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CHAPTER 2

"ELRAD, NOOO…" Her hands clasped securely on her ears. She did not want to hear him say it. His words were final and she knew it but whatever was said after that, she was oblivious and aware at the same time.

She looked at her mother, the silent cries that came out of her quivering mouth and the despair she so much tried to hide. "What deal is that father?" Era asked, not fully getting the picture but boldly confronting the situation with her eyes still so much glued on her mother.

"Elrad no. Please do not do this to me. Not to our daughter at least," Emerald pleaded again.

"I am sorry, Emerald. I love you and ur daughters." Turning his gaze back to Era, his face gave away his emotions as he uttered it out. "Your marriage."

BADUM! BADUM!

***

~ETHERIA~

In another kingdom, two men dressed up in armour with long capes matched majestically towards a very big and decorated door with two guards stationed right outside.

"He is expecting us. A message from the battlefield," one of the men said to the guards.

"Yes sir." The doors pushed open and they strode inside the bright but dark throne room. Although bright, the aura in the room spoke a different story. The den of the monster himself.

As soon as both men entered, a pair of dark onyx eyes stared in their direction, completely freezing them in place.

Quickly, they got on one knee and bowed to him. "Your majesty, we bring news from the battlefield."

"Speak." His cold voice echoed in the room.

"Yes, your majesty." Both men stood up and one of them took a step forward and spoke. "As expected, the battle was going in our favour."

"Good. Have you taken siege of the imperial castle by now?" King Vidor asked forgetting the words his subordinate just said instantly.

"Unfortunately, no, sire." Vidor arched a brow at him but did not say anything and waited for him to speak. "There was a breach in battle plans and right now, they await your command."

He knew his words weren\'t making much sense now to the king who only wanted to hear, this kingdom has been conquered and brought under us or this kingdom has been destroyed.

"And what breach is that? I gave my command loud and clear. Take siege and declare victory. If they cannot, I would come myself and trample on the kingdom."

"I am afraid sire, that is not the news reaching us."

"Then what is the news reaching you, Commander Vlad?" the king snarled at him, impatient by the delay he was getting when he should have added another kingdom to his conquest.

The commander took several steps forward then stopped and bowed his head with both hands raised in front of him, presenting a scroll to the king.

"Read it aloud."

Without a single word, he opened the scroll and did as he was commanded. "I bring fair greetings to you, King Vidor but as one who should be close to us in the kingdom, it saddens my heart at what you intend to do. Is this the truce we had null and void? And is this how the kingdom of Etheria choose to honour their alliance with Meribia?"

Commander Vlad paused his reading and looked up at the king, waiting to see his response and unsure if he should present the next words to him or not.

"What alliance is he talking about? Hmm, a sorry excuse to plead for me not to destroy them?"

Vidor snarled again and turned his head aside before signalling Vlad to continue reading.

Taking in a deep breath, Vlad calmed himself and did the needful. "At the back is a copy of the treaty had with your father, Late King Argenon not to destroy Meribia due to the marriage alliance between both kingdoms."

0_0

No sooner had Vlad finished saying that, than Vidor bellowed at him.

"What marriage alliance is he talking about, Vlad?!" Vidor roared in anger, standing up and completely stunning those present in the throne room.

"This, sire. This is a copy of the alliance treaty. It has the royal seal of both kings on it andntheir signature might I add," Vlad quickly voiced out.

Vidor could not believe his ears, so he gestured for Vlad to hand him the signed document of which his commander instantly did.

Swiftly his eyes scanned through the document in his hand till he reached the bottom of the scroll. "You have got to be kidding me!" he muttered out loud after some time of rereading the scroll again and again and thinking.

There was no form of joy on his face. Just plain... Nothing in fact. He was bland but from a closer look, one would see the seething rage burning deep within his eyes.

"Sire?"

"Fine. Get the carriages and prepare," Vidor announced without looking in their direction.

"Sire, where are you going to?" Vlad dared to ask.

"We are going to bring home, my bride."

0_0

***

~MERIBIA~

Meanwhile, Princess Era had been informed and briefed on the nature and situation that brought about her engagement to the monster king.

At first, Queen Emerald was so heartbroken at the mention of the engagement that she cried her eyes out but Elrad\'s decision was final.

Even at that, it still boiled down to the princess to make the final say and right now… Well...

Knowing her daughter, Emerald already knew what her answer would be. She was a charming and daring child. She was strong-willed too and above all, very caring. She was like her father, always putting the need of her people before hers and right now, the situation was no different.

"If that is what is required of me to ensure my people survive and escape this mass slaughter, then, by all means, I Era Emyr, princess of Meribia, willingly agree to the engagement made in my name in times past."

"Era Noooooo. Please you do not have to do this. We can find another alternative, dear. Please. Elrad, do not take my daughter from me." She cried the more, falling face forward as she pleaded with her husband.

"It is for the best, Emerald," the king said and turned his eyes away. He could not behold his queen dearest in such a state and shut them close. "It is for the best. I wish there was another way that would not involve the killing of the innocent and I would jump at it readily."

"Father, mother. You do not have to be sad," Era said, smiling at both of them from her heart.

"Era."

"Mother, this is my duty and the reason I was born for, to save my people and ensure they are in good health and this is the only way I can ensure that their lives are spared from generation to generation. Please, let me do it. This is my life and a sacrifice I must make."

"No. This decision was made for you before you knew anything."

"Even if tides were changed and it was to be made now, I would still readily give myself away for my kingdom."

"And what if he hurts you? The monster king is known for his cruel ways with ladies."

"Then so shall it be? That would be my cross to bear, mother and not yours, please, ensure our people are safe from here and I would take care of the rest."

Turning to look at her father with a smile on her pretty face, she said, "Father, give me your blessings and pray for me, please."

His heart broke hearing that but what more could he do? This was her destiny. He only wished she was born in a different Era. Right now he wished her name worked more for her and set her free.

"I am sorry, Era," King Elrad began, taking a couple of steps towards her and stopped when he was within range of touching her. "I am sorry I have to put my duty above you, child. No father should ever have to do that."

"Have I ever complained, father? Thank you both for raising me. I am who I am today, because of your love. You have another daughter, love her as much as you have loved me. This is my duty. I will marry him."

"I am ashamed to say this but, thank you.. Meribia would forever remember this sacrifice."