The birds chirped.
They flew away from the ocean, where it continued to create large waves that crashed against the walls of the tall palace.
"PRINCESS OPHELIA!"
A loud slap was delivered by Queen Elizabeth Griffith to a pitiful princess. The queen had just woken up from sleep, wearing a thin nightgown. Her eyes burned with anger because of the princess.
The princess fell to the ground from the force of the slap delivered to her. Her maid, Hera, covered her mouth as the queen glared at her. The queen looked coldly at the knights who immediately rushed to the commotion. The knights kept their gaze down, as it was an act of audacity to look into the eyes of those nobles in the society.
"What are you still standing around for? Get this maid and punish her, as well as this princess." Queen Elizabeth immediately pointed at Princess Ophelia's forehead.
The nobles were the ones who seemed to rule the world of Pangaea. This was the cruel experience of the lower class in the world they tread. They lived voiceless because their rights were trampled by those above. And the tearful Hera would face imprisonment in the lower part of the palace, the prison of the worst criminals. Just for helping the princess she served.
"Try to touch my maid and we'll have a problem, mother."
The crashing of the huge waves against the palace walls grew louder. At that moment, Queen Elizabeth felt a chill. The princess's purple eyes stared coldly at her, these were the eyes the queen had once seen in her husband when he was slaughtering an enemy. Her gentle and beautiful face had been replaced by intense anger, directed straight at the queen.
The birds chirped.
Outside, the knights were in chaos. The element of water was the power of the Alsepius empire. This was the power given by their worshipped god of the ocean, Amanikable. Water was their symbol, and only the noble family of Griffith had the ability to tame the violent currents of the ocean.
But now, darkness enveloped the sky, the ocean became like a wild animal in its cage. Dangerous. Perilous. The waves relentlessly crashed onto the land. The people were filled with screams and cries, everyone fearing what the restless waves could do.
Queen Elizabeth felt terror. She felt like she no longer knew the girl before her. She could feel the power emanating from within the princess, and the ocean's currents aligned with her emotions.
But who was this princess, who since childhood had been considered weak and powerless?
Even among Queen Elizabeth's own children, none could control the vast ocean of Pangaea except her husband. And if there is, the queen truly did not know any of her children fully. Ophelia became a great mystery in the queen's eyes.
Without hesitation, the queen drew her powerful weapon, the Riptide. It was a large sword blessed by their god, passed down from her husband's ancestors and given to her. It was pointed at the princess, who did not break her cold stare. The princess looked towards the soldiers who were just staring at them, while holding the crying and frightened Hera.
Even Hera looked at her mistress in disbelief. She wanted to thank her for being able to defend her, a mere maid, from her mother. Like the queen, Hera also felt terror at the actions her mistress was showing. She knew what the princess would face at her mother's hands, so even if she were imprisoned in the lower part of the palace, she still wanted to protect the princess. "Princess-----"
"Don't you care, Queen Elizabeth." The princess said coldly. "Will you give me my maid, or will you wait for the water to come in and swallow you?"
"But you are a weak and useless princess!" The queen continued to shout, greatly confused by the princess's behavior. How could the princess who was once obedient and gentle now exchange words with her?
A terrifying smile immediately appeared on the princess's lips. "Do you want an answer? Don't, Queen Elizabeth, because you might be shocked."