A castle guard opens the doors to the dining room. It's enormous, like everything else in this castle. The center of the room is dominated by a large mahogany table adorned with various plates and dining wares. There are only two chairs, one at either end of the long table. The guard leads me to the far end, where a small, feminine chair awaits me. Compared to the large and bulky chair at the other end, it feels delicate. The guard pulls the seat out for me, his demeanor courteous and distinguished. I sit down; the cushion is soft and impressive against my bottom. The guard stays by my side, waiting patiently for the other party to arrive. It feels like hours, but in reality, it isn't that long.
My previous encounter with Prince Barrios has left my nerves in shambles. I notice my dress becoming see-through as it reacts to my sweat. 'Is it designed to embarrass me or distract important VIPs?' I don't know, but it's inconvenient. Prince Barrios enters the room from a door behind me. The guard clears his throat, signaling his presence. Barrios passes me, wearing an even more impressive uniform than earlier. He's alone, save for one guard. His uniform is all white, adorned with medals on his chest. A gold belt with an elegant saber sheathes his waist.
He sits without emotion, then waves the guard away. I hesitate to do the same, not wanting to be alone with him again. The encounter has taken a toll on my emotions, and I'm still recovering. He had put me in a trance, and I couldn't stop thinking about him. These thoughts weren't sexual, at least not yet. I tried my best to not let my mind go there. This prince, with his commanding presence, unsettles me. I'm not gay, far from it. My experiences with Eulalia and Leonita have proved my attraction to the female gender. Yet, there's a nagging thought eating away at my mind. I felt aroused when I first saw them. And now, my arousal begins to manifest again. Barrios calmly gazes across the table, his eyes locked onto mine. 'Was he trying to intimidate me?'
"What do you want to talk about?" I ask shakily, my voice sounding like a little girl unsure of herself.
He answers my question with silence, his eyes never leaving me. By now, I know my nipples are visible through the damp, shiny dress. This makes me even more nervous. 'Is he admiring my ample breasts? If he is, that would be a relief. I pause and rethink that idea. Maybe that isn't such a good thing after all. His attraction to me would guarantee certain things I'm not ready to accept.' As if reading my thoughts, he finally speaks.
"I'd like to get to know you more. Tell me about your childhood," Prince Barrios says.
"My childhood?" I repeat, taken aback.
"Yes, tell me what your personality was like."
"Look, I was a normal kid with normal wants and needs. I dreamed of stupid childish things. Nothing special about me or my personality, okay!" I snap defensively, shocked by my own tone.
I don't want to tell him more. My brothers and I had a tough childhood, always together at home, inseparable for a reason. Together, we were stronger. But apart, in school, we faced bullying. Being female now only heightens my disdain for Prince Barrios and his brother. 'Shit, I'm still not used to this sister thing!' Anytime we were apart, it happened. They see us as tools to promote their power in Sidra, much like the bullies from my past. Many classmates tried to divide us. As we grew older, we learned to fight back, becoming known for defending the little guy. Our reputation made us famous in junior high and high school. Being so physically adept at defending ourselves also made us good at sports. Those memories had been buried, but now they resurface in the worst possible way.
"Don't you want to protect the people of your kingdom?" Barrios questions.
"Of course I do!" I counter.
"How will you achieve that?" he asks.
"By negotiating, I guess. But what does your kingdom want?"
"Justice," Barrios states.
"What does that mean exactly?" I ask, confused.
"Those before you broke a promise. Now it falls to you to remedy that," Barrios replies.
"You mean the arranged marriage your great-grandfather wanted with my predecessors?" I question.
"No, but that is another matter entirely," Barrios says.
"Then what promise are you referring to?" I inquire.
"An ancient promise that the Kingdom of Sidra was to keep," Barrios reveals.
"How do you expect me to negotiate a remedy when you give me vague details about a promise I know nothing about!" I retort, my frustration boiling over.
"It's not my place to tell you. That is something you must discover on your own. But in the meantime, there is something you can do to ease tensions," Barrios explains.
"Oh, that's good to know! What would that be?" I say sarcastically.
"Our armies stand at your border. Well, they did. As we speak, they march here. I estimate our armies will arrive in a matter of days," Barrios reveals.
"What!!! I thought you came here to negotiate peace! Why would you do this?" I shout, standing up. My breasts jiggle wildly, and the bells on my dress ring.
A smile spreads across his face as he walks to my side of the table.
"You're just going to ignore me? Why would you send your armies here?" I ask.
"You have no armies to stop us. Past confrontations have stretched the military forces of Sidra to their breaking point. Here at your capital sits the bulk of your forces, who are already severely under-manned. Taking the capital now will completely break your kingdom's ability to wage war," Barrios explains.
"What are you saying?" I ask, my voice trembling.
"That this kingdom will fall," Barrios states plainly.
"Then why come here in the first place? Why give these people hope at peace just to crush them?" I snap.
"All they have to do is surrender, and no bloodshed has to occur. We are not without mercy," Barrios points out.
"What? Do you want me to convince them to surrender? Is that why you came? To mock them and force their Royals to ask them to surrender?" I questioned.
"Not really; we could have taken this kingdom years ago," Barrios says.
"So I guess that was bullshit about easing tensions!" I shout.
"No, you can ease tensions," Barrios says calmly.
"How?" I questioned.
"Come with me," the Prince asks.
"Come with you? Where to?" I blurt out, anger bubbling up.
"All I ask is that you come with me. No questions, just come," Barrios whispers, now inches from me.
"You've got to be out of your mind!" I shout, not caring how close he is.
"The Kingdom of Retallia is our ally. They won't aid you in a war, even if your sisters convince them to help. After all, they intend to invade you as well. The Kingdom of Silveria may have advanced technology, but they won't lift a finger to help either. Retallia will settle if we can come to an agreement," Barrios explains.
"My sisters will find a way," I state, trying to sound confident.
"What it comes down to is you. Retallia and Byzantia will reinforce the Kingdom of Sidra if you come with me. Your sisters can stay here together and rule. Your people will be safe," Barrios says.
"Safe from what? Your kingdom or Retallia?" I ask, bewildered.
"I suggest you learn more about how much danger your people are in. There are other threats besides my kingdom and Retallia. Threats that are far less civilized and show no mercy," Barrios says.
All I can do is stand there. Barrios is right; I know nothing about this world or its people, let alone the people I'm supposed to protect. I'm in a situation with only one path. Unseen forces set in motion the events I now face the moment I woke up here.
"Why are you doing this?" I whisper, my voice tinged with defeat.
"All you have to do is say yes," the Prince says, placing a hand on my chin.
"You want me to say yes just so you can, what? Hold me prisoner or torture me?" I say weakly.
"All I ask is for you to come with me. I have no interest in anything else," Barrios states.
"Then why is your kingdom sending its armies here?" I ask, a tinge of desperation creeping into my voice.
"That was the plan from the beginning. There was no stopping that. Not until I saw you," the Prince whispers.
"You can't be serious. Are you telling me that if I go with you, you'll call off decades of fighting? Centuries of wars, and then have said armies protect your enemies?" I question, incredulous.
"That's what I'm saying," Barrios confirms.
"God, you're an ASS! These people don't know what's about to happen, do they? If I say no, it's over!" I try to yell, but only tears come out.
"Then stop it from happening," the Prince says.
I can't think straight anymore. Constance, her sisters, my handmaidens, the people of this kingdom have waited three hundred years for us to come. They've fought and held on for so long for a reality already decided. That's this kingdom's fate. It rides on one person's choice. One person who will change their combined fates. A sacrifice that was fated to be mine. And that person is me.