, she was swamped with dozens of expectations. As the daughter of the emperor, she had to learn how to behave like a proper lady. Her own life didn't belong to her, as spectators watched carefully, waiting for her to slip.

Life as a princess wasn't the easiest, and whilst she lived the dream life of countless girls, she couldn't help but fantasize about a life of freedom. Still, she abide by the rules, most of the time, at least.

Still, all princess Amourora wanted in life, was to wear pretty dresses, eat tasty food, get along with others, marry a good husband, have a few children, and lead a happy peaceful life. Just like any other ordinary girl. She would be content with just that.

She didn't believe her father, an emperor of a powerful country, wouldn't be able to do that much for her. After all, as she was the youngest, everyone loved her, even when she threw temper tantrums every now and then.

Everybody adored and admired her, it was within her rights to choose who to like and who to not.

But life had other plans in store for her. At the age of eight, she lost her mother. And at the age of ten, the Lilacian empire faced a famine. Oh, how miserable her birthday passed without a lavish ball and fifty layered cake and most importantly, without her mother by her side.

And that was only the beginning of her misery.

At the age of twelve, the Lilacian empire entered a war against the Qi kingdom, a small kingdom rapidly rising in power. In contrast, the Lilacian empire has been slowly declining.

Her father sent her to the Cloud kingdom, 'just until the war is over' he said. The king of the cloud kingdom was an old friend of her father, and had agreed to take care of her.

However, her escort party had been ambushed on the way, but she was able to run away with two of her personal maid servants. Both were at the age of sixteen, and had suffered through the cold and harsh climate of the Cloud kingdom, while protecting a troublesome master and dealing with the loss of a sister.

Amourora had suffered a high fever and her memories of the journey were vague, all she remembered was arriving with only one of her maids, Luan, the youngest. She never got to know what happened to the rest until years later.

The war ended in a year, the Qi kingdom won, and in return, the Lilacian empire lost most of its lands, and will have to pay taxes to the Qi kingdom for 50 years to come, as written in the agreement of peace. But she lost more than that.

The only way she knew of that was by a letter written in blood on a piece of fabric, 'as long as the white Lilac stands, the kingdom stands.' it was by that single sentence, those ten words that she knew she lost her family.