Chapter 3

I sat in the Gales estate guest room. I could hear orders being yelled around by Elizabeth and music softly being played right below me. I could feel my patients wavering, as I looked in the mirror. Here I was on a mission to talk to the King but I'm being presented as a bride. And even if I wanted to escape, I had two guards and probably more to disarm. I needed a plan and fast.

A knock came to the door and opened up by a new face, a young girl. I stood up quickly to take any measures necessary to defend myself. I glared at the little girl "I'm surprised, Elizabeth sent a child for me. It doesn't seem quite her style." the little girl giggled "I'm her a younger sister. Are you a princess?" I looked at the girl walk up towards me and grabbed my hand in hers. I lowered myself down to her level of height "Little girl, how did you get in here?" she smiled, enjoyable "The guards weren't there. Big sister thought it'd be best to guard our castle for big brother Zoran instead. That's when she told me we had a princess." I could feel my face crescent with worry. I didn't know what Elizabeth was planning. I faced the little girl "Well, would you love to help this princess? Because this princess would love to know what big sister is planning?" as the little girl began to open her mouth to spill all her secrets, a voice came hard and strong right into the room "Amina!" I look towards the door that was now wide open; only to see Elizabeth stepping in, grabbing Amina right out of my grip and any hopes I had of getting out. She push her towards the guards that stood behind her "Take my sister back to her room. It seems I'll have to talk to our guest."

The guards nodded and did as they were told, leaving me and Elizabeth alone. She closed the door behind them and turned to me as I stood up "You didn't have to grab her like that. She's a child—" she waves her hand having my voice give way "You don't have to worry about her—I could only assume, you had your own motives and means of using her." I could feel the air growing thick, making me feel almost uncomfortable to breathe as I looked right in Elizabeth's eyes "My intentions AND my ONLY intentions was to escape this hell. Why must it be me? Do you honestly find pleasure in marrying a dirty commoner to his Majesty?" She smiles at this fact. Her amusement played on her face like a treasure of gold "I believe you've cleaned up nice for a simple commoner. But don't worry, my goal tonight is to introduce you as anything but a commoner—after all, your goal was to meet the King, right?" I protested "Not like this! Not like something you can pick up and sell!" As my mind wondered to say more in hopes of her changing her mind and honestly admit this plan of hers will have nothing good to come from it; we were interrupted with a man dressed in all black, covering his face. Elizabeth turned to the door that was now opened but wasn't pleased. The man saw this and quickly bowed to announce the reason for being there "Your nobility, the King is one of the first guests to arrive tonight. We've given him proper welcome and he has asked for you." She smiled at the news and waved him away as he closed the door behind him. She turned to me with a new found determination and grabbed my arm and started pulling me towards the door. I felt the need to resist but I was wearing heels that made it difficult.

I followed her out the door obediently with my arm still in her grip. As we made turns in the halls, we finally stood above the marble steps that paved way for us to walk down. Letting me go and facing me, she said with complete demand "You will smile and you will talk. You'll do as I say with no questions. And after tonight when you leave with him, you're free do as you please. However, know anything you do after will effect on us." Grabbing my arm tightly, she snarled at me to make herself clear "So if you think of running or even have the thought of escaping, you'd wish Zuko soldiers only had killed you." I stared at her stunned "You devil.." as she let go, she stared at me meaningfully "This is nothing personal, ChuLing. If the thought counts.. I am really sorry that you lost your family.." while we stood there for a moment to ponder what she said she snapped her fingers and the same man that came to deliver the news appeared beside her with a trunk and gave him orders "Bring it down to the King and tell him I will be down shortly." He nodded and disappeared as quickly as he came along with the truck. I gaped in awe and looked at her "You have a Witching that services you?" She smiled "I'm impressed with your knowledge. Most people believes that their just myths." She began the journey to the bottom floor and I took a moment before I followed suit.

While I may have followed her, my mind was not present. She had a Witching at her side. My father use to tell me stories about the war that took place a thousand years back between the Witching's and humans. Based of what I could remember, they were supposed to all be extinct... But one was clearly alive...

