Misdirection

The next day arrived as Emelia, Leon, and Edward rode in awe through Kingdom Alana, the wealthiest Kingdom in the land. The history books didn’t do it justice. With an eye-catching skyline of twinkling towers and grand homes three stories high, the town was like something out of a fantasy novel. Intricate gardens lined the streets, and a huge marble fountain arched up in the center of the town’s square, water cascading down in a rainbow of colors. On the outskirts of the Kingdom, just outside the castle, smaller rustic homes dotted the horizon, their orange and brown roofs blending into the hills beyond.

They passed through the streets, and the people lined up on either side of the road to see the princess who had been missing for so long. Some waved purple flags in the air, while others were so overcome with emotion they had tears streaming down their faces. Every corner they turned, more people came out to welcome her home, clapping and cheering as she slowly made her way back to the palace. For years they had felt the loss of their princess, and its effects had been profound. But now they could rejoice - their beloved princess had come home.

Their horses came to a stop in front of a towering wall of gray stone. Even from the outside, one could tell that this castle was more impressive than Cornea’s and Iris’ combined. Emelia was overwhelmed as she looked up, taking in the grandeur of the building, which seemed so much bigger than she remembered. Entirely enveloped in shadows, the castle seemed to have its own atmosphere even in the afternoon sun.

As Emelia and Leon stepped inside the castle gates, they saw an impressive line of Alana soldiers standing tall and proud on either side of them. The air was heavy with anticipation, and Emelia felt a chill run up her spine as they moved forward. A guard emerged from the line and led them toward King Charles and some of his nobles, who stood admiringly at the far end of the courtyard.

With a flourish, Charles bowed low and declared, “King Edward, King Leon, and Princess Emelia. Welcome to the grand Kingdom of Alana.” Edward nodded with a regal air, his expression serious, “Let us adjourn to my office,” he said. Charles stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter through the heavy wooden castle doors.

Leon couldn’t help but grin as he watched Emelia take in the extravagant décor of the palace. Her wide, almond eyes flitted about the room in wonder, her mouth slightly agape. She felt tiny standing in the grand room whose ceilings seemed to touch the sky. The marble flooring glittered and reflected off the enormous golden chandelier that hung like a beacon in the center of the room. The red carpet beneath her feet was thick and luxurious, starkly contrasting with the golden frames that held priceless paintings and exquisite statues that seemed to watch her walk by. Everywhere she looked, her gaze was met with opulence and grandeur.

Queen Nina raced towards them, her long gown swishing and her eyes twinkling with excitement. When she reached them, she embraced Emelia before correcting herself, “Sar...Emelia.” Her voice was filled with warmth and admiration.

Emelia reluctantly returned the hug, “Hi,” she softly replied as she glanced around the room, scanning for any sign of her brother. “Where is Oliver?”

“He took over leading the regiment while I talked with King Edward and King Leon about a treaty.” Before they could proceed, Charles turned to his daughter and said, “Emelia, why don’t you go with your mother? I’m sure there’s a lot to catch up on.” Emelia’s heart sank. She had traveled far to be a part of these proceedings, yet she was quickly dismissed without warning. A wave of disappointment surged through her body, and Charles could see her reluctance to leave. He gave her an encouraging smile and added, “Don’t worry. Let the men take care of this.”

Let the men take care of this? Emelia thought, barely able to keep from seething. She was one of the most qualified people in the room, yet she was almost completely ignored.

Leon leaned in, his warm breath brushing Emelia’s cheek. His lips were as gentle as a caress as he whispered, “Be patient with him.” His low, soothing tone bought her boiling rage to a gentle simmer.

Emelia watched as Charles, Edward, and Leon rounded the corner and proceeded down the hallway. She saw Charles’ haughty posture, Edward’s steady steps, and Leon’s quick pace to keep up. She felt the familiar frustration bubble up inside. Charles’ arrogance irritated her. If her friends had acted this way, she knew she would’ve had a scathing remark ready. But this wasn’t just any other man - it was her father. In his presence, she had no idea who she was anymore. Should she continue to be the courageous soldier or play the part of the dutiful princess?

Queen Nina clasped her daughter’s hand, a bright smile lighting up her face. “Come, there is so much I want you to see,” she said, her voice filled with joy. Everywhere Emelia looked, her gaze was drawn to something different - high ceilings lit with candelabras and intricate wall carvings depicting generations of royalty. She had no idea which way to go; the hallways seemed to curve this way and that, never leading in a straight line.

At last, they arrived at her old room, and nothing had changed since she was a little girl. From the toys that sat untouched on the floor blanketed with layers of dust, to every last article of clothing still in its place. It was like an eerie museum room, kept in perfect condition. They ended their journey in a dressing room filled with elegant gowns and accessories, each perfectly pressed and hung on hangers. Emelia could almost hear each garment whisper to be chosen as they walked through the room.

