Chapter One: A Quick Lesson in Politics

“Inform the envoy that we will provide financial assistance,” Selina heard her father say as she approached the open door to his office in the castle. The king was standing in front of the large glass window, looking over his realm with his back to them. “Inform them that the kingdom is also offering safe haven to Draconian refugees. They do not need to bring their passports. Our borders are open to them, and we will provide them with whatever they require, including food, lodging, and employment. Also, please request that the Royal Treasury send me a report on...”

The Monarch suddenly stopped when he noticed the princess through the window’s reflection. He promptly turned, and Selina took it to mean he acknowledged her and permitted her to enter, stepping across the office’s threshold. The Royal Herald looked up from his tablet phone when the king stopped dictating, confused. The man did not notice Selina at first, but when he did, the king meaningfully looked at him and the herald understood. They adjourned the meeting then. After gathering his papers and tablet phone, the herald bowed to the princess to acknowledge her before respectfully ducking out of the room.

“Selina,” the king said, admonishing her when the other man was out of earshot. “What did I say about listening in on my conversations and interfering with my work?”

“I don’t remember,” the princess replied, teasing. Her father audibly sighed, touching his forehead with his right hand and shaking his head.

“What am I going to do with you?” he whined, but there was a slight tug at the corners of his lips, clearly entertained by her antics. Selina giggled at her hand for a few seconds before she turned serious.

“Sorry for overhearing, but I couldn’t help myself... We’re now sponsoring Draconia?” Selina crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her father under her wide-brimmed hat, serious. “Is meddling in their civil war a wise move? Isn’t it a waste of our resources to assist their refugees as well?”

Draconia was an independent kingdom in the west, one of the few countries in all of Terran that was not under the great Volfenheim Empire or some other nation. It was a small continent, shaped like an enormous sleeping dragon, hence its name. Some believed it was an actual dragon that was in a deep slumber for such a long time, land formed and hid its scales, that once Mount Ormr, the colossal sleeping volcano of Draconia, erupts, the dragon will also wake and will consume the world. It was rich in every resource imaginable. Because of this, it was completely closed off to other kingdoms and empires. Five powerful tribes that defended it from invaders for thousands of years formed the kingdom. Unfortunately, those same five tribes were now waging war with one another for the right to rule the entire nation. Ruling their own territory was no longer enough, it seemed.

“Doesn’t that fall under their purview to resolve?”

It sucks for them, but she just can’t see the appeal of helping a nation that was already crumbling from the inside.

“We should always be willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, Selina,” her father replied. “So that when we are in dire need, someone will come to our aid.”

“Quid pro quo, so to speak?”

“Exactly.”

“Why? Volfenheim is...”

“We can’t always depend on Volfenheim alone,” King Saul said with a somber look on his face. “There are no permanent friends in politics, but we can always collect debts. Every man for himself, always remember that.”

The princess finally understood. Her father was still worried about Volfenheim’s decrease in the order of their Black Herb Poison. He still didn’t know the reason behind it. It’s not like they can ask them why outright, they need to find out for themselves.

And that is why I am here, Selina told herself.

“Your Majesty,” she said, keeping her emotions in check. “About Volfenheim...”

“Is it time already?” Saul Rozenberg asked, standing still, flexing his right hand. It was a nervous tick that Selina knew so well. He was acting aloof and nonchalant, but Selina knew her father like the back of her hand. She knew he was just hiding his emotions, and she was thankful for it. If he cried now, Selina would be heartbroken.

“Yes, papa,” she answered, eyes shining.

They stood there as if rooted to the spot for a few minutes, looking at each other, not talking, until Saul raised his hands and stepped forward. Understanding what it meant, Selina almost flew to her father’s arms, hugging him tightly.

“I’m going to miss you so much,” she sobbed, burying her face in his shirt, relishing the warmth and security he provided. The king puts his arms around his daughter awkwardly at first, but he relaxes seconds later.

“I am going to miss you too,” he told her. “But... should you really be doing this?”

The princess froze for a second before wiping the tears from her eyes and clearing her throat.

“Yes,” she answered boldly, letting go. “This is what I want. I’ve been preparing for this all my life. I’m done waiting.”

“But you just turned nineteen. You know what it means, coming to Volfenheim like this... right?”

“Of course,” Selina replied. “It means the future of our kingdom depends on me... and my abilities. Don’t worry, papa, I will not fail, I’ll make sure of it.”

“I’m not worried about that, I know your abilities. You’re beautiful and smart, resourceful. You may be naughty, but you have a big heart. That’s what I’m concerned about. Henry does not even bother coming here like a true gentleman. He’s going to claim you as his bride but he can’t even come here to fetch you himself! Is he afraid of me? Why? How can I believe he genuinely cares about you?”

“Papa, I’m not going to marry him yet,” she laughed. “I’ll be there only to study. But who am I to stop him if he wants to marry me while I’m there? Don’t worry, if he does, you’ll be the first to know.”

The king stared at his daughter’s determined eyes for a few seconds before sighing and nodding in defeat.

“All right. But if Henry ever hurts you in any way, Selina, come home, okay?” the king said seriously.

“Henry won’t even try, daddy.” She was confident that she had the young king wrapped tightly in her pinky finger. Still, her father’s thoughtfulness was touching. Her heart seemed like it was going to burst with emotion.

“But if he did,” Saul insisted. “Come home. You may be the Destined Empress of Volfenheim, but you are my daughter first. And I don’t want you to get hurt.”

Selina only nodded in reply. She feared that if she spoke, tears would flow again and her father might take it at face value and foil her plans.

“Oh, stop it, you two,” a quivering voice said. “You’re making me cry.”

Father and daughter looked up and saw Queen Helena, her father’s wife, wiping her tears away with a silk hanky. She was standing by the door.

Her stepmother looked sad, and it irked Selina to no end. It wasn’t like they were close or anything. They were not friends. Ever since the former queen died, the woman has taken it upon herself to take the princess under her wing. Whether the young girl wanted it was never questioned. Selina only saw her as an usurper of her mother’s throne and title, nothing more. She only tolerated Helena because it made her father happy. But sometimes, it irritates her that the woman tries way too hard.

“Helena,” King Saul said, making them look at him. “Now that you are here...”

This made Selina grin, not because the woman had disrupted their moment, but because when her father spoke that sentence, he always had something to demand. Her father always treated Helena as if she were a glorified servant. As he should, she was one.

“I want you to go with my daughter to the border. See to it she made it to Volfenheim safely.”

Selina almost broke her neck by whipping around to face him.

“I beg your pardon? Why?!”

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