First meeting

Luna picks a few things she believed to be the things Princess Oaklyn will like. "I don't need them, I'm ready whenever you are," Jaelyn spoke going to sit in the carriage that was prepared to take her. Not once did she look back to see her father or all the many council members gathered to send her off.

"We will take our leave now," Byron politely whispered with a gentle bow. He couldn't help but remember Jetaime's words. What could King Acer be planning for sending his only daughter to Zalvon? He didn't look like someone losing his beloved daughter to a monster. Everyone knows how doted he is to his daughter. Byron couldn't wrap his head around what was happening, he can only be careful.

Jaelyn will only miss one thing, her maid and friend Moesha, since she can't go with her she only wonders how her life was going to be from now on, growing up without love and always being rejected, she never had time to dream of fairytale love. She has accepted her fate and this marriage that is going to be a loveless match.

The carriage moves away from the palace with one horseman and Byron in front of them leading the way. A few meters away from the palace someone stops them. Byron quickly draws his sword. Jaelyn almost fell from the sudden stop.

"Who the hell are you?" Byron yells pointing his sword at the person. "Please take me with you," the strange girl pleaded. "Who are you and who sent you!" Byron couldn't take any chances.

Jaelyn was forced to step out when she hears the girl's voice, for the sake of the secret of exchanging the princesses, King Acer has to let Jaelyn's maid leave the palace. A pearl of tears drop from Jaelyn's eyes when she saw her but because of the horseman she didn't make it obvious she knows her.

"Can she please accompany me as my maid?" Jaelyn requested. "But my princess we don't know who she is and she might be…" Byron tried to explain. "Let me worry about that," Jaelyn said sharply.

"If you insist," Byron agree to take the girl with them but she didn't enter the carriage with the princess. Along the way, Byron will stop to check if the princess was okay and if she needed to rest or is tired from the journey but Jaelyn keeps telling him he was fine and they didn't have to stop.

They soon reach the borders of Zalvon, the horseman was made to return while Byron takes the princess and the strange girl they run into on the way.

The weather in Zalvon kingdom was much cooler than in Malavon, it was late and they needed to wait and continue the next day, they found an inner to rest, and Byron made sure to keep the strange girl away from Princess Jaelyn. He had other guards wait for them at the dinner.

Jaelyn couldn't sleep and found herself in the yard of the inner, the cold air chafed against his skin almost sending her back inside, she was used to the cold weather in the old palace but here in the open it was much worse and with her light cloths made it even more terrible.

Byron slips to the yard to send someone a message, he then notices the princess hugging herself tightly.

"You should go back inside princess, the weather here is very cold," he made his presence known, Jaelyn steeled herself quickly.

"I'm fine, I'm not that fragile," she informed him without turning around. "I'm aware of that, princess looking at how well you are handling all this," after a moment of silence Princess Jaelyn finally spoke. "Because life is a cold bitch to the calm,"

"Are you not afraid of the rumors about the king??" he wants to know what is running in the princess's mind and if she is someone they have to look out for. Princess Jaelyn exhales into the dark sky.

"That he is heartless and cruel, scarred all over, with no working legs and his face is full of boils?" Jaelyn then turns to look at Byron. "Yes, aren't you scared he will kill you one day when he is angry?" Byron said reading her reaction. "I don't know him and if he decides to kill me, that will be great," Jaelyn scoffs making her way back inside, leaving Byron in deep thought.

Deep down she wonders what fate has to install for her and she was not prepared to give up that easily.

The night went by quickly but it was the longest night in Jaelyn's life, she only manage to close her eyes when the sun had set. "My princess, it's time to leave," Byron said knocking on her door but there was no response, he was still pondering on what she had said to him the previous night even still he couldn't just batch into her room.

He return to get one of the maids to check on her, "Let me get the princess ready, she doesn't like strangers around her," Byron heard a tinny voice from the other side of the corridor. "Who

are you and how do you know the princess?" Byron asked holding her against the wall, "Speak now or else I will break your neck," he yells at her.

"Alright let go first," she pleaded as she was running out of air. "Now speak," he ordered, she takes a few seconds to recover her breath. "I'm Moesha, I'm the princess's personal maid but I was dismissed a couple of days ago I can't leave my lady alone, she needs me," Moesha tries to convince him.

"Did the king send you here?" Byron was still suspicious of her. "No one sent me here, I just want to continue to serve my lady and protect her from your monster of a king," Moesha frankly spits out.

"You protect her?" Byron was surprised by her words. "Yes my princess has suffered enough now she is going to…to sac….. Never mind, will you let me take help her get ready or you will get your maids?" Moesha dared him. Just then Byron saw one of the palace maids he had prepared and called to check on the princess. The maid knocks on the door as the two of them wait.

When there was no response she hurried in to check on her, she was fast asleep and all attempt to wake her up was unsuccessful, Byron was watching from outside nervously and turns to look at Moesha who was calm beside him.

"What the hell did you do to the princess?" Byron demanded. Drawing his sword again. Despite Moesha's innocent face, she was canning it true one will do what it takes to survive. Moesha rolls her and walks to the room while Byron stands there with one hand on his sword.

Moesha starts to sing and the princess suddenly wakes up, "Moesha, thank you for coming back," Jaelyn hissed when she saw her and hugs her. "I can never be away from you my lady no matter how angry I feel," she smiles back, Byron was relieved and allows Moesha to stay by the princess's side looking at how the princess smiled for the first time when she saw her.

Two other maids came to help her dress in Zalvon's wedding gown, Byron was under the impression she was going throw a tantrum because her wedding gown was not white but rather black but nothing of that sought to happen.

Jaelyn was glad she was out of the white gown, black looks much better on her, and the golden thread handmade design in the dress made the dress more glamorous, she didn't just like it she loves it.

Byron did plan for everything, Jetaime also likes to wear black, and almost all his clothes were black, he wanted a touch of connection so he choose the black gown for Jaelyn. They had arranged for several maids and guards to escort the princess with gifts. It was an elaborate event as they made their way to the palace.

"Are you nervous my lady, we can still escape it's not too late," Moesha proposed as she could sense the princess's nervousness. "We will be fine," she whispered assuring herself, the sacrifice was worth it. She is doing this for her sister. She needs more than these affirmations to calm herself down.

"We are entering the palace, my princess," Byron announced, Jaelyn gulp hard, "I never ask for your name, may I please know your name?" Jaelyn gathered and asked trying not to show her nervousness.

"The name is Byron, the chief commander, and the king's personal guard at your service my princess," Byron proudly informed. "Thank you, Byron, I will need a favor, can Moesha still be my personal maid?" Jaelyn requested, it was all she wanted.

"I'm sorry my princess, but the king will be the one to appoint your personal maidens," Byron politely declined her request, she felt sorry for her and for some reason, he could understand her predicament. She was the only one she knows in these strange lands.

"But I will recommend her to the king," Byron added and he could see her soft smile even with the veil on and that made his heart that was feeling guilty calm down.

"Thank you," she smiles. The carriage finally stops and she knows they had arrived at their destination, she takes a deep breath and stepped off, a steady hand was in front of her, and without looking at whose hands it was she grabs it as she gets down the small stairs.