Chapter 1

Outside of the temple was a carriage waiting for us. The golden accents along with the crest of the Farneit kingdom shone brightly as the sun of the bright day hit it. The carriage itself was the kingdom's trademark "Farneit red" that could only be produced by using plants native to the kingdom.

"We'll make it to the capital in three days." Lucius said helping me into the carriage, "Farneit is ten times the size of Laince so travel between cities can take a little longer."

"T-that's fine!" I stuttered, "It's kind of like a road trip right?"

"You could say that."

He began to discuss the route with the coachman as my eyes studied the cabin. The seats are made of a soft, plush fabric stuffed in a way that doesn't make them feel firm nor too soft. The walls and floor are a high quality, smooth wood. The window's glass is hard, leaving me unable to make even a small crack on it.

This is my first time in a carriage! Everything looks so well made.

"I hadn't heard any rumors about you taking interest in craftsmanship." Lucius chuckled watching me from the doorway, "Is it a secret hobby?"

"No!" I replied, "It's my first time in a carriage so...Ah! No, not my first time. J-just my first time in one like this."

"I see." he said sitting across from me, "Don't get too attached to it though. This is the one I use for long travels. The one I use more frequently is a bit different."

"Oh?" I beamed excitedly, "Is it bigger? Can they go bigger? Does it have comfier seats?"

"I had heard that your carriage is far more decorated." he laughed, "I wouldn't have guessed you'd be blown away by this."

"I'm not!" I blurted out trying to fix the atmosphere of suspicion that clouded the air, "I am just excited to see what a carriage looks like for Farneit royalty."

"Oh." he said, "Well you'll see plenty more soon."

"Yes...haha!"

I looked out of the window, my eyes searching for anything to use to change the subject. I spotted some Farneitian knights talking amongst each other. They sported Farneit red robes with gold lining, and swords at their sides. I pointed to them, curious about the rank of the group.

"Those are the knights accompanying us?" I asked, "Do you know them all? Are they very strong?"

"Every one." he smiled, "The red haired knight with the sharp look is Faiz. He's the captain and has served two generations of royalty. The blonde guy with the goofy face is Theo. He's a new royal knight but he passed the royal examination with the highest marks in his class. See that pink haired woman? That's Kaite. She's going to be your personal knight once we return to Farneit. She not as strong as the others as far as strength, but she's agile and thinks on her feet. And that idiot with the dark hair is Rubeus, he's my personal knight. He's an idiot but he's the highest ranked swordsman in the kingdom because he also has a magical affinity."

"Are those all of the knights that will be with us the whole way?"

"Not even close." he said tapping the window of the adjacent side, "The rest are over there."

I look out, not seeing anything until I squinted. In the distance are four legions of knights waiting. They looked like a coastline at first, with little patches in between. I gasped, shocked at the amount of knights he had brought with him. He laughed at my reaction.

"There are far more knights in Farneit." he said, "We are a king of conquest, as I'm sure you know all about. I brought four legions to have two at our backside and two at our front along with Faiz, Theo, Kaite, and Rubeus to lead them should anything happen."

Isn't that overkill?

"I'm happy you thought of our safety, King Lucius."

"You don't have to call me that." he said, "We're married now so you can call me Lucius and I'll call you Penelope."

Penelope...

For a moment I forgot who I'm supposed to be.

I'm Penelope, not Beau. That's who he intended on marrying, and I know that...but it still hurts to remember I'll be living as her from now on. I want to tell him who I am, but he'll kill innocent people if I do. He is gentle now but even from my room I heard tales of his terrible temper.

"Okay. I'll call you Lucius."

He was about to say something else when the carriage door flew open. It was Rubeus. He came to report that everything is set to leave Laince. Lucius nodded, signaling him to start the procession.

Suddenly, I could hear the tapping of a drum, and other instruments. I looked outside cheerfully. In my room I dreamed of hearing music. A knight stood at the front of us, tapping a drum, marching forward. The knights behind him rose brass instruments to their mouths and created a sweet melody. People crowded around as our carriage made its way through the streets. Some threw flower petals, while others simply yelled their congratulations.

"How beautiful!" I exclaimed, "Lucius doesn't it sound amazing?"

He was shocked for a moment before a smile slid across his lips, "Yes, it does. This is my gift to you. I heard you love music."

Did Penelope? I'm not quite sure.

However, Beau really loves this music.

*****

"Your highness," Rubeus said tapping on the door "We've reach Blanchet. The area is secure!"

"Good."

I wipe my eyes, realizing I had fallen asleep along the way. Drool was on the seat and I gasped, using my dress to hide it. Lucius laughed at me holding his hand out to help me down from the carriage.

"I-I wasn't snoring was I?"

"The whole time." he smiled, "I didn't think a princess could snore so ferociously. I thought you may be a bear in disguise."

"I'm not!"

Ignoring his continued teasing I looked at the structure in front of us. It was a grand, white palace with a moat that wrapped around it's exterior. There were bridges where you could walk over it and fountains on each side as it led up to the Palace's entrance. Two sets of staircases were beside it as well with exotic plants gracing each step. The Palace doors were gold and, as we entered, miraculously didn't make a sound.

The doors opened to foyer with brown marble floors--which stayed the same throughout the palace-- and white marble walls. There are paintings of people, whom I assume are Farneit royals, on each side more so prevalent on the stairs leading to the next floor. A large chandelier dangled above us and my heels glided across a rug with the royal crest stitched into it. Servants stood ready to welcome them.

"This is our vacation estate." Lucius announced, "It was built by the eleventh king of Farneit when a drought in the capital forced him to seek better control of the farmlands. He moved here to be close to them. Since then better farmland has been found, and the people haven't farmed in this land in ages. What do you think?"

"It's magnificent king...I mean Lucius!"

"Good." he smiled, "We'll only rest here for the night but I was hoping you wouldn't hate it."

Crash!

I jumped at the sound of something shattering. A young servant boy knocked over a vase, leaving it to shatter on the floor. The room fell quiet, and Lucius marched over to him. The boy turned pale, blurting out anything that came to mind to save himself. Lucius grabbed the sword from a decorative armored knight that stood nearby. With one swoop, he took off the boy's arm. The boy's scream booming through the room.

"There." Lucius stated, "I took off the arm that dared to destroy something in my palace on the day of my bride's arrival!"

He looked over to me, as I stood in shock.

"Do not worry Penelope." he smiled, "The rest of the servants are not as clumsy as this one. Right?"

"Yes your highness!" the servants agreed in unison, no one going to the boy's side to help.

It seems the rumors of his temper...aren't wrong.

"I'm feeling a bit tired still." I said nervously, "Do you mind if I head to my room?"

"Of course not." he replied, "I'll send Kaite with you. And..."

He looked over to a brown haired girl. She looked the least bothered by what had just occurred and nodded to him. She joined me at my side.

"I am Maria." she said, "I will be your servant today. I will show you and lady Kaite to your room."

"Okay."

I looked down at the boy as we passed him to the stairs. He had stopped screaming, but laid in a pool of tears and blood. All he did was break a vase. I'm sure it wasn't on purpose and I wasn't bothered by it. It didn't warrant a punishment that severe.

"It is better if you do not look." Maria whispered, "That way you won't have the image in your mind too long."

"She is right." Kaite agreed, "Please only think of resting before dinner."

How can I rest now with that stuck in my head?