The worst news of all.

There were women, children being brought into the kingdom in pitiful conditions. They were squashed in together, three in the place of one and I stared at them in horror. So many people were being brought into the kingdom and that was without our knowledge. What was happening? 

"What's happening?" Estelle whispered as she took in the sight as well. Glancing at her I knew she was deeply affected by this sight too.

"We should ask someone." The words slipped out of my mouth unknowingly as I still stared at them but Estelle heard them.

"What is that? Over there sir, what is happening?" I turned around to see that she was asking the man we were talking o earlier.

He looked over and shook his head. "Lethoris's girls. The families send them. Something is happening there. The girls often disappear and no one knows where they went. Sometimes even boys."

"Kidnapping?" My sister offered the word with a frown on her face.

"Willing." His answer shook us both as I joined them, "If you ever see them again, they would never come back but you never do. They just vanish."

That had me think, "Isn't Lethoris doing something about it?" If his efforts weren't enough, he must involve us or the others for help.

The man stared at me before laughing. "That is the reason why the politics of left to us men." He pointed at me and then the girls which were being brought out, "A king is a proud man. What makes you think that he would ever ask for help?" His lips curled in disgust for that word, "A king never does that. Why do you think the princess is being carried away?"

"Princess?" That was me. I was the one being carried away.

"Yes," he nodded firmly, "Princess Genevieve. The only one who is caring enough for the budget and getting married for more. The elder one, that one is barely out for the people." He scoffed, "That bitch."

Estelle stifled listening to his opinion and I knew that they saw me as the sacrificial lamb.

My eyes once again moved to the girls who seemed confused yet happy about coming here. "What about them?" I pointed to the girls hurdled together.

He shrugged. "None of our concern but for your knowledge, someone would take them in or even marry them. Their parents would be coming in a day or two."

The cold was making them all shiver. "Where would they stay in the cold?"

He shrugged again. This time, he had no answer.

Estelle pulled me away. "What is happening? First the rumors of war and then this, the girls are being brought from their Kingdom into ours without permission and," she swallowed bitterly at that, "I am the bitch?!"

"So," I shrugged liked the man, "You could do better."

"Well, thank you for that." She mocked back.

I patted her back. "Anytime, my sister."

We watched at the young girls and somehow I knew why we weren't involved. Estelle was most likely going to be the Queen and we were struggling. The two reasons for more than enough for working to think twice before asking for help for a kingdom like ours.

Even though I was of the highest position and pedestal of power in the country I was the most useless person when it came to helping out these young maidens which made my resolve to go to Lethoris even stronger.

"We must go," I whispered to Estelle who turned to me immediately. "Now, not only do we have to see for the military but we must know what is it that is driving these girls out of the country and how is the king helpless about it."

Estelle shook her head. "I don't think I can."

I scoffed at her face, must have gotten it from the man. "Are you aware of what you talk of?"

She closed her eyes and exhaled. "My heart is against it. If the children of that country are coming into ours seeking help then there is no reason for us to go into that country, to step into that soil."

She was wrong. How was she to ever become the Queen if she could not even think about the possibilities? "And what if they are sending the young women and children to populate our country and then attack it?" My theory had her attention. "What if all of this is a plan?"

"Your Highness?!" I turned around immediately when I heard that voice.

It was Merilyn standing in front of me with my other ladies in waiting. Her expressions and breathlessness told me that she brought no good news.

"What is it?" I walked over to her in hurry and hold her arms. "Is it Catherine?"

"It's the Prince." She answered. Terrence was here? How? In a day?

"Ho—"

"No, not his Highness Prince Terence." She shook her head knowing that I was thinking. "It's Prince Lysar from Lethoris. He demands a private audience with you."

I took my hands off of her arms. She brought the worst news of all.