The brand burns hotter than the crown ever had. Her screams echoe throughout the throne room as the blazing red iron sticks to her beautifully white skin.
"Found guilty on charges of treason and stripped of all rights as royalty, you will be removed from the royal family registry and will no longer retain the Vermonte name."
Listening to the judgement of a crime that she is falsely accused of, Thalia grits her teeth and scowls at her sister who evilly smirks, reveling in the fact that she got rid of the "Kingdom's Favorite".
"Father! You know that I would never commit treason against the kingdom!" Thalia shouts, still wincing from the stinging on her arm. Glancing at her shoulder, she watches the burned indention sizzle as it very slowly cools down from red to brown.
"You colluded with prisons both past and current to try and destroy our kingdom!" Thalia's sister scolds, looking down at the chained princess. "Maybe if you didn't go down to the prisons and care for them when you should have been taking care of the good citizens of the kingdom, you wouldn't have found yourself in this situation."
As soon as Thalia was about to say something back, a royal guard snatches her chains with a pull that one could only describe as two-sided. "A prisoner should not speak to royalty without permission."
The murmurs that are heard throughout the room only ring louder inside Thalia's head.
How could this have happened? is all that Thalia could ask herself. Prisons were made to rehabilitate wrongdoers into proper citizens. Is it so wrong to try and be nice to them?
Amidst her thoughts, Thalia is interrupted by the rumbling voice only bestowed to the one they consider to be closest to the heavens.
"You are to be banished into the Badlands indefinitely," announces the king with an arm stretched out. "Since you wish to make friends with prisoners, you will be sent to live amongst them. "Should you wish to return to the kingdom, you will be branded a slave to serve a five year term before given the opportunity to test back into civilian life. However, you will never attain your royal status ever again."
Clenching his fist, the king bites his lower lip to the point where a single drop of blood drips down. "This is all I can do for you, Thalia," he says in a softer voice. "If the heavens truly protect you as one with royal blood, you shall prevail and return to the kingdom. When that time comes, I hope that I can see your name in the list of those seeking citizenship into the kingdom."
The king stands to his feet and begins to walk away but not without saying a final thought. "Drop her off at the West Gate. Leave her with only the clothes on her back. However, do not be rough with her and keep the ride discreet. No banners, no chains."
He looks up at the congregation in the throne room as they all watch with mixed emotions. "Not a word of what happened here shall leave this room. That is a royal order. Thalia Vermonte was assassinated in her sleep, and you were all gathered to mourn her death."
Not another word slips through his mouth. He simply leaves while the creaking doors close behind him. Meanwhile, Thalia's conniving sister makes her way down the steps and in front of her.
"You wouldn't even last a day," her sister snickers as she pulls on Thalia's hair. "Do you think those prisoners that you were so kind to will repay their kindness when they see you in the Badlands?"
Thalia glares up at the pale skinned traitor. "I will get you back, Weiss," Thalia growls. "Did you think that getting rid of me will make you the 'Kingdom's Favorite'? I hope you know that I didn't bestow that title on myself. It was given to me by the citizens of our beautiful kingdom."
With a light scoff, Weiss pushes Thalia into the ground. "I will get that title," Weiss brags. "That title gives me the push I need to get Father to name me the successor. The people of this kingdom will love me just as much as they loved you. When they hear that you were assassinated, everyone will pity the only sister you have. Pity turns to admiration when they see that I'm trying my best to move on from your death which will turn into love for me."
"You really think it's that easy?" Thalia genuinely questions as she sits back up with a grin on her face. "If that's what you believe, then go for it. Your fake kindness wouldn't even last a day before the people of the kingdom see your true nature."
Irritated that Thalia threw her words back into her face, Weiss slaps Thalia's face, leaving a visible red handprint. "A traitor will always be a traitor. Go have fun with your prisoner buddies. I hope you die a miserable death while they rape you."
