Malika POV


    On the table is a mountain of gifts. I point to a red dress, that is neatly folded. "Who gifted this one?" I ask in my hoarse voice. Each gift is a token of appreciation and congratulations for my engagement. "Baron Daegal gifted you that dress." Madame Eithne answers. "A lovely gift." I coughed. I have been coughing since this morning. My throat hurts and my nose is running. "And this one was gifted from Lord Johnson." Madame Eithne hands me a gold bracelet in a velvet box. There are so many gifts, and I need to remember who gave me each one, so that I may thank them at the wedding.


    But how am I to marry while my brother is missing? "And this necklace here, who would that be from?" I gesture to a small red box, which contains a white pearl necklace. Madame Eithne reached for the card. "Let me see, Well wishes on your life''s most important journey, Governer and Governess Brewer."


    To hear the name sends a shiver through my body. I have yet to speak with my father about the governor''s extortion of the poor. If I speak of it, it will ruin his title and bring shame to his family. The governess and the children do not deserve that, even if their daughter tries to trifle with my brother.


    Cataline Brewer is a regular guest in our home. She is kind, but like many other young women, she has her heart set on my brother. An unrequited love. Valor cannot marry the person of his choice. Father will choose his bride, and she will be the best political alliance for our Kingdom, just as my marriage is.


    But what Cataline heard was that their relationship was forbidden, and vowed to not give up on their love. She is far from the only young lady in court, who longs for the Prince. After all, who would not strive for the crown? Unfortunately for them, he only ever had eyes for Alva.


    Three knocks came from the door. Following that, a guard opened the door to announce Duke Teival. Madamm Eithne curtsies as far as she can. "Duke Teival, and what may bring you here?" He enters the chamber, and the guard closes the door behind him. "My family has arrived. They have requested to meet my betrothed. I offered that we meet them in the parlour."


    Madame Eithne stands up straight. "I will go to the kitchen and make sure tea is sent straight away." She exits to do her job. Teival expected me to join him. Instead, I say "Teival please do sit down, we need to talk." A worrisome look comes across his face, so I rush to add "It is about my brother."


    "I am aware that your brother resents me. I had hoped to meet with him before the wedding to resolve the issue he has with me."


    "Teival. This has nothing to do with my brother''s disdain for you. Valor, he is, missing." He tilts his head, furrowing his brow. "What do you mean missing? Is he not in the castle?" Teival ask while moving to sit down. "No. I am sorry for springing this on you. But I cannot marry while my brother is missing. I hope you will forgive me, but I fear we might have to postpone our wedding."


    "I do not have anything to forgive you for. That your brother is missing is a serious affair, it makes sense to postpone-" I breathed out a sigh of relief. He''s not mad. "But I do wonder. Does his disappearance have something to do with the x carved on your cheek?" Moving my hand to cover the scar, I feel my heart pounding from the reminder of the terrifying man who cut me. "Yes. It is a long story."


    "Well, then you should start explaining." And so, I did. Even though I knew Father would be displeased, I told Teival everything. About the curse, the music and us sneaking out. He listened silently till I explained that the place Valor disappeared was a brothel. "You went to a brothel?" He said in disbelief, his eyes wide and his face pinched. "I would never have gone with him if I had known. Sneaking out to see the market is unseemly, but a brothel is sinful." I looked down in shame and felt myself get flustered.


    Teival crosses his arms and leans back. "This is a lot to take in. What happened then?"


    "Valor and I split to try and find them faster. That is how I came upon the man who did this." I say touching my cheek.


    "Did he hurt you in any other ways?" Teival asked. His hands and jaw clenched.


    "No. Shortly after the guards came, and Valor was gone," I replied.


    "This is some story. And you say all this happened because he was cursed by one of the rebels who murdered Queen Zellandine-" he turns to the side, looking off into nothing. "Are you aware that Queen Zellendine is my father''s sister? She died at the hands of a rebellion that used wild forbidden magic. I have always been told she was a good Queen who cared about the people. She did not deserve what happened to her."


    "It must have been hard on your father to lose her, she sounds like a wonderful woman." I reach for his hand, holding it for a moment, before remembering that he is not permitted to touch me until we are married. "I am sorry," I say, letting go of his hand. "This is not what moment I thought would be our first touch. But I will never forget it." He gives me a faint smile. "We should properly leave, your family is waiting for us."This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    Two guards stand by the door, bowing as we pass them. The castle parlour has a red carpeted floor and red curtains with gold trim. The white walls are decorated with paintings and handcrafted artwork. One of these paintings features my siblings and me. It was painted when Keisha was just one year old.


