Marrying The King Was Never Her Dream | Book 2

Prologue

The Royal Palace,
The Battle Of Lahm,
Lahm.

I still remember the day as clear as ever. It is, after all, a day I will never forget in my entire life, and it starts like this.   

The night is young, beautiful with starry skies. A young girl is trying to be put to sleep by her young mother, the queen of the land. She keeps standing up when her mother tucks her in. It is their tradition. Despite the busy schedule of the queen, she always tucks her daughter in with a short story.    

"Why don't you want to have your rest, my sweet daughter?" the mother asks, staring exasperatedly at her only child.   

"Mama, I already told you. They're waiting for me to start the meeting. They can't possibly start it without me! I'm the third most important member of the meeting, after Baba (father), and Yaya (brother)," the girl explained to her mother for what was the umpteenth time that evening.    

"Oh, my little girl. I have explained this, not once. You are no longer a child. You shall be eight this coming summer. You can't be attending meetings with your brother and father, anymore. You are to stay in the harem at all time until called for."    

As a girl, despite being the princess of the Lahm Kingdom, she isn't allowed to be in the meeting rooms. Her father has spoiled her by always including her in everything and now, he has left her mother to handle his mess.    

"I hate the harem," she said, "and I shall not stay here." She runs out of her large, elaborate bedroom with her mother and her lady in-waiting following her hotly. With adrenaline pumping in her legs, she navigates the huge harem; turning from one corner to the other, passing her sisters' chambers, and into the main hallway.    

"Stop running, my lady," her mother's lady-in-waiting calls her. She isn't stopping. She will run for her freedom. She spits on the harem.    

Her running comes short when she runs straight into the head eunuch, Halif, who catches her swiftly. She glares up at the man who dares to stop her, not noticing that almost everyone is out of his bedchamber.    

"What is happening?" she hears her mother slowly ask. The harem is filled with royal family members and guards that can't be counted and still, some are entering.    

The little girl watches the guards in fascination with their long sharp swords, menancing faces and heavy armor. She certainly did not want to cross them, and so, quietly went to stand beside her mother.    

"An attack, your highness," he says, looking downwards. How was he to look the queen in the eye and tell her that her kingdom was under an attack? Someone else, but certainly not him.    

"Attack?" her mind is blank as she stares at him. "By who? Why? Do we know the request they want?"  

He is quiet for a while before he speaks up, "I am not certain, your highness, but some say they have seen the uniform of the Runarian soldiers within the palace."    

"But why would the Runarians attack?" she asks, thinking hardly. "They can't possibly be breaking the treaty," she mutters to herself. She has heard of the recent king of the Runarians. He is said to be cruel, vicious and utterly selfish and self-centered. He cares not for the people, but for himself and his three offsprings.   

"Forgive me for saying, but they are."    

Kande, her mother's lady-in-waiting, gasps and the little girl watches her. Who are the Runarians? She wanted to ask. Why were they hurting her people?    There is a slight intake of breath by her mother. "Where is the king?" she asks. The girl is suddenly reminded of her purpose and she dashes away, with the purpose of finding her Baba in mind.