My father, Emperor Henry Ellis Sophen, had five children. The eldest is my cherished brother Zavier Ellis Sophen. He’s next in line to become Emperor. Then there is my second eldest brother Peter Felix Sophen, a scholar, third eldest Giovanni Felix Sophen, a knight, and my younger sister Margerie Lin Sophen. Then, finally, there’s me: Marielle Elizabeth Sophen. Peter, Zavier, Giovanni, and Margerie were born from the same vile woman, Empress Leslie Gwennyth Sophen. I was born of a maid, Sarah Osborne, a woman my father is said to have rolled around with quite a bit. She died when I was 6 years old from illness.

Father- I use this term loosely-heard the news of my birth and mother’s death from the other maids when my mother didn’t show up for work. Even knowing I was out there, he didn’t come for me until the tender age of ten. At the time, I was living with another woman, a friend of my mother's who’d discovered her half buried corpse beside my small crying form.

It’d been days since I attempted a burial, and I was still covered in dirt from the digging. Rebecca fixed my mother’s burial site and took me home with her. She didn’t have much in terms of money, at least not enough to feed both me and her, so we were living off the scraps that people threw away. Under the circumstances, she did her best for me, and I suppose she was the only mother I’d ever known. Despite the tales she’d tell me of my true mother, in my heart, Rebecca was my real mother. She cared for me for four years, showing me more tenderness than I’ll ever know in this lifetime. It broke my heart when Father tore me from her arms and demanded I move to the palace.

I didn’t see the point of such a useless display. After all, he waited ten years to even acknowledge my presence. If I had it my way, he’d have left me on the street. I was much happier there than in the confines of this new “home.”

Leslie was my biggest problem. Everyone ignored me and pretended as though I didn’t exist, except Leslie. Leslie didn’t want to see the product of Father’s infidelity roaming the castle freely, so she locked me in a shabby room of an abandoned area within the castle where I’m meant to stay until I die. I spent my days locked in my room away from the politics and people of the Empire. Truthfully, I preferred it this way. If I was supposed to stay in the castle forever, then it was much more beneficial for me to stay where no one could spare me a passing glance. Occasionally, Leslie would show her face and torment me for the hell of it, but otherwise I spoke to no one, saw no one, and thought of no one, just as they intended

“Your Highness. You should wake up now.” Charlotte shook me awake. She’s the only maid I’ve ever had since being dragged back. She’s about 5 years older than me and as kind as can be. I shrugged her off and turned over in my bed, however she simply shook me again. “Your Highness, please wake up.” This time she spoke with a more annoyed tone than usual.

I sighed rather loudly, sat up, and scratched my head, “Yes?”

“You have an audience with His Majesty.” She stepped away from me and began rummaging through the few dresses in my closet until she found a dress presentable enough for me to wear.

“I never asked for an audience with His Majesty.” I said but it did nothing to make her stop moving. Instead, she helped me to an already drawn bath and began bathing me and washing my hair. When she finished, I was placed into a yellow dress. I stood in the mirror as Charlotte braided my hair.

From what I could tell based on the short time I spent with my mother, I’m a spitting image of her. When you spend so much time locked in your room, the faces of people you’ve met become muddled together, but I remember her kind eyes and delicate face. Mother was very beautiful and I inherited her beauty. I had her same long black hair and bright blue eyes as her. My lips were pouty, eyes sharp, and I was thin, just as she was. I’m pretty positive that if I weren’t locked away, I would be able to find a decent husband with my looks.

“You look beautiful, Your Highness.” Charlotte smiled brightly at me but I couldn't bring myself to return it. Her compliment was nothing more than a formality.

There was a guard waiting outside of my room when I opened the door. He bowed his head and led me to the throne room. Two more guards fell into step behind me, and it began to feel like royal treatment. This meeting must be important.

When the guards by the door announced my presence, I heard the voices murmuring inside fall into silence. When I entered, I bowed low.

“Princess Marielle Elizabeth Sophen greets the noble sun of the Empire. May Zura’s glory be with you.” I muttered the stupid greeting just as I did when I first met him. This was the second time I’ve been in Father’s presence since being brought here, and I could feel my skin crawling from discomfort.

“Raise your head.” Father’s strong voice reached my ears. I raised my head and analyzed the scene in front of me. Father sat on his throne beside Leslie who was glaring at me as if I’m dirt. By Father’s side was Zavier and Peter, and beside Leslie was Margerie. They looked the least happy to be here. “Are you well, daughter?”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to the care you’ve shown me, Your Majesty,” I could’ve scoffed, but I withheld it. “Are you well?”