    In the centre is a round table with a couch and upholstered chairs. Three of these chairs were occupied. Two females and one male. When the guard announces us, they all stand up. The one woman is young, with red pimples prominent on her pale skin. The other woman has wrinkles that show her older age. Their hair are covered with a wimple. They curtsy, and the husband follows in a bow. "Princess may I present to you my mother Grand Duchess Hagne, and my younger sister Lady Eugenia with her husband."


    "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Princess Malika." Teivals mother says. Her accent although influenced by her time in Ledasgele, retains a strong foreign sound. "You have quite a beautiful voice Duchess Hagne, but I can not help but notice it is not of Ledasgele," I say as we take our seats around the table. "That is because my motherland is Hellas. But it has been a lifetime since I have been there. I travelled all this way to marry my deceased husband, you know he died within the cursed forest."


    "I am sorry about your loss. Numerous lives were lost due to the cursed forest." I say. Hagne shakes her head and replies "I do not think we should talk about this. After all, being sorry won''t bring the deceased back." I can not help but feel annoyed. If you do not want to talk about death, do not bring it up.


    The door goes up and two maids enter the room. They place two bowls on the table, one with fruit and one with kipferl. A teapot and six cups were also set. "Why are there six cups?" Lady Eugenia asks. "That would be for me, my lady." Came from the guard walking over. He pauses and bows. "When the food taster is not present, it is a guard''s duty to make sure what the royals eat is safe," I explain. "It is an honour to be at service." The guard says.


    "I see. Then I will not uphold you, Sir." Eugenia says. Pouring half a cup for the guard. He eats a kipferl while waiting for it to cool. While reaching for the cup, he asks "Do you need me for anything else your Highness?" He cannot be excused before being permitted. "No that will be all." I say, followed by a cough. He chucks his tea and returns to the door.


    Duchess Hagne is tapping her spoon on the teacup. "Forgive me for asking. But I am curious how a woman of your age and prestige is not already married." Such a forward question. This is a conversation I prefer not to have, but not telling her can give the wrong idea. Besides, there is no shame in it


    "I have been betrothed from an early age. But the man I was to marry kept pushing the time. At last, he broke off the betrothal. Using the excuse that my illness was too risky, and he feared I would not be able to give him children-" I break out into a cough. When I have it under control, I continue "But healers have reassured me that there was no cause to be concerned."


    Hagne pouts her lips. "Sickness? What kind of sickness have you been hiding from my dear son?" Nausea, pain in the chest, dizziness and a lack of energy, are all the things I struggle with. "Mother, I am perfectly aware of her sickness, and there is no need for unpromoted accusations." defends Teival. Lady Eugenia placed a hand on her mother''s shoulder. "Mother, you need to relax. There''s no need to be harsh with her."


    "You are right, dear. But, my son, I have another question. I have been informed that the wedding will take place in the Royal Church. And not a synagogue. How can you let that happen?"


    Teival sighs. "Mother, I have agreed to that because I have no ties to this city. The Royal Church is where Malika''s family worships. And I do not want us to get married in a place unfamiliar to the both of us."


    "Teival, I can not stand by while seeing you leaving behind your religion in favour of her family''s approval."


    Teival stands up and shouts, "Was it not enough to ruin my first marriage, do you have to ruin this one too?"


    As mother and son begin to argue, I notice the guards step closer, preparing to intervene if necessary. Looking down I let my shoulder slump, my breath is unsteady and my heart is pounding. I want to say something to stop the fight. But as words were thrown back and forth. They were ignoring what anyone was saying. "Mother Teival, please stop". Eugene said.


    "You always degraded her."


    "She was a disgrace and she died disgracefully."


    "Silence!" A loud male voice resonates throughout the room. Making both Teival and Hagne cease their argument. At first, I believed one of the guards had intervened. However, an elderly man in uniform came towards us. His skin is dark, his hair braided and his face as familiar as my father''s. "What is this hammer and nail I walked in on?"


    I stand to curtsy. "Uncle Eiran such a pleasure, when did you arrive?" He pushed his chest out. "Several hours ago. I would''ve greeted you sooner. But your father has been taking up my attention-" He turns his gaze to Teival. "I assume you would be my niece''s betrothed," Uncle Eiran inquired. Teival bows. "Yes, I am Duke Teival, It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Markese Eiran."


    "It does not seem to be a pleasure to know your family. This is a time for celebration. It is not acceptable for the family to fight." He says in his commanding voice. "Malika where is my hug?" Eiran ask opening his arms. As I embrace him, he smiles. "Markese, is that not a low title, for the King''s brother?" Hagne''s voice cut in.


    "I have that title, as any other title would take me away from my home at Daingneach." Eiran explained. "This is not your home?" Eugenia gently asked. "This stopped being my home when I was shipped away by the man I should be calling father. Now if you would allow me to borrow my niece, we have some private topics to discuss."