Emelia paused in front of the dress rack, feeling a strange mix of apprehension and curiosity. The dresses were like nothing she had ever seen back home in Cornea and Iris - heavy fabrics with intricate beading and embroidery hung from the racks. She ran her hand over them, marveling at the fine details. Seeming to sense her hesitation, her mother stepped forward, her eyes lighting up. Emelia glanced from the dresses to her mother’s face, an uncomfortable smile spreading across her features. Emelia didn’t want to disappoint her mother, so she carefully selected a heavy velvet dress dripping in gemstones and beading, feeling her mother’s approval wash over her.

The servants laced Emelia’s corset tightly, causing her bodice to puff out from her chest like an audience of admirers. Her emerald gown draped elegantly over her form, and with each movement, the layers of fabric rustled around her feet like a lake of silk. Nina stood behind her, surveying her appearance in the mirror. “You look amazing,” she said with a satisfied nod toward Emelia’s new look. Then her gaze fell on Emelia’s old soldier outfit, now crumpled in a pile on the floor. With a wave of her hand, Nina dismissed it, “Much better than that.”

Emelia felt her frustration seething beneath her skin and clenched her jaw, pushing away the sting of her mother’s comment. She forced a pained smile at her mother, feeling another wave of emotions flood through her. After what felt like an eternity, she had finally found her parents, but she was beginning to wonder if meeting them was worth it if she couldn’t be herself. Her mother stroked her long hair off her shoulder, and Emelia winced as the movement revealed the stitches on her shoulder. “Oh, hopefully, that doesn’t scar,” Nina muttered, grabbing a bracelet from the pile of jewelry scattered across the table. She softly placed the beautiful jewelry on Emelia’s wrist and looked into her eyes. “A man wants his woman nearly perfect,” she said with a smile.

Emelia felt a chill go down her spine despite the warm welcome from her family. Every since Emelia stepped onto the castle’s grounds, her bullshit meter was on high alert. She stepped away and looked around the room at all the women who had gathered and knew they were complicit. “I’m overjoyed that we’ve found each other again, Mom...” Nina started to speak, but before finishing her sentence, Emelia interrupted and firmly stated, “But I don’t like to be lied to.” Emelia waved her arm in a sweeping gesture, and everyone quickly exited the room. With cool and calculating eyes, she stared at Nina and asked sharply, “Why are you wasting my time?”

Nina stared in awe at her daughter. Gone was the little sheltered princess she had remembered. She was replaced by a young woman who was fiercely independent and stood her ground. She smiled fondly, “... you’re headstrong, like your father, and you always had a mind of your own. He knew you would disagree.”

Confusion painted Emelia’s face until her expression hardened, her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pursed as she asked, “Disagree to what?”.

“To marry King David of Kingdom Sclera,” she said meekly. Emelia inhaled sharply as the weight of her mother’s words sank in. She pulled away and started to turn, but her mother’s firm grasp on her wrists kept her in place. “Emelia, wait,” her voice was gentle, but her words were full of conviction. “Your father saw a way to bring all five kingdoms into this treaty, a way to ensure our land will live in peace and that if the barbarians attack, we’d be an unstoppable force. This has never been done before. You must understand the importance of this decision.”

Visibly stunned, Emelia staggered back, her arm slipping from her grasp. Tears spilled from her eyes as a chaos of emotions raged within her. Her lips parted, her voice quivering as she spoke. “I can’t believe you lied to me. You’re the best part of the memories I got back. You, my mother, is what helped me remember...” she said while voicing a deep-seated internal conflict between logic and love.

Nina felt tears sting her eyes and her throat tighten as she finally said, “Oh, Sar...” she stopped herself once more, “Emelia,” she finished in realization. Despite the hard years of captivity, Emelia had grown, and her presence exuded strength. Her shoulders were held back confidently, and a sparkle of resilience glinted in her eyes. Nina didn’t need to ask what had happened in the years apart; she could see how much her daughter had matured and changed.

Emelia snapped out of the twisted reality like a shock to her system. She may be a princess to the people in this Kingdom, but she knew exactly who she was. She refused to let anyone tell her what to do, and she wasn’t going to start now, “This doesn’t have anything to do with me!” she yelled as she felt the weight of the gold band, cold against her skin. It was a reminder of how little control she had over her own life. With all her strength, Emelia ripped the bracelet off her wrist and tossed it onto a nearby sofa. She was determined to follow her own path. “I’m not marrying a man old enough to be my father! I will marry the man I love, and that’s Leon.”