Prologue

Rageful townspeople filled the wide gothic halls that cold, windy night. Their shouts of anger and agony echoed back and forth the walls of that region of the palace. However, King Lucas maintained his calm as well as the other high-ranking officials beside him.

"EVERYONE, QUIET!!!" His right hand, Elias, shouted with his loud booming voice. Some obliged, but some didn't.

One large man, fully bearded and wearing the clothes of gray and brown, shouted. "Your Highness! What's taking so long? The incident happened two days ago and you still didn't punish that monster princess?!"

The other people cheered to second what he said.

Ellias throw the King a reluctant look before clearing his throat. "The trial is still on-going! As we all know, this is not just someone who we will punish. This is our Princess—"

"She's a monster not a princess! No princess would kill hundreds of her people?! Children! Men and their wives! She killed them all! And what was her motive? You showed us nothing!" The woman choked back a sob and with full of hatred, she faced the king. "Princess Ciara deserves to die! NOW!!!"

The people couldn't agree more. And the king knew that it would be the best option, the best punishment, and the best consolation he can give to this mourning people. They lost their family and friends and he can't blame them if they wanted to kill his daughter.

But he's just a father, too. He loved his daughter so much! After the queen died giving birth to their child, he promised to take care of their princess with all his heart and his life. The reason why he can't kill his daughter was simply because she's his own. He'd better die than kill her! Because it would be like he's killing his wife, too!

Elias cleared his throat once more to snap the king out of his thoughts. "Your Highness, you need to decide now. If you don't, the people might be out of our control and will not just only kill the princess but destroy the palace."

King Lucas shut his eyes tightly. For the last minute, he was thinking of a solution, an option which could be better than the princess' death. One thing...

But nothing came.

Noise amplified each second. They were angry and getting impatient but was stopped when their beloved king stood up from his throne. His large frame filled their visions. He has green eyes that reflected the lights, his golden throne, and his wide cape. He was standing with pride as he faced his people but deep inside him, he was crumbling into pieces.

"Everyone!" He shouted. "I know that you're in the state of mourning right now, and I understand if you wanted to punish who's to be blame. I completely understand."

A crying frail woman stepped forward and with eyes full of sorrow, she spoke. "Your Majesty, if you truly knows what we feel and sincerely believes that you understand, then why don't you still do the punishment? It should be done two days ago but it did not happen! We know it's hard for you because she's the princess. We took consideration of that. But she still murdered hundred lives, both men and women and children! My child! She killed my child!" Then she broke into tears and her husband hugged her tenderly.

"But... she's my child, too," he croaked. "If this happened to your child, will you let other people kill her? Will you let her get punished and do nothing? I am doing my best to find the most appropriate solution and—"

Another woman suddenly let out an evil laugh. Eyes searched to where the noise came from and they directed it to the person at the center of the crowd. She was wearing the darkest shade of black hoodie cape that hids her whole face and skin.

She started to step forward, the people made a way for her. Both bedazzled by this obviously rich woman that they failed to notice awhile ago.

Chattering grew when she stopped meters away from the king, but steps ahead of them. Her hands slowly went to the tip of her hood and without warning, she pulled it down. Revealing the face that horrified the eyes of everyone, even the king. Loud gasps erupted the halls and some even vomitted with the sight.

She was wearing an elegant silky burgundi gown accentuated with shimmering beads and stones cascading from the neckline down to the tips of the flowing skirt. It was beautiful and it matches her white and fair skin. But up to her face, the beauty stops.

Her right arm, unlike the left, was covered with brown to black as if burned. Her skin were dry but they can see the blood inside peeking through the cracked, almost coaled flesh. To her neck, the burn continues. It spread to the half of her face and all that's left to her hair were countable. It was totally disgusting and was surely done with pure black and evil motive.

"I'm Andrae, Your Highness. The daughter of the palace's tailor, who also died in the hands of your daughter." Her voice was venomous as she spoke. "This face, as you can all see, is one of the product of the horrendous carnage she inflicted our town!"

Another batch of gasps was earned. "In case of murder, it doesn't really matter if it's the king, the queen or the the princess who did it. We have to be treated with equal rights and punishments! But you slacked off because it's your daughter and you knew you are the king so you used your title to protect her! But King Lucas," she hissed. "Don't wait for the people to do the punishment... in their own ways or you won't like it!"

With that, she turned to her heels and left. The crowd once again made a way for her and some of the people left, too, after throwing him deadly glares. After the last person leave the hall, the large double-doors closed. Leaving a complete silence to the place.

King Lucas sat roughly on his throne and heaved a sigh. He was torn between his two children. His people and his daughter.

What should he do? He doesn't know. But he wouldn't let his daughter get killed.

When the officials left, Elias went to his side and cleared his throat. "Your Magesty, I, uh, can I suggest of one solution to this problem?"

The king hastily stared up at him with hopeful eyes. "What is it, Elias?"

"The City of Haldorre, Your Majesty."

Slowly, King Lucas' eyes widened as realization hit him. Right! In that city, he can cast his daughter away. She can hide from everyone who wanted to kill her, and he can save the kingdom from complete destruction. He stood up and with determination, he faced his right-hand man.

"Prepare for the departure of the Princess. We'll do it tonight and no one should know about this. Understand?!"

Elias bowed at him. "Yes, Your Majesty."

But as they walked towards the king's room, they heard a commotion outside. It was faint but when one guard came running to them, they already knew what it was.

"Your Highness, the people are forcing their way inside. They wanted to get the Princess!"

The king eagerly nodded and ordered them to hold them back as long as they can. "Elias, no time to waste! We need to get the princess out of here! Now!"