Weiss storms out of the room leaving Thalia in the middle of the throne room surrounded by people who stand motionless like statues. Without much struggle, Thalia stands up and turns to the gaurd who still waits by her side, conflicted on what he should be doing. "I guess we should be heading out now," she suggests as she scoots closer to the guard.
"This is close enough, right?" Thalia asks with a weak smile. "I'm a prisoner right now, so I shouldn't be standing too far away."
The royal guard suddenly grabs the chains and begins to unlock them.
"What are you doing?"
"The king said that you were to not wear chains," the royal guard softly responds as he gently undoes the metal weights from Thalias wrists and ankles. "Excuse my rudeness, your highness." He reaches around Thalia's body and removes the chain bearer around her waist.
Shaking her head, Thalia pets the top of the royal guard's head. "I'm not a princess anymore. There's no need for formalities."
The guard drops the chair bearer with reverberating echoes. "I don't believe that you are a traitor. However, there isn't much that someone as lowly as me can do against a royal's word. I do believe that the heavens will continue to protect you while the truth makes its way to the surface."
Thalia places a single finger over the guard's lips which stops him in his tracks. "Your name is Ricky, right? Your kindness to me will be remembered, but you shouldn't say such things while there are others in the room who might think differently."
Red as a berry, Ricky grabs Thalia's branded arm, causing her to scream.
"I'm sorry!"
Wincing from the pain, Thalia takes a deep breath. "It's alright," she reassures. "Let's be on our way. I shouldn't overstay my welcome."
---
The carriage ride is quiet and uneventful. Just a simple unmarked carriage with not a single sign of wealth on it. Something that the commoners of the kingdom would use.
"We have made it," Ricky announces as he steps out of the carriage. "Let me inform the guards of what is happening first."
Thalia simply nods and smiles before Ricky closes the drape that covers the inside.
There's a short muffled arguement happening outside before Ricky comes back to the carriage. "They are ready for us," he states while holding a hand out.
Us? Thalia ponders for a second as she takes Ricky's hand.
Taking a step out of the carriage, the banished princess shields her eyes from the light as the gate comes into view.
The West Gate. It's known to be the quietest of the four gates that lead into the kingdom. Despite it's lack of activity, it is said that those who leave through this gate die quickly due to the intense heat. There isn't any vegetation, so shelter from the sun is impossible. The Kingdom of Vermonte is in the southern portion of the continent, so it's hot nearly year round.
Thankfully, we are in the winter months, so it's not too terribly hot. Thalia rationalizes while walking over to the gate. However, the nights are cold, so it certainly won't be comfortable.
As Ricky and Thalia make it to the West Gate, one of the guards hands Ricky a sack. "This should be about a weeks worth as well as some blankets for the nights."
"I'm sorry about the short notice," Ricky apologizes, taking the sack. "Thank you for your help."
"I wouldn't really count this as a short notice, but more like an unreasonable demand," the guard groans as he rubs the back of his neck. "You better come back alive. I'm sticking my neck out here for you, so you owe me."
Ricky laughs while patting the guard on the shoulder. "I'll do my best."
Turning to face the banished princess, Ricky smiles. "We should head off before my squadron realizes I've been gone for too long and comes to look for me."
Confused, Thalia walks up to Ricky. "What do you mean? You make it sound like you are going to come with me."
"That's exactly what's happening." With a sword on his hip and pride in his eyes, Ricky once again holds out his hand to Thalia. "I will be joining you into the Badlands. I took an oath to protect the royal family for the rest of my life. I refuse to allow you to go into the Badlands without someone to protect you."
"But this is my punishment!" Thalia shouts, finally speaking louder than normal. "And I'm no longer a princess. Someone as kind as you shouldn't be so ready to help a prisoner let alone a traitor."
With a simply shrug, Ricky grabs Thalia's hand and begins heading out of the West Gate. "If you're no longer a princess, then I can be as forward as I want. Like I said before, I don't believe you are a traitor. The truth will come out some day. Until then, I will protect you, not because of an oath, but because I want to see how your future plays out."
"You really are a kind guard," Thalia giggles as she finally gives and follows behind Ricky.