While my mind finally came to, Elizabeth careful pushed me forward. I carefully looked up at the person in front and a gasp escaped my mouth. The man that stood before me was handsome. His eyes were crystal blue like the ocean. It almost felt like a spell took over me. His eyebrow shot up in curiosity "Elizabeth, what's the meaning of this?" I could feel he demanded an answer and just like a script, she gave him one "She's the new lady of the Gales estate, your majesty. She'd studied abroad for all these years and chose to finally come home after all this time." he stares at her with hard eyes "I never knew your father had another daughter.." he questionably says, but she never waiver in her story "She's a bastard child. Born and raised out of wedlock and mothered by one of my father's concubines in his youths. She is none other than the first born of the Gales estate and the daughter to become your wife." the King protest "What do you mean?! I can't have a concubines daughter be my wife!" She steps forward taking my hand in hers "She may be the daughter of a concubine but she's also of noble blood. Father, will be here shortly to explain this. But this is what it is your majesty. Either you let it be or not, our fathers already said you'd marry a daughter of the Gales estate to fully take your rightful place on the throne." she smiled mischievously "This is non- negotiable. You could love her or you could hate her. But she will be your wife." My hand tightened at my side, while the King pondered this facts. I could almost see every expression imaginable on his face; displaying with clear unwanted emotions. But soon, they were left abandoned and he looks to me "And you.. What do you make of this?" I could feel my eyes widening in complete shock. To think the King would ask me what I thought about the situation? But everything but his question was going through my head. If I faked to be his bride would he help me? But, if I told the truth would he still help me or turn me away?..

I turned to see Elizabeth waiting for me to answer but it was clear that my answer best make her night worthwhile or I'd face more than just the King's wrath. I turned back my attention to the King "It wouldn't matter what I think. Clearly there are bigger plans in play. If this is to be my truth, I will not object to its outcome." The King stood there bewildered by my answer—even Elizabeth didn't expected my answer to hold up so righteously. She knew better than anyone that she's been lying the whole time but it was thanks to that I didn't have to do either. I didn't tell the truth and I didn't tell a lie. Everything after that would be entirely up to the King's imagination. The only thing I did was play the role of me. If this was to be my destiny, mote it be. No further lying had to be done on my part. All I had to do was think of this as a window of opportunity. King Zoran stepped closer to me, gliding his hand gently against my cheek. I could feel his eyes piercing right into mines. Every moment felt like an eternity; time stood still and everything felt at peace. The moment ended when he spoke "Those eyes.. Those eyes look familiar.." A shiver ran down my spine as I removed his hand "I have no clue to what you may mean. These eyes are my eyes. And I can tell you now, this is the first we've ever met." We looked at each other for a moment, almost trying to figure out each other like a puzzle to a piece missing. Elizabeth interrupts "Your majesty, will you be staying for tonight's festivities? When my father gave word you were coming, I was truly surprised. Our plan wasn't to introduce you two like this." he turned to her displeased "Your father should have said something before. I was here to discuss preparations with you for our wedding but it seems I should be discussing far more dyer things instead—To think, your father hid away his own child. Why the sudden reunion and why now?" Elizabeth smiles and tried to put the King at ease "It was all a matter of time. Father just couldn't handle having a second child of his marry the King when it wasn't my rightful place. It was hers—but I'm sure she is to your liking. Beautiful, elegant, and let's not forget well spoken." he looks at me almost mesmerized, almost feeling everything she was saying was to be true. "Though all this may seem true. Does my father know of this?" for the first time since this terrible night started I actual saw hesitation in her eyes. A moment of a second of her wavering. She awkwardly replied "Your father knowledge of this is just as yours. Though this may come as a shock, the rule of this engagement was you to marry the first born." he looks at her rather perplexed, like he was almost missing a piece of the puzzle, but he just wasn't reaching it. I could almost feel a smile creeping up behind my well tinted lips; serves her right.

