3 I NEED TO SEE HER

King Wang Lei sat on his throne and prince Gen, who happens to be his son, was standing in front of him. He was always seen in his armor but that was when war was their daily food. But now, he is dressed in his royal dress and a golden crown on his head.

"Gen, we have just a few days until your wedding. King Dingbang has finally approved your marriage with princess Fen." King Wang Lei said to his son, prince Gen.

Prince Gen smiled at him, but it disappeared after a few seconds.

"Father, were you able to see the princess?" Prince Gen asked his father.

"Probably not, but you don't have to be bothered, my son. We have her father's words, king Dingbang, so I think she must have agreed to marry you before he informed us. Remember, we were not the ones that asked for his daughter, he decided to give her to us for the sake of peace. So you have nothing to worry about my son." King Wang Lei encouraged prince Gen but he was still feeling uncomfortable.

"Father, what if the princess doesn't love me?" Prince Gen asked.

"Gen, everyone knows that you are a handsome man. A prince and a warrior at the same time. No woman will refuse to get married into a royal family. So…"

"But the princess is also from a royal family. So what do you think will make any difference in her life if she gets married to a royal family?

Absolutely nothing." Prince Gen cut in.

"It means everything to her. You know why

because royalty will never depart from her life. Do you think she will prefer to get married to a commoner?

I don't think she will be happy to do that.

You don't have to worry yourself. Consider this as a blessing to this kingdom. For king Dingbang to give his daughter in marriage to you, isn't easy."

From now on, no kingdom will be able to raise against us because king Dingbang will always come to our rescue.

My advice to you is to get prepared for the marriage and that's all."

King Wang Lei advised prince Gen.

"I will like to see her before making my final decision." Prince Gen told his father.

"Gen, you don't have to see the princess now, you will see her on the marriage day." King Wang Lei pleaded with him but prince Gen insisted on seeing the princess before the wedding day.

"I can never marry her if I don't see her before that day!"

"I beg to take my leave father." Prince Gen said and walked away.

King Wang Lei stared at his back till he was out of view.

"Princess Fen, why are you looking so sad?" The queen of Neville, also known as my mother, asked me as we sat on my bed.

"Mother, I learned that a king came to this kingdom at noon. Is that true?"

I asked my mother.

"Yes. That's the king of Decresh kingdom, king Wanglei, your father-in-law."

Immediately my mother mentioned 'father-in-law', my mood changed within seconds and she noticed it.

"Why did your face change? I thought you were supposed to be happy." My mother says.

"Mother, did you just say happy?

Why should I be happy? You expect me to be happy for what I don't want? Or

I should be happy that am getting married to a man I have never seen nor met?

I don't know what you and father took me as. You don't treat me as a true Princess.

You don't even ask for my opinion, you don't consider my choice, you just do things without my consent. Have I not grown to say what I want! Why do you keep making decisions for me!" I yelled at her as if she was the one that brought the idea of me getting married, but I know that she contributed to the plan. As long as she doesn't care about my well-being, then she's part of the plan.

My mother sat speechless as she stared at me. She is surprised, right?

Of course, she is. I haven't raised my voice on her since I was born but now she is seeing her little princess shouting at her, but it doesn't matter to me if she feels hurt or not. She has hurt me many times and up til now, she's still hurting me. Her presence feels irritating. How I wish I don't even have a mother, besides I don't have a mother because if I truly have a mother, all these things wouldn't have been happening to me.

The only person I can consider as a friend and a mother is 'Shu'.

"Is something wrong with you?" My mother finally spoke after a long stare. I couldn't answer her because I was already angry and I was about to let out tears but I hold it back.

"I can see that you have grown wings. I will let your father know about this." She said as she stood up to leave. I grabbed her left hand to stop her from going.

"Mother, I want to ask you for a favor. Please, tell father that am not ready for any marriage, I will get married at the appropriate time." I pleaded with my mother and she seems like she was going to help me talk to my father but my heart almost cut off when she turned and replied to me.

"You neither marry the prince nor I disown you as my daughter." I immediately freed her hand from mine, not because I cared about what she said but because I never expected to hear that from her.

"Mother, if I may ask, didn't you choose to marry father when you were young? Or did anyone force you to marry him?" When this question echoed in her ears, she almost spark like thunder.

She furrowed her brows as she stood frozen in my front.

"You better wake up from your dreams."

She smirked.

That pumped oxygen into my anger but I decided to remain calm.

"Mother, why do you hate me this much?

What have I done to deserve this?

If this was a dream, then I will be happy, because I will certainly wake up from the dream no matter how long it takes. But mother, I know that..."

I was about to say something and a knock came from the door which makes me cut short my statement.

Fear gripped me when I heard the knock on the door. My mind told me that it was my father, but my father doesn't always come to my room. In fact, I can't remember when last my father bypass my room. But the knock was so scary and heavy that makes us stiffen. Two things are involved here, someone may have told my father that I said I don't want to marry the prince, or maybe Shu has some good or bad news for me. All these thoughts were running through my mind.

My mother and I were facing each other like two alternative angels.

"Who is there?" My mother finally breaks the silence.

Is Shu, my beautiful princess. Shu answered thinking that I was the one talking.

"Please come in," I responded and she opened the door.

"My beautiful princess A…." She almost hug my mother but when she saw that it was my mother, she immediately drew back and greeted her.

She wanted to start praising me the way she always does but everything changed when she saw the queen.

"Good day your majesty!" Shu quickly greeted the queen as she was confused because she never knew that the queen will be in the room.

My mother stared at her for a few seconds and Shu was scared, her head bowed as she fixed her gaze on the ground like she was looking for her tiny lost property. I can see the unsteadiness in her. She couldn't endure standing silent.

"Am sorry your majesty, I will like to take my leave. I will come back later if you are done with the princess." Shu broke the silence.

" I didn't ask you to go. Perhaps you are here to see your friend, so why will decide to go just like that?" The queen asked her.

"Your majesty, am…am. Hhh!" Shu cleared her throat as she lack what to say.

"Your majesty, I came to spend some time with her," Shu added.

"Now I know why my daughter is proving stubborn. You are the backbone of her current behaviors right?" My mother asked as she took a few steps to where shu was standing.

Shu was shivering like a little bird that has been beaten by the rain. I need to do something before Shu gets into trouble.

"Mother, stop blaming her for my behaviors. I live my own life the way I want it." I stepped in between them and said to my mother.

My mother grew angry. She went to the door, open it, and slammed it as she steps outside the room.

"You shouldn't have talked to your mother like that" Shu said and I ignored her.

I sat on my bed, trying to calm myself down but my mother's statements keep flashing through my mind.