UNEXPECTED VISITOR

"welcoming King Kaden Morosus of Hezab" the royal announcer said as a frightened expression took over the people's faces in the hall.

It was compulsory for all nobles to attend the wedding ceremony of their beloved princess Astriana, or else they would be at the comfort of their homes, instead of being in the godforsaken hall, where the tension between the two Kings could be cut with a knife, and a war could break out at any time.

"and welcome Princess Astriana Eleonard of Nardsia" Astria heard her name being called as she took a deep breathe to calm her racing heart as she stepped into the hall for her marriage banquet, deep breathe she reminded herself as she tried not to freak out of her mind and make a mistake that can embarrass her Royal Family,

' one step at a time, shoulder squared, heads raised up high like a noble you are, feel the calmness that runs through your vein , do not make any obstruction to the air in your mind, free your soul and think you are above all' she recited every details her royal instructor madam Eunise had taught her, on how a royal walks in her banquet, but today is not just any banquet, it is her marriage ceremony.

She finally stood in front of her husband to be 'Kind Kaden' his bright green eyes, like that of the green tress of the forest, staring intently at her like he is reading her soul, his eyes seemed to be vomits flames of fire when looked at cautiously, she can literally smell the blood lust emitting from him, as his eyes seems to habour a deep hatred towards her.

Maybe she should had taken Flora's advice, her maid, to run away from the palace, as she was not given a choice to this marriage, Astria has always being good at reading people's emotions and when it comes to King Kaden the only thing she can make out of the stotic expression on his face, that seems to be permanent , and the way he keeps staring at her every move so intently, like he is observing his prey, is not and cannot ever be Love or affection but 'a seated and deep hatred'.

Till this day she can not put a pin on why he decided to marry her, he has a reason, a very good reason, which seems like it's only her that is needed, and she does not know what it can be, neither does she know why.

She has no idea why among the five World powers he chose Nardsia to make a marriage contract with. She can still remember the day he came to her palace, to ask her brother the king for her hand in marriage.

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"Astria wake up" she heard Flora shout as she felt her continuous tapping on her body to get her to stand up .

"am awake" she said as she jolted up from her bed with full force, and squatted Flora's hands away from her body and stood up,she had never been a fan of touches, when ever she feels touchés from people, her body always seems to involuntary coil, and that instinct to recoil is always there, she stood up from the bed, and sunlight from the morning sun sipped through the window which Flora opened immediately she came in, settled on her spotless and smooth fair skin, making it shine in the sunlight ,giving a radiating tone to her skin, making her beautiful face look like a fine craft work.

Her blue eyes resting perfectly on her sleeping shape eye ball, making her eyes looked carved perfectly, to her small pointed nose settling in the center of her face, drawing down from her eye balls, to her small pink lips.

Whenever Flora takes a look at her, the image of Astriana's mother pops on her head, the second Queen to the late King., Queen Adriana, although she did not spend a lot of time with her, as she died when she was just fifteen and Flora was ten, she can still remember she was a very beautiful woman with distinct features, mostly the colour of her eyes, the rarest of all, she had bright purple eyes in contrast with her golden hair, which Astriana is lucky to inherit, the cause of her death was never revealed by the royal family, and she head the King wanted to keep it a secret in order not to endanger Astriana life since she was being hunted too. But she can still vividly remember she died the same day with her mother, her mother and the second Queen, Astriana mother were best friend, and she was also her personal maid, do they shared all things together. That day, they both went out, but never came back. The next day, her mother's head was returned to the palace, separated from her body, she xs still remember the fright she got as a little girl from opening the cloth, and it still hunts her till today.

While she heard the Queens body was also delivered, but she did not listen to hear the full story of what happened, since she was still mourning her mother death, but she knows they were murdered by a powerful person. But who she always questioned in her mind. Astriana and her had both made a vow that one day, they would both find their mothers murderer.

"I heard your brother wants to see you in the throne room" Flora said as she helped Astria undo her night gown, as it dropped and polled on her legs, showcasing her long fair legs.

"why would he want to see me this early in the day" Astria said as she walked to her bath place, and settled in the scented water, while Flora washed her body.

"maybe he wants to talk about your marriage" Flora joked, as a frown creased on Astria face,

"Flora don't make jokes like that, mostly about marriages you know I don't like it" Astria said as Flora burst into laughter, " OK am sorry, but maaybee he wants to fix your marriage with souths Dukes son Leonard" Flora said as she nugged Astria with her shoulders, while a blush made it's way to Astria face.

Leonard and Astria are childhood friends, and Flora being Astria's best friend knows she has a crush on Leo but never admits it, Leo had gone on a journey for a year now with his father since he is the next to take over his father's position, and he is said to arrive today, so Astria having this in mind was very happy since it has been a year now, and Leonard would finally be coming back and he will be 21, which means he will take over his father and can finally ask for her hand in marriage since he had been courting her before he left.

So she hurriedly dressed and ran to the throne room in a hurry to see Leonard.

"Brother", she shouted as she opened the door of the throne room, without listening to the guards at the door asking her to stop.

Only for the whole room to freeze immediately she came in.

She turned to look at the seats meant for Dukes and finally made eye contact with Leonard and her fair face turned to that of a red tomato, but Leonard broke eye contact with her and looked ahead, and pretended he did not see her, then he turned his head to where the throne room door is located with fear evident in his eyes.

Where a man facing the opposite direction stood, with broad shoulders wearing thick royal red fabric, with is only to be worn by only high ends royals, which are the Five Kings of the Lands, which might it be, she thought in her mind as she had until seen three up till this day, one her brother, and the other two are old and married which she had met at her 18th birthday ball, the other two Kings, of Hezab, and Milia, she had never came in contact with them as she had only heard about them from when the maids since they are always gossiping about royals, mostly the King of Hezab, about how insanely handsome they had heard women say about him, and his wildness in bed. But she never cared be because she only loved Leonard, whom is gentle and sweet to her .

From his broad shoulders to his fitted body in the royal clothes, she could tell he is very handsome, he stood there for some seconds then his stiff back relaxed, then he walked out of the throne room without looking back, accompanied by many guards wearing red, as every Kingdom has a colour of representation which their palace workers wear.

She knows Nardsia's royal colour and flag to be Blue as her brother always wears that to formal events accompanied by his guards.

"brother you called" she said as she turned to look at her brother with a smile on her face only for it to become stiff as she saw a deep frown on her brothers face as his feature grew red in anger and veins on his neck like he is about to explode.

"brother is anything wrong"

what happened, that could make my brother as angry as this, she thought in her mind as ever since her brother got married to Leonora, Leonard elder sister she had never seen him this angry, he used to be ruthless and daring, but Leonora tamed the beast in him but this is the first time for the past one year she is seen him this angry.

"Get out, all of you" he shouted as the whole throne room boomed, and every noble hurriedly stood up and ran out of the throne room, nobody wants to experience, their kings ruthlessness, as they know how he can be, they have experienced it in the past before he met their Queen, and they know when he has thirst for blood which is right know.