Following the fall of the powerful and formidable kingdom of Azume, the last royal, Nalorie, is left with a broken crown and a lost legacy. As she embarks on a dark journey with a heart so cold and unfeeling, she strikes a deal with the deadly king of the south, Orion Xerxes. Can she trust him? And why does he offer her a deal too good to be true.
Chapter 1 Fallen
~Nalorie~
My hands thrum with nervousness reminding me of the task that lay ahead, the royal court was just a few feet from this room and I couldn't get rid of the anxiety that seemed to plunge deep in my pregnant belly. Things are going well for me, maybe too well and my years of always looking behind my shoulders and endless schemes has made me so wary of "smooth sailing situations"
I'm about to be crowned and my revenge is complete, but I couldn't stop the twitch in my left eye. Something seems wrong, like so many loose ends are left untied and knowing my skills, I do not leave loose ends.
Whatever happens, I will wear the crown, there might be another bloodshed that I would have to fight through but whoever or whatever wants to stop me will never get in the way of my crowning.
As the clock chimed noon, a light sound ran me out of my reverie, the doors to the royal court pulls itself apart, slowly, like a clearing to my new path. My long embroidered white train tails after me, my eyes on the throne, like a moth to the flame I felt its hypnotic pull, its power and glory. Monarchs, ministers and commanders stand to their feet With a slight bow.
As I reached the aisle before the throne, slowly I turned around to face the crowd, the crowd of powerful men and women, not all gazes were happy. I could read their emotions like an open book and some didn't bother hiding it, the nerve.
"As we are gathered here on this auspicious evening to crown the daughter of the beloved princess Isis Amenirdis Constantine and the Warrior king Elmar Ursag, we hope for the Most High and the guidance of the 12 Kingdoms to see you through a prosperous and long reign. I hereby crown you the 96th monarch of Sector 25, on the 25th day of the sun, the year of dragons." With the diamond crown sitting heavily on my head comes the responsibility and duties, as the crown bearer places the scepter in my palm, a cold sticky substance splashed on my face staining my pristine gown.
The crown bearer fell with a thud and hell broke loose.
~TWO YEARS AGO~
Life hadn't been so sweet on me, I lost everything in a night: my birthright, my home and everything I hold dear. I'm trailing down a footpath in a dense forest with a nightgown so tattered that it left a lot to the male gaze. My feets hurt from frostbites, the taste of ice and smoke lingers on my taste bud dehydrating me further. I clutch on the sapphire necklace resting atop my breasts, the only proof of my legacy and the reason for the hot white fury coursing my vein.
I didn't know how far I'd wandered but I knew I've walked so far that I couldn't smell my parent's burning flesh or the pungent smell of rotten blood and smoke.
Time seemed to have no significance as I welcomed the freezing cold, I felt so cold that I stopped feeling it, the distinct rustling and noise faded as I slipped deeper into my subconscious, to all those who's listening, to the gods and all things holy grant my wish. I want to live, I really want to live.
My eyes shut on its own accord with the trees rustling in response.
******
The scene replays in my head repeatedly, the brutal massacre of my people, the enemies laughter in my face as they violate my body. I relieved my pain over and over again with nothing to pull me out. It was a memory so painful and I relived with time and time again, I watched everything fall apart before my eyes. I watched my kingdom fall and razed to the ground.
I was in another memory, my father teaching me swordfight, his laughter and my mother's light chuckles. The scene morphed yet again with my father's head rolling to my feet, his eyes wide open.
My throat opened up in a deafening scream, a pair of hands held me down, the noises got louder, frantic. Loud footsteps and harsh whispering, slowly I descended from my nightmare, adjusting my vision to the blinding rays of light.
"Seize your noise flambert, I think she's regaining consciousness. I can feel the essence of life thrumming wildly in her veins. Child, can you hear me. Squeeze my palm if you can"
My eyes twitch uncomfortably trying to open and adjust to the Bright light, my throat feel parched and tight. I squeeze the warm hand lying in my palm.
"W-wa-w.--"
"Easy there child. Flambert make yourself scarce or be useful. get this fair child some of the tonic i made."
She adjusts me on the warm fur, my eyes and sight felt heavy and bleary.
My hands went unconsciously to neck, feeling the chain, i ran my hands from my neck line down to my chest, rubbing on the sapphire pendant. The pendant! I sat more straight forcing my eyesight, my head banged with each movement.
"What do you want. Who are you?" If there s mysterious woman wanted to kill me she wouldn't nurse me to health but my traumatized mind couldn't help but be defensive, I can't trust anyone.
"I expect a knife at my neck or some strong spell the moment you awaken. I'd say I'm disappointed. the daughter of the most powerful sorcerer and princess is unable to summon an element or cast a spell."
The words cut deeper, hurts more than my knee wound. It reminds me of my loss, that I'm no longer in my castle, I no longer have a kingdom. What's a princess with no kingdom, a failure of a princess one who's unable to even fight for her kingdom, runs at the sight of plunder, leaves her own people behind and saves herself.
Chapter 1 Fallen
28/10/2023