Queen's Sadness

"Arrrgghh!" Syrena screamed as she awoke from sleep.

Syrena sat down on the prison's cold, hard stone floor. Princess Ruxenia's hand suddenly touched her neck as if she still felt the warm grip of Prince Agenor's hand.

Although the chest was pounding, the feeling of relief seemed to widen Princess Ruxenia's airway. Leaned against the rough walls of the jail, Syrena was closing their eyes, replaying the scene of herself drowning in the golden carriage that her future husband had prepared.

"Haaah, luckily, it was just a dream...." Princess Ruxenia gasped for breath as she remembered how water filled the horse cart while Syrena's hands and feet were tied.

Without the awareness, the princess's tears were melting. Syrena's hand immediately wiped away the tears.

"Sister!" there was a whispered voice that seemed for Syrena.

Immediately looking up to find the voice source, Syrena's eyes widened when she saw a brown-haired prince gripping iron bars.

"Endymion! What are you doing here?" Syrena asked with her eyebrows arched upwards. The princess walked to the iron bars.

King Dione's youngest son pulled out a bundle of keys from under the robe.

"What are these keys?" whispered Syrena with wide eyes.

"I will free you. Run and go as far as possible!" Edymion smirked.

"Don't be crazy, Edymion! Do you want to head to your grave early?" Syrena's face turned sour.

It's not that she wasn't want to run away. However, Syrena won't involve her little brother. Endymion was too precious to be sacrificed.

"That madman is on his way to Ruxenia with his army. I can't let you live forever with an arrogant man who doesn't hesitate to take the lives of others!" said Syrena's only brother with teary eyes.

"No, Edymion. Even though I'm afraid I will face that man. I don't want to lose the people closest to me who are loyal and love me."

Even though she was trying to look strong, Syrena's heart rumbled as she remembered Prince Agenor's strangulation in a dream.

"Go! I'm fine. Don't get yourself into trouble. Promise me, if you become a king one day, be the strongest king so that you don't see anything embarrassing like this again in the rest of your life." Syrena sighed as she leaned her forehead against the iron bars.

"I can't see you going with that guy, Sis!" Prince Ruxenia's hand gripped Syrena's arm.

"Come on, sis!" Edymion walked to the jail lock and entered the keys.

"Edymion, stop it!" snapped Syrena.

Realizing that she had just raised her voice to her brother, Syrena covered her mouth with her hands.

The princess heard the rapid footsteps of a people group heading towards her jail. A woman in the crown of a queen stood with her eyes almost jumping.

"Mother..." said Syrena and Edymion at the same time.

"Edymion! Get away from your sister!" the queen ordered in a depressed voice.

"Mother ...." King Dione's youngest son still tried to negotiate with the number one woman in Ruxenia.

"Go! Or the king will punish you!" threatened the queen.

"Tell the king. I'm willing to take any punishment provided the king doesn't hand Princess Syrena to Prince Agenor!" said Edymion.

The queen's hands clenched tightly. Queen Ruxenia's Gray eyes fixed on her youngest son.

"Arrest Prince Edymion!" the queen ordered the guards.

Immediately carrying out the order, a group of bodyguards tried to capture the oval-faced prince. Undeterred, Prince Ruxenia drew a sword to ward off the guards' attacks.

There was a commotion in front of Syrena's jail. Princess Ruxenia and the queen were very worried about Prince Edymion, the successor to Ruxenia's throne.

"Stubborn boy!" Syrena cursed, barely audible.

The sound of half-ran steps again resounded in the dungeon corridor. This time a guard closest to the king paid his respects to the queen.

"Your Majesty, King Dione will go to the border before dawn. The king asks Princess Syrena to prepare to go to the border with the king immediately," reported the guard with a worried expression on the chaotic situation in front of Princess Syrena's jail.

"I understand," replied the queen resignedly.

Walked towards the prison door of King Dione's eldest daughter, the queen stared intently at Syrena's oval face. In anyone's eyes, Princess Syrena did look beautiful. Unfortunately, fate drags Syrena into the political puddle of the Lagardioz kingdom.

"Syrena, are you ready to take responsibility for your actions?" asked the queen gently.

"Yes, Mother. I'm ready." Syrena said with her hands drooped languidly.

"No, Sister! Don't do that!" shouted Edymion disapprovingly.

Syrena's jail door opened. The brunette princess followed the queen's footsteps leaving the dungeon.

A group of maids welcome the queen and Syrena to the royal baths. The woman in the queen crown gave the order, "Help Princess Syrena clean up herself, then dress her up as pretty as you can." The maids nodded obediently to the order of the number one woman in Ruxenia.

"Mother..." Syrena looked in disbelief at the woman who had given birth to her.

"I'm sorry, Syrena! I can not guarantee your safety. Hopefully, your beauty can save your life longer." The queen smiled and then immediately left Syrena with the maids.

Syrena's gaze fixed on the queen's back which was getting further away. The number one woman in Ruxenia seemed to wipe away tears many times. This time Syrena realized that the mother was under pressure and forced to lead her daughter into a political marriage that was not profitable for her daughter.

"Come on, Princess!" The gentle voice of a maid startled Syrena. The princess immediately followed the maid to prepare to welcome her future husband.

***

Agenor gazed at the Lagardioz warriors from above the heights under his leadership. A smirk appeared on the lips of the second prince of Lagardioz when he saw the golden eagle banner walk valiantly.

Agenor's eagle eye stared at the eastern fortress of the Ruxenia kingdom. Red banners fluttered along the ramparts.

"I can't wait to tear Ruxenia's heart to pieces." Prince Agenor's adrenaline production increases. The prince has prepared to give the most terrible war to the Ruxenia army.

After days of travelling, Lagardioz's troops arrived in front of the Ischirozh fortress. On top of the fort were thousands of soldiers complete with armour taking bows and arrows of fire. Prince Agenor only responded with a disdainful smile.

The gates of the Ischirozh fortress opened. The Second prince's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. Unexpectedly the ruler of Ruxenia came out on horseback, and also, a horse carriage followed him.

"Are you going to hand your daughter over to me?" muttered Agenor with a wide grin.

As soon as King Dione Eleftherious's horse stopped, Agenor flew low to face the Ruxenia king.

"Nice to meet you again, King Dione." Prince Agenor greets the prospective in-laws first.

"Nice to meet you too, Prince Agenor." King Dione spoke briefly

"Thank you for welcoming me so well. It seems very clear what I came here for." Agenor's gaze swept across the thousands of soldiers on the fort.

"Well, I know. It's a pity we have to meet with conditions like this," said the brown bearded man still calmly.

Agenor smiled for a moment before his face turned cold again.