The King looks to me "I didn't get your name?" I could feel a nervous chill made its way up my spine and traveled to my fingertips. I looked towards Elizabeth for an answer, but she seemed to be caught up in her own thoughts to notice. I calmly reply "For what is in a name? Would it tell you, my story?" I could see this wasn't what he expected. For all I could have said, that wasn't one of them that he had in mind. He smiled for the first time since the night began "No. No, it wouldn't. As far as the eye can see. Your story is far more complicated than a name that can be given to me." I wasn't sure he said that if he was curious or he was testing me, however I knew one thing. I wouldn't give him a reason to doubt me. I gave him a smile "Surely but I won't be rude. My name is ChuLing." his eyebrow shot up in curiosity "That doesn't sound like a name the man of the estate would give his first daughter." before I could say something, Elizabeth rushes in quickly to answer in my place "That is the name her mother gave her, but her name is none other than-" I cut her off "Exactly. It's the name my mother gave me. I'd prefer to keep it that way." the King was taken aback by my sudden need to voice my opinion. Elizabeth glared at me to shut up but I didn't back down. She wasn't the one being given to the King to marry him. King Zoran steps in "Well, whatever you wish to be called is entirely up to you. I will not dwell on the details of a name. However, we should discuss you moving into the palace." my eyes went wide as Elizabeth was thrilled "Wonderful! Do you wish her to move into tonight." he shook his head "Tonight is too soon, considering my father isn't aware of the change of my bride to be. I want him to be aware that there will be a change. For now, prepare her leave for tomorrow." Elizabeth smiled excitedly "Of course. Just let me get everyone get her stuff prepared. One second." she ran off, leaving me and the King to ourselves.

Originally, I would have been nervous about being in his presence but I was more afraid of everything going to shit before I could have the chance to introduce myself properly. The King turned to me and looked at me seriously "So, who exactly are you?" I turned surprised; I could feel my body weighing its options to answer the question but I knew I didn't think fast enough. His glare grew heavier on me "I know Elizabeth's father doesn't have another daughter. If he did, he wouldn't need a reason to keep it a secret from my father. Having a concubine back in the day wasn't unusual nor was it for them to have a bastard child." He stepped closer "So, what are you hiding? Why is Elizabeth passing you off as something you're not?" Though I was shock that he figured out Elizabeth's lie quickly than I expected, a calm came over me. I shifted my weight by taking a step back from him, gently staring into his eyes that felt like peace on a summer night "I'm Moonjira Fujiyama from a village called 'Riverband.' Believe it or not, I'm actually being forced to do this against my will and better judgement." He was shocked "Riverband? Your village girl?" I smiled "Sadly yes. Though I probably don't look like it right now." He saddens "Than how in god's name you met Elizabeth?" I saddened alongside with him "That women...though how we met seemed to be under normal circumstances. She actually was looking for someone to replace her in marriage. It turns out, if she could find someone to marry in her place, her father would give her absolute freedom to do what she wanted." I stared up at the ceiling, finally understanding what she could have felt.. Probably the same way I felt this entire night "You know, since the time I've stepped in here.. I've tried on more dresses, jewels, and heels than I've probably tried on in my past life.. But even with all that.. it means nothing if you don't have the freedom to choose where and who you get to be with. Since this whole night, I think I understand her just a little bit. To fight for a freedom you've only wanted since you were a kid—explore a world beyond this horizon.." I could feel him taking me in as he spoke gently "Well, whatever reason it may be. Forcing one to marry against their will and fabricating a false identity is treason, here in Clover City." He faced quickly to protest "Your majesty, don't get me wrong. You wasn't supposed to find out the truth. But I will hold up to my end of the deal though it was against my will." he looks at me confused "I don't understand.. You were forced, weren't you?" I felt myself give him a smile of gratitude, enough for him to care even about me; a common girl but I shook my head "I've got my own reasons for being here. Though this situation wasn't ideal. It got me what I needed." He eyed me in content "And what would that be?"

"You."