Royalty: An Enhypen Story

Chapter One

The whole carriage shook as the worn wooden wheels struck the uneven pebble path way.
It had been hours since kai had left her home. Hours. Full of sorrow, she swallowed back her homesickening tears and instead stared daggers. Her life was not about to end. Not this way. For years, she worked and worked tirelessly, learning and growing to become the version of herself she dreamed of being. Her study was full to the brim with Lepidopterology, her bookshelf neverending. Her crotchet masterpieces displayed beautifully. Yet she feared this was all for nothing. She would never see any of it again.

"Lady Kai, must you keep that look on your face? You seem awfully angry despite the news. You are lucky- "
"Lucky? Is that what you call my fate?" Kai interrupted. The esquire (but also sadly her uncle) seemed to believe that he had the right to speak, despite being part of the reason her entire world was falling apart.
"Is it you who knows where we are going?"
Kai questioned, "Are you the one who knows exactly who we are about to meet?".
The esquire went quiet and looked down at his laps and fixed his kurta pajama,
"We are approaching our-your destination m'lady. Be prepared."
Kai rolled her eyes. It had been a nightmare since the morning, when she woke up in this madness. She was being shipped away like it was nothing. Shipped to Chaconneicester, 7 hours away from her homeland, Cardendonia. Shipped to live a life she never wanted to live.

It is true that as a Lady of the court it was her duty to serve the crown, yet she did not believe she deserved to have the crown snatch her future away from her as if she meant nothing. It was ordered by King Si-hyuck that the House of Lia must provide a lady for the 7 brothers of Odesseyus. It was clear to all of Cardendonia what this meant. The same had happened to the House of Lazfa in Londestia (family of the Lia's). Once they agreed and let their youngest and only unmarried daughter travel to Odesseyus she never returned. Now, kainaat feared that this was her reality.

The House of Odesseyus was know for its unnatural distance from the rest of the Kingdom. It was the only region under the dark blood moon and for that reason many believed the land was cursed: although Odesseyens say they are blessed. The seven brothers were left unnamed, unheard and unseen. Not a single person in the kingdom knew of their appearance, its rumoured that not even the king has interacted with them. That was the reason kai was so uneasy. The rumours, the dark tales, the fear her region had for Odesseyus and her dear, dear cousin, who was snatched away, not a single warning provided. Just like her, she was heading into the unknown.

"We are nearly at the gates. Smile."
"Uncle do you fear for me? Do you care?"
"Not long to go," he still remained directing himself away from maintaining eye contact with kainaats pleading eyes.
"Uncle, I am scared. This is unjust! This is my death sentence. Do you hear me?!"
"Please kainaat stop -"
"You are allowing me to be killed. It is not too late. Let me turn back, let me out of here!"
Kai began frantically hitting the carriage and turning the locked door handles. The closer and closer they approached the Castle Scylla, the more she panicked. She became helpless and desperate in an instant. She feared for he life as she felt as if the grimm reaper was approaching.
"Kai, control yourself! SIT DOWN! THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO NOW!"
"SO I AM DOOMED? IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE SAYING? HOW COULD YOU? HOW COULD ALL OF YOU? MY OWN BLOOD? You.. you left me for dead. You didn't even hesitate to the Kings orders? Not one of you spoke against him and for what? Our loyalty? Or is it our nobility? How about our status? Is all of which more important than me? Let them know what I have said. They are traitors-"
"YOU ARE TO BE MARRIED! THAT IS THE END OF IT!"
Kainaat gasped and gulped what felt like a rigid stone, hard and painful. Her watery eyes widened.
"You do not dare to speak against your parents, against the crown, these are our orders, this is our duty. That is all. You will marry, and you will do exactly as you are told. We are but a small county. We do not argue with the throne. We abide by it, so shut your mouth, please. You have no power against it, so don't act otherwise."

Kai looked outside at the dark castle towering before her. Her fate was sealed. She was not blessed: she was cursed.