Ennoria

UNLIKE most kingdoms, Ennoria took pride in its competition for the throne that occurs every ten years. Their future king, rather than being someone who would simply succeed their parent, should be someone that accepts his kingdom's terms and shall battle for their right to the throne.

This unusual competition would draw the attention of people from all walks of life, particularly those with not a single drop of blue in their blood. Everybody was allowed to become part of the competition, as long as they are willing and prepared to die in the hands of their competition and for the throne of Ennoria.

And because these battles allowed both magic and weapons to be utilized in a huge arena, thousands of competitors would die in the hands of those more ambitious and more powerful than they. Spectators would relish in these bloodbaths, and the bets that they would place on those they deem worthy of the throne would bring further income to the kingdom.

The new king of Ennoria apparently defeated and killed at least five hundred of his competitors on the last competition for the throne. His journey to the throne was perhaps one of the bloodiest yet, and some even speculate that his victory shall bring a new age to Ennoria.

His battle against the previous king particularly was what caught the attention of not only Ennorian citizens but also the citizens of its neighboring kingdoms. Just as most had expected, the new king faced the previous king in the last round.

Instead of utilizing his sword as he did with his previous competitors, the new king unexpectedly utilized the element darkness. It engulfed the previous king in a huge bubble of darkness, void of both oxygen and light, and in a matter of seconds, not a single bone of the previous king was left.

Larissa lets out a deep exhale after remembering the details that she managed to find out from Alisa, one of her maids earlier this day.

It had been a week since her father almost ruined the alliance between their kingdom and Ennoria, and exactly six and a half days since her mother told her about how her wedding with the king of Ennoria would not only mend the relationship between the two kingdoms but would also grant them (her) more power in their own kingdom.

The element of darkness. An element exclusive only to those born in Xenthon.

It meant that Ennoria's new king came from Xenthon.

"Does that bother its citizens..?" Larissa found herself saying out loud. "Do they really want a king that isn't even from their own kingdom? And how does the king of Xenthon feel about that?"

She knew that no one would answer her questions, and she does not want anyone, particularly anyone in the castle, to answer her.

The unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach returned the more she remembered the story that Alisa told her. Alisa certainly had a flair for the dramatics, but Larissa knew better than to think of her maid as a mere liar.

Why else would someone of her age be the king of a kingdom bigger than theirs if he was not that powerful?

Larissa sighs. Should she rethink her decision to go for Xenthon, after all?

She leaned back to the frame of her bed and bit her lip anxiously. Only a week remains before her engagement would be announced publicly and in front of nobles that come from all four kingdoms nonetheless. It would be announced in a grand ball that her mother was already in the process of planning alongside the queen and the first concubine who seemed to be very delighted at Larissa being thrown to another kingdom.

Most of her siblings also showed delight at the announcement. Her eldest sister Gwendolyn didn't even bother to hide the huge grin on her face upon seeing Larissa when the two passed each other in the hall yesterday.

"You will definitely enjoy it there," Her voice was full of haughtiness and mocking. "Maybe you'll even grow to like their centuries-old tradition of future kings fighting for the throne!"

Sure, and I'd let my future husband call you over and feed you to a huge, three-headed dog that each Ennorian king apparently owns.

Forcing a polite smile, Larissa nods briefly. "I suppose one can grow to like something when they allow themselves to be used to it," She pretends to think for a while, and then turns to her sister with a faux proud expression on her face. "Just like how your fiancee despised you immensely before but liked you now, am I right sister?"

The haughty grin on Gwendolyn's lips was quickly replaced by a sneer. "You shut your mouth, bitch,"

How her fiancee treated her before was always a sore subject for the crown princess. Not only did Gwendolyn's fiancee formerly like Larissa, but he also wanted to settle for anyone BUT Gwendolyn.

"You're always acting like you're so great, that you're the best among us," Gwendolyn didn't bother hiding the venom in her voice as she spoke her next words loudly. "But look at you now, waiting to be sent like a piece of meat to the king of our rival kingdom,"

Larissa knew better than to respond to her older sister's taunts. And what a correct decision it was for her to remain quiet and meek, for the very moment Gwendolyn finished saying her previous words, their father appeared from the opposite hall.

"You're nothing but a replaceable doll that Father keeps around to use when he makes mistakes," Gwendolyn had a proud look on her face, completely unaware of how their father was already behind her. "And when you're finally gone, Father will shift his attention and love to someone else--"

Summoning just the right amount of crocodile tears to roll down her cheeks, Larissa cuts her older sister off as she addresses their father. "Is that true, Papa?"

The moment Gwendolyn heard the word "papa", she quickly turns around and almost faints at the sight of their father behind her. "Father, I didn't mean what I said--"

"A replaceable doll?" The Idradalean king's jaw was already clenched. "Is that how you see your youngest sister?"

"No-- I--"

"Then you wouldn't mind if I replace her title, then? Perhaps, something along the lines of the crown princess,"

Gwendolyn's eyes widened in fear. She started trembling evidently, her haughty persona from earlier gone. "Father, I was just jesting--"

"But I am not," Summoning one of the guards, he directed him towards a terrified Gwendolyn. "Take her to solitary confinement,"

Gwendolyn can only scream in agony as she was ushered away by the guards that their father summoned.

However, if Larissa was being honest, she would rather see them that way than have them act all innocent around her. Everybody knew anyway that she had never been on good terms with any of her older siblings, with her relationships with her older sisters being significantly worse.

Of course, Larissa understood why they hated her. Being favored just because of her looks and docileness, the sixth princess knew it was completely unfair to her other sisters who had to work twice as hard as she does in both their magic and studies. Compared to Larissa who simply had to stroll around the huge gardens of the castle, smile sweetly at their father during family dinners, and do absolutely nothing, they had to suffer horrendously beneath their father's consistent disappointed gaze.

A scoff left Larissa's lips. Nevertheless, why blame the victim? Larissa didn't ask to be favored by their father, she wanted what they had. She wanted to study under the most brilliant of tutors to learn more about the world. She wanted to learn how to use magic, and not merely hide behind the false facade of her affinity for the metal element being weak. She wasn't stupid. She knew that she doesn't have an affinity for the metal element at all.

Larissa wanted to learn swordsmanship. She wanted to ride horses and raise her sword in battles. She wanted to be the first to defend their kingdom when wars occur.

The sixth princess wanted to escape from her chains that kept her from exploring all the possibilities that life could offer her.

And as her father said soothing words to her, Larissa had a single thought running through her head.

She wanted to leave Idradale.