“Yes, very. Thank you.” For a long moment, no one said anything. Their gazes pierced through me, scrutinizing everything that they could see in the moment.

“You will be leaving Zura.” Leslie said with much more excitement than I’m sure she wanted to display.

I raised an eyebrow and turned my gaze to Father. A wave of joy flowed through me for a brief moment before I reminded myself that I haven’t the slightest clue where I’m going. For all I know, the end of this journey could be a miserable death, “May I ask where I’m going?”

“Does that matter?”

“I like to be prepared.”

Leslie grit her teeth and looked to Father who sighed, “We’ve made negotiations with the Valerian Empire so that we may finally end this war and bring peace between us. In our fight for unity, we’ve decided to allow Emperor Kaien to marry a Zuran Princess.”

My eyes narrowed just slightly as I processed the information that was just told to me. In other words, I was sold to the Valerian Emperor in exchange for “peace.”

Our war with the Empire of Valeria

Wuh-lair-ee-uh

began one year ago. The former Emperor of Valeria, Emperor Adam Cyrus Antaris, passed away one year ago and his only son, Kaien Cyrus Antaris ascended the throne. Father assumed that with this change in succession, if he struck fast he’d be able to conquer Valeria with ease. On the day of Kaien’s crowning, Zura attacked Telou, a land along the east end of Valeria. Emperor Kaien was far more capable than anyone had given him credit for and countered immediately. Given his bloodline, it wasn’t surprising that his response was swift.

Every member of the Antaris family descended from a man who was known as the great war demon. He was the first Valerian Emperor, Emperor Selidis Von Antaris, who married a woman not of Valerian descent, Priscilla Noelle Endifred. Priscilla birthed three children, all descendants of the demon Selidis, and those children birthed more children, and so on, and so forth. All of Selidis’ descendants were regarded for their amazing strength and shining intellect, which helped keep them from being overrun despite the many wars they’d been drawn into. In terms of power, Zura and Valeria were regarded as being of the same caliber, but Emperor Kaien asserted every day that he was fully capable of winning the war if he wanted. At least, that’s my opinion. I don’t doubt that he could destroy us with the snap of his fingers, but given the back and forth over the past year, I suppose anyone could prosper.

This negotiation meant that Zura was losing. He must have made this decision after receiving word from Giovanni, who’s leading the Imperial Army in their fight against Valeria. Either they sent a report with bad news, or worse, they didn’t send a report at all. It was the only thing that could explain Father’s shift. He would never admit defeat, nor would he bow to another man so easily, but Kaien must be tired of fighting and pushing for submission. Had they not negotiated for peace, Kaien may have done a full invasion of the Zuran capital. It would be a smart decision if he did. After all, most of Zura’s troops are mobilized along the port where most of the fighting is occurring. If he had, the scales would definitely tip in his favor.

I looked at Margerie. It didn’t make sense to send me instead of Margerie. She was far more educated than I. However, the rumors of Emperor Kaien’s ruthlessness were widely known. Father wouldn’t sell his precious daughter to a crazy person.

“You have nothing to say?” Father asked, jarring me from my thoughts.

“Would anything I say change my fate?” I asked in rebuttal. “If this is something that has already been decided, then I won’t make a fuss. When do I leave Zura?”

“His Majesty will be here in 3 days to discuss the terms of negotiation. At the end of his visit, you will be leaving with him.” Father looked me up and down, “I’ll call for a seamstress to bring you more dresses before you depart.”

“Thank you for your consideration.” When he dismissed me, I was led back to my room by the guards. Charlotte was inside hemming the tattered dresses that she’d noticed when she was choosing my clothing.

“Welcome back, Your Highness. Should I prepare your breakfast?”

I sighed and threw myself onto my bed. My audience with the Emperor thoroughly exhausted me and it hadn’t even lasted long. “Begin packing my books, Charlotte. I’ll be leaving Zura soon.”

“L-Leaving? Your Highness, does His Majesty know that you plan to leave?”

“Yes. His Majesty is well aware. I don’t want to answer anything else. If a seamstress arrives, wake me. Otherwise, please leave me be.”

“Yes Your Highness.” Charlotte nodded and quietly left me to be on my own.